Love Our Wedding - July/August 2023

With all Pure Bridal gowns retailing below £999, please visit our website to view the entire collection and find your nearest stockist.

www.romanticaofdevon.co.uk

Ed’s welcome

Summer is here and we are just loving the weather! I keep thinking about all those lovely couples that chose to wed over these coming weeks, enjoying the best day of their lives. After you’ve said ‘I do’ please don’t forget to send us your wedding snaps, and you could be featured, just like our gorgeous couples this issue, from page 70. Also this issue we have beautiful bohemian theme ideas (page 60), our summer shortlist of wedding dresses (from page 16) and we’ve even got the mums sorted with a contemporary selection of gorgeous gowns (page 48).

If you’re looking to put pretty favours on your tables, but aren’t sure what to go for, please do consider Marie Curie. A brilliant cause that create all sorts of delicate favours, with every penny going to the charity. Read more on page 98. I hope you enjoy the issue!

JADE PEPPERELL Editor

My favourite picks this month!

1. Wedding umbrellas are so handy for shading in summer weddings, and I love this one from English Heritage for £42.50. 2. The new PEN•LIV collection is so stunning, Aries is my top choice 3. These hanging stars from Paper Starlights are the perfect decoration for outdoors in the evening, £54 4. Never mind being a bridesmaid, I want this Lipsy dress for myself! £65 5. These Macrame wedding chair backs are so pretty from Ginger Ray, £24.99

CALIE A STUNNING FITTED STYLE WITH A NUDE UNDERLAY AND BEAUTIFUL FLOATY MERMAID SKIRT

ARAMIS

THIS WAS NO EASY DECISION, BUT WITH SUCH SOPHISTICATED, CONTEMPORARY STYLING OF THIS CHIC GOWN, WE PICK ARAMIS AS OUR TOP CHOICE IN THE COLLECTION

STYLE C568 WE LOVE THE SIMPLICITY OF THIS DESIGN, AND ITS CUTE OFF-THESHOULDER STRAPS

LOUISA WE LOVE HOW THIS DRESS TEAMS A LOW V-NECKLINE WITH A HIGH SPLIT SKIRT. AN IDEAL CHOICE FOR THE COOLER MONTHS

CASSIOPEIA THIS SUBTLY SULTRY GOWN HUGS YOUR CURVES EFFORTLESSLY, SHOWING OFF YOUR GORGEOUS SHAPE WITH COMFORT AND STYLE

DELANCEY THIS TRADITIONAL STYLE WILL MAKE YOUR PARTNER’S JAW DROP, PROVING THAT SOMETIMES SIMPLICITY MAKES THE BIGGEST IMPACT

ÉLYSÉE

Find

15. Milimili Bridal Colchester

16. The Bridal Rooms Uttoxeter

17. Brittany Ann Bridal Thornton-Cleveleys

18. Js Couture London

19. Goldies Bridal Pocklington

20. Mimi Toko Bridal Duffield

21. Belle & Bouquet Wellingore

22. The Bridal House Cornwall Truro

SCOTLAND

23. Opus Couture West Kilbride

24. Blush Ely Fraserburgh

NORTHERN IRELAND

25. Elody Bride Newry Down

26. Petticoat Lane Bridal Hillsborough Co. Down

IRELAND

27. Diamond Bridal Cork

ENGLAND

1. The Dressing Rooms Halesowen

2. Ava Rose Hamilton Colne

3. Ava Rose Hamilton Silsden

4. The Wedding Dress Company Corbridge

5. Along Came Eve Chester

6. Scarlet Poppy Leeds

7. Bellissima Weddings Chelmsford

8. Champagne & Charlotte Bridal Bideford

9. The Wedding Dress Shop Wimbledon

10. Ann Louise Bridal Pinner

11. Knutsford Wedding Gallery Knutsford

12. Little London Brides Tadley

13. Surrey Brides

Weybridge

14. Liverpool Bridal Boutique Liverpool

your perfect ÉLYSÉE gown at one of the UK’s top bridal boutiques...

STYLE Y3108

THIS STYLISH YET SIMPLE DRESS COMES WITH A DETACHABLE JACKET SO YOU CAN MIX UP YOUR LOOK!

