0 A Few Of Our Favourite Venues

• by Administrator
• 18-05-2020

At Oscar Lili we are all about finding you that perfect bridal gown but you need an equally perfect setting to show it off in! So we’ve been having a look through some of our recent Oscar Lili and La Novia real brides’ archives and picked out four of our favourite Scottish venues to inspire and suit every mood.   When choosing a venue you need to consider what theme you’re after first; relaxed, quirky, traditional, glamorous… the possibilities are endless. Thinking about the season is all-important for anticipating the weather, and of course, capacity and budget are essential deciding factors. Venues offering more outdoor space as well as some laid-back rustic charm can be gorgeous for a summer celebration and if you would like to channel more of a Boho vibe. They can also allow for a bit more freedom with some quirky personal touches, and allow you to start with a blank space if you are the creative type and keen to decorate by yourself:    The Cow Shed, Crail, East Neuk of Fife   A lovely venue situated on the East Coast, surrounded by quaint fishing villages and beaches, it is the perfect location for feeling like you’re having a lovely mini-getaway. The Cow Shed used to be a dairy farm and is made up of rustic stonework which offers a bright and airy setting; there is a steading marquee, courtyard space, a barn with gorgeous exposed beams and additional space for smaller ceremonies. Its’ spaces have a relaxed simplicity about them, acting as a “blank canvas” for you to put your own stamp on the day. We loved how our bride Kerri styled the venue for her wedding day and added finishing touches of hanging pom-poms, vibrant fresh flowers and hand-made paper decorations. These went so well with the neutral and fresh feeling of the venue and made her day full of colour and character:          https://www.thecowshedcrail.co.uk/contact   If you want to have more of the royal treatment on your wedding day, then maybe a Scottish castle wedding is for you. Why not treat yourself to a bit of luxury? These venues are not only picture perfect but also great for any season and offer multiple options to cater for different styles:    Myres Castle, Auchtermuchty This is a castle with all the grandeur except with a laid-back and rustic twist. The Barnquee brings an element of originality and is the perfect space for large wedding parties and adding personal touches like these simple white lanterns and foliage. The contrasting castle is 500 years old with some quirky antique treasures and trinkets inside. It is cosy, traditional and so luxurious with 10 double bedrooms for you and your guests to stay in. The surrounding gardens and grounds are dreamy and our bride Dianne got some beautiful images during her romantic summer wedding. For anyone who hasn’t overdone it on the fizz the night before, the tennis court is great for entertaining the guests post-wedding, and makes for an original wedding photo-op as you can see:   https://www.myrescastle.co.uk/   Carlowrie Castle, Kirkliston, West Lothian This versatile castle venue is located just outside of Edinburgh, and is ideal for the couple who want a traditional style with a twist. The Victorian castle is a former family home which gives it a warm welcoming feel, and the rooms have been renovated to reflect a modern luxury aesthetic. The surrounding grounds and walled gardens are what make this venue extra special; you the option of having your ceremony and/or meal in the bright and spacious marquee or the intimate Orangery which provides a blank canvas for all your personal touches. Our bride Caroline chose this venue and told us that “Carlowrie Castle is the only venue we went to visit, nowhere else we looked at online even came close. It’s traditional and very castley on the outside but modern and unexpected on the inside”. We loved how she decorated the Orangery space with bright blues and amazing bouquets. She also added a surprise finishing touch of celebratory fireworks at the end of the night:   https://carlowriecastle.co.uk/   Cambo House & Estate, St Andrews This is a stunning wedding venue, offering a bespoke package that can be tailored to create a unique experience guaranteed to impress your guests and provide the ultimate party atmosphere. You can mix up your day and choose between the rustic courtyard, the ornate Ballroom or drawing-room, and for the outdoor types then you can enjoy the party woodland for festival vibes, the walled gardens or the tattie shed which gives you lovely sea views. We are big fans of our bride Corrine’s personal take on her wedding set-up, and she told us “We loved the woodland, gardens and beach that surround Cambo and want to bring that element of nature into our wedding as much as possible. A group of us made floral hoops the day before which were hung in the marquee and we used a lot of greenery and foraged flowers to decorate the tables.” They incorporated a music festival theme for their dinner and reception and decorated their marquee and courtyard with lots of hand-made and borrowed bunting from their friends’ weddings which gave their wedding a warm and casual feel.  

