The most amazing wedding dresses you’ve ever seen
Add these thoughtful ideas to your list
Make sure you don’t overspend with these top tips
CELEBRATIONSGORGEOUS TO INSPIRE YOUR DAY
With all Pure Bridal gowns retailing below £999 find your dream dress at your local stockist now. enquiries@romanticaofdevon.co.uk | romanticaofdevon.co.uk
Introducing the stunning new Martin Thornburg collection from the Mon Cheri Bridals group.
Scan me for Lookbook.
Romantica prides itself on being as inclusive as possible. Our new launch of Romantica Curve encapsulates this belief. Our brand new ‘Curve Construction’ is included in all curve styles and adds comfort and support whilst flattering the figure.
Happy summer, everyone! The sun is finally shining, and it’s got us in the mood for wedding planning! This issue we’ve gone for lots of bold features as a nod to the season, with a chic selection of buys and ideas to make your wedding stand out from the crowd.
We have a bold and beautiful wedding theme full of bright decor ideas (page 62), coloured wedding dresses so you can totally wow your guests (page 45), as well as loads of great planning tips to keep your budget on track (page 91).
This issue, I am completely in love with the real weddings (from page 66). This bumper edition includes four absolute stunners, all completely unique and full of amazing ideas and beautiful love stories. Which one is your favourite? Don’t forget to send me your pics after the big day and give us an Insta follow @loveourwedding! Happy reading!
JADE PEPPERELL Editor
My favourite picks this month!
1. I am sooo in love with the new Nadine Merabi collection, and this chic Carrie dress is my pick of the bunch! 2. A cheese and wine barge date for two?! What an excellent gift idea from Not on the Highstreet! 3. This star lantern would look amazing hung up during your reception. £16.95 from Paper Starlights.
4. Keep cool in the summer heat with this ooh la la fan from Talking Tables, just £10!
5. The beautiful 3D clocks from Bramwell Brown are incredible! You can insert your own personalisatio, too.
www.casablancabridal.com
www.treschic.com
www.monicaloretti.com
www.enchantingbymoncheri.com
www.martinthornburg.com
www.martinthornburg.com
www.ellisbridals.com
www.kladekparis.com
www.romanticaofdevon.uk
www.monicaloretti.com
www.elyseebridal.com
www.martinthornburg.com
www.elyseebridal.com
www.enzoani.com
www.casablancabridal.com
www.chicnostalgia.com
www.dandolondon.com
www.enzoani.com
www.martinthornburg.com
www.unbridledstudio.co.uk
www.ellisbridals.com
www.penliv.com
www.enzoani.com
www.kotapska.com
www.indiebridelondon.co.uk
www.romanticaofdevon.co.uk
www.sophiatolli.co.uk
www.annebarge.com
www.monicaloretti.com
www.elbethgillis.com
www.enzoani.com
www.belovedbycasablanca.com www.specialday-ireland.com
www.annebarge.com www.romanticaofdevon.co.uk
www.enzoani.com
www.specialday-ireland.com
www.penliv.com
www.kotapska.com
www.kladekparis.com
www.dandolondon.com
www.enzoani.com
www.elyseebridal.com
www.belovedbycasablancabridal.com
www.marcoymaria.com
www.enzoani.com
www.enchantingbymoncheri.com
www.dandolondon.com
www.specialday-ireland.com
CARRIE THE PERFECT WHITE MINI OBSESSION! THE DELICATE PEARL BEADING SITTING ON THE BODICE MARRIES PERFECTLY WITH THE FEATHERED SKIRT ABIGAIL KEEP IT SLEEK AND SIMPLE
FAYE FIND FLOOR SWEEPING ELEGANCE IN THE FAYE TOP, THE PERFECT BONED STYLE
VANESSA THE PERFECT JUMPSUIT FOR ALL OCCASIONS THIS SEASON. WITH A STRUCTURED NECKLINE TO FLATTER ALL
MAISY SHORT AND SWEET, MAISY IS A GREAT CHOICE FOR A SUMMER WEDDING
HARPER TAKING A TRADITIONAL DESIGN AND AMPING UP THE STYLE, THIS DRESS IS SURE TO BE A BESTSELLER
LORRIE THE PERFECT WAY TO MAKE A STATEMENT IS A CLASSY JUMPSUIT LIKE THIS ONE
Here’s a taste of three stunning new collections from Élysée, Étoile and gorgeous new label, Privé! Which one will you choose?
