One of Ireland’s best-known designers showcased a selection of occasionwear for the wedding party …
The Wedding Salon at The Merrion is an annual highlight in THE GLOSS events calendar. At this year’s sold-out event, host and wedding planner extraordinaire Tara Fay provided guidance for the big day based on close to thirty years’ experience. Leading dermatology consultant Dr Rosemary Coleman presented expert advice on skincare, make-up artist Christine Lucignano and hair stylist David Cashman showcased the best bridal looks, with tips on choosing and styling your wedding dress by Sharon Hoey, along with day two and mother-of-the-bride looks from Sharon’s AndTate new spring/summer 2025 collection.
Sharon introduced three beautiful wedding gowns modelled by AndTate house model Rosalind Lipsett, and models Yomiko and Audrey, as the starting point for a discussion about choosing the right wedding dress. A salon showing of the stunning new AndTate collection followed, which includes brilliant looks for wedding guests and mothers of the bride or groom in classic and flattering styles.
Top 10 tips for finding the right style:
1. Think about your look a few months in advance.
2. Create a Pinterest board or moodboard.
3. Fit is all-important for comfort: know your body type and dress for it.
4. White and ivory are still a no-no, unless the bride is wearing a colour.
5. Avoid coordinating with the bridal party.
6. Dress appropriately, but not too formal as it can look frumpy.
7. Choose soft fabrics and well cut shapes; stiff fabrics won’t sit well when seated.
8. Patterned dresses can look too busy, while block colours feel contemorary.
9. Opt for a seasonless style, so you can wear the outfit again.
10. Headpieces tend to be more modern than hats and milliners like Catherine Cooke can create them from the same fabric to coordinate.
ANDTATE
Silver satin Effie dress, €850, earrings by Melissa Curry, pale pink bow clutch by August Night.
Pale pink Esme puffball skirt with black flower detail, €895, black Eugenia blouse, €425. Black bow headpiece by Catherine Cooke.
Geranium Desdemona dress, €995.
Chartreuse Delaney top, €545, and Dahlia skirt, €695.
Sky blue Edwina blouse, €495, twilight organza skirt, €695, and pale blue pillbox hat by Catherine Cooke.
Black fable blouse, €595, Fernanda flower detail penicl skirt, €750, and bow hat by Catherine Cooke.
Available to vew by appointment at: Sharon Hoey, 6 Merrion Street Lower, Dublin 2, 01 611 070; www.andtate.com @andtateshirts
Photographer: Conor Healy / Picture It Photography, @pictureitpix
