Hello! Seeing as we’re in the midst of planning our End of Season Sample Sale, it seemed fitting to share one of our beautiful sample sale brides this week. Katie purchased her stunning Sottero and Midgley gown at our Winter sample sale back in 2017, which she wore for her glamorous winter wedding a year later in December 2018. There were some challenges throughout Katie’s dress shopping journey which Katie advises brides *not* to do when Sample Sale shopping (click here to read Emma’s top sample sale shopping tips!) but it all turned out well in the end, with Katie looking absolutely wonderful in her chic, elegant gown.
Katie tells us more about finding her dress at our Sample Sale, and the inspiration behind her and husband Sean’s glamorous winter wedding. Over to Katie…
THE DRESS
The path to find my perfect dress was in one way very simple; it sounds very cliche but I chose the first wedding dress I ever put on. However, this simple start turned into a very complicated process that took several months to resolve!
We got engaged in November 2017, and after some research I fell in love with the look of the Miss Bush chapel. Over that Christmas a sample sale was advertised so I was keen to go.
I chose the Arleigh wedding gown by Soterro and Midgley, the perfect option for a glamorous Winter wedding that I had always planned. I loved its clean lines, and it totally evoked the Old Hollywood glamour look I wanted, with long sleeves and an illusion open back accented in intricate beading that added a touch of Christmas sparkle. The illusion cutouts at the embellished jewel neckline complete the sexy yet elegant wedding gown. Finished with crystal buttons trailing down the long, statement train.
I got caught up and bought the dress sample at the sale, which was two dress sizes too small. Looking back this was a silly mistake that would cost me months of anxiety and failing fad-diets. A route I would never advise to any bride-to-be who may be reading this blog-post! I would consequently end up buying two exact same dresses, and having the bigger size cut down to fit me perfectly by Jo the in-house dressmaker.
However, looking back it may have been the complicated route, but finding that dress was incredible. It was unlike anything else in the boutique and felt amazing in it.
DRESS SHOPPING
I only ever brought my mum to any of my dress appointments, she has incredible style and I also totally respect her opinion to be one of truth, as brutally honest as that truth may be!
I remember feeling amazing in the dress, I came out to show my mum whose reaction reassured me that the dress has the ‘wow-factor’ I was after. I must have tried nearly 15 dresses on in my appointment, but I kept coming back to that first one. I loved the dress so much, that I bought it twice!
Despite my interesting journey to find the right dress, the team at Miss Bush kept me calm and kept their sense of humour during the whole process.
Corinne in particular was central to my whole experience. We connected straight away due to our mutual straight-talking approach to wedding planning. Corinne was also planning her own wedding, so we would share hilarious stories along the way, as our dates drew closer.
Being based an hours drive away from the chapel, Mum and I became surprisingly attached to the small village of Ripley, We would look forward to our visits to the quaint tea-shop next door and loved walking up and down the high-street looking at all the gift shops. It was part of our wedding planning experience, and a big part of the process that I still cherish.
STYLING
My dress was quite a statement in itself, however I knew I wanted something in my hair. I chose a Miss Clemmie hair vine from her Cosmos collection, I love that she is an artisan and her pieces are handmade and totally unique, the beautiful stars throughout would add a touch of modernity to the look. My bridesmaids also wore stars in their hair to compliment.
I had a bespoke veil made, that matched the length of the train on my dress, which kept the back of the dress slightly more demure for the ceremony and gave me an evening look when I removed it for the dancing!
My shoes were by British footwear designer, Nicholas Kirkwood. They were a metallic champagne colour, with his iconic pearl detail hidden in the heel. I felt amazing in them!
A GLAMOROUS WINTER WEDDING
The day was incredible from start to finish. I was lucky in that I had a self-made styling theme from the second I booked my venue. My wedding was booked for the 23rd of December so my love of all things Christmas was a clear inspiration!
However this was a wedding, not a Christmas grotto so I wanted the venue to look magical, but still bridal. I set a colour-scheme of navy, brushed gold and white for the tablescapes, with plenty of fairy lights throughout the venue to keep things festively chic.
We had open roaring fires during our wedding breakfast, with gold vintage Christmas baubles as favours. We had a lighting designer drape twinkling fairy lights throughout the venue, money well spent as this was far more impactful than flowers in a summer wedding. My mum handmade centre pieces for the tables as well as garlands for the fireplaces which had touches of jewel-coloured and gold baubles. Candlelit tables were complimented by exquisite gold candlesticks at different levels to give that atmospheric glow throughout the venue.
With Sean’s interest in food as a budding chef, and my job as PR for a big champagne brand, food and drink were an extremely important part of our day. We were lucky enough to have a 6ft champagne tower, which we poured for guests instead of a traditional cutting of the cake.
THE BEST BITS
I was so pleased with our decision to have a first look, a practical suggestion from our wonderful wedding photographer Zoe who was concerned about loosing natural daylight so early in the day.
Emotionally it made the whole day so much more relaxed for us as a couple – first looks are an American trend where the couple is revealed to each other in private before walking down the aisle, a chance for our photographer to capture all those couple shots that normally involve you being stolen away from your guests during the drinks reception.
It put us at rest, settled any last minute nerves and was sooooo romantic, despite all the cameras it felt like it was just us, enjoying the moment before the I do’s
ADVICE FROM THE BRIDE
My advice would be to approach wedding dress shopping with an open mind and to go with your instinct, be kind to yourself and also be realistic that this dress is an important part of your day, but try not to let it take over the whole experience.
A more general piece of advice is to set your ambition for the day and stick to that plan. Sean and I listed out the things that were important to us, this really helped us to not get overwhelmed and stay focused on these elements rather than swept up in all the wedding hype. For us, it was music, excellent food, a party atmosphere and Christmas glamour that were central to our dream wedding day. We are so happy we stuck to our guns, and created the perfect day for us and our guests!
GALLERY
SUPPLIERS
Photographer: Zoe Collyer Photography
Videographer: Ash Videography
Venue: The Diary at Waddesdon Manor
Champagne Tower: Moet & Chandon
Dress: Sottero & Midgley Arleigh, at Miss Bush
Hair & Make Up: Lauren Irwin
Shoes: Nicholas Kirkwood
Hair piece: Miss Clemmie
Florist: Judith Campion, family friend
Bridesmaids: hair by Maddi Sachdev, friend of the couple, dresses from ASOS, fur stoles from Coast
Groom wore: Bespoke suit from Richard James and shoes from G.H Bass & Co