BY
ESMERELDA
WOULD
STYLE PB263 LESS IS SO MUCH MORE WITH THIS STRAPLESS SWEETHEART GOWN
STYLE PB257
TEA LENGTHS ARE MAKING A COMEBACK, AND THIS FLORAL FROCK IS A GREAT CHOICE
STYLE PB251 WE ADORE THE LIGHTWEIGHT TRAIN ON THIS STUNNING DRESS
STYLE PB268 GLIDE DOWN THE AISLE LIKE A GODDESS IN THIS AMAZING GOWN
STYLE PB274 OUR FAVOURITE DRESS IS THIS COOL HIGH NECK DESIGN WITH A CHIC MIDI SPLIT
High-end designs that will wow your partner and guests... Dando London know how to turn heads for all the right reasons!
BY
GET THE DETACHED WITH GLIDE AISLE GODDESS
www.monsoon.co.uk
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www.romanticaofdevon.co.uk
www.reiss.com
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www.angelandrocket.com
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All recipes are taken from Slimming World’s collection. Join your local Slimming World group or sign up online for even more recipes, guidance and support. To find your nearest group, visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk or call 0344 897 8000.
©Slimming World 2024
‘Slimming World’ is a registered trademark of Miles-Bramwell Executive Services, trading as Slimming World.
Ready in 50 minutes
INGREDIENTS
150g dried long-grain rice
400g can red kidney beans in chilli sauce
400g can mixed pulses in water, drained and rinsed
2 tbsp tomato purée
1 tomato, finely chopped
½ red onion, finely chopped
¼ cucumber, deseeded and diced
125g fat-free natural Greek yogurt, to serve Lime wedges, to serve
For the wraps:
10 large eggs
A small handful fresh parsley, finely chopped Low-calorie cooking spray
METHOD
Cook the rice according to the pack instructions, then drain and keep warm.
While the rice is cooking, make the wraps. Crack the eggs into a large measuring jug, whisk until smooth and season with a pinch of salt. Stir in the parsley.
Spray a small non-stick frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and put it over a high heat. When hot, pour in oneeighth of the egg mixture (or enough to just cover the bottom of the pan), tilting the pan to spread the egg around. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until lightly browned underneath, then flip over and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
Transfer the wrap to a baking sheet lined with baking paper, cover with another
sheet of paper and keep warm. Spray the pan again with low-calorie cooking spray and make another 7 wraps in the same way, adding each cooked wrap to the pile.
Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat, add the kidney beans and sauce, pulses and tomato purée and warm through for 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and season lightly.
Stir the beans into the rice and divide between the egg wraps. Scatter over the tomato, red onion and cucumber, and roll up loosely (you might need to hold the wraps in place with cocktail sticks).
Serve hot with fat-free natural Greek yogurt and lime wedges to squeeze over.
Ready in 55 minutes
Low-calorie cooking spray
SERVES 4
4 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks
1 red, 1 yellow and 1 green pepper, cut into bite sized chunks
1 onion, finely chopped
330ml can diet cola
200ml hot chicken stock
8 tbsp passata with onions and garlic
4 tbsp tomato purée
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tsp gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp dark soy sauce/tamari
1 tsp dried mixed herbs
200g sugar snap peas
Boiled mashed potato (without using oil or butter), to serve
Spray a large non-stick pan with low-calorie cooking spray and put it over a high heat. Add the chicken, peppers and onion and stir-fry for 5-7 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Add the diet cola, stock, passata, tomato purée, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and herbs and stir well. Bring to the boil, cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 12-15 minutes.
Add the sugar snap peas, stir and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook for another 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the veg is tender. Serve with the mashed potato.
Ready in 50 minutes, plus cooling
INGREDIENTS
Low-calorie cooking spray
2 x 400g cans chickpeas
150g caster sugar
150g plain unsweetened soya yogurt with added calcium, plus extra to serve
Zest of 1 large unwaxed orange, plus extra to serve
Zest and juice of 1 unwaxed lemon, plus extra zest to serve
250g self-raising flour
1 level tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ level tsp baking powder
25g ground almonds (see tip)
100g frozen blueberries
2 level tbsp icing sugar, sieved
Preheat your oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/ gas 6.
