You would have already seen the fabulous Monica’s Mad hatters Tea Party last week so now we now have the pleasure of sharing with you all her gorgeous wedding.

Monica and David were married at Ripon Cathedral in North Yorkshire followed by a fun filled reception at Brimham Rocks Cottages.

All images courtesy of the very lovely Laura Stevens

The Story Of The Dress

I had written a 3 page report on my dress shopping scenario and as I read it back it was equally as tedious as the experience itself! So I will put it a nutshell and fast-forward to the good part. Basically it took months and I had 2 faux ‘The ones’ I thought I had experienced this feeling that everyone talks about but my heart was never in it. I was very close to putting a deposit on ‘one’ until I heard myself say, “Well it’s the best I’m going to get”. NOOOO not good enough. In ‘sod the budget’ mode I tried on dresses that I didn’t have a hope in hell of paying for but by god I found ‘THE ONE’. It clung tightly in all the right places, was simple and classic and was not too big, thus preventing me from hugging all of my lovely guests (or husband).

I had a tulle wrap with a train made for me by the same dressmaker who adjusted my dress. I described what I wanted by showing her a mock up I had made from by bedroom voiles, I pulled the contraption out of my rucksack and said ‘could I have something a little like this please?’ Oh dear. I really wanted the drama of a veil, but couldn’t bear the thought of something being attached to my head that could so easily get caught or trodden on so the train was attached to my wrap and started from the top of my gown. A very good friend of mine, Adrienne who specialises in bridal hair during the summer, created my style. I first thought I wanted a very loose bohemian do, but something sleeker really suited the dress, we spent a day playing with different constructions until settling on the one pictured. I was then able to source a suitable hair jewel to compliment the style. This I found on ETSY, which finished it off beautifully.

Jewels and Shoes

My hair accessory was from Etsy (recommended by a lovely lady on YAYW) and my shoes were by Rachel Simpson – Fifi. They were elegant and classic, comfortable and manageable heel, there was never any other contenders! Just a shame no one saw them…….

All Change

My hair and makeup was constructed and applied by my lovely friend Adrienne, we originally thought I would go for a boho do very natural and undone and a scattering of flowers but as my dress taste changed, so did my hair.

I went for a MAC trial and did buy most of the make up (but took RMW’s Charlotte’s advice on the chanel base ) On the day I wasn’t too impressed with the eyelashes but I put it down to his application, as it turned out on the morning of my wedding it was the eyelashes. They just stuck out rather than curled up so I went au natural.

Friendly Flowers

I gave my lovely friend Lucy (she features in the Blue floral print 50s dress) our colour scheme and asked her to work her magic. We were originally supposed to have Cherry Brandy roses, with green helibores but the wholesaler did not deliver so the hellebores turned into mollucella (aka bells of ireland). She did both bouquets, button holes and 3 table displays all for cost! The flowers in the cathedral were a gift from my mother-in-law.

The Groom His Men and My Sister

My fab sister was my one and only bridesmaid and I bought her dress, but hired all grooms-men suits. I bought Dave a spinning bowtie as his wedding gift. I gave it to him in the car on the way to the reception. He kept going on about wanting one because we were getting married on Halloween, it was the running joke throughout the entire wedding planning but he never actually thought he would get one. I had to have it shipped in from America and linked it into the colour scheme. He LOVED it, was spinning it all night!

Finding Laura

I did my MA with Laura in Brighton and worked with her in the Robin Hood (it is a charity pub, you’ll have to go there, it’s lovely) As soon as I saw a wedding she did, this was before I met my Mr Right, I knew she would be the only one who could make the grade as my wedding photographer. She is such a lovely person very romantic and bohemian. It was her idea to hold hands and walk around the cathedral.

You Like?

I love that last shot in particular, it manages to capture everyone without being too formal or posed.

Come back tomorrow for all the unique details and reception chic.

Big Autumnal Love

Charlotte xxx

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