0 ELYSEE Bridal Design at Oscar Lili

• by Administrator
• 30-04-2020

We are excited here at Oscar Lili to be official stockists of the new ÉLYSÉE bridal collection by The Bridal Collective. The styles are available to order at our Edinburgh Morningside boutique and they are looking gorgeous!    Have a little preview of the 2020 Collection we have ready to order:   ATHÉNAÏS is an off shoulder plunge neckline wedding gown, made of baroque and Chantilly lace which is layered over soft French tulle, with a subtle sparkle to catch your eye throughout the floral pattern. The mermaid silhouette is fitted to the body before flowing out into a dramatic scalloped, long train.    FRANÇOISE brings us sparkle and high-end glamour, with intricate beading which is hand-embroidered over bold baroque and French Chantilly lace. This double layer lace offers gorgeous contrasting detail and both layers make up the scalloped train. The open back and side cut-outs show some skin, signature to Enzoani bridal designs.   MINETTE is a stunning bridal ballgown which combines sexy and sophisticated style. The bodice is made of a delicate floral lace which is shaped into a plunge neckline and gorgeous low sheer back. The beaded spaghetti straps make this dress so contemporary and add some glitter. The attention is on the skirt however, which gives you chic pockets and a full on princess silhouette; which will feel even more luxurious in the smooth sculpted mikado fabric.  NOOR is a bold baroque lace long sleeved gown. The lace is adorned with hand-embroidered twinkling beads all the way through, which are exceptionally lovely on the beaded strap details at the back of the dress. The plunge illusion neckline makes a statement along-with the figure-hugging column silhouette which dramatically cascades out into the rich lace train. Complete luxury.  

0 Postponed Weddings

• by Administrator
• 20-04-2020

We are feeling for our brides who have had to make tough decisions to postpone their wedding plans due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Many of you with weddings coming up in the next few months will be having a dilemma of whether to cancel, reduce guest numbers, or move your date. There will be so many factors to consider and we are here to help when it comes to both your wedding dress, and moral support!  If you’ve ordered your wedding dress with us and have had to make any major changes please get in touch with us as soon as you can so we can update order forms, and keep production running as smoothly as possible. We will answer any questions/concerns you have to the best of our ability, despite this being an uncertain time for us all.  We are working hard to finish orders ahead of schedule for our earlier brides’ wedding dates, and we are kindly asking our brides whose gowns are ready to collect them promptly. This is to ensure orders are finalized where possible, and space will be freed in the boutique if we get to a stage where many customers cannot get to us to collect their dresses.   We wish all you lovely brides the very best, please take care and keep in touch with us.  xx  

0 Oscar Lili Bride: Sian

• Real Brides
• by Administrator
• 06-04-2020

We are thrilled to see Sian and Ross’s gorgeous Winter wedding photos from their day at Gilmerton House back in December. Their photographer Karol Makula, really captured the essence of their wedding and made us wish we were there! The lovely bride Sian wore our Emily dress which complimented the traditional theme of her wedding day perfectly. Set in a beautiful Georgian house, the venue was filled with antique charm along with the couple’s tasteful choice of decor; including simple foliage and gold candelabras creating the loveliest, romantic atmosphere. The Emily dress is a style which gave our bride something different, with the combination of classic champagne silk, and modern beaded lace for sparkle. Sian completed her look with a satin edged veil by La Novia Edinburgh, followed by a birdcage hairpiece for the evening which gave her look a vintage inspired twist. Her flowers created by the Stockbridge Flower Company, were perfectly understated in soft ivory and greens, complimenting the forest green which Sian chose for her bridesmaids dresses. Wishing a belated congratulations to the happy couple. What a beautiful day, and definitely one to provide our brides-to-be with some dream wedding inspo!