Spray a 20cm x 30cm baking tray or brownie tin with low-calorie cooking spray (and line it with non-stick baking paper if you like).
Drain the chickpeas over a large bowl and measure out 200ml of the chickpea liquid (aquafaba), discarding any extra. Pour the aquafaba back into the bowl and whisk using an electric hand whisk until soft peaks form (or use a stand mixer). Add the sugar a little at a time, whisking constantly, until the mixture is thick and glossy.
In a large bowl, mix the yogurt, orange zest, lemon zest and juice. Sieve the flour, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder over the aquafaba and gently
fold in until just combined. Then fold in the almonds, yogurt mixture and half of the blueberries, working quickly but carefully. Pour into the prepared tin and level.
Scatter over the remaining blueberries and bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly golden (a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake should come out clean). Leave to cool in the tin for 10-15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
When the cake is completely cool, mix together the icing sugar and 1 tsp cold water in a small bowl until you have a smooth icing, then drizzle over the cake. Cut into 18 slices and serve with the extra soya yogurt, and with the extra orange and lemon zest sprinkled over everything. This will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
Tip: You can switch the almonds for cashew nuts if you don’t mind grinding them yourself
www.gettingpersonal.co.uk
www.oliverbonas.com
www.wayfair.co.uk
www.next.co.uk
Striped plates, £16
www.limelace.co.uk Disco print, £15
www.very.co.uk Pink fascinator, £38
www.talkingtables.co.uk Multicoloured tumblers, £36
www.gingerray.co.uk Colourful balloon arch, £39.99
www.specialday-ireland.com Style D21358, £POA
www.dunelondon.com Green suede shoes, £110
www.pomegranate-london.co.uk Poppy earrings, £155
www.talkingtables.co.uk Glass bud vases, £10
www.annabeljames.co.uk Pink stripe candles, £24.95
www.talkingtables.co.uk Fabric bunting, £18
www.eandwcouture.co.uk Style 203, £POA
We are totally in love with the colour scheme for this gorgeous wedding! Chelsea tells her story here...
How did your partner propose?
In Germany it is traditional to make an advent calendar for close family and loved ones. My partner created an advent calendar for me and hung it up in our apartment and included little notes in each of the little bags. For each day of the advent he wrote on the notes a reason why he loves me. On the 24th December 2022 we were visiting his family in Bremen and I had been for a run and we decided to go for a walk in the park afterwards. I was cold and wearing his jacket to keep warm and found the last note from the advent calendar in his jacket pocket as we had come to a little lake in the park. The note read: “... and for these reasons and many more, come and find me”. I looked up and he was on one knee.
How did you decide upon a venue and why did you choose it?
We wanted a venue that would be able to accommodate our whole family onsite and would not be open to other visitors during the time that we were there. I always wanted a venue in the Cape Winelands as the views are spectacular and my husband and I love the wine from the area. Furthermore, the venue itself is so flexible and you can transform the hall into anything you can imagine. There are also various indoor and outdoor areas to experiment with - for example, we had our ceremony outside at the point, pre-drinks on the lawns and the reception in the hall. We even moved the dance floor down to the “blue room” as the evening got later, which created a fun party atmosphere.
Did you have a Wedding Planner?
Yes and he was the best. We would never have had the
same wedding without him. Luke Krone (Luke Krone Events) is the best in the business. He took vague concepts and thoughts and even pictures of places we love that we sent to him and created our entire theme and decor concept. He really can make magic happen. He also was such a calming and gentle energy throughout the entire process - we never for a minute felt unsure about anything and always knew that everything would be perfect.
What dress did you wear and where did you get it?
Both my dress for the ceremony and after-party dress were made my Elbeth Gillis in Cape Town. I felt so beautiful in both dresses and felt so looked after by Elbeth throughout the whole process. I cannot express how well everything worked with Elbeth and her team even though we live in Germany and I was not able to come for many fittings. She is so incredibly professional and the dresses were absolutely world class.