With elements

attach/ detach

STYLE Y3116

ROCK THIS FLORAL FROCK WITH A CHAMPAGNE UNDERLAY AND WOW-FACTOR DETACHABLE SLEEVES

STYLE Y3116

YOU’RE NOT IMAGINING IT, THIS IS THE SAME GORGEOUS DRESS AS TOP LEFT, BUT IN BLACK! A REAL STATEMENT GOWN

STYLE Y3118

WE’RE OBSESSED WITH THIS DREAMY DESIGN! THE FLOATY SLEEVES GIVE IT A BOHO VIBE

STYLE Y3115

CELEBRATE YOUR SPRING/SUMMER WEDDING IN THIS ELEGANT STRAPPED A-LINE DRESS

WHERE TO SHOP FOR ♥

Pure

ENGLAND

1. Wedding Quarter Ltd

Malvern

2. Elegance Bridalwear

Nottingham

3. Wedding Vows

Rotherham

4. Ava May Bridal

Solihull

5. Tracy Lea Bridal

Burton-Upon-Trent

6. White Rose Bridal Rooms

Midgham

7. Champagne And Lace

Lincolnshire

8. Wedding Wardrobe

Durham

9. Velvet Queen Ltd

Portsmouth

10. Roses Bridal Boutique

Kempston

11. Belle Of The Ball Bridals

Melksham

12. Karen Elizabeth Bridal

Suffolk

13 The Wedding Collection

Barnstaple

14. The Bridal Affair

Easingwold

15. Bisous Bridal Boutique

Warrington

16. Heavenly Bodies Bridal Ltd

Bromley

17. Tamsin Bridal Boutique

Kidderminster

18. Blue Beau Boutique Ltd Benfleet

19. Kates Bridal Room Clitheroe

20. The Bridal Boutique Bristol

21. Village Bridal Boutique Great Oakley

22. Rosedene Bridal Bognor

23. Maria’s Bridal Boutique Yatton

24. Not Just Brides Westbury

WALES

25. Perfection Bridal Cardiff

26. The Bridal Lounge Abertillery

27. Castle Brides Montgomery

SCOTLAND

28. Bridal Boutique At Frox Of Falkirk Falkirk

29. La Beck Exclusives Perth

30. Elmar Bridal Collection Peterhead

NORTHERN IRELAND

31. Pearls And Whirls Bridal Boutique

Toomebridge

Dando London

Showing how to ‘do’ glamour once again, the new collection from this iconic British designer

WISTERIA FEATURING ONTREND OFF THE SHOULDER SLEEVES TEAMED WITH A FLORAL MOTIF DRESS, THIS STYLE IS BANG ON FOR 2023

LARKSPUR HOW GORGEOUS ARE THE FLORAL SLEEVES ON THIS DESIGN? PERFECT FOR A SPRING WEDDING

WATER LILY

A PRINCESS PERFECT GOWN WITH LOTS OF LARGER EMBELLISHMENTS TO ENSURE YOU STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

TULIP SLINKY, SEXY AND SOPHISTICATED - THIS DRESS HAS IT ALL!

ORCHID HUGGING EVERY CURVE AND SHOWCASING A STUNNING SWEETHEART NECKLINE, THIS GOWN IS FIT FOR THE SILVER SCREEN

LILY OF THE VALLEY THE ELEGANT TULLE SLEEVES ON THIS DRESS ARE THE PERFECT TOUCH TO ADD GLAMOUR

CHERRY BLOSSOM OUR PICK OF THE COLLECTION IS THIS STUNNER WITH BEAUTIFUL FLORAL CUTAWAY DETAILS ON THE BODICE

PRE-WEDDING TREATMENTS

SKINCARE

Wake up on your wedding day to a bright, clear, glowing complexion with these skincare tips from Victoria Morgan, The GLOW Coach

As a Bride to-be ten years ago, my skin was breaking out due to stress and from going on a restrictive low carb diet in order to lose some weight. Today, as a Bridal wellness Coach and with my background in skin-health, developing natural and organic skincare products, I would do things very differently and make more time for nourishing my skin and general self-care. Here are my easy to follow top tips and the best ingredients and routines for getting that all important wedding day glow...

If you still have 6 months to go then great, if not then don’t worry you can still nourish your skin by following these tips and adapting them to your timeline:

At around the 6 months to go mark - Establish a strong bespoke AM and PM routine that suits your skin type and concerns, supports the skin’s microbiome and will nourish the deeper dermis layer of the skin. Your morning routine is important to prepare and protect the skin for the day ahad - cleanse, moisturise, apply SPF, then your evening

routine is for cleansing and regenerating the skin, it’s important to cleanse the day off and apply nourishing serums and oil based products that penetrate the dermis layer, sinking in to work overnight when our skin is busy rejuvenating itself.

My new GLOW Beauty Drops nourishing facial oil is perfect as it’s a blend of 11 organic oils and extracts, for a vitamin and nutrient boost, plus instant radiance.

5 months to go - Increase the vitamins, minerals and omegas that you apply onto your skin - Vit C is high in antioxidants and great to combine with Vit E, this is a winning combination because Vit C is water soluble and E is oil soluble so very effective together. Our skin needs minerals too like Calcium, Zinc, Copper and MSM (the beauty mineral) found in many innovative skincare products. Don’t forget to eat more vitamins and minerals too, to get that glow from within!

4 months to go - Don’t forget the skin on your body, take long baths, start exfoliating, body brushing, applying nourishing oils and enjoy the calming ritual of it.

3 months to go - Boost your skincare with more active ingredients e.g anti-oxidants, acids (PH balancing and resurfacing), retinol is best for anti-ageing, to resurface and boost collagen - build this up slowly as it can take

time for your skin to get used to it (can cause redness initially and always use SPF the morning after). My favourite acids are lactic and glycolic, salicylic is great if you have breakouts.

