Bride to Be

We spoke to local bridal boutique, Emma Victoria Payne, who told us more about what it’s like to work in the wedding industry and delved into the latest trends hitting the bridal market in 2022.

How would you describe your signature style? 

The Emma Victoria Payne bridal collection captures the essence of sophisticated luxury with beautiful silhouettes that emphasise femininity, effortless style and romance. My distinctive designs combine clean lines with beautiful natural silhouettes. Each gown retains an individual character and unique charm, designed with meticulous attention to detail.

Can you tell us a bit about the story of EVP? What inspired you to become a Wedding Dress designer?

From a very early age, I was incredibly creative and I loved drawing and making things. My great grandfather was a womenswear designer based in Nottingham and produced day dresses as well as wedding dresses. My inspiration came from the stories my grandfather used to tell me about the family business which left a strong impression and led me to pursue a career in fashion. At the age of 7 I used to talk about continuing the business and from that moment on I was determined to have my own dress company. My parents bought me my first sewing machine for Christmas at the age of 8 and I have never looked back.

When did you set up your bridal brand?

I opened my bridal boutique on Beauchamp Place in April 2010, in the heart of Knightsbridge.  It has always been my ambition to have a boutique that reflects our brand and style. In 2017 I found the perfect premises at 6 Park Walk, I am so happy to now be based on one of my favourite streets in Chelsea, it is a privilege to be based here.

What do you enjoy most about being your own boss?

It is so special to have my own label. I love having the creative freedom to design what truly inspires me and to be able to create the ultimate dress for our brides.

What is ‘bespoke’?

Bespoke is a personal tailored service enabling our clients to have a custom made design of their choice fully made to measure. There is nothing quite like creating the ultimate EVP dress which is one of a kind. A bespoke EVP gown reflects the clients unique personality and style and we offer a very special experience. As with all our gowns, we love to create bespoke interchangeable layers so the bride can change her look from day to evening.

How does your design process work from first meeting to fittings?

EVP provides an incredibly personal service seeing each client from the initial appointment through to the dress collection. We arrange an initial appointment via zoom or within the boutique to discuss our clients ideas and we look at their Pinterest board of inspirational images as a starting point to get a feel for their style. We then discuss where the wedding will take place and any factors that need to be taken into consideration e.g. the temperature, movement and setting. We discuss all the design details including the silhouette, neckline, sleeve, length of train. Each bespoke gown is developed through a series of sketches to develop the ideas. We source suitable fabrics from our suppliers gathering samples for each client.

We try on a range of dresses with similar silhouettes in the boutique and drape silks to create necklines and try on additional straps and sleeves to visualise the design. A full set of 40 measurements are taken and then we begin pattern cutting. We produce a toile in calico so the client tries the design in cotton first to check they are happy with the design details and we pin this to achieve a great fit before embarking on cutting the final silks. Once the paper pattern is updated with any changes we cut the dress and construct it ready for fittings. We arrange 3-5 further fittings depending on the design to ensure a perfect fit and pin the final hemline with the clients shoes. We then arrange a final try on and collection which is usually approximately a week before the wedding day.

What if a bride changes her mind half-way through the process? 

Bespoke gowns are constantly developed and tweaked through the process of construction. It is incredibly difficult to decide on exact details from a sketch and part of the joy of having something bespoke is the ability to make changes. This is why we arrange plenty of appointments to share all the stages with our clients. We want to ensure that all of our brides love their dresses and we are more than happy to make any changes throughout the process as this is the beauty of bespoke design.

Do you have a favourite dress from your collections?

I love them all but ASTRID has to be an absolute favourite of mine. This gown is a true wedding dress, it has a stunning duchess satin bodice and a full circular skirt. There is something very romantic about this particular gown and I really like how the silk georgette overlay softens the hemline.

Find out more about Emma’s boutique here.