#47 Honey, Honey, Honey

October 9, 2024 Jessica Seaman

Our Brides – Bethany

“I’d looked on the websites of a few different bridal shops and remember thinking there was nothing that matched what I’d had in mind… until I found Alexandra Anne. I’d seen the Rembo Styling dresses on the website and although I tried to keep an open mind, I knew I’d end up with one of them.”

THE LOW-DOWN

How would you sum up the style of your wedding?

Relaxed, fun and full of family and friends.

Where did you tie the knot?

At The Pheasantry Brewery, East Markham

And what was your wedding dress?

Honey by Rembo Styling

THE LEAD UP

How did you two first meet?

We met at school when I was just 14… the rest is history!

What about the proposal? When, where, how?

It was a Saturday night, a couple of weeks after we’d moved into our first house. I’d just been sat watching TV, waiting for him to arrive home from cricket. I remember him calling me into the kitchen and there he was with the ring. It was completely unexpected!

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?

I thought I wanted something with a high neckline, short sleeves and no train. I just wanted something really simple. The dresses with a high neckline actually didn’t suit me as well and I just fell in love with the Honey dress. I could have had the dress made without a train but it would have been such a shame to have to cut off so much of the lovely material and I quite liked the train in the end, plus I wouldn’t have been able to have ‘wings’ without it!

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

It was all quite daunting at first. I’d looked on the websites of a few different bridal shops and remember thinking there was nothing that matched what I’d had in mind… until I found Alexandra Anne. I’d seen the Rembo Styling dresses on the website and although I tried to keep an open mind, I knew I’d end up with one of them. I had a great dress shopping day with my mum and sister; we went to the Chatsworth farm shop for lunch and then to Alexandra Anne. Jess was lovely and so welcoming. I felt very comfortable and confident in her expertise - she really understood me and what I was looking for.

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

It just felt right. Simple enough but with beautiful detail. After the initial appointment I gave myself some time to decide between that one and another very similar Rembo dress, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about the Honey dress.

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

So happy and excited!

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

Just go with your gut instinct and trust the experts! It’s really nice to have family or friends there but you don’t have to choose the dress that made your mum cry – I didn’t!

THE BIG DAY

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

I wore the Victoria Fergusson Blossom hairpins in my hair and also had some lovely bespoke jewellery made by Tara Osborne Jewellery - really delicate pearl drop earrings with a matching necklace and bracelet. I bought some light pink court shoes from Hobbs as I thought I might wear them again, but they’re actually so dirty I probably won’t!

And your bridesmaids?

My sister wore a sage green multiway dress from Monsoon and she looked beautiful!

What do you remember about the morning?

It felt so chilled (although not in temperature, it was over 30 degrees!). We got ready at my parents’ house and it was just my family with the make up artist, hairdresser and photographer there. It was only a little bit stressful towards the end because my five-week-old nephew decided he needed feeding for an hour just as my sister had planned to get her dress on!

Who did your hair and makeup?

Make up – the lovely Liz Bond.

Hair – Wendy Spears – she’s been my hairdresser for over ten years!

Who took your wedding photos?

The amazing Fox Moon Photography! We can’t recommend them highly enough!

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

I had my Great Grandma’s purse tied to my bouquet which is becoming a tradition! The ceremony itself was fairly traditional, aside from the fact it was in the gardens of a working brewery! We didn’t have any readings as we wanted the ceremony bit to be over as soon as possible!

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

It felt so beautiful and so me!

THE MEMORIES

What are your favourite memories of your wedding day?

I have so many… getting ready with my wonderful family, seeing Ben with the biggest smile on his face throughout the ceremony, looking across a room full of our favourite people during the reception and thinking just how lucky we are, the truly heart-felt speeches and the amazing Back Chat Brass who surprised our guests after our first dance.