What accessories did you wear and where were they from?
I wore a pair of drop pearl earrings from Bruna the Label. I also wore a trilogy diamond ring, which was a gift from my Mom, made from her diamond earrings. I wore Jimmy Choo Aurelie 85 shoes. Lastly I wore a lace veil, which was also made by Elbeth Gillis.
What did the groom wear?
My Husband wore a tailor-made suit from Kale and Co in Cape Town.
How did you feel when you saw him as you were walking down the aisle?
I felt very serene and excited at the same time, knowing that I had made the best choice of partner for me.
Who were your bridesmaids and where were their dresses from?
I had an army of bridesmaids - 8 in total. 7 of which are friends from high school and my maid of honour is a friend that I met here in Munich a few years ago. Considering I had so many bridesmaids living in various countries in the world, we decided on different colours for each girl and a general style and they found their own dresses. I wanted them to feel comfortable in their dresses and to find a dress that they would be able to wear again and love.
Did you have a specific wedding theme and how did you create it?
The theme of our wedding was “Nature’s Opulence” and it was 100% pure Luke Krone creative genius. We spent a lot of time with Luke and he got to know us well and came up with a concept that would combine mine and my husband’s personalities. My husband’s love for outdoor adventure and my love for classic elegance turned into a storyline where a beautiful old temple once existed and had since become overrun and overpowered by nature. This was the narrative of our theme and the decor.
What was the highlight of your day?
I had a few highlights... The first highlight of the day was seeing my husband’s face as I walked into the ceremony. My second was the father-daughter dance - we danced to Moon River and my dad had been to dancing lessons. It was so beautiful and emotional for me. The last were the speeches - they were all fantastic, witty and beautifully written. I think this was one of the main comments from our guests, that we had such incredible speakers at the wedding.
Date: 23rd March 2024
Wedding planner: Luke Krone
Wedding and party dress: Elbeth Gillis
Venue: Johannesdal 1207
Flowers: Okasie
Catering: Annalize Catering
Cake: Arda at Wade’s Cakes
Make up: Algria Ferreira
Hair: Jeanette Genis
Bridesmaids hair and makeup: Sebastine Pepler
Photographer: Charlene Schreuder
Videography: White Lines Wedding Films
What was your best buy?
My best buy... this is a tricky one. I have used my pearldrop earrings a few times since the wedding. They are very classic and versatile. So in this sense I guess it was good to purchase accessories that could also be used after the special day. I also use my wedding perfume (Dior - Bois D’argent) a lot.
A chic black tie wedding with all the trimmings! Bride Keziah reveals all about her day...
How did your partner propose?
Nick proposed in February 2022. It was the weekend before Valentine’s Day and he told me to keep my Saturday free as he had something planned for us. This was super unusual for Nick, as we have never really made a fuss of Valentine’s Day. On the day, I left the house for a coffee and came back to an empty apartment with six numbered letters placed by the entrance. These letters turned into clues / instructions with a lot of sentimental stories / love weaved in. The letters lead me to our favourite hotel in London, where I opened the hotel door and found the final letter (+ Nick). The last letter was the lead up to his proposal with the final sentence left on a cliffhanger before he then got down on one knee and proposed.
Where did you get married?
We got married at Firle Place in Lewes.
How did you decide upon a venue and why did you choose it?
When searching for a venue we considered two key factors. The first, if it was naturally beautiful and could wow our guests. The second, that it was in a location easy enough for our loved ones to travel to. Firle Place was perfect, the greenery and the stunning buildings made a perfect backdrop for the day. The location was ideal, especially being near to Gatwick as Nick’s family came from Greece, Jordan, Germany and America.
Did you have a Wedding Planner?
No, we didn’t. I happily planned the wedding myself! I have a degree in Fashion Media & Promotion and currently work in Influencer Marketing, so have worked across events as part of my job. This experience, along with being a type-A personality allowed me to plan the wedding without help and honestly, I loved it. To support
us on the day, we worked with the wonderful Bryony at Blue Door Weddings (Venue Managers of FIrle Place) who was our Wedding Coordinator.
What dress did you wear and where did you get it?
I wore the “Piper” dress by Elbeth Gillis, which I bought from Angelica Bridal in London.
