Helen in custom Suzanne Neville for an intimate winter wedding in Richmond

We are so thrilled to feature Helen and Wolfgang's special and intimate Winter wedding today, which took place in and around Richmond. Starting with a ceremony at St Raphael's Church in Kingston upon Thames, our couple and their guests celebrated with a reception at the gorgeous Richmond Hill Hotel overlooking stunning views of Richmond Park. After multiple postponements, it was such a joy to see Helen marry Wolfgang, and to be able to share this beautiful day with you.

Helen wore a unique combination of two iconic Suzanne Neville styles; Cavetto and Sapphire. Taking the skirt and asymmetric dropped waist from Cavetto, we added the beautifully framed off the shoulder neckline from Sapphire. Helen adjusted the skirt length as a tribute to her Mum's short wedding dress from the 60's, which as well as being sentimental to the bride also turned out to be fabulous for dancing! Helen styled her look with a chic high up-do adorned with a crystal hair vine, along a pair of Dune's Colombia kitten heels in glittering rose gold.

Read on to find out more about Helen and Wolfgang's wonderful day, along with a gallery of beautiful images...

A custom Suzanne Neville wedding dress

I decided on Suzanne Neville as the designer and they created a Sapphire/Cavetto for me. I absolutely loved the neckline of the Sapphire and the asymmetric dropped waist of the Cavetto, so opted for a bespoke dress that incorporated both. As an older bride (21 in both legs), I didn't want to look like mutton dressed up as lamb but Emma was amazing and guided me through to choosing my dream dress. The day I tried the dresses on I felt like I was gliding when I walked and they showed of my curvaceous figure perfectly.

Like most people that attempted to get married in 2020, our wedding day was postponed (twice). After our original reception venue was sold during the first lockdown, we started to look at other options for the reception: a marquee in our garden, Kingston downhill followed by a simple meal with only 6 guests! However, the second lockdown in November 2020 put the kibosh on that. With all the venue changes and rule changes, I decided I would like a ballet length dress and was so pleased I did. Most of the compliments on the day were on the length of the dress. Plus, it was way easier to dance and I avoided the dreaded mucky hem.

My best friends Lizzie and Asia were with me the day I decided on my dress. There were lots of ooohs and aaahs as I tried on the dresses we had narrowed down to try on but a massive wow and exclamations of stunning, when I tried on the Sapphire.

Dress Shopping

My favourite part of the dress shopping experience was the toile fitting because it fitted me so well. It was all becoming real...

I had a little wobble about 3 months before the wedding date. I was nervous I had put on too many Covid Kilos since the toile fitting and most worryingly unsure if I had made the right decision about opting for the shorter dress. We were now back planning a church wedding and I was unsure the ballet length was right for the more formal occasion. Rosie was amazing, she calmed me down and managed to squeeze me in for an appointment and within days I was at The Chapel see how I looked in the dress. If I really didn't like the length, there was time to change that but there would obviously be a cost to this. Thankfully, once I tried the dress on again I felt reassured that it was the right decision. My advice to future brides would be not to take too many selfies in fittings, the angles are always wrong and you can't help but reviewing the photo constantly. Instead trust the team at Miss Bush and remember how you felt on the day you tried it on.

Styling

I sadly lost my Mum 20 years ago but I so wished her to be part of the wedding day in some way. My parents married in 1962 and her dress was a beautiful figure hugging long sleeved bodice with a knee length full skirt with lots of petticoats. Her dress was donated to charity soon after her wedding day and sadly neither myself nor my sister got the chance to see it never mind wear it. I knew I wanted a similar silhouette with a longer skirt. I wanted to buy shoes that I would wear again so didn't go for 'Wedding shoes'. I rather went for Colombia shoes in gold from Dune; with their comfortably low kitten heel, asymmetric strap and the stylish pointed toe they gave a nod to the 50s/60s look I was going for. The comfortable heel was more great advice from Emma at Miss Bush. I've worn them lots since. I love them too.

