Our Brides – Sophie

You wouldn’t think it was the depths of January looking at these two! There’s just so much warmth in these Nottinghamshire wedding photos, it’s like cosying up by a country pub fireside. I just love the way her Jesus Peiro dress lights up a traditional wedding in the countryside. We even extended the buttons on the dress all the way down the train for that real classic contemporary look.

And check out that bow! Sophie’s mum even wore a miniature version as part of her own outfit. We also did some miniature bows for Sophie’s shoes, fitted with detachable clips so she could whip them off come ceilidh time!

Congrats Sophie and Matt! That last pic of you two is straight out of La La Land, and that just warms my soul.

Jess x

THE LOW-DOWN

How would you sum up the style of your wedding?

I would say that our wedding style was more ‘classic’ than anything else. We followed tradition and focused on the things that make us happy, using rich colours and texture to add warmth to a winter wedding.

Where and when did you tie the knot?

We tied the knot on 18th January 2020 at our local parish church, St Patrick’s in Nuthall, Nottinghamshire. It’s only a small church so it was soon fully packed out with all our friends and family. We had bell ringers and a choir singing which made the whole ceremony so much more special.

We went on to have our evening reception at The Carriage Hall in Plumtree.

And what was your wedding dress?

7019 by Jesus Peiro.

THE LEAD-UP

How did you two first meet?

We both first met at University in Huddersfield when Matt and his friends crashed a house party of mine. Naturally we got talking and the rest is history.

What about the proposal? When, where, how?

We both love to get out walking: nothing beats fresh air and vistas followed by a pint in a pub.

We planned to go out walking in between Christmas and the New Year and Matt decided that 30th December would be the day he finally proposed. The weather was awful and I had no idea why he was so persistent on walking. He got down on one knee near Peveril Castle in the Peak District and, of course, I said yes!

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?

Yes and no. I didn’t want something overly bridal looking. I approached dress shopping with an open mind and the opportunity to try on lots of different styles.

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

On the whole, it was so much fun! It was great trying on lots of different styles and accessories, working out what was right for me.

I took my mum and one of my bridesmaids with me for honest feedback. In between appointments I found myself scrolling Pinterest trying to get an idea of styles I was instinctively drawn to. Every single dress I pinned was by designer Jesus Peiro. This lead me to Alexandra Anne, one of the few stockists near me.

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

It just felt like me and I felt confident and comfortable. I knew this was my dress before Jess had even fastened me into it.

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

Relaxed and confident. The more pieces that fell into place, the more relaxed I became.

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

Don’t be afraid to try on lots of different styles. It’s fun and the easiest way to work out what styles work for you.

THE BIG DAY

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

I wore a short veil with a blusher to add a little vintage flare, and a fur shrug to keep me warm after the ceremony. On my feet I wore a pair of white leather court shoes from Zara.

My earrings were freshwater pearls and I wore a bangle watch that my mother wore on her wedding day.

And your bridesmaids?

I had four bridesmaids. Two wore forest green dresses by Ghost, and two wore forest green multiway dresses in velvet from Etsy. All four of them had a fur shrug to add a little more texture and winter warmth.

What do you remember about the morning?

Normally I am a nervous/emotional wreck when it comes to being the centre of attention. However, I didn’t recognise myself on the morning of the wedding: I remember feeling so relaxed and laughing a lot while I got ready with my bridesmaids.

Who did your hair and makeup?

My hair was done by Liv Davis in Eastwood and my makeup was done by a friend, Chloe Morton.

Who took your wedding photos?

Husband-and-wife dream team Kazooieloki.

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

It was quite a traditional day: the ceremony was something I was keen to keep traditional.

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

Amazing! I only wish the church had a longer aisle so that I could have enjoyed that walk even more.

THE MEMORIES

What are your favourite memories of your wedding day?

Giggling and grinning our way through the church service.

What gave you the biggest laugh?

In the evening we had a Ceilidh band which got everyone dancing and laughing. It was a great way to get everyone involved.

What got the tears flowing?

The dress reveal to my bridesmaids.

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

Focus on the things that make you happy and put your energy into these when planning the wedding. On the day, these are the things you will notice and enjoy most.

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

Hanging up in the bedroom awaiting a dry clean (I might have tried it on a few more times since the wedding).

THE RECAP

Dress

7019 by Jesus Peiro

Accessories

Zara shoes, my own earrings and my mother’s bangle watch.

Venue

St Patrick’s Church, Nuthall, Notts (ceremony)
The Carriage Hall, Plumtree, Notts (reception)

Photography

Kazooieloki

Hair

Liv Davis (Eastwood)

Decor

DIY

Flowers

Wild Flowers (Bagthorpe)

Stationery

My very talented bridesmaid Gemma designed and printed ours.

Table plan theme

Green foliage (same as the stationery)

Caterers

Tapas for the wedding breakfast, The Peel Wood Fired Pizza for the evening food.

Entertainment

Jigabit (Ceilidh band)

First dance song

Florence and the Machine – You’ve Got the Love

La-la for Sophie’s classic contemporary look?