What accessories did you wear and where were they from?
My veil was from Angelica Bridal and my shoes were the Lover Heel from Tony Bianco.
What did the groom wear?
Nick wore a white tuxedo, with the jacket from Oliver Brown in London and the shirt, trousers, bow tie and braces from Moss Bros. Shoes from Charles Tyrwhitt.
How did you feel when you saw him as you were walking down the aisle?
I was extremely overwhelmed with love, awe, excitement, pride when I walked down the aisle and saw Nick. I couldn’t believe that this was the moment we’d dreamt about for two years. Seeing all our friends and family in one place was crazy amazing. On the other hand, I was also concentrating on walking on the cobbles and trying not to fall in my heels.
Who were your bridesmaids and where were their dresses from?
My maid of honour was my best friend who I met at university, Maisy Prynn. My bridesmaid was my other best friend that I met through my husband, Alexandria Eyre. They both wore the Sydney Straight Neck Slip Dress from Meshki in Brown.
Did you have a specific wedding theme and how did you create it?
We had a guideline aesthetic theme of “modern garden party”. To achieve this, I focused on neutral, but modern earth tones: brown, green, white, neutral. Our florals, created by the incredible Rachel Grimes of The Mirror and The Veil, focused on modern greenery with pops of white. These were displayed in bud vases of different shapes and styles across our long tables on white table cloths. We also focused on the outdoor experience (thank goodness it was sunny!), with croquet on the lawn and gorgeous cream parasols with a navy trim for our white garden seating.
For us the most important theme was a feeling of fun, happiness and enjoyment. We wanted our guests to have the best time and for the vibes to be overwhelmingly positive. Having an extended 1.5 hours for reception drinks followed by a cocktail hour after dinner really helped with this.
What was the highlight of your day?
I have two highlights that sum up different moments of the day. Walking down the aisle with my Dad, seeing Nick for the first time simultaneously to seeing all our loved ones who were all crying yet so happy. It was the best moment to kick off the most incredible day.
Secondly, the cocktail hour outside after our speech. This was the first moment I felt like I could really chill out, have a drink and enjoy the company of my friends.
Our best money spent was definitely on our catering. The team at Gastro Catering was incredible! For our main course we served steak along with a vegetarian option of tortellini pasta and our guests all raved about it! We had toasties and fries to end the day, along with a doughnut and coffee station. There were so many good food moments, which was so important to us as we are big foodies.
Date: 1st June 2024
Venue: @firleplace
Coordinator: @blue_door_weddings
Hair & Make-Up: @ausra.makeup.hair
Dress: @elbethgillis via @angelicabridal
Suit: @shopoliverbrown
Florist: @themirrorandtheveil
Photographer: @jonnygouldstonephoto
Videographer: @champagnekissesuk
DJ: @sebemmins
Pianist: @philchevmusic
Furniture: @toasthq
Caterer & Bar: @gastrocateringuk
Car: @rng.classics
Disco Ball: @sussexeventsltd
Do you have any saving tips?
If you have a set budget for your wedding, you’ll quickly learn you can’t have it all and that’s absolutely fine! You need to prioritise what’s important for your day. Elements like signage, whilst beautiful can sometimes be overlooked and aren’t always needed.
A
This stunning wedding in a jawdropping location will inspire you. Bride Eve tells all...
Why did you choose the French Alps as the destination for your wedding?
James’ connection to Morzine, a French Alpine town and ski resort, dates back to his childhood. It is where he first learned to ski, creating cherished memories on the slopes with his family during winter, and enjoying cycling adventures in the summer. Since we began our journey together, Morzine has been the backdrop to a myriad of joyful (and occasionally challenging!) experiences - be it skiing, road cycling, hiking, or even paragliding - turning it into a sanctuary of shared happiness. When we got engaged, the dream of sharing this special haven with our nearest and dearest became a tangible reality, and Morzine was the only choice for our wedding destination. When we first visited the venue – The Farmhouse Hotel - the charm of the character-filled building and the beautiful gardens with the view over the town and mountains was captivating.
What dress did you wear and where did you buy it?
