#34 You Can Stand Under My Umbr-Ella
Our Brides – Ella
… Ella, Ella, eh, eh! (Sorry Rihanna.) Ella had been to plenty of bridal boutiques and tried on plenty of dresses before she made it here, and I think the shine had been taken off the experience by that point. But she definitely got her moment with this Rembo dress! Every subsequent visit, the excitement was still totally there for Ella and her mum. I’m glad we could make it happen for them.
Congratulations Ella and Ryan! You can stand under my umbrella anytime 🥰.
Jess x
THE LOW-DOWN
How would you sum up the style of your wedding?
A mix of traditional and modern filled with dancing, donuts and love!
Where and when did you tie the knot?
We got married on 6th August 2021 at Fulwood Old Chapel in Sheffield, followed by the reception at The Mowbray, Kelham Island.
And what was your wedding dress?
Lionelle by Rembo Styling.
THE LEAD-UP
How did you two first meet?
Ryan and I met when we were 17 years old whilst working our first jobs at Next. Ryan was too scared to ask me out on a date so he asked a friend for my MSN Messenger details.
We spoke over MSN before going on our first date at Centertainment… since then we have been together for 13 years.
What about the proposal? When, where, how?
Ryan had planned a very romantic proposal at Chatsworth House where we both love to go. However, it did not go to plan! The weather was awful and I was studying for my Masters and so I did not want to go for a walk in the rain!
Instead, Ryan asked me to go to Ikea with him and on the way in the car, he drove to where we went to our first date at Centertainment. He asked me if I remember coming on our first date and did I want to get out the car and have a look. Given the heavens had opened, I did not want to get out of the car! So poor Ryan had to propose to me in the car at Centertainment!
But on our way home, all my family had arrived at my mum’s house to congratulate us. It may not have been Chatsworth, but it was still perfect!
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 a simple dress that was quite big with pockets. I had all these images saved on my phone from Pinterest with ideas. However, I did not stick to them!
How did you find the whole experience of searching for the right dress?
Stressful! Until I met Jess at Alexandra Anne.
I tried on 90 dresses before I found the one! I think before I came to Alexandra Anne, bridal stores were trying to fit dresses to what ideas I had in my head but not really looking at my body shape or how they actually looked on me. Jess understands women’s bodies and is able to show you how the dress will look on the actual day. She is calm and she gives you the space to try the dress on and see how you really feel in it.
As soon as I started trying on dresses at Alexandra Anne, I knew that Jess was going to find the perfect dress for me.
What was it about your dress that made it ‘the one’?
This was the first dress where I could see myself walking down the aisle in it. Jess was able to fit the dress and make the changes I needed to suit my body shape. It made me feel beautiful and elegant.
How did you feel once you’d made the big decision?
When I walked out of Alexandra Anne, I felt emotional because I felt that I had found the dress I was going to marry my best friend in. It was a really happy moment.
Do you have any top tips for other brides out there shopping for their bridal gown?
If I could give brides advice, I would say stay away from Instagram and Pinterest. Although they give you good ideas, I think that I was so focused on the pictures online, I was not looking at dresses that actually suited me. I would advise brides to know what parts of their body they love and tell their boutique this so that the dress they choose makes them feel beautiful.
THE BIG DAY
Tell us more about your outfit on the day. How did you complete your look?
I wore some beautiful Charlotte Mills shoes, a Tiffany bracelet and hoop earrings!
And your bridesmaids?
My bridesmaids wore light pink midi dresses from Very! They were perfect.
What do you remember about the morning?
In the morning, I got up and walked my dog with my maid of honour before the mayhem of hair and makeup arrived.
I remember being really relaxed until the last 30 minutes where it was a mad scramble for everyone to get in the taxis!
Who did your hair and makeup?
My hair was done by Olivia Loades. My makeup was done by Sarah Gray.
Who took your wedding photos?
Alice Little from A Little Picture.
Did you follow any traditions? Or was there anything unusual about the ceremony?
We wanted to keep the wedding a mix of traditional and modern. Ryan is a Catholic so we had a simple prayer but we mixed the ceremony up with having some speeches by our brothers which were more relaxed and personal.
How did your dress feel when you were walking down the aisle?
Personally, I am not someone who likes to be the centre of attention. In my dress, I felt confident and beautiful.
And I knew the dress was perfect when I saw Ryan’s face!
THE MEMORIES
What are your favourite memories of your wedding day?
Everything – it was perfect! It is hard to pick out my favorite moment but I think the ceremony was really special because it was when I got to marry my best friend. I will remember it forever.
What gave you the biggest laugh?
The band at our wedding, Alex Graham and the Concords, were amazing. Watching my 89 year old Grandma twist like she was 20 years old again was amazing!
What got the tears flowing?
My brother wrote a speech for the ceremony which included quotes from our friends and family. All our friends and family said such kind and lovely things about Ryan and I. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the chapel.
If there was one piece of advice you could give to a new bride-to-be, what would it be?
Relish every moment. And take 5 minutes just with your new husband, just to breathe!
And last but not least, where is your wedding dress now?
At the dry cleaners!
THE RECAP
Dress
Lionelle by Rembo Styling
Accessories
Charlotte Mills shoes, Tiffany bracelet, Oliver Bonas hoop earrings
Venue
Fulwood Old Chapel + The Mowbray, Sheffield
Photography
A Little Picture (Yorkshire)
Hair + Makeup
Hair by Olivia Loades
Makeup by Sarah Gray
Decor
Pretty Chairs (and Ella’s mum)
Flowers
White hydrangeas and gypsophila from Flourish Florists (Sheffield)
Caterers
The Mowbray + Hayley Reeves (canapes)
Entertainment
First dance song
Coming Home by Leon Bridges
Fancy coming home to Rembo?