Clara Francis + BAFTA Winner Jason Watkins’ Edwardian + Celestial Inspired Wedding at Wiltons Music Hall

clara francis jason watkins wedding

This is such a special, special wedding feature, and one I’ve been saving for a day like today.  Please read it carefully, savour it and be reminded of the value of marriage and the true joy of weddings, of life and love.

During my very early days of ‘blogging’, I stumbled upon beaded jewellery designer Clara Francis (you can see my original 2009 post here). I remember being absolutely stunned by the level of detail in Clara’s delicately hand-beaded pieces of jewellery – each of them little works of art in their own right.

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Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

Clara  connected with me last month through one of those ‘out of the blue’ emails – extracts from which I have permission to share with you this morning…

“Dear Annabel, I do hope you remember me.  You featured my beaded jewellery right when you first started your blog – thank you so much, it has brought much business my way. Unfortunately I have been working very little over the past three years as my two year old daughter Maude died very suddenly and I’ve found it almost impossible to work for a long time up to now.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“I am however feeling a lot stronger and am getting back into the world of work and am very close to launching a mini beaded bridal head dress collection, which was inspired by my own wedding, and not being able to find the kind of headdress I wanted for myself (fusspot!) or my bridesmaids.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“Jason and I got married in January this year and Love my Dress was my number one destination for all things wedding planning.”

“I LOVE it so much – I’m just so sad that I now have to peruse it in secret as my husband has caught me looking a couple of times and thinks I’m going mental/need to get over it/am already planning ‘wedding two with husband number two!’”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“I was so cynical about the whole wedding shebang, and despite calling in many favours from clever friends, with money flying out of my account in every direction, I just couldn’t believe that one single day would be worth all the fuss.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“I was so wrong! I know every bride thinks her wedding is incredible, but ours truly was the most magical, spiritual and ultimately life-affirming day of not only my life but I know many of our friends lives too.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“I found my boots online at Yoox – they were bronze but I really wanted gold glitter boots, so I gave them to my friend Tamara who is a genius with leather and she ‘gold glittered’ them for me.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“I’ve no idea how she did it but they were perfect! Tamara also tattooed the soles of the boots with our initials and the date of our wedding.  I adore them and wear them all the time.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“My friend Clare Frith helped me source my wedding dress. She is a supplier of the most divine vintage wedding dresses through her business Song Bird Vintage.  I always knew I wanted a vintage Edwardian Dress – it always had to be that.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“I love the Edwardian Era, the shape and simplicity of their dresses, and have collected white Edwardian Lawn dresses for years.  I have also always loved the film ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’, and have obsessed about the frocks since seeing that film when I was a little girl.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

I knew I wanted to wear gold stars in my hair and so beaded 5 three dimensional stars and sew’d them onto a hairband.  I also wore my solid gold hare necklace which I made myself. “

“It is my most special piece of jewellery as it’s the piece of jewellery that my daughter Maude loved the best.  I also beaded myself a white three dimensional butterfly ring which is so real looking it appears that a butterfly has landed on your finger!”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

I beaded five little hairbands and sewed 8 beaded stars on each. I also beaded each of the bridesmaids a three-dimensional pink and white striped hot air balloon necklace.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“Inside each one, I wrote a little note for them.  They will only get too see the note if the necklace were to unravel which I hope will never happen! It was A LOT of beading.  My hands definitely ached after this!”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“My friend Ivana lovingly crafted all of our wedding stationery for us – this included our invites, save the dates, table plan, menus, order of service, table names, signage around the venue – quite literally everything.”

