I'm a little green with envy over this wedding. It's the shoes that started it. I'm obsessed with Christian Louboutin, and right there in the first pic is a seriously tasty pair of ivory stacked heels, fresh in their box. Be still my beating heart! Moving on to the happy couple {and mentally walking away from those shoes}, the gorgeous Emma and Matt celebrated their wedding last summer in London. They chose a church wedding, at Our Lady Help of Christians in Blackheath, followed by a fabulous flower-filled reception at historic Eltham Palace. I'm loving their wedding style; from the soft pink colour palette, the vintage car, the traditional morning suits and top hats, it's a quintissentially English affair. Stealworthy details include the Have And To Hold ribbon (from Cox & Cox), the tall glass flower displays {all the better for guests to be able to see each other}, and the cute little individual cakes - somehow so much more of a treat than a slice! Heavenly photographs as ever from the lovely Nikole Ramsay.
The Before the Big Day Bridal Q&A - Emma was kind enough to fill in our bridal questionnaire, aimed at helping other brides with their planning process. Feast your eyes on her answers for helpful hints and tips from someone on the other side of her big day!
What was your thinking behind choosing the venue and the decoration of the reception?
The church was my local parish church growing up and I knew I wanted a Catholic ceremony there. Eltham Palace is an obvious choice in the area. It’s a beautiful place with a stunning mix of art deco and original medieval architecture. The grounds are also extensive and wonderfully kept. In terms of decoration, we didn’t need that much, because the Palace itself is so decorative.
Did you have a theme, colour or motif in mind?
I like soft pinks and my bridesmaids dresses were champagne with soft pink sashes. Also, the groom's and ushers' ties were pink. There was no exact theme, but I wanted a traditional wedding with an element of glamour. In the church, it was very traditional, but I knew I wanted very beautiful music and we had an amazing choir called the Blossom Street Singers.
Who made your wedding outfit, and how did you come to that decision?
My dress was made by Phillipa Lepley (custom made) – it was traditional but was quite fitted, my veil was from Blackburn of Blackheath. My shoes were Christian Louboutin. I had some simple flower diamante slides in my hair, but I can’t remember where they were from!
What about your husband’s outfit? Where was it from?
Matt hired his outfit from Austin Reed on Regent Street, and I would definitely recommend them.
What type of cake did you go for, and how did you come to that decision?
Our cake was made by Nazan Lewis of Daisy Cakes Bake Shop. It had soft pink flowers on it and had a top tier and then individual cakes for the rest of it. I had some chocolate and some lemon cakes, but then the top tier was fruit, which we kept it for the christening of our first baby.
Who was your florist? What flowers did you choose, and how did you come to that decision?
We had soft pink roses and then some big displays. On the table, I had very tall vases, because the ceilings were so high – I really liked those. In the church we had ivy wound round the pillars – which was beautiful.
Who was your photographer and how did you choose them?
Nikole Ramsay – she was recommended by another photographer and she was brilliant.
What advice do you have for brides planning their big day?
Try and stay within your budget – it is only one day. Just enjoy the day, whatever happens. If you are calm and forget about the mini details, it really will be the most amazing day of your life.
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