Inside our 2021 Suzanne Neville Designer Day

Covid has forced more rethinks on bridal retail than we thought possible.

From the outset of reopening, I have tried to recreate the kind of shopping experience that harked back to a pre Covid times. Extended friends and family invited to appointments via Zoom and partnering with Ripley cafes and bars to make sure our risk assessments didn’t have to involve food and drink service.

Cleaning buffers, separate entrance and exits, reduced numbers, masks, and sanitising all became the norm. Appointments were achievable and successful, though they lost a little lustre.

There are upsides of reimagining retail that are far reaching too.

Among them, fewer available appointments with shorter duration have seriously increased the research we demand and brides gladly do. Fewer friends and extended family members has meant the cacophony of opinion has been turned down. Appointments are less frenetic, more considered. The time saved trying to seat 6 guests, take drink orders while democratically and diplomatically allowing each friend a choice of dress is considerable.

Despite my vision for the Chapel not including a giant TV, it has allowed me to invite bridal parties from Australia, Brazil, South Africa and the US to be present at appointments.

Last year’s Suzanne Neville day (write up and pictures here) literally slid in under a closing door. On November the 4^th, the event went ahead with far less pizazz followed by a month long lockdown, a pre cursor to the immense near four month lockdown.

This year, a combination of vaccination, antibodies and optimism meant I braved inviting our extended wedding family back to The Chapel.

Our Suzanne Neville day is always ‘invite only,’ preaching to the converted and convinced. Brides that know they want a Neville dress and also wanting to have The Chapel as their bridal home. With our technical atelier and years of partnership with Suzanne Neville, our brides know that the collection is filtered to our unique vision and style yet still fitted to perfection offering design changes, bespoke dresses and a made to measure with toile fitting service.

To treat our brides I invited the beloved Two Many Cooks and The Drunken Jockeys to feed and water our clients. Two Many Cooks were with us from the first bride at 10am offering brunch staples that blended to lunchtime favourites and classic canapes for the early evening.

The Drunken Jockeys devised a menu of new twists on old favourites. Seasonally inspired, visually stunning and perfectly blended, our clients could try shooters, indulge in a proper size treat or have the option of a mocktail version.

Spiced autumnal flavours and colours in the cocktails were picked up and reflected by the warmth of Gill Pike’s flowers. I have been obsessing about red/pink ombre arrangements, and throughout the mighty double season have been sending her images of inspiration.

Gill provided another glorious arch, spectacular internal installations, fresh bouquets and arrangements in vases so the heady fragrance of floral scented the rooms.

The Mezzanine floor played host to Sharon Roberts and Carolanne Armstrong who offered complimentary and hair and make-up trials. A myriad of up-does, relaxed waves, plaits and winged eyeliner were explored and brides descended the spiral stair more glamourous and wiser about how their wedding look could evolve.

Our Gift List partners The Wedding Present Company supplied our goody bags and Gift Vouchers for our brides. Indulgent brownies from Two Many Cooks, gin from Sipsmith and treats from Molton Brown as well as special offers from our favourite suppliers completed the offer focusing on classic British luxury brands.

The atmosphere was captured by Voyteck Photography, who returned to the chapel for the second year to provide us with this gallery of beautiful images.

This year we have moved away from the traditional Trunk Show format and focused on service and expertise.

Our Suzanne Neville day was designed to reflect the luxury of commissioning a truly bespoke dress, the personalisation that goes beyond price tag. The ability to meet Suzanne, the actual face of the brand, to truly understand the ethical luxury and impeccable provenance of a Suzanne Neville dress is extraordinary. To witness the hand in glove partnership of Suzanne and our team is reassuring. To know a style vison is shared between boutique, brides and designer is remarkable.

This service and commitment to excellence is a year round promise to our brides but for one day only it is incredible to be able to illustrate and spotlight this with a little help from our friends.