“She is a Creative Director and a fountain of ideas and constant inspiration to me.  I left 95% of the design up to her and couldn’t have arranged the wedding without her. What a gal!”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“I had five little bridesmaids so bought the dresses in the sale the summer before from I Love Gorgeous.  They were very simple white cotton and not hugely practical in the middle of winter, but looked so incredibly pretty.  I bought each of the bridesmaids a pierot pink tulle shrug from Monsoon Shrug.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

My daughter Bessie was ‘chief bridesmaid’ and therefore, in typical J-lo style, had a change of clothes during the day.  She went from white cotton frock to gold sequin Diana Ross number in the evening.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“Our venue was Wiltons Music Hall.  It was Wiltons or nowhere! It’s a completely magical place, otherworldly and a bit like a scene i Alice in Wonderland in that one minute you’re on a busy modern London street, then you go through a door and are transported into another time and place.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“We had so many incredibly generous friends help us with our wedding including dear Victoria who did all my flowers and Ivana Nohel who created our invitations, signage, menus and table plan, amongst a million other things.  My friends made 1000’s of teeny tiny pompoms too!”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

My veil was a gift from my friend Alice Shreeve who is one half of the uber-talented wedding dress designer duo Belle & Bunty. It was a last minute decision to wear a veil, so they had to work very quickly and I’m forever grateful as the veil totally made the whole outfit.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“Jason and I have had a chequered past!  We met 24 years ago when I was working in the wardrobe department at the Young Vic Theatre and Jason was working there.  We were together for 2 years then went our separate ways (although always remained friends).”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“We then got back together 10 years ago, older but not necessarily wiser and had been engaged for 5 of those years before our wedding took place on 25th January this year.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“My friend Nat and other friends too made gazillions of tulle and tissue paper pom-poms that were strung up all over the venue.  They also made gold star garlands.  It was a celestial feast falling down from the sky.”

“We commissioned a Paper Moon Photo booth to be built so all our guests could have their photos take sitting on the moon (Paper Moon is my FAVOURITE film EVER) The moon itself was so beautifully lit it added to the general ambience of the space.The venue itself also put up fairy lights all over the place.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“Jason wore a suit from Chris Kerr.  I made Jason a solid silver hare necklace which he opened on the morning of our wedding. He also wore my grandfathers cufflinks which were a gift to him from my 94 year old grandmother Hilde, who was in attendance at our wedding.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

Some of you may recognise Jason by the way, he is a successful stage, film and television actor who has appeared in two of my favourite ever movies – Nativity and Danger In The Manger (you absolutely must see these films if you have children – or maybe if you don’t!).

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“My mother gave me away and she was so happy to be asked. It had to be her.  I walked down the aisle to ‘Moon River’, sung by Danny Williams – my favourite version of that song.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“We had our friend Rupert Morris who is a Humanist Minister perform the service.  We wanted him to do this as he had previously performed our daughter Maude’s funeral.  We felt our marriage and her death were so inextricably linked.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

Our friend Ian read a Pablo Neruda poem ‘Sonnet XVII’ and another friend Kate sang The Beach Boys ‘God only Knows’.  The same people had also read and sung at Maude’s funeral.  We wanted our wedding service to be a celebration of our love and survival through the worst ordeal that life can throw at you.  We wanted our wedding to be as joyous as Maude’s funeral was sorrowful.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“My plan was always to get married when I turned 40, when our daughters Bessie and Maude were old enough to be bridesmaids and remember it with us. But so sadly, this didn’t go according to plan.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“When our beautiful Maude died, our friends really were incredible.  We have amazing friends and family and they carried Jason and myself though the wilderness and chaos of grief.  For the first year, I was never alone as they made sure there was always somebody available if I wanted or needed it.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“Jason and I have since gone on and have another child, Gilbert, who is now two and I love him to the core of his beautiful being.”

“After Gilbert’s birth, we felt we wanted to get married and celebrate our, I can’t think of a better word, ‘survival’.  It sounds a little naff I guess, but that is truly what it felt like to both of us.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“We survived the storm – we will always be battered and bruised and there will always be a gaping hole in our family where our precious, most gentle Maude should be, but we wanted to celebrate our love and family and strength, and get all those people that had been there at her funeral, the most terrible day of our lives, to come to our wedding, the most joyous day of our lives.”