2 months - Hydration is key, add hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine as this supports the amount of moisture in your skin and can also help it to produce more HA, as it is found naturally in our skin. Mist your skin regularly, a natural essence or floral water will work wonders for dehydrated skin (and drink more water daily!)

1 month - Maintenance is important, don’t try anything new or book invasive treatments at this point. Our Skin regenerates every 28-30 days, so now is the time your new skin cells for the big day are preparing to come to the surface! What you do now is so important, maintain the things you know are working well for you and your skin type.

3 weeks - Boost antioxidants in your skincare (and diet) I particularly ecommend Vit C, E, and Niacinamide (Vit B3)

2 weeks - Lots of self care rituals are important at this point, especially if you’re feeling a bit stressed or

nervous - take long baths, use a gua sha, try some gentle face massage to boost lymphatic drainage and reduce any puffiness, calm your nerves and carve out general ‘you time’!

1 week - Stick to what’s working, turbo-boost skin hydration. Use gentle products, such as a natural exfoliating face mask or polish, and serums to nourish the dermis and care for the microbiome.

The BIG Day! - Get ready to GLOW! I recommend prepping your skin using glow-boosting ingredients like Vit C if your skin is used to them by now, also use an HA mist,

eye product to brighten the eye area and nutrient rich serums and oils to give you that gorgeous dewy, soft focus look and prep your skin ready for make-up application.

Victoria Morgan, known as The GLOW Coach, is a Bridal wellness coach offering bespoke nutrition & lifestyle plans for Brides to-be. The newly launched GLOW skincare product ‘Beauty Drops’ is a nourishing facial oil and potent blend of 11 Organic certified oils & extracts, to give your skin a nutrient and vitamin boost, for an insanely bright, instant healthy GLOW. Discover more here: www.theglow.coach or email Victoria@theglow,coach.

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 2023

‘Slimming World’ is a registered trademark of Miles-Bramwell Executive Services, trading as Slimming World.

Images: Slimming World/Lara Holmes, Gareth Morgans, Maja Smend

Sweettreats

BERRY AND YOGURT POPSICLES

Ready in 10 minutes, plus overnight freezing

MAKES 6

INGREDIENTS

150g fresh summer berries (such as blueberries, blackberries and strawberries), plus extra to serve (optional)

Grated zest and juice of ½ unwaxed lemon

1 level tbsp sweetener granules

350g fat-free natural Greek-style yogurt

½ level tsp vanilla bean paste

METHOD

Put the berries, lemon zest and juice and 1 level tsp sweetener in a small bowl and crush with a fork. Spoon 1 tbsp of the berry mixture into each of 6 ice lolly moulds (see tip) and freeze for 1 hour or until firm.

Mix the yogurt, vanilla bean paste, remaining sweetener and the rest of the berry mixture in another bowl. Spoon the mixture into the lolly moulds, add the lolly lids and

sticks and freeze overnight. Dip the moulds briefly in hot water to turn them out. We served ours with some extra berries.

If you don’t have ice lolly moulds, pour the mixture into small pots and cover with foil. Make a small cut in each piece of foil and poke in a wooden lolly stick.

MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP SUNDAE

Ready in 50 minutes, plus freezing

INGREDIENTS

SERVES 4

5 x 175g pots Müllerlight Vanilla yogurt

2 tsp peppermint extract

Seeds of 2 cardamom pods, crushed

A few drops of green food colouring

2 egg whites*

50g dark chocolate chips

125g fresh raspberries

4 squirts of light aerosol cream (each about 3 level tbsp)

1 level tbsp chocolate sprinkles, to decorate

METHOD

Put 4 of the yogurts, the peppermint extract, cardamom seeds and food colouring in a bowl and mix well. In a separate small bowl, lightly beat the egg whites until frothy.

Stir the egg whites into the yogurt mixture, then pour into a shallow, freezerproof container, cover and freeze for 2-3 hours.

Remove from the freezer and blend in a food processor until smooth. Fold in the chocolate chips with a spoon, then return the mixture to the container, cover and freeze for 1-2 hours, or until starting to set around the edges.

Remove from the freezer and beat with a fork to break up the ice crystals. Freeze for a further 3-4 hours, beating with a fork every 30-40 minutes, until firm enough to scoop.

When you’re ready to serve, divide the remaining yogurt between 4 tall glasses. Lightly crush the raspberries and spoon them on top of the yogurt. Top with scoops of the mint choc chip ice cream, then a squirt of aerosol cream. Scatter over the chocolate sprinkles.

Tip: If you have an ice-cream machine, put 4 of the yogurts, the peppermint extract, cardamom seeds, food colouring and whisked egg whites in the machine’s container. Churn according to the maker’s instructions, or until smooth and thickened. Transfer to a shallow, freezer-proof container and fold in the chocolate chips. Cover and freeze until ready to serve.