0 Inspiration For The Perfect Veil

• by Administrator
• 01-04-2020

We understand that when it comes to veils you can get overwhelmed with choice, and perhaps so much so that you will be discouraged from even considering one as an option. However, if you manage to find the perfect veil to pair with your dress, it can be the ultimate accessory, and a dream combination to give your bridal look something extra special.  Our first piece of advice is one thing at a time, ladies! Make sure you have chosen your wedding dress and are 100% certain of that decision before moving onto veils or accessories. That way we can ensure that your veil will match the fabric texture, colour and work with your dress silhouette.  Another important factor to consider is how you will have your hair styled on the day; this is usually influenced by your dress and its neckline, but if you are keen on having a veil you may have to select a hairstyle accordingly so that the comb or clip can be integrated easily and stay put during the day.   We make all of our veils to order here at the House of Oscar Lili, and have a wide variety of finishing techniques to suit each and every preference;    One of the most popular is the curly edged veil which is made from soft tulle and nylon thread edging which has a subtle wave that cascades beautifully around the arms and shoulders, giving some movement and volume. This style works well as a fingertip length and is very versatile when matching with dress silhouettes.   If more detail is for you then light beading, lace or even sparkling crystals can be added to your veil to give more of a wow factor. Lace appliqué edging can be lovely to compliment your dress if it already has some subtle lace in the design, or for adding whimsical romanticism to Boho styles.  Otherwise a cathedral length veil with lace edging would make you feel like royalty and be the perfect way to make a bigger statement if your dress has a long train.   For more simple, traditional dresses we often pair these with satin edged veils which our brides love. The satin binding comes in different widths and is a gorgeous, clean way to finish off your entire look. This can be really nice as a long double tiered style to add a bit more drama yet keeping it sophisticated and polished.    If completely simple is your thing then we can leave the edges of our beautifully soft tulle raw for a very sheer and weightless look. This is just enough for the brides who are perhaps unsure about veils but want to finish their ensemble without distracting from the dress. Keeping it minimal means you can play with veil lengths and layers to find the perfect balance.   In the end, if you find that veils still aren't for you then why not try a birdcage which falls more into the accessory category. The birdcage will allow you to add a bit of glamour to your look and the headpiece can be as detailed or simple as you like, with just a little bit of netting over your face to add some vintage allure. It’s something a little different and oh so chic.   At Oscar Lili, we’re here to help you every step of the way to piece together the perfect outfit. With a vast selection of veils in our Morningside boutique and many customisable options available, it’s almost impossible not to find one that you’ll love.   

0 Oscar Lili Bride: Mariette

• Real Brides
• by Administrator
• 17-02-2020

This Cornish seaside wedding is everything we need to lift the spirits and give you bliss, beachy wedding inspo! Our bride Mariette got married at the beautiful Porthpean House - aptly nicknamed The Big Beautiful Beach House - where she enjoyed an intimate and relaxed ceremony. It was tastefully decorated with simple foliage, and less was more with the antique charm of the house itself.   We really enjoyed helping Mariette style her wedding look with us at our Morningside, Edinburgh boutique, and loved her effortless, elegant outfit created with our bridal separates. She already had a lovely floaty skirt which she wanted to wear on her day, so our job was to help her select the perfect bolero, which was our high neck, French lace style with delicate pearl beading around the neck and cuffs (style 627). Mariette instantly fell in love with this design and finished it off with the Lisa bodice underneath, and a single layer veil for simplicity. She channeled a boho bride style and looked glowing, enjoying some lovely strolls along the Cornwall coastline after her ceremony; beautifully captured by Salt & Sea Photography Co. The bride’s gorgeous natural bouquet was made by Lafonia Flower Company.

0 Oscar Lili Favourites - Katharine Dress

• by Administrator
• 13-01-2020

Our beautiful Katharine dress by Oscar Lili bridal is crafted from luxuriously soft Duchess Satin, and creates the perfect combination of a classic silhouette with contemporary detail. The off-shoulder cut is refined and elegant, exposing the collarbones and shoulders. The folded detail at the neckline hints at a timeless vintage inspiration, giving you effortless glamour in this bridal gown. Perfect for the traditional affair and definitely for a grand entrance. Specializing in made-to-measure here at Oscar Lili, it is certainly taken seriously with the Katharine dress. The paneled construction of the bodice make this wedding dress look molded to the body for a perfect fit,  and the integrated belt at the waist will cinch you in at the middle to flatter the figure. The full ballgown skirt is all the drama you need, with a long train which is beautiful paired with a full-length veil, giving the gown a regal appeal.  Clean, sophisticated and gorgeous; this design is minimally modest, yet something a little different and so special for your big day.

