There’s more than just a few things I love about todays wedding… (thats right you get the whole thing today!). The Brides dress has to be mentioned first – one of the first I’ve seen actually worn, of the trend sweeping bridal for embellishment. Stunning. That and the old fashioned Sweet Pea spectacular that this is, make it sentimental and sweet. Perfect for a mid-week pick me up 
The bright and beautiful images are all courtesy of the lovely Ben Goode.
Rachel and Lawrence got married on Saturday 22nd May 2010 at St Hubert’s Church in Rachel’s parent’s local village. The reception was at The Larmer Tree Gardens in Tollard Royal.
A Creation called Constantina
I decided to keep the search for my dress local so not to confuse myself with too many options up in the big smoke. When I started my search I knew I wanted a lace dress and fishtail style. I was also pretty convinced that I wanted a Pronovias one. A couple of Pronovias dresses made my short list but then I went to Chameleon Bridal in Pokesdown and found ‘the one’. I loved it before I tired it on and my mum cried so I had to have this dress.
My dress was Constantina by Enzoani and was called Diana (a brand that I had not really come across in my research). The lace and detail was beautiful – it has a low backline, beautiful long train, intricate lace detailed straps and a corsage on the front which added a real impact. It was exactly what I wanted, pretty and girly but elegant and classic at the same time.
DIY Designs
I looked on hundreds of website for hair accessories but couldn’t find quite what I wanted to go with my dress so I decided to make my own. I went to a local Hobby Craft and brought up lots of crystals, rose buds and pretty things and set about putting it together. Surprisingly it didn’t take too long and ended up looking perfect with my dress.
I don’t tend to wear much make up and my hair is normally always down. Like most things in life I try to choose understated elegance – the kind of look that you have spent time over but looks effortless. I decided that we would need some help so booked into my local salon – Robin James Aveda Spa in Poole. I had my hair curled and tussled to one side, with my handmade hairpiece holding it in place. It dropped a bit by the end of the day but it didn’t matter.
They did a great job, all bridesmaids had their choice of hairstyle (I wanted them to feel comfortable) and we all had natural make up; just enough for the camera.
Shoe Solutions
I wanted shoes with a bit of height as I am only 5.2 but I didn’t want my feet to hurt in a pair of killer heels. I found a great pair of shoes from Bourne – a pretty peep toe sandal with open woven satin detail.
Cutting a Dash
Laurence has a suit made from Robert Old & Co. in Bournmouth. We didn’t go with something too ‘wedding-y’ so that he could wear it again. It’s a beautiful hand made suit in a steel grey colour with a very fine purple line running through it. He wore it with a crisp white shirt and the same pewter tie as the groomsmen.
Laurence has amazing blue eyes – it was the first thing I noticed when I looked up the aisle. And then I noticed his massive smile. He looked really smart, cool and trendy. Most importantly he looked comfortable in what he was wearing which suited the garden party vibe. He lost the cravat pretty quickly and just wore his shirt – it had a beautiful pattern detail within the collar.
Dressing the Bridal Party
We decided to buy the suits for the groomsmen. When we looked around at hire suits they all seemed pretty expensive for what you get. We chose to buy a mid grey suit (the Outstanding value one from M&S). The quality was great; they all fitted perfectly and only cost £50 each. We teamed this with shot silk pewter cravats, white shirts and tan/brown shoes.
For the bridesmaids we found some beautiful shot silk dresses from Coast. The colour was called amethyst – it was a purple/minx/pewter colour and took on different shades. Our little flower girl wore a beautiful little minx coloured dress that toned in really well. They all had heart necklaces as gifts which they wore on the day.
The church where we got married is where I was Christened and both my parents and grandparents were married at this church. They only open it on special request now and we were fortunate enough for them to open for us. It’s a beautiful little church and the friends of St Hubert’s did an amazing job with all the church flowers.
Super pretty right?
Pop back later on today for the second part with lots more pretty to peruse.
Yours Truly,
Rebecca
xoxo
This is THE dress that I fell in love with originally but was talked out of because of the length of the train. It is aboslutely bloody stunning, and the bride looks FANTASTIC in it. Jealous much?!
Hooray for sexy lace dresses! And hooray for the fact that we don’t have to wait until tomorrow to see the rest!
Oh Larmer Tree Gardens is just down the road from me! Lush venue!
I’m a wedding coordinator at a venue about 15 mins away and I remember the wedding here on the 22nd May and that day was HOT HOT HOT!!
I can’t even begin to explain how much I want to be wearing that dress right now. Yes I am sitting down to a bowl of special K and Yes it is 8.50am…..but does it matter? Nope. I WANT TO WEAR THAT DRESS.
Charlotte xxx
Now I have major dress wobbles……again
This bride is stunning! x
Wow-wee! I soooo love the lace train! What an incredible piece of gorgeousness. The bride is a total stunner and the groom is a wee hottie too!
Amie, don’t have wobbles! What I do when I’m feeling like that is try to evoke the feeling you had when you found your dress. It’s just a shame we can’t wear them all eh?
So thrilled to have my photos published here! Thanks to everyone at RMW, and of course to Rachel and Laurence for choosing me to shoot their beautiful wedding day.
Yowswer, that dress is phenomenal. Cant wait for part 2! xx
What a gorgeous bride and dress perfection!! It looks like it was a beautiful day…cannot wait for part 2! Me too with the dress wobbles–I adored this dress, was def my second choice and the only reason I did not go for it was because the staff in the dress shop were evil and I would not entertain going back (the wedding dress shop, Wimbledon)..it totally spoilt the experience. This bride looks like that dress was made for her!