*Pregnant women, the elderly, babies and toddlers are advised not to eat raw or partially cooked eggs, unless eating eggs showing the British Lion stamp.

Ready in 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS

SERVES 1

½ orange, peeled and cut into chunks

2 tbsp pomegranate seeds

5 tbsp plain quark

2 level tsp sweetener

½ tsp vanilla extract

1 level tbsp cocoa powder

4 tbsp fat-free natural yogurt

METHOD

Arrange the orange in the bottom of a dessert glass and top with most of the pomegranate seeds.

Put the quark, sweetener, vanilla extract and 2 teaspoons of the cocoa in a bowl, stir well and spoon over the oranges.

Spoon on the yogurt, dust with the remaining cocoa powder and scatter the remaining pomegranate seeds over the top. Leave to chill or eat straight away.

www.poundland.com Wicker lamp, £5

www.gingerray.co.uk Floral hoops, £13.99

www.english-heritageshop.org.uk Wedding umbrella, £42.50

www.clickstyle.co.uk

6 faux pampas sticks, £51.58

www.gingerray.co.uk

www.gingerray.co.uk

www.wayfair.co.uk

Boho chair backs, £24.99

World guest book, £47.99

Round archway, £68.99

www.treesdirect.co.uk

Magnolia stellata tress, £42.50

www.mollybrownlondon.com

Pearl stud earrings, £55

www.littlemistress.co.uk

Bridesmaid dresses, £POA

www.gingerray.co.uk

Wedding drapes, £32.99

Roses are red... THEME YOUR DAY

What better flower to incorporate into the theme of your day than a red rose? The symbol of romance, love and unity, and it’s pretty on the eye, too! Red used to be one

of the most popular wedding colour schemes, and it’s making a comeback. This shoot shows how a traditional wedding of old can be brought into the modern era for a stylish, contemporary look. We especially love the wedding

cake... It almost looks too good to eat! We also like how the shoot has focussed time on the groom. Many weddings focus on the bride, but it’s important to ensure both people have their moments captured forever.

CONTRIBUTORS

The list of suppliers are:

@styledtoremember

@kingsdownrings

@halo_beautiful.xo

@laurenamos_mua

@simply_ceremonies_uk

@emmamigdenphotographer

@maymedia2020

@francescajohnson_model

@whippedcarhire

@beautiful_in_curves

@eatandmess

@sealedwithlove

@escacatering.....favours

@betteshangerparks

@wishuponacaligraphy

@shropshirepetals

A BEAUTIFUL, ELEGANT WEDDING

Ellie & Alex

Ellie reveals all about her stunning spring-time celebration...

What dress did you wear and where did you buy it?

My dress was everything I’d said I didn’t want: sleeves, full skirt, fully covered at the top. I had my heart set on slinky, figurehugging changeable separates. But when trying these on, I was underwhelmed and didn’t get the magic moment. Now in the wilderness and unsure of what I wanted, my hairdresser recommended I try Carina Baverstock Couture in Bradford on Avon. Carina came highly recommended for her experience, and I can say, what an experience it was! Carina chose the dresses for me, taking into consideration the vision for the day, my body shape, likes and dislikes, character and personality, and the overall impact I wanted the dress to have on the day. Such important things that so many overlook when helping brides to choose their dress. I tried a range of dresses, yet the minute I saw my Sassi Halford gown, I was smitten, before I’d even got it off the peg. It was the first dress to catch my eye on the rail, and when I slipped it on, it was as if it was meant to be. I skipped from the changing rooms: it was playful, fun and full of live. It was perfect – a dress with drama, character and WOW for the church service, but with agility to have the sleeves altered to be removable, giving a relaxed, freedom for the dancefloor and evening.

And the accessories?

Alex generously gifted me a pair of pearl drop diamond huggie earrings designed by my bridesmaid, jewellery designer, Sophie Cudworth. They were the perfect pairing with my veil and hair and I couldn’t have chosen better myself. It was a beautiful surprise to open them on the morning of the wedding. For shoes, Alex and I are similar height and I am a liability in heels, so continuing the pearl theme of the dress, I found a near perfect match of the Jimmy Choo Sabine flats. Fully embellished with pearls all over. I found these on Etsy. Other than this, it was just my engagement ring, also designed by Sophie Cudworth, and my Nana’s handkerchief for happy tears.

What did the groom wear?

The groomsmen wore navy tails, with a double-breasted cream waistcoat and cream pocket square, sage tie. Incredibly handsome! We also gifted all groomsmen with a pair of bumblebee cufflinks on the morning of the wedding in homage for the theme of the day.

How did you feel when you saw him up the aisle?

It goes without saying, we’d expected it to be one of the many highlights of the day, yet words cannot describe how spellbindingly

dreamlike that moment was. As we caught each other’s eye as I began to walk down the aisle – to Craig Armstrong’s Portuguese Love Theme – it felt as though it were just the two of us in a church filled with people. In that moment, nothing else mattered and the friends, family and flowers filling the church faded out of focus. Despite our nerves, we each saw our best friend looking back at us and knew everything was right with the world.

