Our Brides – Katherine

This was really one of those meant-to-be moments. It’s been a funny time for all of us and we’ve all probably changed in some way or other. In Katherine’s case, it came as a realisation that she wanted to show off more of her personality through her wedding dress and feel totally her on the day.

Having bought a dress elsewhere, and in the process of fitting it, Katherine’s mum was very aware of her doubts and got in touch. With only a month or so to go before the wedding, luckily we had the perfect dress in stock. Katherine even got to have two looks: a frothy gold dash skirt and a slinky bias-cut number, both by Charlie Brear.

Congratulations Katherine and James! Love the camper van 🚐

Jess x

THE LOW-DOWN

How would you sum up the style of your wedding?

Simple and natural.

Where did you tie the knot?

All Saints’ Church in Turnditch, Derbyshire. A small village church that held many memories for my husband’s family, and a place where many of his family members got married. Shottle Hall near Belper for the reception.

And what was your wedding dress?

Payton dress and Farah gold dash overskirt by Charlie Brear.

THE LEAD-UP

How did you two first meet?

In a bar in Derby where I spilt an Aperol spritz all over him on our first date. Whoops, haha didn’t put him off.

What about the proposal? When, where, how?

James had a surprise weekend away booked at the Chester Grosvenor. We had a lovely meal with drinks and then when we got back to our room, there were rose petals saying “will you marry me?” I was so shocked, I had no idea whatsoever.

THE DRESS

Did you have an idea of what you wanted when you first started looking for your wedding dress? And did you stick to it?

Well back in 2019 I had brought a dress off the hanger which at the time I LOVED. It was thick lace and strapless. Then Covid happened.

2021 came and I tried the first dress back on again and I hated it. It just wasn’t me anymore and didn’t fit as well. My wonderful mum knew how upset I was about the dress not being right, so she called Jess at Alexandra Anne and kindly asked if we could pop by to look at some dresses (this was possibly around 4 weeks before the wedding, eeek). Jess was super understanding and opened the shop up especially.

So did I stick to my idea? NO haha.

How did you find the whole experience of searching for the right dress?

Amazing. At Alexandra Anne, I fell in love with 2 skirts and one completely different dress. Nothing I would have ever put myself in… I always thought those slip over dresses were for straight-up-and-down girls. How wrong was I?

What was it about your dress that made it ‘the one’?

I feel like after Covid the Payton gold dash overskirt was so much fun and I felt like it reflected my personality as well. And, of course, with the Charlie Brear separates you get two different dresses essentially, which was a massive bonus.

How did you feel once you’d made the big decision?

Elated. I just couldn’t wait until the day when I could finally wear it and even now I would wear it everywhere if I could!

Do you have any top tips for other brides out there shopping for their bridal gown?

Go with an open mind and try some dresses on that you wouldn’t necessarily have chosen. Take some tips from the professional and get some ideas from them.

Also I found just taking my mum perfect as I feel too many opinions can be overwhelming.

THE BIG DAY

Tell us more about your outfit on the day. How did you complete your look?

Well when I tried the dress on at Alexandra Anne, I was wearing a Monica Vinader gold pendant and Jess loved the dress with it. So I wore that and borrowed my grandma’s gold watch, plus some gold diamond earrings by Victoria Fergusson.

And your bridesmaids?

The bridesmaids’ dresses were actually from Monsoon (bought back in 2019) with silver sandals bought mostly from ASOS (each bridesmaid had slightly different styles as they had different preferences on heel, size, width, etc.).

I got them all a small silver bracelet, too. Nothing too crazy, just delicate and cute.

What do you remember about the morning?

I remember being really excited and thinking omg it’s actually here and we made it!! (With nothing Covid-related getting in the way yay).

Who did your hair and makeup?

I did my own hair and makeup as I’m a hairdresser so I knew how I liked my hair and my friend who was a bridesmaid and also a hairdresser told me off and she took over the back of my hair for me!

For the makeup, I decided to go to the Charlotte Tilbury makeup counter along with my bridesmaid, and they gave me tips and tricks on how to make my makeup better for the day, which I would recommend (I felt like myself and it lasted all day).

Who took your wedding photos?

Sam Houghton.

Did you follow any traditions? Or was there anything unusual about the ceremony?

We got married in a family church where lots of James’s relatives got married.

We did have James’s little brother Joseph as the ring bearer, which was brilliant. Joseph and the vicar were like a double act. They were so funny together.

How did your dress feel when you were walking down the aisle? 

Fantastic!

THE MEMORIES

What are your favourite memories of your wedding day?

Aside from seeing James at the altar it would have to be:

My man of honour and mum and dad had treated me to a VW cream camper van that we’d seen at a wedding fair back in 2019 as our wedding car. I thought my man of honour was taking me in his lovely Mercedes and then that turned up on my parents’ drive. I was so shocked and happy (I may have cried by this point).

What gave you the biggest laugh?

I must say I didn’t stop laughing all day, but we all joked how much of a diva I was, always shouting for my friend “NATALIE” to sort my hair and veil out. She was an angel but by the end of it I think she wanted to change her name.

And James’s speech when he explained how we first met and how I spilt the Aperol spritz all over him. Ironically, I was sipping an Aperol spritz at the time haha.

What got the tears flowing?

All the speeches were amazing. I was so emotional at every single one.

If there was one piece of advice you could give to a new bride-to-be, what would it be?

Enjoy every moment and do what makes you happy. You can worry about pleasing everybody else, but it’s your and your husband’s day.

We went from a wedding of 150 to 30 and we loved it and regretted nothing.

And last but not least, where is your wedding dress now?

My wedding dress is at my mum’s house waiting for next June when we’ll do it all again at Shottle Hall with everybody who couldn’t come the first time woohoo!!

THE RECAP

Dress

Payton dress + Farah gold dash overskirt by Charlie Brear

Accessories

Ivory sash by Charlie Brear, Victoria Fergusson earrings, Monica Vinader pendant

Venue

All Saints’ Church, Turnditch + Shottle Hall, Belper, Derbyshire

Photography

Sam Houghton

Hair + Makeup

DIY

Decor

DIY

Flowers

Blossom Tree Flower Studio (Derby)

Caterers

Venue

Entertainment

(Next year we’re having DJ and singer possibly, the full shebang)

First dance song

(Next year at our party!)

Loving Katherine’s two-outfit look?