“Our wedding was as joyous as her funeral was dreadful.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“Our two year old son Gilbert was the ring bearer and I saw a Liberace-esque black velvet jacket with teeny white stars on in the Bonpoint sale shop in Bicester Village.  It was ridiculously expensive but had to get it for him because it was the BEST JACKET EVER!  I’m going to frame it!”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

We bought our rings from a wholesaler in Hatton Garden and had them engraved there too (one of the perks of being in the trade!)  We didn’t want anything fancy, just a plain platinum band.”

 

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“Another incredibly talented friend Victoria did all our flowers for us. Victoria has such impeccable taste and I know virtually nothing about flowers so left it all in her very capable hands.  Another friend of mine Amy had been collecting little cut glass vases for us and had accumulated over 100.”

“I explained to Victoria a rough idea of what I had in mind and showed her some of the golds and dusky pink swatches I’d gone for.  She then visited our venue and that was that.  I know every bride probably says this but they were the most incredible bouquets I have ever seen – she made Wiltons Hall come alive!”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, Londonwpid273067 Clara Francis beaded jeweller Wiltons Hall Wedding 4Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“Our Photographer was Rik Pennington.  I saw Rik’s work online and fell in love with it immediately.  It is really special.  He can find the smallest, seemingly most inconsequential moments and see such beauty in them.  We couldn’t love our photos more.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

Rik is so much more than a wedding photographer, he is a true artist. He has such sensitivity to his surroundings and has captured our day perfectly.  Every special moment he caught is exactly as I remembered it yet I have absolutely no recollection of seeing him rushing about capturing images at all.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“He’s like a photographic ninja!  There is no natural light in Wiltons and the colours and light he has incorporated into our photographs have the dreamy like quality of the day itself. Jason and I couldn’t recommend him highly enough.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“I made wedding favours for all the guests.  All the women (around 80) received a beaded butterfly/flower ring or brooch.  It was by far the biggest labour of love in the entire wedding preparation, but so worth it when I saw everyone immediately put them on. “

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“When the dancing started all I could see were butterflies fluttering around on everyones fingers!  The men (70) all received laser-cut cufflinks that Jason and I designed together.  One side featured a bird on and the other was a bee.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“As we have lots of friends who are actors, singers and performers, we got them to do the entertainment.  I allocated my friend Mark Fleischmann as ‘Entertinments Manager’. Everything he organised was a big surprise to us on the day.  He arranged a quiz for each table (all about Jason and I).”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“People wrote and performed songs too!  My friend and playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz wrote an incredible poem and Bessie, our daughter, wrote a little speech as did Freddie, my stepson, who is Jason’s eldest son.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“My Dad even played the spoons – it brought the house down! My brother is a DJ and so he DJ’d in the evening.  He was amazing, everyone was going nuts on the dance floor.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“We had the best most tastiest cake in the entire world (and I have eaten LOTS of cake).  It was the ‘Curly Wurly Cake’ from Konditor and Cook.  We ordered a three tiered one plus lots extra for all our guests.  My gorgeous friend Nat Needle felted us the cake topper.  I was a Hare and Jason was a Fox!  She had matched the outfits they were wearing exactly to ours – incredible!”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“Our first dance was to ‘The long and winding road’, by the Beatles as the song perfectly captures the strange, complex and ultimately epic journey the two of us had been on to finally arrive at this place – 24 years, 3 children, 1 bereavement later, with a roomful of our our most treasured friends and love.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, LondonClara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

Words of Wedded Wisdom

“It’s not about perfection – it’s only about love.  The whole day should be about love.  As long as you have each other and your most beloved friends and family there to share it with you – nothing else really matters.  Oh, and however disorganised you think things may be, and boy was I disorganised, it just somehow all magically seems to come together in the end.  I sent out my invites literally two weeks before the day itself. How absolutely rubbish is that?’