Who were your bridesmaids and where were their dresses from?

I chose my best friend from childhood, Lucy; my university house mate, Cian; and my first proper work wife, Sophie. Three ladies who have stood by me for three decades, through hangovers, hormones and horrendous wardrobe decisions. We decided on neutral themed full-length halterneck oyster satin gown with ribbon bow detail at the back, from Six Stories.

What was your wedding theme and how did you create it?

I’m a lover of simplicity, warm neutrals and a touch of gold. This was the colour palette we had for the wedding, elevated with plenty of beautiful English blooms. Sourcing suppliers who got our vision was critical to this! No one more so than our florist, Hollie of Blue & Bohème. She truly encapsulated the dream and went one further. We didn’t

VENDORS

Date: 28th April 2023

Venue: St Mary’s Church, Fairford

Photographer: Chloe Ely Photography

Dress: Sassi Holford

Bridesmaid dresses: Six Stories

have a theme as such, but bees are special to us both. Nine months into our relationship, Alex had a bumblebee tattoo done on his chest, above his heart in tribute to me. We weaved the bee motif into the wedding in subtle ways such as in our stationery, signage and gifts to our loved ones.

What was the highlight of your day?

Alex’s brief to me when planning the wedding was “I want a party”, and I took great pleasure in planning plenty of surprises for both him and our wedding party throughout the day. The first began in the church: a surprise brass band springing from the congregation to accompany our final hymn, Bring Me Sunshine, popularised by Morecombe and Wise. Disguised as members of the congregation, the expressions of pure joy on our guests’ faces and Alex’s amazement was something to behold. The band later lead our wedding party in a traffic-stopping street procession from the church to the marquee, with local villagers looking on!

A GORGEOUS DEVON WEDDING

Della & Bret

Beautiful bride Della tells us all about her amazing day on the coastline...

How did he propose?

Bret proposed in October 2021, a month later than originally anticipated because myself and my son sadly both caught Covid, which meant we had to isolate. So he had to cancel all of his carefully thought out original plans to propose on the anniversary of the day we met at the location we met. He then decided to book us onto the Sunborn Yacht London for the night. We had a delicious three-course romantic meal with bubbles. He took me outside after the dinner and proposed on the sun deck. It was night time and the whole of the River Thames and London was lit up in the background. It was incredible. He was super nervous but obviously I said yes! We celebrated on the yacht that evening and then spent the second night in a 5-star hotel in central London with rooftop views before heading home to tell our children and families the wonderfully anticipated news.

What dress did you wear and where did you buy it?

My dress was purchased from an awardwinning boutique in North Devon called Champagne & Charlotte. These lovely ladies are platinum stockists with hundreds of 5-star reviews so it was an absolute no-brainer. They also went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable and amazing so I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else at that point. The dress itself was called Athénaïs by ÉLYSÉE. I tried between 10-15 dresses in total but with a goddess name like that, I knew this dress had to be mine. It was ‘The One’. It had ivory French chantilly lace with a nude underlining, in a fit and flare mermaid style.

What accessories did you wear and where were they from?

My shoes were actually purchased from Shein for just £12 and my Mum custom created a design to replicate the pair of Jimmy Choos I’d had my heart set on. I purchased around 4 packs of pearls all

different sizes from eBay. My Mum then meticulously did her thing and created a masterpiece pair of bridal shoes. They were covered in ivory pearls. Absolutely stunning. My veil was purchased online from a company called JJ housing on offer at just £22.99. I knew that I only wanted to wear it for the ceremony and a couple of pictures so we couldn’t justify spending hundreds of pounds on one. After all the dress was the main event in my eyes so wanted to splurge on this instead. But it was super long and looked really glamorous against the dramatic train on my dress. My earrings were actually hand-made by a supplier on Etsy.

What did the groom wear?

My husband Bret wore his military uniform with all of his medals displayed as did his magnificent Guard of Honour, who did us so proud on the day. They looked incredibly handsome as you would expect. Our sons, Harley and Brook wore 7 piece black Tuxedos that were purchased online from a company called SIRRI.

Who were your bridesmaids and where were their dresses from?

My best friends Emily and Hollie were my Maids of Honour and their dresses were actually from Boohoo. These were altered slightly by a local seamstress to get the desired look that we wanted.

VENDORS

Date: April 10th 2023

Venue: Sandy Cove, Berrynarbor, North Devon

Photographer: Alchemy Photography

Dress: ÉLYSÉE

Bridesmaid dresses: Boohoo

Grooms Suit: Military uniform

What was your wedding theme?

