We are delighted to share Chloe and Luke's wonderful wedding day with you today. The event took place in mid June at the gorgeous Greentrees Estate in West Sussex, surrounding by stunning scenic views and luscious countryside.
Chloe wore one of Jesus Peiro's most iconic dresses, a perfect representation of the label's love for minimalist lines and a chic sports luxe aesthetic. Style 166 features a simple fitted bodice above a full volume skirt, with a minimalist round neckline. To the back, the dress is open, with ballerina inspired crossed back straps. Chloe styled her look with celestial accessories, featuring large dangling star earrings and an assortment of hair pins from Miss Clemmie.
Read on to find out more about Chloe and Luke's joyful wedding day, along with the story of Chloe's dress shopping experience.
Jesus Peiro 166 wedding dress
I chose the stunning Jesus Peiro 166. Finding the right dress was a journey for me. At the first appointment I came away loving another dress (2241) and booked another appointment for a few months later so I could take it all in. It was so good to have that time in between to really think about how the dress made me feel and whether it was the right decision. I would describe dress 2241 as a great stepping stone dress which made me realise that I wanted a dress that was classic, understated yet at the same time completely wow. I expressed these feelings in an email to the Miss Bush team and so during my second appointment Rosie was able to lead me to my perfect dress. As soon as I stepped out, I felt wonderful. It made me feel so beautiful with its banded waist and full and dramatic skirt and yet completely me with its understated style, no frills fabric and sporty neckline and back. When I had first visited our venue, I was struck by the beautiful oak doors which would frame me as I walked down the aisle and I knew then that this venue needed a dramatic, beautiful dress and that I had found it.
Dress Shopping
My mum, my best lady (cousin) Leanne and my aunty Denise all came shopping with me. There were definitely tears, but mainly I remember how proud they looked. I think it was because they knew I had found a dress that was me, made me feel like a superstar and that my husband to be Luke would also love.
I loved wedding dress shopping and if there is one thing I miss most about wedding preparations, it was the excitement and anticipation of visiting the Miss Bush chapel. The things I most loved were being taken out of my dress comfort zone and yet having the most fun doing it. I was presented with dresses which I had said I loved but also other dresses which were a bit different so I felt like I was given every chance to find a silhouette and style that really suited me. I loved working with Rosie. It felt like seeing a good friend at every appointment. I have so many fond memories of her doing a quick up-do on me whilst I sipped sparking wine in my 166 stunner. I then loved seeing the dress be transformed by Jo during the final fitting appointments. I didn't think the dress could look any better, but fortunately Jo did. Her eye for detail and understanding how a dress should sit and fall was extraordinary. She took an already amazing dress and then made it perfect for me. And finally, the experience of shopping with Miss Bush as a whole. Everyone was so friendly and kind. I felt so comfortable just being me, with zero judgment and obvious sincere pleasure at helping me find my dress.
The only moment of crisis for me was when I realised dress 2241 was the not the dress for me, but I could only articulate why it wasn't working and not what I wanted instead. It was during my second appointment that I realised that this is the reason why you shop at Miss Bush as Rosie was able to articulate for me through the dresses she presented what it was I was looking for. She so obviously just knew by looking at me, my reactions and my personality what would be right and she pulled such beautiful dresses during the second appointment that I thought I wouldn't be able to choose. I think Rosie knew all along though as she left 166 to last and I think she realised that I needed to go on a bit of a journey before this dress would shine.
Styling
For me the dress was paradoxical mix of understated and classic as well as dramatic and wow and I tried to incorporate this in my overall look. I knew always that I wanted statement earrings as they have been a part of my look for as long as I remember. Finding the perfect ones was a journey which all started with my hair. Knowing that I had the beautiful cross back to show off, I wanted my hair up and curly. I wanted to avoid having it looking too slick or curated and instead a big curly bun. Knowing this Rosie recommended Miss Clemmie to me and during my second appointment styled my hair with her stunning pearl and star/sun pins. They were a mix of vintage and ethereal looking (my best lady Leanne said I looked like I had emerged from the sea). So knowing how my hair was styled I wanted to match my earrings and found online (in the Netherlands where we live) earrings which exactly matched the star hair pins and were big and dramatic. My husband and I also wanted special wedding sunglasses as we had asked for non posed candid photos and wanted to make sure we had plenty of photos of us where we weren't squinting in the English June sun. I found a white pair of Ray Bans whilst buying presents for my flower girls and page boys on Oxford Street and knew immediately they would be perfect. I kept it simple for shoes. I wanted them to be flat and comfortable and found a pair of super glitzy flats on eBay that I knew see me through right to the end of the party, but if they peeked out of the dress would sparkle. My final accessory was a gift from my mum and it was attached to my bouquet. I lost my dad to cancer at the age of 15 and so him not being there was very emotional for me. She found a birthday card from him to me where he had signed with his nickname Mr Doo and was able to find a company who could engrave those words onto a locket. That locket with photos of him and me and his signed name made it possible that he was with me whilst I walked down the aisle.