Pretty, pretty, pretty……oh, if only lace loved me as much as I love it! The maids dresses are gorgeous too xxx
Yummy! This is the first ‘proper’ wedding dress I’ve seen that I’d have happily worn-it’s so utterly beautiful, that train is something else!
It helps of course to have a stunning bride and a rather dishy groom too!
Is making me look out the window and wish for sunshine, a glass of Pimm’s (yes-I know it’s 9.30-what of it?!) and a beeyootiful dress to wear…
x
The bride looks stunning! Does anyone know where the purple heart necklaces are from? x
Wow! Love the dress – check out the train! Gorgeous – so so pretty!
Blimey! What a stunning dress and that train…Beautiful. The day looks wonderful. x
This dress is gorgeous. It was one of the ones I tried on but unfortunately didn’t suit me! It looks stunning on Rachel. Cant wait for part 2.
L x
I know. WHAT a stunning dress.
Fliss – can’t wait to see what you chose if this is what you passed up!
Loving a bit of waist detail, hope we get to see more of it on these pages
xoxo
ooooooh, that dress…..
Amazing dress (is it ok to still have dress wobbles after you are married?!). I love the mixture of textures and materials in the embellishment and it is pretty much my favourite colour palette in one swoop, nice work Enzoani.
Such a beautiful couple. And such a beautiful day. Loving the peacock roaming around like it’s a guest.
I LOVE THAT DRESS !!! I don’t have train envy tho as my train is just as long lacy and lush ! But MAN O MAN What a stunner !!!! Love all the details in this wedding , especially the Peacock hehehe xxxx
Glad you all like it!!! Thanks so much to Ben Goode for capturing all the precious moments of our big day! He’s brilliant!
Don’t worry about your dress. I stressed every day about the train being too long – and what if it rained etc etc… But it all worked out perfectly! There is a perfect dress for everyone
Lynda, the heat necklaces are from Essential in Bournemouth.
I wish I was sipping on a Pimms in the sunshine – come back summer! xx
Wow, that dress was made for her. I’ve also gone for an enzoani – eva- the dresses really give you a great shape! Can’t wait to rock mine as good as this! Ria x
Cor blimey guv’ner, that dress is TOO amazing. Possibly my favourite EVER dress on RMW. x
@Rachel CW how’s that for a quote – “Possibly my favourite EVER dress on RMW.”
I love that dress. This is the first one ive seen that i would wear in a flash. soooo jelous
OMG beautiful!
Stunning dress and love the details!!!! X x
That is one gorgeous dress, love the pretty details. AND the shoes are utter perfection. I’ve never seen anything like them before.
Forgot about the shoes in my excitement over the dress! LOVE. THEM.
Oh and the groom and boys are looking pretty good too!
I.ve been having a sweet pea moment recently and this has confirmed I want them growing in my garden. Lovely lovely x
The dress is lush! Such a gorgeous lacy train. The shoes are very cute too, perfect for the dress x
The shoes! The dress! The Peacock! It’s all too much!
And again, I don’t like to forget the boys (is it me or have there been some yummy boys recently? Are we allowed to say that? Hope not inappropriate, but dress envy one thing, groom envy another! )
Will be showing Mr S Laurence’s yumtastic corsage. His “I’m not wearing that, it’s too girlie,” protests will be shot out of the window. Boys can pull off pink and flowery too!
@LizzieMc there’s a funny story behind Laurence buttonhole – he actually some how managed to wear his mum’s corsage rather than his buttonhole!!!! And none of us noticed until his mum mentioned days after the wedding that she didn’t have a flower! He said he thought it was girly!
I say the boys should embrace the flowers!!!!!
I’m overwhelmed by all the lovely comments. I have to say I thought it was the most gorgeous perfect dress for me – but never expected such amazing comments – thank you xx
Rachel CW that’s the funniest thing – and I love that no-one noticed! That’s the perfect example of people having so much fun at a wedding that the detail goes out of the window! Your dress looked beautiful on you and check out that peacock – trying to steal the show! Congratualtions x
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this dress!! i very very almost nearly went with it myself but went with another in the range (Daisy) his designs are incredible!!
so lovely to see it on someone and having the Wedding it deserved!
BIG CONGRATS!
MrsJKD. XX
What a beautiful wedding.
Congratulations to you both. xxx
GORGEOUS dress and couple! That first picture with the stunning backdrop…. wow.
I am in LOVE with this dress….beautiful…..and beautiful bride to show it off in all its lacy lovely glory!! Its on the top of my list (and I have tried over a 100 on so its earned its ranking at the top
). However…..I’m getting married in Dubrovnik next August and I’m worried it may be to heavy for the heat!!! Rachel would you mind letting me know how heavy you found the gown? (praying with fingers and toes crossed it was light as a feather for you 
) Thanking you! xxx
@ Ellie – It wasn’t too heavy one the hem had been taken up to the right length. It was pretty hot though as there are so many layers. It was about 26 degrees on our wedding day – so its its around that you’ll be fine
Good luck xxx
Ahhh thanks so much for getting back to me Rachel! It is a little warmer in Dubrovnik about 30 degrees…ahhhhhhh what to do what to do!!! Maybe i could work out some way of attaching a mini air con system under the skirt
xx
Fantastic hair, totally stunning wedding!
Hi,
I am also getting married in this dress next May in curaçao and looking for something for in my hair. I love what you made are you willing to sell it to me??
Saskia