0 Oscar Lili Bride: Corrine

• Real Brides
• by Administrator
• 06-01-2020

Corrine wore the strapless luxurious satin Julia dress by La Novia for her wedding day, opting for a bridal look with a timeless A-line silhouette which was paired with our best-selling Nikki bridal bolero to add lovely lace detail to her look. Corrine and Stuart chose the stunning 19th century Cambo Estate in East Neuk, Fife as the venue for their wedding day. The woodland, gardens and beach that surround the estate were a real selling point as they wanted to achieve an organic feel when designing their day; nature really played a part in it, and we can see this from all the beautiful photos captured by Caro Weiss Photography in the surrounding landscape. Along with the marquee festival theme, personal touches were spread throughout; it was a team effort the day before the wedding to make their gorgeously chic floral hoops which hung in marquee, and greenery and foraged flowers were used to decorate the tables. This natural theme went so well with Corrine’s bridal look which was soft and classic, yet contemporary with the addition of her dark red lip colour, and the textured lace Nikki bolero by Oscar Lili which added some sparkle from the embroidered beads and sequins. We loved the dusty pink and green tones of Corrine’s colour palette, and going for the less traditional approach by having her bridesmaids in different coloured skirts was a lovely touch. The floristry brought all of the beautiful colours and textures together and was done by Cath Reilly. Corrine told us that her “day was perfect. So much planning goes into a wedding and it was amazing to see it all come together on the day. We wanted our wedding to be full of friends, family, braw food, some right good beer – artfully brewed by the best man – and amazing music. A right good party.” Both the Oscar Lili and La Novia team are so happy for Stuart and Corrine, and loved to see how amazing their day turned out. Congratulations!

0 Oscar Lili Bride: Belinda

• Real Brides
• by Administrator
• 16-12-2019

Our lovely bride Belinda got married to her husband Aaron at The Vu, Bathgate, where they enjoyed gorgeous views and photo opportunities over Ballencrieff Reservoir. Her wedding album was filled with natural and warm photos which captured the happiness of her day, thanks to Picturesque Wedding Photography (https://picturesquewedding.com/).   Belinda looked sophisticated and glowing, and made a stylish entrance arriving with her bridesmaids in a classic vintage car. We loved her bridesmaids dresses in deep forest green, perfect for a winter wedding, with a touch of lace to mirror the bride’s dress.   For her bridal look she chose a romantic textured lace wedding gown from our Stella York collection (style 6569) with all over beading to make sure she sparkled on her wedding day. The off-shoulder style was so flattering and the open lace back of this dress was gorgeous on Belinda. We love that she wore a short white faux fur jacket which finished off her look and added the ultimate touch of glamour (as well as keeping off the windy winter chill!).   We are so thrilled Belinda found her perfect dress with us and she said: “I just want to say a massive thank you to Lilliana for helping me to find the one and for making sure the fit and every little detail of the dress was just perfect! I can honestly say I felt amazing on my big day and cannot thank Lilliana and the rest of the team enough! Loved meeting Oscar too.”  We were touched by her kind words, and it is so rewarding to hear your feedback as we strive to make sure everything is just right for each and every bride who gets their wedding dress with us. Thank you and huge congratulations to Belinda and Aaron, we wish you all the very best.

0 Oscar Lili Bride: Aileen

• Real Brides
• by Administrator
• 18-11-2019

The stunning La Novia bride Aileen summed up perfection in our Oscar Lili Marianna satin gown customized with a delicate French lace bolero to give her an elegant long-sleeved bridal look for her winter wedding. This West Coast wedding in the rural setting of GG’s Yard near Dumfries, gave Stewart & Aileen the dreamiest of countryside views, and their romantic venue was finished off with refined Scottish decor and Traditional tartans. Talking of tartans, we need to compliment the Groom for looking just as fab as the bride in his full kilt outfit.   We couldn’t have been more proud of Aileen in her gown, and we LOVE how she accessorized her bridal look. We enjoy nothing more than when our brides style up their looks and bring together different pieces to give their wedding dress that extra oomph! Aileen did not disappoint, picking out the perfect combination of a crystal encrusted belt and hair piece to add some sparkle to her classic style. The bride’s showstopper however, was the extra long veil decorated with hand-sewn lace appliques. A cathedral veil is one way to add drama to your entrance, and we’re sure Aileen’s guests were wowed as she walked down the aisle.   Thank you so much to Aileen and Stewart for sharing your photos with us, SimonsStudio (www.simonsstudio.co.uk) did such a wonderful job capturing the moments of your day. Congratulations from all of us at La Novia, we wish you all the best.