Taking our wedding day as a whole, there is absolutely nothing I would change.  Nothing. It was a truly glorious day.”

Clara Francis + Jason Watkins wedding, Wiltons Music Hall, London

“It is almost impossible for me to pick a favourite moment from the whole day, because it was all utterly enchanting from start to finish.  I loved the actual wedding ceremony but I think my absolute favourite bit was after the entertainments when my friend Tash pulled a screen down and played ELO’s ‘Mr Blue Sky’ – my favourite song, being sung by all our friends (all the ones that couldn’t be there too!). 

The video had been cut together by an editor and had taken months of preparation, love and imagination.  So much thought, time and effort had gone into it, it was completely overwhelming.  I sob every time I watch it, which is a lot as the kids watch it over and over again at home!”

Film by Terri at [email protected]

I live to share stories like this one, in the hope they inspire others – perhaps to think more positively or be reminded of the true purpose of their own wedding.   I am so incredibly touched that Clara wrote to me about her experience and inspired beyond words to see these glorious photographs, radiating with love and joy – testament not only to a truly brilliant wedding photographer, but of course to how love can help you survive the most horrendous challenges in life.

Clara and Jason – thank you for entrusting me to share your beautiful story.  So much love to you both.

Because there is so much happening this week with the re-launch, and because  of the nature of this real wedding feature, there will be just one post today. I wouldn’t have felt comfortable rushing to replace this wedding from the top spot by lunch time, it needs a little more love and attention than that.  I hope you have enjoyed reading about the beautiful, spiritual and celestial inspired wedding of Clara and Jason as much as I have.

R.I.P little Maude.

Love Annabel x

Credits & Thanks

Annabel

Annabel View all Annabel's articles

Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.

42 thoughts on “Clara Francis + BAFTA Winner Jason Watkins’ Edwardian + Celestial Inspired Wedding at Wiltons Music Hall

  1. Oh my goodness… What an absolutely beautiful & precious day. I have tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat, goosebumps everywhere and a big happy smile! Just glorious. Clara, Jason and your little family, I wish you all the happiness the world can bring xx

  2. I cried from start to finish reading about this beautiful story. I’m so sorry for your most terrible of losses but what precious ways you remembered your baby on such a special day. Congratulations and I wish you all love and light. Nicole xx

  3. Oh, only in my darkest moments to I let myself imagine the scenario these two have had to deal with. I am so sorry for their loss. And I am so glad that they had such a beautiful, joyful and love-filled wedding – it blooms from every frame. Plus, gold stars & shoes!? Flippin’ lovely. An amazing day, beautifully captured.

  4. What an amazingly beautiful wedding that obviously meant so much to everybody there. And what a surprise to spot a friend of mine in the video!

  5. I can’t even begin to imagine the darkness Clara, Jason and Bessie must have been through – it’s just so bitterly sad 🙁 It’s beautiful though to see the love they share and that of their family and friends on their gorgeous love filled wedding day. The incorporation of the butterflies is poignant and beautiful…you can sense Maude’s spirit there. And knowing Wilton’s Music Hall, I can’t think of a better place for them to celebrate such a day…it is truly magical in itself – add in the gorgeousness of all involved and the glamour of gold shoes, stars and significant amounts of sparkle and there you have it – the perfect day – and fabulously captured by Rik too x

  6. What an incredibly beautiful wedding and report. I worked with Jason about 6 or 7 years ago (he won’t remember me) so am deeply sad to hear about their daughter. What a joyous, magical day they had though. And amazing photography from Rik Pennington. Just gorgeous x

  7. Simply Brilliant! A wonderful narrative and clearly a wonderful celebration of life and living. There is absolutely no doubt that Clara and Jason will continue to have a long and happy life together. God Bless you and your family(ies).

  8. I cried! Oh what an absolutely beautiful wedding and a heartbreaking story of love and loss. May there future be as bright as the stars that shone above them.

