Today’s bride and groom are English but currently reside in New York. They decided to hold their big day back in their homeland and chose the big smoke as their location, from one stylish city to another if you like. And of course London is the most convenient place should you have guests travelling from all over the world, from Singapore to Australia to Uganda…..
Sara and Kevin wanted a classic British wedding and achieved exactly that with a neutral colour scheme, pimms on the lawn and the stunning architectural backdrop that is the Stationers Hall.
And if there wasn’t enough reasons to wear a simple princess-esque gown for W-day here’s another one, pair with smoky eye-make-up and some shiny nude skyscraper heels and you will positively smoulder whilst remaining elegant, sophisticated and timeless.
Yup. Sara is one stylish beauty.
All of the gorgeous images are courtesy of Anushe Low.
Polished Perfection
I bought Laura Mercier makeup from the one Makeup Girl in SAKS who didn’t look like a Drag Queen! I wanted to look like me, so I did my own makeup on the day. It was probably the third time in my life I wore foundation…..
Gigi from Love Hair did my hair on the day.
An Instant Attraction
I bought my dress from Priscilla of Boston. I loved the dress the minute I tried it on. I wanted something classic, with a modern twist and I wanted something full but didn’t want to feel like a meringue….. This was the perfect balance. And I loved the embroidery on the bodice.
Simple Accessories
Kevin bought me a pair of diamond earrings to wear, he had them made as a surprise, it was really sweet – they are completely beautiful.
One of my very talented friends, who is a Stylist and headpiece designer made me my veil. She used a vintage piece of material and attached it to a gold comb. I loved it. Everything I saw in the bridal shops were too ornate and frilly and covered in diamantes or flowers. I just wanted something simple. Lauren made me 3 different versions and cut the one I liked to size on the day of the wedding!
For shoes it was Porn star heels all the way! I’m 5’ 2”, I need all the help I can get! They were pearly pink and from Joan & David.
Classic Cream
I wanted cream roses, something classic and English for bouquets and pins. I opted not to have any other flowers at the venue, as it was ornate enough and didn’t need it. Plus I tried to limit anything that could go wrong as I was planning the wedding from abroad!
A Splash of Gold
The venue had a lot of colour palates, so I wanted the bridesmaid dresses to be neutral colours. We found their dresses online at Coast and I took the original cream sashes’s off and added gold ones to distinguish from the cream of my dress.
The boys suits came from Moss Bros. We ended up having to rent 2 suits each as we wanted to mix and match the jackets and trousers. It turned out more expensive than it should have been, but I think they all looked very handsome! I matched their ties to the sashes’s on the bridesmaid dresses.
Very Visual
I’m a perfectionist and also work in a visual industry, so finding the perfect Photographer was a challenge, It took me ages! I looked at 100’s of portfolios before I stumbled across Anushe Low’s website. Her photos are absolutely stunning and I am so glad I found her!
A Lot To Ask
It took me ages to find a venue. I wanted something beautiful and old, and steeped in history. Living in America makes you appreciate old architecture! I also wanted somewhere we could hold the ceremony and the reception…and I wanted and garden and for it to be in central London! A lot to ask I know!
I finally found Stationers’ Hall and instantly knew it was the place. The venue is absolutely stunning and perfect for what we wanted. It’s also right by St Paul’s Cathedral so we snuck out for some amazing photo opportunities!
Cheap Chic
I didn’t want to spend a fortune on a cake as I thought most people would be too drunk to notice! I bought a 4 tier chocolate cake from Marks and Spencer. It was delicious and a bargain!
A Taste Of NYC
Every time we visit England from America, we always have a list of sweets and treats to bring people. I thought it was a nice idea to make up little bags of all the sweets you can only get in the US – Tootsie Rolls and Hershies!
Simplicity Is Key
The most significant advice I can offer is to keep it simple! There is no point stressing yourself out over minor details that may not get noticed. Stick to the basic necessities and do them well.
Hair Stylist – Gigi from Love Hair
Brides Shoes – Joan and David
Brides Gown – Priscilla Of Boston
Headpiece – Lauren Armes
Maids Dresses – Coast
Groomsmen – Moss Bros
Venue – Stationers Hall
Loving those city portraits, and of course the shoes. And the make-up. And the sophisticated simplicity of it all….
Anyone else planning a W-day from afar?
Big Smouldering Love
Charlotte xxx
