Good morning 🙂 Don’t worry! You’ve not landed upon the wrong site by accident! It’s the same Love My Dress® – we’ve just had a rather swanky make-over, so things are looking quite different around here.
I’ve been waiting for this day for what feels like so long now. I’m incredibly proud of what Love My Dress has become – a gorgeous little resource in Internet land that inspires, supports and encourages many people, but for a long time now, the blog has struggled to keep up to date with changes in the way information is blogged and shared online. We have a really strong following, our readers are loyal and they love what we do, but the look, feel and user experience of Love My Dress had begun to flag a little, and, dare I say, start to look a little amateur.
Fear of change, of losing work – of having to migrate several years worth of blog content (nearly 3,000 posts!) to a new platform – these and many other things caused a bad case of procrastination and prevented me from taking action earlier than now, but in January this year, I finally bit the bullet and committed to a complete rebrand.
Totally the best thing I ever have done for Love My Dress. Ever.
I can’t tell you how thrilled I am with this re-design. I’m over-the-moon happy with our new look. But what’s important to me is that you love it too.
I know it’s going to take a little getting used to – things aren’t where they used to be and change can cause confusion, but if my instinct is anything to go by, I think that everything is going to be fine.
Here’s a quick round-up of what we’ve focussed on:-
* Much cleaner, less cluttered pages
* Easier to access archived content
* An overall fuss-free, fun user experience
* An elegant, fashion illustration inspired vibe
* Lots of inspiring features to come – thanks to a brand new team of writers and contributors
We’ve still got a bit of work to do – you may notice a few changes rolled out this week – each of them designed to streamline your user experience and add to the pleasure and ease of visiting our blog. We also need to do some work on getting categories and tags right – but we’re working on that intensely and it won’t be long before everything is perfect. There are bound to be a few bugs here and there and I’d really appreciate your support in helping to identify where they are – if you spot something that doesn’t look right, please do email us on [email protected] to report the error.
You will find key categories to the top of the page – a useful ‘show menu/hide menu’ function means you can keep the menu bar out of sight for clutter-free browsing, or bring it up at your command. Useful drop down menus (covering era, colour, season and designer) are located in the right hand column – and other useful information like Recommended Suppliers, our ‘About page’, contact page, details of how to submit work and advertise with Love My Dress can all be found in the footer (go on, scroll to the bottom now and take a look!).
I promise this isn’t a Gwyneth moment but I really must express gratitude to some special people for being simply amazing. First up – superstar coder, designer, developer and the original Geek, is Ian Davenport of Swash and Fold (also of Big Bouquet). I commissioned Ian to produce our new blog and don’t think I’ve ever worked with anyone quite so brilliant, technically capable or knowledgeable about code! This project has been a huge undertaking and Ian has handled it like a Master of his craft – I’ve felt completely reassured every step of the way – what I thought would be a nightmare process has turned out to be a fun, educational and highly rewarding one.
Secondly, Tamryn Lawrence, my trusty colleague and new team member. Tamryn is a ray of sunshine – she sprinkles positivity wherever she goes and I adore working with her. She’s kept me sane throughout this project, but especially so over the past month when the pressure really started to hot-up.
Thanks also to the very talented Helen Simms for creating the beautiful new illustrations – you can expect to see more from Helen on Love My Dress over the coming weeks and months. And finally, thanks to the master scribe, Paul Antonio for creating an elegant new logo that I feel truly represents the essence of Love My Dress.
I’ve been saving all my very favourite submissions of the past few weeks ready for when the new blog was live. Our first real wedding feature will be blogged later this afternoon. You can also expect a months worth of brilliant competitions and giveaways in celebration of our beautiful new re-design.
That just leaves me to say that I hope with all my heart that you fall in love with the new Love My Dress® – that you find new joy in exploring our content and that visiting this blog leaves you feeling happier and more inspired than ever before. I’d very much appreciate your feedback below – please take a moment to leave a comment or ask any questions if you’re not sure about where to find something.
Now, would someone mind passing me a very strong coffee, please?
Love Annabel xx
It looks amazing – well done team and good luck for the future!
Many many thanks Belinda 🙂 xxxxxx
Annabel, loving the new site! I know first hand how much work will have gone into this behind the scenes so enjoy your beautiful new wallpaper! Lots of love, Julia xx
Thank you so so much Julia, so kind of you to leave these supportive words xXx
Oh Annabel. I adore the new site. The colours are beautiful and the illustration by Helen Simms is gorgeous. You must be so happy with it all 😀 Congratulations! xxx
Thanks so many times Sophie!! I’m truly delighted with it xXx
J’adore J’adore J’adore! Annabel it’s just lovely, feminine and elegant but also beautifully functional. I know how much hard work this must have been so congratulations for getting here, you’ll fall back in love with blogging all over again now you have a shiny new platform for it! x
Thank you so so so much Charley, this means a LOT coming from you – I really respect your opinion and thanks so much for being so kind 🙂
Big love xXx
Annabel your new site looks lovely! Well worth the wait and all your hard work 🙂
Thank you so very much Val xxxxx
Congratulations, it looks absolutely fantastic! xx
Thank you Rosie 🙂 xxx
Very nice Annabel! Looks great xxx
It looks beautiful Annabel and I’m sure your readers are going to love it. Off to have a nosey round 🙂
Huge thanks Charlie! Do you remember me asking you all about re branding at the Etsy event we spoke at last year! Come a long way since, and have to admit to being inspired by brilliant blogs like your own. I hope you are well Charlie and thanks for taking time to leave kind words 🙂 xXx
oo – I love it! Logo and illustration is beautiful and love the clean look! well done!