  9. Hard to put into words how much this post has moved me. I cried all the way through reading it but also smiled and felt the love and warmth from this magical and incredibly beautiful day. I can’t begin to imagine how hard loosing Maude has been for Clara and Jason but like another reader said below i felt that Maude’s beautiful spirit ran through every part of this day. I loved the styling of this wedding, Gold stars, pixie boots, vintage gowns, glorious blooms and one of my favorite venues i have ever seen. Thank you Clara, Jason and Annabelle for sharing this wedding and a truly moving story. With love Charlotte xxx

  10. I’ve heard about Wilton s for years but never managed to make it there. What a glorious venue for your truly wonderful wedding. You are so right that it was magical. Whilst looking at the photos I could feel the love oozing out of each and everyone. Congratulations to you both. As an aside, Jason your Nativity movie is brought out each year in our home along with It’s a Wonderful Life. What better company could you ask for?

  11. been a fan of this ladies work for ever, the butterfly rings are divine. Was touched by your story, Maude is such a beautiful name for a beautiful angel, much love Kirstie ( Flo & Percy)

  12. p.s just watched the video, sobbed and laughed all the way through, am now a mess, lol!

  13. I saw this wedding over on Rik’s blog and thought it was incredibly emotive and beautiful just from the story of the images alone, but hearing Clara’s heartbreaking yet uplifting story behind it makes it even more so. The video is incredibly charming, it really is moments like this that make a wedding, creating such precious memories. Rik, superb work too, you and Wilton’s are a pretty amazing combo. Hoping for lots of happiness for this family’s future!

  14. After 6 months of seriously dedicated wedding blog reading I thought I might be suffering wedding fatigue… and then today, this post. Honestly the most emotionally and physically beautiful wedding I’ve seen to date. Clara, I think it so generous of you to share your wedding with us, the wedding-dreaming-planning public. Thank you for re-inspiring me and reminding me what it’s all about.

  15. What an amazing day-this might be my favourite wedding on LoveMyDress I’ve ever seen. It’s as if the flowers are gorgeous, the stationary fab, the venue stunning, but actually that does not matter one jot. What matters here is the solidifying of their family unit, mourning the past, looking to their future. Uh, it’s just beautiful. (And I did recognise the groom as soon as I saw him, I would have been racking my brains all day trying to figure out where from!) Just lovely, I really hope they’re happy.

  16. Clara and Jason, you are incredible. I read your beautiful account whilst I snuggled my 3 year old boy on the sofa and tried not to soak his head with tears. What an exquisitely beautiful day you had, every detail is utterly stunning and Rik Pennington has done a magical job in capturing it all. I wish you every happiness. X

  17. I’ve just found the time to have a proper read of this story and its even more beautiful than the photos. Such a bittersweet mix of sadness, survival, love and happiness. (And silliness in the brilliant video!) I would have loved to have been a guest at this wedding. I wish Clara and Jason continued love, happiness and silliness for their married life together!

  18. What a beautiful day and incredibly moving story, all captured perfectly. Thanks so much to all involved for sharing x

  19. Such an inspiration. Am getting married myself in October and things get (and are getting…) so out of hand with the ‘wedding’ and can easily move away from the reason you are planning the day in the first place. I check in with Love My Dress every single day, often a few times! The variation of stories, styles and the amount i learn from this blog personally makes it such a treasure trove-and a bit of escapism in the humdrum of daily life. Well done and a big thank you from me for being such a trusty ‘go-to’ x

  20. OMG – that video is all kinds of awesome. An abvious reflection of how much your friends and family truly love you Jason & Clara. I’ve just had to back and look at all those beautiful pics and video again & I now have ‘panda’ eyes (note to self – buy waterproof mascara!)

  21. I’ve been saving this wedding for when I could take some time over it and I’m glad I did. Just wow! I am in love with it. Rik has done THE most mazing job. Beautiful, beautiful photographs xx

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