Emma’s Perfect Wedding Day

How did your partner propose? We had a wonderful engagement. Chris proposed in the Boboli Gardens in Florence during a short break there in November 2022. We were walking through the stunning gardens and made our way to a viewpoint with views across the Tuscan hills. We were completely alone apart from one elderly couple who saw Chris get down on one knee and managed to snap a picture for us. The words Chris said are a bit of a blur, but I remember saying yes practically before he finished! It was perfect, and we spent the next few days celebrating in Florence.

What’s the best piece of advice you received in the run-up to your wedding? Some really helpful advice was to manage your stakeholders well with your partner. By that, I mean managing your respective friends and family to ensure they know what is happening but aren’t putting too much pressure on you to have your day a specific way. There is a way to stay true to what you and your partner want without upsetting family and friends, and the key is good communication.

How did you go about finding your wedding dress? After getting engaged, I was inundated with inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest. I found myself continually returning to the same theme of dresses. I then looked up designers whose dresses I was repeatedly looking at and set out looking for a stockist. That’s where I came across Fross, as they stocked Justin Alexander, who I didn’t end up wearing but loved his dresses.

How many dresses did you try on before you found ‘the one’? I think it was about 20. I’d been to one store before Fross, yet it was at Fross that there were so many I could happily wear. It just took a bit of a hunt to find the perfect dress, and Fross sent away to get more samples in for me to try.

Do you know the name of your dress designer? Adriana Alier – Dress Hollie.

What made you fall in love with the dress that you chose? So many elements I loved: the huge bow at the back, the low back itself, its white satin color, the way it felt very light but still had a very big skirt. It had a beautiful long train, and the whole dress felt so light. The whole thing made me feel like a princess. I then created some detachable lace puff sleeves using Sassi Holford lace with the help of Fross seamstress Kate. They were amazing and truly so me.

Did you wear a veil and/or any other bridal accessories? I wore a Sassi Holford veil, which was extra long and double-tiered. My shoes were from Harriet Wilde, a white satin three-inch heel with a ribbon lace-up.

Tell us a little about your wedding day – the vibe, what inspired you, etc. We truly had the most perfect spring wedding. The sun shone for the entire weekend, which was amazing after such horrendous weather. The cherry blossom was in bloom, and it set the whole day. Our vibe was a traditional English country wedding with a hint of Bridgerton and plenty of bows! We had our service at St. Margaret the Queen in Buxted and our reception at Buxted Park Hotel just across the lawn from the church. We had a stunning service filled with flowers and incredible hymns, with lots of emotion from everyone. We listened to a stunning string quartet as I walked down the aisle, and they played for our drinks reception on the hotel’s lawn. We had the wedding breakfast in the ballroom, a stunning setting, with the windows wide open and white curtains billowing. It was something out of a dream. The speeches were a total knockout, with plenty of laughs and tears. Then it was time to dance the night away to a huge band under the orangery’s twinkling lights. The whole day was completely stupendous – a perfect day.

What was your favorite moment from the day itself? Watching Chris cry as I walked down the aisle surrounded by our family and friends was incredible. The music was Vivaldi Spring 1 recomposed by Max Richter, and it was a magic moment.

Is there any advice you would be happy to share with other brides? Keep going – the stress is so worth it!

Are you taking a honeymoon and if so, when (in relation to your wedding, i.e., immediately after, or sometime later), and what are your plans? Yes, we did take a honeymoon! We spent ten days in Sicily, flying out a few days after the wedding. It was incredible to go away pretty much straight away and ride the wedding high while treating ourselves to a beautiful holiday in Taormina.

Vendors:

• Photographer: Kelsie Scully @KelsieScullyphotography
• Videographer: Alex Haynes @Alexhaynesfilms
• Venue: Buxted Park Hotel
• Shoes: Harriet Wilde
• Accessories: Veil and sleeves by Sassi Holford
• Bridesmaids: Maids to Measure
• Groom’s Suit: Favourbrook morning suit
• Florist: The Box Tree Company
• Cake: Harry Batten Cakes
• Transport: Mark Clover wedding cars
• Entertainment: ZHL Strings and the Royal Blues Band
• Rings: Nicholas Wylde for the bride, Goldsmith for the groom
• Catering: Hotel
• Stationery: BlueBird Wedding Stationery
• Hair Stylist: Kate Waller Hair and Makeup Artist
• Makeup Artist: Kate Waller Hair and Makeup
• Honeymoon: Sicily – booked by Reigate Travel