Huge thanks Eddie -I really appreciate that xXx
wow looks great! Congratulations!
Very nice. Much cleaner design, the old site was pretty but it did get a bit busy.
In fact, it’s so nice that here I am looking at it on Monday morning when I should be working! When I have to take the report I should be writing on honeymoon with me, I hope you will feel guilty 😉
I really appreciate your comments Hannah! The old site was a bit busy wasn’t it? I hope you love visiting the new one. I don’t feel guilty! hehehe! 🙂 xXx
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!! I think it looks so chic and pretty!
Thank you so much Karen! xXx
Hi Annabel, love the new look. I am missing one feature, though – the ability to click on next entry at the head of each post. Will this feature be restored at some point?
Hi Moz! Those link features are now at the bottom of each post but I’ve passed this over to my developer and he’s looking in to it for you – thanks for raising this! xXx
Very clean, slick and professional, I like!!
Looks gorgeous!! xxx
Absolutely beautiful – the design work is super!
Thank you Matt! Much appreciated xx
Looks fantastic Annabel – you must be SO pleased 🙂
Oh I am! Huge thanks Pen, I am so happy that you like it, I really am 🙂 xx
This is super lovely Annabel. Contemporary, stylish and very fresh.
Thanks *so* much Juliet – obviously comments from the photography community are so important to me so this has made me so happy today – thank you!
Very nice Annabel! Looks great xxx
Thank you Carolanne 🙂 xxx
WOOHOO! It looks beautiful, very stylish, I love it. Well done all! x Lindsey Lovette
WOOOOOHA! Now to get your Lovettes posted tagged properly! 🙂 xxxxx
Beautiful new design Annabel. Love the clean sleekness! X
Huge thanks guys, very much appreciated 🙂 xXx
Incredibly stylish site – congratulations Annabel! x
Thank you Rosie 🙂 xxxxx
Beautiful – love it. So stylish and very vintage Vogue…looking fab 🙂 x
Thanks so very much Annamarie! I really appreciate your words xxx
Really stylish Annabel, it looks absolutely brilliant. Really pleased for you!
Eeek, thanks David! That so many photographers have taken time to comment today really means so much to me xxx
It all looks gorgeous Annabel! So very chic from top to tail! Big congrats to you and all involved! x
Thank you Kelly! Hopefully it won’t be long before your designs are gracing our pages once again 🙂 xXx
Looks beautiful Annabel! Super stylish and it really fits what you do so well. Love it. Congratulations xxx
Thank you so much Emily. Typepad had to go. It’s like being reborn, seriously, WordPress is like this whole new magical world!
Oh my I am in raptures over the make over, it’so pretty.
Adore the Pink/Gold shades, layout and the functionality.
Congratulations Annabel this is super special and gorgeous. Much Love,
Charlotte xxx
This means the absolute world to me Charlotte, thank you so much! I hope I can continue to do you proud and represent Charlotte Balbier in the very best way to all our lovely readers xXx
Congratulations on your new-look site Annabel! It’s absolutely stunning and all of the hard work has most definitely paid off! Your new logo and Helen Simms’ illustrations are TO DIE FOR!
Kate x
Thanks so much Kate!! xXx
This is so beautiful Annabel – very apt to the whole feel that Love My Dress has built over the last few years. So elegant. 🙂 Big love Claudia xx
Thank you Claudia 🙂 What a lovely, lovely comment, I’m so grateful xXx
ADORE the new site – love the delicate and more simple layout….but still very much you Annabel <3
Thanks Jannie! Your support is very much appreciated xxx
Totally beautiful. Congratulations Annabel! I LOVE it! xx
Wow it looks sooooo pretty! Love it 🙂 xxx
Loving your new site, great colour choices and layout! So pretty xxx
wow wow wow! Absolutely gorgeous Annabel xxx
Thank you guys – so excited about featuring more of your gorgeous work on these pages very soon xxx
Sweeeeeeeet! Looks amazing.