I chose a Freda Bennet gown for my wedding, envisioning a look that was both simple and traditional, with an emphasis on a beautiful train and silhouette. I wore the whimsical Halfpenny London Margaret Veil for the reception and changed into the Issa shrug for the reception. I loved being able to change up the look from day to night and both pieces gave the silhouette and the softness I was looking for.
What did your bridesmaids wear?
I wanted everyone to feel at ease in their dresses, opting for a soft pink colour scheme. Each of my bridesmaids hold a special place in my heart due to their uniqueness, and I
wanted that individuality to shine through in their outfits. The bridesmaids, therefore, had freedom to select their preferred styles from any brand. This decision aligned with the laid-back ambiance of the wedding.
What was your wedding theme and how did you create it?
We really wanted a fun and relaxed wedding, in the place we love the most in the world, with the people we love the most. We wanted the day to be about us, our families and friends. Our table names were designed by a dear friend, and all based on places nearby that had special meaning to us both. On the back of the name cards, we shared what was special about each place. This enabled us to share more of the reasons why we love Morzine with our guests. We had a vague outline of preferences for the flowers, emphasising local alpine flowers with a touch of peonies and a loose colour scheme. When the florist unveiled the bouquets on the morning of the event, I was overwhelmed with emotion. The alpine weather played its part as well, adding to the atmosphere with dramatic thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. It created an unforgettable and magical experience.
Who walked you down the aisle and gave you away?
I am so lucky and grateful to have had my mum walk me down the aisle. My father passed away a few years ago and my sister told me before we walked down the aisle how proud my father would have been if he had been there. But walking into a room filled with all the people I love the most, with my mum by my side was just amazing.
Did you plan any extra activities around the wedding ceremony?
Over our wedding weekend, we endeavoured to immerse our guests in everything we adore about this beautiful area of the French Alps and more. On Friday, our prewedding festivities commenced with a trip to a restaurant in a mountain hamlet, locally known as the ‘goat village’ because goats roam around freely. We had arranged transport to drive all the guests to the venue. However, unforeseen road closures meant the only way to get there was via a cable car and then a walk to the venue. It ended up being a much more memorable experience! The festivities continued with a sun-soaked welcome reception at a mountainside bar in Morzine. The Aperol’s were flowing and they made some delicious tartiflettes to soak it up - one of our favourite alpine dishes.
The morning of the wedding brought a surprising and adrenaline-pumping twist, as James, much to my disbelief, organised a paragliding adventure for his groomsmen!! As if he didn’t have enough to think about the morning of his wedding!
Post-wedding, the celebrations continued on with a BBQ at Hotel Du Lac, a venue offering stunning views of a gorgeous mountain lake. We had live music and guests
Date: 29th July 2023
Venue The Farmhouse Hotel
Photography Eight Bells
Flowers The Floral Kitchen
Dress Freda Bennet
Veil and Shrug Halfpenny London
walked, swam or paddled around the lake. It was the perfect way to finish off such a wonderful weekend
Do you have any words of wisdom for newly engaged couples who are planning their wedding? Try not to sweat the small things! Invariably something will not go as planned but these moments will become the most cherished stories later on. Ultimately, it’s about creating a day that reflects your unique connection and sets the foundation for a lifetime of happiness together.
This gorgeous couple celebrated their day overseas. Bride Victoria shares all the details...
How did your partner propose?
We met in The Ship in Wandsworth on a sunny Sunday in July. 10 days later we had our first date, a picnic in Battersea Park. We drank all the rosé and to this day disagree adamantly on the exact location of said picnic! In September 2019, exactly 3 years to the day from the date that we “became official”, a friend of mine (one of my bridesmaids) lured me to Battersea Park under false pretences. Whilst we were walking her dog in the dappled evening light we stumbled across Jake with a picnic rug, picnic hamper, champagne and I could hear one of our favourite songs playing. My friend quickly scarpered behind a wooden structure and took some photos as Jake got down on one knee. He still thinks that he proposed at the same spot we had our first date, but it definitely wasn’t!
Where did you get married?
Aenaon Villas, Santorini – the dreamiest place on earth!
How did you decide upon a venue and why did you choose it?