Our wedding theme was Modern/Chic. The flowers were my best buy. I knew that I wanted dried, pampas-look flowers with fluffy bunny tails as it was Easter Monday, but they were so expensive to order online or locally. So I spent around £75 on Amazon. I picked out several dried flower arrangement bundles from the homeware section. Then my beautiful Maid of Honour Emily came over one evening for a wine night and arranged all of the bouquets together, with me picking out my absolute favourite pieces for the bridal bouquet. Then with what was left over, she created the bridesmaid smaller bouquets and buttonholes for the wedding party. This saved me hundreds of pounds on the day and they looked beautiful. It was exactly the look I wanted. It also meant that by choosing dried, I get to keep them forever.

A TIMELESS,CLASSIC WEDDING

Anna & Peter

Bride Anna shares the details on how her gorgeous wedding came together...

How did he propose?

Peter proposed at home after we had spent two months apart due to lockdown restrictions, as at the time we were living apart. It was low-key and perfect to me.

Where did you get married?

The Ravenswood

How did you decide upon a venue and why did you choose it?

We were recommended by a friend to view this venue, and when we visited the vibe was just right. It had character, flexibility in terms of rooms and everything we wanted. We fell in love with the old baronial hall and that’s where we had immediately envisioned having our ceremony. We loved the outdoor space too and it created some memorable pictures for us.

Did you have a wedding planner?

No we didn’t have a planner, but our coordinator Natalie at The Ravenswood was exceptional in advising us on certain things.

What dress did you wear and where did you get it?

I wore a bespoke dress made by award winning British designer Emma Tindley.

She owns a boutique in East Grinstead. Emma was incredible and created my visions better than I could have ever imagined, including a sleeve change for the evening reception. I would recommend anyone to visit wether you know what you are looking for or not!

What accessories did you wear and where were they from?

I wore a pair of heels from the Ted Baker bridal collection. The only jewellery I wore aside from my engagement ring was a beautiful pair of handmade earrings from a small online boutique. My wedding perfume was Mutiny by Maison Margiela.

What did the groom wear?

A house tweed suit, tailored and hired from black tie menswear in Reading.

How did you feel when you saw him as you were walking down the aisle? Seeing my almost husband getting emotional made everything feel perfect and right. It was an overwhelming moment but one I will treasure forever.

Who were your bridesmaids and where were their dresses from?

My sisters and my two best friends. Their dresses were from a website called JJs

House. I bought faux fur shawls from eBay! I knew they’d need something to keep warm after we had chosen to have a December wedding.

Did you have a specific wedding theme and how did you create it?

I wanted everything to be quite classic and timeless, but also minimalist. I achieved this by making a detailed mood board and trying to not buy things within current trends. After I purchased items of decor I set it up on our dining table to make sure it looked good and wasn’t too busy. Less is sometimes more was my mantra. We also kept the tables simple by using fresh flowers as centrepieces from Bud & Flower.

What was the highlight of your day?

It sounds cliché, but honestly having all of the people we love in the same place at the same time enjoying themselves. It’s one of the few family events that gets all of both sides together, and it was truly special. Peter says his highlight was when I finally began walking down the stairs to the aisle after being 20 minutes behind schedule.

What was your best buy?

Getting Jessica Bevan to be our photographer. She was named in the top 50 British wedding photographers for 2022. If you can stretch your budget for the

VENDORS

Date: 8th December 2022

Venue: The Ravenswood, West Sussex

Photographer: Jessica Bevan

Dress: Emma Tindley

Bridesmaid dresses: JJs House

photographer, it is well worth it! We have photographs we will treasure for a lifetime.

Do you have any saving tips?

Start buying things early! If you know your theme, get things as early as possible to spread the cost and avoid shelling out loads just before the wedding. Don’t go overboard with it, and plan what you really need so you don’t end up with loads of bits unused.

A WOW-FACTOR WEDDING DAY

Elen & Ed

How did he propose?

Ed proposed on the Norfolk coast on a November weekend in 2020. Because it was the midst of COVID we drove up from London to Norfolk to have a weekend together and he proposed on a walk along the coastal path in Norfolk. Because Ed proposed on a Friday we decided to keep it to ourselves and celebrate just us until the Sunday morning, at which point we went to go see both of our parents to share the exciting news!

What dress did you wear and where did you buy it?

I wore a dress from Pronovias in London. It was a dress that embodied everything I was looking for. I wanted clean simple lines, and something that was classic and timeless. The dress I chose was simple in the front with a low back and scooping fabric attachment to add a bit of layering. It was the perfect dress for a Charleston summer where it can be very warm.

What accessories did you wear and where were they from?

The accessories I wore were fairly simple. Ed gifted me a necklace the morning of our wedding, which I wore with my dress, and it contained a sapphire to add ‘something blue’ to my day. My motherin-law leant me a pair of drop earrings that were simple but perfect to go with my hair, makeup, and outfit. My shoes were from Jimmy Choo; I wanted something a bit more fun as my dress was simple so I chose a more sparkly pair of their wedding pumps.

What did the groom wear?

Ed wanted to have some traditional English elements to the day, and so he wore an English morning suit with trews. He and his brothers and father all wore the same trews, which was a nice touch to bring some of their family tradition to the day.