About the Day
Our inspiration all centred on the fact that as we live abroad, we would have a large international crowd and so we wanted to do an English wedding proud. This was why we chose the stunning Greentrees Estate. It had all the beautiful English charm with its oak beams, walled garden and nestled in the beautiful Sussex countryside, but it was also big and dramatic with its high ceilings, huge black iron chandeliers and floor to ceiling windows. Flowers were a really important part of the styling. We were recommended by Greentrees Vicki at Sidnye Flowers, a local farm which grew all their own flowers only 5 miles from the venue. Vicki being very familiar with the venue encouraged to add lots of height to our florals and to fill it with greenery to bring the outdoors in and to add beautiful aromas with lots of herbs. Vicki ended up having a baby very near to our wedding date and so Lili stepped in to actualise our vision. We used these flowers on our stunning, simple, yet dramatic three tiered cake made by. the talented Erin at Birch House Bakery. The florals, as well as Luke's ginger hair, made green our go to colour. We didn't want to over-stylise and be too matchy but we wanted accents of green: in Luke's suit, my best lady's dress, the flower girl dresses, the florals, wedding stationery and napkins on the table.
The best bits
The ceremony. It was a hot June day and the morning had been wonderfully joyous, but emotional. By the time I was ready to walk down the aisle, I was beaming with happiness and excitement. We had a band called the Shakes playing an acoustic version of Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap and I wish I could bottle that feeling of complete happiness, love and emotion as the bridal party entered through those beautiful oak doors. My mum and step dad walked the dogs (Oscar and Rex) down first, followed by my page boys and flower girls. It was amazing standing there taking it all in and watching my best lady usher in the children as they walked (some more successfully than others) towards Luke. The whole time I could see Luke looking at me, waiting at the end and the feeling is indescribable. When I entered the ceremony room I was hit by the smell of the flowers and looking around all these smiling but also crying faces. The emotion was palpable, but all I felt was love and joy. The band playing so beautifully, my first look at my husband's outfit, meeting his eyes and being shocked to see he was crying and being surrounded by people who love you the most is a feeling I will treasure forever.
That being said, a close second was dancing to our fantastic evening band Alive. They were fantastic, and chosen for their early 00s indie and rock repertoire. I have clear memories of standing on the dance floor and looking around at all groups of people merging together, jumping, dancing and singing and thinking... we did this.
Chloe's Advice
Be open to ideas and trust in the experts. It is not often you buy a wedding dress so use and lean on the expertise of the Miss Bush team to curate something which is special for you. They know silhouettes, they listen to your vision and so try and let go and trust them to help you find your vision. Also try to enjoy the moment. There are not going to be many opportunities to try on wedding dresses, so make the most of it.
For wedding planning, always stick to what is most important and meaningful to you. We chose a band which played our favourite music and we chose cocktails that we loved. Try not to worry about pleasing everybody, if you stick to what is true to you, you will end up hosting the best day. And finally if your venue or other suppliers have recommendations, use them. There are endless choices and so using suppliers who have worked with each other before or came highly recommended took so much stress away from us.
Suppliers
The dress: Jesus Peiro at Miss Bush
Venue: Greentrees Estate
Photographer: Laura Shaw
Flower supplier: Sidnye Flowers
Florist: Petala Floral Design
Videographer: Shutterbox Films
MUA: Sam Loves Bridal
Hair: Mother of the Bride Wendy and best lady Leanne
Hair accessories: Miss Clemmie via Miss Bush
Caterer: Tie the Knot Catering
Venue styling: To Have and to Hire Weddings
Cake: Birch House Bakery
Reception drinks: The Drunken Jockeys
Ceremony and reception band: The Shakes via Bands for Hire
Evening band: Alive via Tailored Entertainment
Evening food: Pizzas via Dough and Deer
Wedding stationery: made all by my wonderfully talented mum Wendy Bolsover-Wilson