Claire was determined to feel like a princess on her and Richard’s countryside wedding day, and her lavish dress ticked all the right boxes for a fairytale wedding…
The proposal
Richard asked Claire for her hand in marriage while they were away on holiday in Egypt. “We took a stroll along the beach to watch the sunset when Richard got down on one knee and popped the question,” Claire remembers. “As soon as I saw the box, I realised it was my grandmother’s engagement ring, which made the moment even more special and sentimental. Naturally, I burst into tears and forgot to say yes until Richard prompted me!”
The bride’s outfit
Claire was determined to feel like a princess on her wedding day, and found her perfect dress at Grace of Westcott. The ‘Victoria’ gown by Kate Sherford featured lace detailing with pearl embellishments and a lavish hooped skirt with layers of netting. “Other than the sheer size of it, the detailing on the dress was one of the main reasons I chose it – I had never seen anything like it before,” explains Claire. “I felt absolutely amazing and couldn’t take the smile off my face.” The bride kept her accessories minimal, with a hairclip from Glitzy Secrets, pearl jewellery and a pair of dream shoes from Jimmy Choo.
The groom’s outfit
Richard decided on a traditional three-piece morning suit in black, hired from Dapper. “He looked so smart and handsome,” smiles Claire proudly.
The bridesmaids
Claire found it difficult to find the perfect dress for her two bridesmaids. “It was hard to find something that both girls liked that came in the colours I wanted,” Claire says. They eventually found their match in floor–length chiffon gowns with a vintage twist from All That Glitters Bridal, worn with Kurt Geiger shoes and Swarovski jewels.
The ceremony
Claire and Richard chose a civil ceremony at Barnett Hill, a Queen Anne–style country house in beautiful grounds. “My favourite moment was walking out as husband and wife to Coldplay’s Paradise,” Claire says. “It was so touching for us.”
The reception
The newlyweds celebrated with a vintage countryside–themed reception. “The venue was so in tune with our theme that we only needed minimal decorations, such as chair covers and a vintage birdcage for our cards,” Claire explains. To keep costs down, the couple opted for a simple yet delicious menu of salmon and crayfish parcels, supreme of chicken with Mediterranean vegetables and lemon pannacotta. The wedding cake was a tower of vanilla cupcakes with buttercream icing and edible glitter, and the guests were given old–fashioned penny sweets as favours.
The honeymoon
The newlyweds spent two weeks relaxing at an adults–only hotel in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. “Nothing could have been better,” says Claire.
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