An idyllic setting for a wonderful day in South Carolina. Bride Elen tells us more...

How did you feel when you saw him up the aisle?

I felt extremely calm the entire day, I thought I’d feel very nervous but I was more excited and relaxed than I’d initially thought. This was largely due to the Peninsula Events and PPHG team having everything under control and thinking of every detail, so by the time I walked down the aisle I was just excited and happy!

Who were your bridesmaids and where were their dresses from?

l had a variety of bridesmaids from my husband’s sisters to my sister-in-laws and some of my closest friends. In total I had seven bridesmaids, and their dresses were from Show Me Your Mumu. We went with a sage green colour palette to match the wedding aesthetic, but styles differed according to their preferences.

What was your wedding theme and how did you create it?

We wanted to focus on the beautiful scenery that Lowndes Grove has to offer and have that Southern feeling that reminds me of home. However as Ed is British we added in an ‘English garden’ element through the use of florals, simple colour schemes and bright aesthetics.

VENDORS

Date: August 27, 2022

Ceremony: Greek Orthodox Church in Charleston, South Carolina

Reception: Lowndes Grove

Photographer: Virgil Bunao

Dress: Pronovias

What was the highlight of your day?

It’s so hard to choose a highlight of the day but I think it was seeing the vision of 2 years’ worth of planning come together and being surrounded by everyone we loved. The entire day was a whirlwind but we made sure we took moments to focus on how amazing of a day it was and celebrate with who we love. It’s a rare occasion that you can have everyone you’ve ever cared about in one room together and that was something that was so special to us!

What’s your saving tip?

The day after our wedding we had a BBQ at my parents’ house for all of the guests. We reused a lot of the flowers from the wedding for this event. I think anytime there is an opportunity to recycle or reuse something (or purchase something that can serve multiple purposes) it’s an easy win to keep the costs down for weddings!

TIME TO FIND

Your dream big-day venue

We caught up with Samantha Gilchrist, owner of the Gilchrist Collection of stunning UK venues to hear her story and more about these dreamy wedding locations...

Hello everyone! I’m Samantha Gilchrist the extremely proud owner of The Gilchrist Collection and I am unashamedly obsessed with all things weddings.

I have worked within the wedding industry for over 15 starting my career as a photographer, before becoming a wedding planner and most recently a venue owner. I have been fortunate to be able to turn my passion for weddings into a successful business, the Gilchrist Collection.

In 2017, I took a leap of faith and teamed up

with my business partner Stuart to buy the first of our venues, The Ravenswood. Set in the heart of the Ashdown forest, The Ravenswood had closed and was about to be bought by developers who were planning to convert it into apartments. The Gilchrist Collection took it over, brought it back to life and now it’s an exclusive, award-winning wedding venue, where in fact I held my own wedding in 2018. Fast forward 3 years and we acquired more venues for the collection, even with the restrictions of the Covid pandemic. These include Crowcombe Court – an elegant grade 1 listed property in Somerset, Rushpool Hall – a

stunning 19th Century Gothic Manor House in North Yorkshire, Highley Manor – another beautiful 19th Century Manor House in Sussex, and Hackness Grange – with it’s beautiful grounds in Scarborough.

In 2021 we purchased Danby Castle Barn on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors complete with it’s 14th Century ruins and breath-taking views for guests to enjoy, and the beautiful Bella Cosa in Florida in the USA.

Whether you want a chic, unforgettable celebration, or a more pared back, nature inspired wedding, I have lots of tricks and tips to help you. As any industry expert, I am always learning and listening to feedback, which is why we have added a ‘getting ready room’ to all our venues, a dedicated space where Brides or Grooms can check-in and get ready, with everything they need on the morning of their big day.

2023 is set to be another exciting year with the continued growth of the Collection both overseas and in the UK, and for the delivery of more amazing weddings that create beautiful memories to last a lifetime. As I love to share tips and tricks, I’m going to let you into a little secret just for fun! Did you know that 70% of couples skip the wedding night ‘nookie’ as they are just too tired or have had a little too much to drink and these days majority of couples have been living together for years so it doesn’t have quite the same significance. This

conversation often comes up when we are discussing wedding day underwear!

Let’s be honest…. Lots of women need some support under that dress and it doesn’t come in the form of sexy underwear! It’s often a tribute to Bridget Jones or Kim Kardashian’s skims!! So for this reason I recommend having a backup set of ‘Bridal’ underwear that you can slip into when you have gotten the dress off should you wish, or you can save it for your mini moon or honeymoon. Another tip is to allocate a little bit of time for yourselves during the reception, no one is going to miss you if you sneak off for half an hour are they! I won’t tell if you don’t!

Our thanks to Samantha for this insightful feature. See more from the Gilchrist Collection and find your dream venue today at www.gilchristcollection.co.uk.