It is our favourite hotel. We were there for the second time in early September 2019, and we got upgraded to the honeymoon suite which was just magical. The owners, George and Alexandria are incredibly warm and welcoming and unlike everywhere else on Santorini where you are higgledy piggledy on top of eachother. You have so much space and uninterrupted views of the Caldera. This was only a few weeks before we got engaged so when it happened this place was front of mind and nowhere else quite matched up. We knew we wanted
a destination wedding as Jake is from Auckland, New Zealand and I am from the UK, so we wanted everyone to travel and have a holiday.
Did you have a Wedding Planner?
Yes, Julia and Evita. Simply amazing throughout the whole process (many changes, delays, and tears!).
What dress did you wear and where did you get it?
Angelica Bridal in Angel Islington. It is from Elbeth Gillis. In 2019/20 when we were planning for 2021, I had struggled to find a dress that I loved and decided to go down the design it yourself route. By 2023 after so many delays and cancellations I didn’t want the responsibility falling on me and felt that with age I wanted something simple enough. Angelica Bridal was the only shop I went to this time around. I was 4 months postpartum and breastfeeding so my body was not how I imagined it would be for the wedding, but even then, I knew right away that the dress was perfect (except the bow needed some work which the lovely ladies assured me would be easy, and it was!).
What accessories did you wear and where were they from?
Shoes from Christian Louboutin
Rings: family rings / Hatton garden engagement ring and wedding band
Earrings were a last-minute decision (usually wear diamond studs) but grabbed some Kate Spade dangly earrings from Selfridges. For the after party I put on a pearly headband from Etsy.
What did the groom wear?
Navy blue linen suit from Reiss.
How did you feel when you saw him as you were walking down the aisle?
He looked amazing, as did the whole setting! That said, I was holding the baby (Madeleine, our 10 month old at the time, who I was not meant to be holding but she had refused to go with my bridesmaid) and then the baby refused to crawl down the aisle as she was meant to, so when I first saw him I was more focused on trying to put the baby down and he was focused on trying to encourage her to crawl to him… but no luck! I carried her, and my dad carried my flowers.
Who were your bridesmaids and where were their dresses from?
Hannah White, Jess Hilton, Franki Dent, Liz Howard and Jessie Dewes. All friends from various parts of life (school, university, home). They wore an amazing burgundy dress from Ghost that miraculously looks good on all body types!
Did you have a specific wedding theme and how did you create it?
Since we started planning in 2019 before the COVID delay it felt like Santorini weddings had gotten much more glam and glitzy. I felt very strongly that I wanted to keep the feel rustic and simple which seemed to go against the trends according to Instagram and Pinterest. I wanted wooden tables and natural flowers with lots of foliage, vintage utensils and glasses. No “theme” as such. I also didn’t want too much “stuff” to detract from the amazing beauty of the location.
What was the highlight of your day?
The day before the wedding we went on a boat cruise
Date: 9th September 2023
Dress: Elbeth Gillis
Location: Aenaon Villas, Santorini
Photographer: White On Black Studio
with all 100 guests (there should be pics on the website), and then that night was the opening game of the rugby world cup (NZ v France). Half the guests were from New Zealand and desperate to watch the game – so we took almost everyone to a big beach bar with sports screens and it turned into a party!
The highlight for me was the speeches, and specifically Jake’s speech. He is an amazing public speaker! The wedding planner told us it was the best groomsman speech that she had ever heard!
What was your best buy?
I loved my dress. I loved that I didn’t need to look very hard – I just knew it was what I need and wanted. The tailor did the most amazing job making the bow do what I wanted it to too!
OFFER A & B Expires 31/07/2024 Book a Viewing here today for
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£1,000 worth of free Wedding Extras offered on this month’s viewings, for Couples booking a 2025 Wedding. Free Upgrades collectively worth £1,000 are offered by key Suppliers: DJ, Photographer, Decor/ Florist, Formal Hire, Wedding Cake etc. See Suppliers Added Value Extras (S.A.V.E.).
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* Offer (A) applies to any wedding booking made in July this year, for a wedding on any Friday or Saturday 2025. Offer (B) Applies to Last Minute Weddings and Fridays in 2025. These offers cannot be used in conjunction with any existing offer. Weddings must
Value of £5,280.