Well done for all the hard work Annabel…looks stylish and functional, and right on brand too! A grown-up version of a much-loved blog 🙂 xxx
Thanks so much
Anushé – honestly, that so many photographers have said such kind words has made me feel so humbled!! It is precisely the reaction I hoped and wished for, I could not be happier 🙂 xXx
I LOVE the new look. I am so glad you did this. fantastic!!! 🙂
I can’t tell you how fantastic your update is. It looks absolutely beautiful! Congratulations (and well done on migrating those 3,000 posts. x
Heartfelt thanks Chloe 🙂 xXx
Absolutely beautiful Annabel! I’m a little bit too in love with the whole new style, gorgeous colours and clean layout. Congratulations! xoxo
Love. It! Fab work, you must be so thrilled. xx
LOVE the new look. Its so elegant. Good job team x
Oh wow, so much love for your new look, Annabel it’s absolutely beautiful. I’ve just had a good look around and love it (it was also a good excuse to re-read your anniversary post, such beautiful words and images) Congratulations xx
Oh wow Annabel, absolutely LOVING the new design and layout! Seriously gorgeous, you must be so proud! :)) XxX
Thank you Sonia!!!
I love this Annabel, it looks fabulous – just what I expect from Love My Dress. Really looking forward to spending lots more time on here gathering wedding ideas. Xx
You are such an inspiration for newer wedding bloggers like myself to follow their dreams. Your new site is absolutely gorgeous! Much Love!
Whoop, whoop!! Huge congrats on the new look site, it’s BEAUTIFUL! Looking forward to lots more LMD loveliness, now sod the coffee and sit down and have a big glass of vino! Big love from the girls at Ruby & Diva – Sara, Carrie and Katherine xxxxxxxxx
WORD! Thank you lovely ones 🙂 xxxxxx
This new design is so beautiful, I love it, well done 🙂 Classic, minimal, great colour palette. Just fab! x
Wow Annabel…your redesign is absolutely breath-taking! Huge congratulations…you must be SO happy with it :-).
Thank you Rona! xxxxx
I love it. Very clean and yet classic, rather than trendy modern.
Thank you so much Kirsten! Love that you love it, I really needed photographers to feel comfortable with it so I’m delighted!
Superb
I always did like you 😉 xx
Loving the rebrand Annabel, looks like the sleepless nights have paid off. Gorgeous colour palette and great structure xx
Looks so beautiful Annabel. Love the pretty tones and the clean design will really let the beautiful iweddings shine 🙂 x
It’s fantastic, Annabel. Really beautiful and elegant!
Wow, huge thanks Marianne! I’m super, super happy you think so xXx
Love it Annabel, looks fabulous. Well done! x
Looks beautiful! 🙂
Wow exactly as stylish , elegant and gorgeous as I expected , massive congrats x
Simply heavenly! xx Congratulations Annabel, you must be thrilled and relieved. Hurrah, no more TypePad! 🙂
NO MORE TYPEPAD!!!! THIS MAKES ME HAPPY! 🙂 xxx
Looks very stylish Annabel. Really like the logo and the pull down menu too. I do like a bit of sparkle!
It’s beautiful, esspecially love the logo and illustration. Gorgeous.
Oh my goodness! Congratulations!! LOVE LOVE L.O.V.E the new look Annabel, hope the bubbles are in free flow! Just beautiful xxx
Well Done Annabel! and your team, the new design is stunning, Loving the elegant fashion feel.
Sammy xxx
Wow! I am so over the moon about this new look. I love it!!! Congrats on all your hard work and I’m looking forward to seeing you grow even more!
Bless you Sara! Thanks so very much xx
Every woman needs a new dress now and again. Your new design looks fabulous!
So true! Thank you Ann xx
Congratulations Annabel, your new blog truly is lovely! I look forward to sending you more submissions for beautiful display on your new site!
Photography by Benamoz Ltd.
Edmonton & Destination Wedding Photography
http://www.photographybybenamoz.com
Annabel, I must say that your blog got an amazingly gorgeous look. It is simple yet much better. And to start with something new you have to look through differently.
Wow it’s so lovely congrats I hope you celebrated big time!!!!! Xxx
Thank you so much Britt xxxx
Looking very lovely over here! Fab! 🙂
Late to the party! Have been cooing over your gorgeous new site design on my phone all day yesterday. it looks just as lovely on my phone ! always a good thing I think. Love the whole new look, very classy!
HUGE thanks lovely Dana 🙂 xxxxxx
Hi, looking good. Just thought I’d mention that your posts don’t seem to be feeding to Bloglovin’ any more?
Hi Lauren! So sorry about that – we’re in the process of moving Bloglovin accounts and bringing our Bloglovin followers with us – it takes a few days! Thank you for your lovely words 🙂 xxx
Hi Lauren, just to let you know, our Bloglovin feed is now back up and running! xXx
I love the new look. Very clean and elegant. I always enjoyed the content but I think you’re right, it just needed a little freshening up. I think you’ve overwhelmingly succeeded in your mission and the whole team should be proud.
That is really so lovely of you to say Lindsay, thank you!
I love everything about the new design! The fresh white look, but with so much personality and prettiness – features and photos will look amazing set against this! Also I love the pale greens, blush pinks and gold (my all time favourite wedding colours actually!)
So excited for you – and so excited that I am part of Team Love My Dress!
Naomi xxxxx
Never got to thank you for this comment my love – THANK YOU xXx
So much slicker than your old blog, your designers have done a great job!
Never got to thank you for this comment Martin, thank you! x