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Sam’s personal journey

https://www.instagram.com/samanthagilchristofficial/ Wedding planning tips

https://www.instagram.com/theweddingplanninghub/?hl=en Samantha Gilchrist Official

https://www.instagram.com/samanthagilchristofficial/

DALSTON HALL

HACKNESS GRANGE

CROWCOMBE COURT

COTTONNWOOD BARN

100% of profit raised from products sold through the online shop goes towards helping care for people living with a terminal illness and their families.

https://shop.mariecurie.org.uk/

The gift of giving back

Your special day is a day that will be remembered by you and your loved ones for years to come but with one meaningful choice, you can make it special for others. Whether it be offering your guests stunning wedding favours from their website or heading into one of their charity shops around the country to find a beautiful, preloved wedding dress, Marie Curie has a dedicated product range to help make your day even more special. One bride who purchased wedding favours through Marie Curie said it was the perfect way to remember both couples’ late grandparents who were cared for by the charity. “They were the perfect favours for our wedding day. It’s lovely to have the opportunity to remember them and donate to a wonderful service.”

When it comes to wedding favours, Marie Curie is a great choice because this way you can provide pretty details for your tables that your guests will love and treasure, as well as making money for this brilliant cause all in one. For brides looking to make more sustainable wedding choices, not only do Marie Curie offer a great range of unique preloved wedding dresses and accessories in store and in their eBay shop, their seeded paper wedding favours and confetti, made using native wildflower seeds, offer a biodegradable alternative that will help native wildlife in the future and leave a lasting memory of your special day. Choosing Marie Curie wedding favours is a great way to show your appreciation for your guests and add a meaningful touch to your special day, whilst helping others less fortunate as 100% of profit raised from products sold through the online shop goes towards helping care for people living with a terminal illness and their families. Over the past 75 years, Marie Curie has been there for millions of people affected by terminal illness and those dealing with dying, death, and bereavement. They know that everyone will be affected by

dying, death and bereavement and their aim is to make sure that everyone has the best possible end of life experience.

Last year 46,000 people were cared for by Marie Curie Nurses and Healthcare Assistants and around 1.2 million people accessed their information and support services. Read on to see what Marie Curie can offer and see the full collections at https://shop.mariecurie.org.uk/

‘Let love grow’ Seeded Heart Wedding Favours£14.99, Pack of 20

Why not have something a little different as your wedding favours, and purchase these bespoke Marie Curie heart seeded wedding favours, ready to be planted to grow wonderful wildflowers to help your guests remember the day for months to come.

With more and more families being affected by serious illnesses, we found out a little more about the work of Marie Curie and how you can support them on your special day...

‘Thanks a Bunch’ seed cards - £9.99, Pack of five Looking for that extra special ‘Thank you’ card? Then these ‘Thanks a bunch’ seeded cards will be perfect! Once the card has been enjoyed it can be planted to grow wildflowers - great for bees and butterflies.”

Marie

Designed exclusively for Marie Curie these stunning Dove Wedding Favours can be used as place cards for guests or subtle but sophisticated lapel pins for wedding party groups.

Blue Floral Seeded Heart Paper Wedding Favour£14.99, Pack of 20

Another great seed option are these bespoke Marie Curie heart seeded wedding favours, beautifully decorated and housed in biodegradable and compostable cello bags with printed backing card.

Curie Dove pin Wedding Favours£32.00, Pack of 20

Next Issue

• Top trends for 2024 – discover the looks everyone will be going for next year

• Photography tips that will make all the difference

• Details, dresses, saving tips, real weddings and much more...

Propress MINI The Handheld Steamer used, recommended, and stocked by Bridal Boutiques

Propress MINI The Handheld Steamer used, recommended, and stocked by Bridal Boutiques

Propress MINI used, recommended, and stocked by Bridal Boutiques

The simple way to ensure your wedding dress looks as flawless on your wedding day as it did when you fell in love with it in the shop. Then pop in your suitcase and take on your honeymoon.

Tel: 020 8417 0660 | Email: hello@propress.co.uk propress.co.uk

The simple way to ensure your wedding dress looks as flawless on your wedding day as it did when you fell in love with it in the shop. Then pop in your suitcase and take on your honeymoon. Always looking great - the Propress way.

The simple way to ensure your wedding dress looks as flawless on your wedding day as it did when you fell in love with it in the shop. Then pop in your suitcase and take on your honeymoon. Always looking great - the Propress way.

Tel: 020 8417 0660 | Email: hello@propress.co.uk propress.co.uk

Tel: 020 8417 0660 | Email: hello@propress.co.uk propress.co.uk

MAKE IT A GIRLS’ NIGHT OUTRAGEOUS

For the ultimate hen party celebration or girls’ night out, look no further! It’s time to FREE YOUR MAGIC.

THE THEATRE AT THE HIPPODROME CASINO

Booking for 8+ people? Find out more about special group rates and make your visit even more magical pre-and post-show at Permission Lounge! Email us at groupsales@magicmikelondon.co.uk

STOP LOOKING. START BOOKING. MagicMikeLondon.co.uk