Today’s wedding is an absolute stunner! Packed with gorgeous styling, unique handmade details and beautiful personal touches, Amy and Adam’s day was as fun-filled and creative as it was chic and elegant.
The bold black and white striped theme that ran throughout worked perfectly against the romantic prettiness of Amy’s Sassi Holford Marilyn floral wedding gown, complemented by flashes of vibrant red from Amy’s gorgeous red hair and Adam’s dapper velvet jacket.
The dress
Sassi Holford Marilyn is a glorious, showstopper of a gown from the designer’s 2016 Signature Collection. Featuring a sweetheart neckline with sheer overlay, nipped in waist, romantic full chiffon skirt and of course that incredible floral patterned fabric, this is the perfect wedding dress for any bride looking to break from the traditional white wedding dress. The dress is finished with floral applique detailing to the waist and shoulder.
Amy tells us more about her dress choice;
“I had tried on so many white/ivory dresses but they hadn’t felt right, maybe I always knew I’d end up with something a bit different. My first trip to try on dresses was back in November 2015, it was fun, but by the umpteenth bridal shop, I just found the whole thing tedious.”
“One day I was reading a Brides magazine and I saw a picture of a patterned dress on an advert for Miss Bush. The location wasn’t particularly convenient for me, but I decided to go and see the dress. When I first tried it on, I liked it and my mum loved it, but it was so different, I wasn’t sure what everyone would think. Was it too ‘girly girl’? So I went home to think about it.”
“I tried on a load more dresses and still wasn’t sure. The only pictures I had of the dress were the designer photos, which I really didn’t like, the styling made the dress look too twee. Mum suggested that we went back to try it on again, but when we got to the chapel, I told Emma that I was sorry but I’d changed my mind and didn’t like the dress. I explained that the photos online had put me off, but Emma asked me to let her change my mind. I agreed and put the dress back on, Emma then did my hair in a very modern vintage style, pulling her flower display to pieces to add them to my hair. She then filmed me walking up and down in the dress.”
“I didn’t change my mind there and then, but over the next few days I kept watching the video and decided that I did want my dress to be different and that if I styled it carefully it could be a very cool dress. So in February I ordered the dress. Needless to say, that was a very difficult decision to make.”
“I’m so pleased that I chose this dress, it was perfect. There wasn’t any other dress which would have done, it was me through and through.
Emma made the experience different from anywhere else we’d been, she was excited about the wedding and the opportunities my dress gave to have a different wedding.”
Amy accessorised her look with a custom short, sweeping veil and a Mohawk-esk vintage inspired hair do adorned with pink orchids.
“I’ve been dying my hair shades of red for years, when I first tried on the dress my hair was a coppery red, but I gradually changed the colour over the next few months to go with the dress, until it was a true burgundy. I had a large crescent shaped bouquet, as I love flowers and apart from that, I kept everything else very plain and simple.”
About the Day
Amy and Adam were married at Chippenham Park near Newmarket, which was a compromise to be between Amy’s home county of Norfolk and their home together in London. The venue offered the opportunity to hold their ceremony outside; luckily their gamble with the weather paid off and the sun shone for them on the day enabling them to take their vows in the beautiful gardens.
Amy tells us more;
“I wasn’t one of those women who had been thinking about her wedding day ever since I was a little girl. In fact, I wasn’t particularly fond of weddings. So deciding on a style of wedding didn’t come easily. I knew it would be colourful and bold, but other than that I didn’t have any ideas.”
“After a scroll through Pinterest, I came across a picture of groomsmen in colourful velvet jackets, which I thought looked great. Adam agreed, so I went on a mission to find similar velvet jackets. Adam chose a burgundy one, and for the ushers we picked forest green.”
“For several months after that we didn’t really have any direction, until we started to plan our invitations. Adam picked a black and white striped invitation with pink flowers, which we both loved. By this time, I had chosen my wedding dress and the invitations matched it perfectly. The styling for the day all followed on from the invitation, with black and white stripes featuring on the bridesmaid dresses, table runners and the cake! It was fun, bold and colourful, exactly what we wanted.”
“I don’t think I have one favourite part of the day, it was all incredible. I particularly loved the ceremony. As it was a Jewish wedding, we got married underneath a Chuppah (a wedding canopy). I made the Chuppah myself from fabric I had collected from all of our guests. We had asked everyone to send us a piece of fabric which meant something to them, or reminded them of us.
We were sent some wild and wonderful fabrics, everything from pieces of wedding dresses, items of clothing from people no longer with us, to a handkerchief with Elvis on and a tie worn to collect an MBE. During the ceremony, I could see all those pieces of fabric, particularly the scarf which had belonged to Adam’s mum, who sadly passed away several years before. The light was shining through it, and it really felt like she was there with us.”
“I also loved the Israeli dancing. Again, this isn’t something I had been particularly looking forward to, but as we entered the marquee for the reception, all our guests were lined up throwing confetti at us and creating a walk way to the dance floor. It was so much fun, even if being lifted up on chairs was terrifying, it really got the party started!”
Final Words
Some words of wedding planning advice from our bride, Amy;
“Don’t be afraid to be different and make lots of lists, all the planning and time is worth the effort. Have fun and enjoy the experience as it goes so quickly. Our wedding exceeded all of my expectations in every way.”
Suppliers
The wedding was a family affair, with family and friends contributing to make their day extra special;
“I am extraordinarily luck that my mum is very skilled and she made the cake, table runners, Yamalkahs (Jewish skull caps) and men’s waistcoats.”
“My bridesmaid dresses were from Warehouse and the men’s jackets were from Asos. Adam and our friend Chris made the light up letters. All the table decorations were handmade, or bought from the numerous car boot sales we went to over the last 4months.
Crown Cambridge were the caterers, Dynamic fireworks produced the fireworks and Dukebox City were our fabulous band.
Jevdet Orgen created my incredible hair and makeup look and was so much fun to work with.
And special thanks to Adam Cluer at SE3 Productions for the fantastic photos.”
Thank you so much to Amy and Adam for sharing their amazing day with us, it’s been such a pleasure to look through these gorgeous images and hear all about how your planning and ideas came together!
Leah x