An intimate winter wedding in Richmond

As the wedding date was moved from summer to winter, a few things changed. One nice thing about a winter wedding is you don't have to worry about the weather, no rain is great and a sunny day is fantastic. I was ready with birdcage umbrellas at the ready but thankfully no need; we had a glorious day albeit chilly. Amanda Durkin, our makeup artist, arrived at 7am to set-up and she did my hair and make-up and the make-up for my bridesmaids and sister in law. Who travelled all the way from Melbourne to help us celebrate the day. My lovely friend Julie Watson created beautiful up-styles for the bridesmaids and curled my sister in law's hair. We had a lovely relaxed morning getting ready, sipping Champagne and munching on warm croissants. The photographers arrived at 10am and started capturing some treasured memories of the day. Then the 1935 Rolls Royce Phantom II arrived from Ultimate Classic Car Hire arrived to start ferrying the bridal party to St. Raphael's Church by the river in Kingston upon Thames. Then the news came through that the Routemaster booked to collect the guests staying at Richmond Hill Hotel and take them to the church was stuck in traffic! No worries, I had a lovely time posing for photos and catching up with my Dad, who incidentally had turned 90 the week before. We got the thumbs up that the route master was en route and we could proceed to the church. It was so special being chauffeured in the vintage Rolls Royce, lots of twitching curtains and happy waves from neighbours and people along the route. At last, it was happening, I was so happy walking up the aisle, holding back tears and grinning from ear to ear. When I felt something wriggling down my leg.....oh no....the garter, my something borrowed and blue was slipping down my thigh. I could barely recognise any of the guests as they were masked up and panicked at the thought of who I could gesture to to pick up the offending garter when it fell. Then a face I knew came into view, my sister in law Sandy, one of the party getting ready ready with me on the morning. I was never so happy to see her gorgeous red dress and matching coat. I gave her the wink and mouthed, 'my garter!". Luckily, Sandy knew to swiftly cut out in front of my Dad and I and pluck it from the toe of my shoe. Crisis averted. The ceremony was beautiful. St. Raphael's is our local church and is a beautiful Italianate style church which was completed in 1848. and what made it extra special and intimate is that my brother, Fr. Kilian McCaffrey travelled all the way from Arizona to perform the ceremony. after the ceremony was over and the register signed we glided down the aisle as husband and wife to 'Oh, happy day' sung harmoniously by the Euphoric Voices. and a happy day it was. We then went on to drinks, dinner and dancing at the Richmond Hill Hotel. Many of the most beautiful pictures were taken looking out at the view from Richmond Hill across the road from the hotel. Everyone had a wonderful time and really let their hair down. Following our first dance to the Waltz from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky, the Craigellachie Ceilidh Band and caller helped get everyone up on their feet and jig the night away.

The best bits

Lockdowns, last minute Covid cases, travel restrictions, traffic jams and runaway garters aside, it truly was a wonderful day from start to finish. I loved wearing my dress, have some beautiful pictures, danced the night away and felt comfortable throughout. If I was pushed to choose my favourite part of the day it would be, waltzing with my Dad was is a he fond memory for me; the twirled and spun me and all at 90 years old. And my gorgeous family for making it from all corners of the globe.

Helen's Advice

Listen to the advice the team offer at Miss Bush. They know Wedding dresses, it's what they do and they do it very well. A designer dress is a big expense so take your time in deciding the right dress for you. If you are worried drop the team at Miss Bush a line or pick up the phone, they are there to help you. I was and still am delighted with my dress. I got so many compliments on the dress on the day: the cut, the fit, the fabric, the length, the neckline, the back, the swish, the sway.... I had planned to perhaps sell my dress afterwards but no way, I love it too much. Plus I don't think my nieces would forgive me. My husband says I should wear it every year on our anniversary lol.

Thank you to all the team at Miss Bush but a special mention to Rosie, Genevieve and of course Emma.

Much love, Helen (Bischoff) xx