“Hannah oh how gorgeous do you look! Your images fill me with such joy, in such strange times you never failed to smile. Every appointment you gave me and Abi such good vibes about the end of the year. The way you managed to adjust your wedding, and never let the crazy pandemic get you down, you never lost site of what a marriage is. Thank you xxx”
Tell me about the proposal?
Matts original proposal plan went a little wrong – I was two hours late from work, and by the time I had finished the weather turned for the worse! But he persevered and asked me to come for a walk with him just before I went to stay at my parents for Christmas. We took snacks and hot drinks in a flask, and went to Coombe Abbey park for a nice wintery walk, and found a bench for a little picnic, with me having no idea that as the sun started to go down Matt would get down on one knee and propose! There was no one around, the woodland we were in was so peaceful and quiet, and I couldn’t have asked for a more simply beautiful proposal.
Tell us about your wedding where was it set and what was the feel of the day.
Due to coronavirus restrictions we were unable to have our wedding reception, but our ceremony was based at Manor Court Baptist Church in Nuneaton. Though we were small in number, there was so much joy in the room, and it was so intimate. It had been a tough year for our families, with losses on both sides, but there were so many happy tears shed on our day, and it was truly wonderful to still be able to get married in front of our close family.
What did you love/hate about dress shopping?
Dress shopping was definitely an adventure for me – I was very indecisive! But I also loved just being able to look at and try on so many beautiful dresses. My first appointment at Bridal Boutique is a memory I will treasure forever, as the wonderful Els held up my iPad with a video chat running so that my Nanna (who was very unwell at the time, but who absolutely loved dresses and made many in her day!) could be a part of the appointment.
What made you pick your dress?
It took me a while to finally decide on my dress. I had found this dress online after googling different designers stocked by the Bridal Boutique before my appointment. I fell in love with it right away, but didn’t believe it was something I could pull off! But after shopping around, I kept coming back to this dress – and I am so glad I did! On the day I felt the most beautiful I had ever felt, but still so comfortable, and so much like me! I have always loved vintage style, and Eliza Jane Howell does it so well!
How did you style your day, and yourself?
We chose a wintery woodland theme for our wedding – we didn’t want to go full on Christmas themed, but there were definitely elements of it in there (it was December after all). We used lots of foliage around the church, and lanterns, fairy lights, candles and origami stars.
Our colour theme was gold, burgundy and teal/dark blue, which we even highlighted in the masks that we had made for our guests which were reversible in the bridal party colours!
I chose to have real flowers in my hair, as I love gardening and own a lot of houseplants, and I had my wonderful friend knit me a bespoke cable knit shawl to keep off the chill when we had our outdoor photos. I never thought of myself as a veil girl, but when I tried on the cape I was completely caught by surprise – I loved it! It floated so beautifully as I walked and highlighted the low back on my dress. I went for a soft look for my makeup, but with plenty of shimmer. I added a bit of extra vintage glam to compliment the Eliza Jane Howell with some burgundy suede T-Bar shoes, crystal drop earrings and a beaded clutch.
Bridal Cape 
What advice would you give to brides now?
I would say choose the dress that makes you feel the most comfortable, the most beautiful and the most you – even if it wasn’t something you would have originally considered or that you thought would suit you.
If your wedding was effected by Covid how do you make adjustments for this?
Our wedding changed quite dramatically because of covid. At the beginning of the pandemic, everyone was saying how lucky we were that we had chosen December because it would have ‘all blown over by then’. But sure enough as it got closer things got better, and then progressively worse, and we had to cancel and postpone and re-plan so many times. We finally arrived on our day down from 150 guests to just 15 (including us) and just a wedding ceremony. But given the chance again I wouldn’t postpone the ceremony – it was perfect, and such a great way to finish a terrible year. We have postponed our celebration to December 2021, and we can’t wait to dance the night away with all of our family and friends.
Words from Hannah – “I want to thank you again for all of your support and the incredible experience I had at bridal boutique.”
Suppliers Listed below
Photographer: @hannahkphotography
Florist: @ruthmyersfloristry
Cake: @baketheirday_
Hand Knitted Shawl: @woollygear
Hair and Makeup: @elliehgibson