Kindar Brown, Senior Financial Planner at Rathbones Group Plc reveals her top saving tips...
Awedding is the beginning of a new chapter and likely one of the most important days of your life. While the day itself should be full of joy and stress free, a lot of our time and money goes into prewedding planning, to make sure this is the case. The cost of
living crisis and sticky inflation are impacting prices across the board and wedding suppliers are no exception. For those gearing up for their wedding day, Kindar Brown, Senior Financial Planner at Rathbones Group Plc, shares her top tips for anyone putting a budget together for their special day.
1. Set a budget early
The average wedding in 2023 cost £20,700, up 12.5% from 2022, so it is understandable that you may feel overwhelmed or stressed when you begin the planning process. With many already feeling the impact and financial pressures of the cost-of-living crisis, having realistic expectations, and putting a strict budget in place have never been more important. For anyone planning their big day, start by having the conversation early on with your partner and any other family members who may be contributing. This will help you to establish your budget and therefore help guide decision making early on. It can be easy to get carried away so setting boundaries with a budget is key.
2. Start a separate savings pot
As with all life events, the sooner you start saving and putting money aside, the better. Communication is key. Discuss whether you and your partner want to set up a separate bank account or even a joint savings account to provide a clear look at your savings and what your goal is. Make sure to openly talk about individual saving pots and whether you will each contribute a portion towards your wedding fund. It is also important to note after the wedding, if a surname is changed there will be additional costs to update passports and other documentation, too. Choosing a competitive savings account that matches your requirements is an important step.
3. Consider your priorities
Weddings are a bit like a jigsaw, with various aspects to plan for and pull together. Start by creating a checklist for all the essentials you’ll need to spend money on and another for all the extra, nice but non-essential expenditures. Then it is also worth having a conversation with your partner to establish what areas you’d like to prioritise in terms of your spending. Every couple is different and therefore the various components of a wedding will hold different levels of importance for each couple. Whereas one couple may value a top-of-the-range photographer, another may prioritise a three-course meal at the reception. If you agree your priorities, you can then spend time shopping around and researching cost-effective options when organising those nonpriority components. Likewise, whilst some may hold the idea of a large wedding with an extensive guest list close to their heart, when creating the guest list, keep in mind extra catering and bigger venues can eat away at your budget.
Remember your future
Whilst it’s easy to focus your attention solely on the short term, it’s important to keep in mind the reality that once you say your vows and swap rings, you and your partner have a whole future ahead of you. When planning your wedding try not to shoot your future selves in the foot by overlooking the need to financially plan and prioritise
your post-wedding lives. Once the decorations are down and the honeymoon is over, you don’t want the start of your new life together to be characterised by financial stress and regret. In addition to all of your planning and discussion around wedding finances, it would be a good idea to also think about your long-term financial goals and how you plan on achieving these together.
1. Meet hundreds of top wedding suppliers
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3. Celebrate with your friends and family
Head to The Peony Champagne Bar to relax and celebrate your engagement with your friends and family. Whilst you’re there explore the beautiful Peony wedding flower displays for some more inspo!
4. Get inspired at the WEDTalk Stage
Hear from the industry’s leading wedding professionals, on the top tips and secrets you need to know to make your dream wedding day a reality. From logistics on the big day, to budgeting, wedding etiquette and decor, find the answers to all your planning questions.
5. The VIP Experience
Book VIP to gain fast-track entry, unlimited access to our VIP Lounge, and your exclusive goodie bag full of luxury products. You can also reserve seats at the Catwalk and indulge in a complimentary glass of bubbly on us!
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From intimate beach weddings to dazzling cocktail parties, Aldemar Knossos Royal Weddings make sure your celebration will be one to remember. to make your every dream come true!
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Located in the western Peloponnese, in Olympia, home of the Olympic Games, Aldemar Olympian Village is a luxury fivestar resort overlooking the Ionian Sea. Right on the long awarded sandy beach of Skafidia, the 350-acres resort nestles within landscaped lush gardens surrounded by palm, olive and pine trees.
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Contact: +30 26210 82 000, ov@aldemar.gr.
• Crunch time! How to save those extra pennies - FAST!
• Wedding readings and poems your guests will love
• Details, dresses, planning advice, venues and much more...
