Azalea by Jenny Packham for a 1920s Decadence Inspired Wedding

We have a really lovely wedding to share with you this afternoon, with a true beauty of a Jenny Packham dress, a beautiful barn reception setting and the most incredibly glamorous peacock feather fans.  Diane and Neil  tied the knot at the very smart Carlisle Registry Office, in Cumbria, on the 5^th of July 2014, with the sun blazing outside.

Photography by Lauren McGuiness Photography

The couple loved the décor of the venue, and the intimate atmosphere it provided.  The couple dreamed of a glittery, glamour-filled, Gatsby-esque day, filled with lights, feather and luxe fabrics, to create an opulent atmosphere for their guests, reminiscent of a bygone age.

Cake by Cutie Pie Cake Company

“I loved everything about the 1920s art deco scene as it’s full of glamour and glitz and my inspiration came mainly from reading and watching Great Gatsby’s lavish parties.   Our main colours were black and gold- black chairs covers with gold bows and black tablecloths with gold runners down them.   I loved my centrepieces which were large martini glasses filled with aqua balls, peacock feathers and lights.”

“We wanted the wedding to capture the lavish parties of the 1920’s so we had metres upon metres of fairy lights.   Neil had to attach by cable ties all the fairy lights that we wanted to drape down the middle of the Tithes Barns wooden beams- it took him four hours the evening before the wedding and he still had to go back and do the rest the next morning!”

Diane wore the absolutely stunning ‘Azalea’ by Jenny Packham, purchased from Mia Bridal in Carlisle, and was lucky enough to have one of those moment s of certainty, where you just know that its right, the moment she tried it on.

“I went to one other bridal shop before I came across Sarah Kelly at Mia Bridal and as soon as I met Sarah and explained the theme of my wedding we just clicked, as also loves everything about the 1920s.  I think I tried 2 dresses on my first visit to the shop, but on my second visit Sarah said she had a dress that another bride had chosen but had later changed her mind about.  As soon as she showed me Azalea I knew it was the dress for me even before I tried it on; the colour and the detail in the beading was breath taking.  As soon as I put it on it cemented that it was the wedding dress I had always dreamed I would wear.”

Jenny’s dresses are always so ethereally beautiful, and ‘Azalea’ (which has already graced the pages of our blog through these insanely beautiful weddings) is certainly no exception – we’ve featured some incred.  Like Diane, I just love the beading and subtle sparkle, the gorgeous floaty sleeves and low scooped back, which shows off the beaded design so well.

Diane kept her accessories minimal, letting the dress do all the talking, and simply added a pair of drop earrings from Accessorize, alongside her vintage style headpiece by Flo and Percy, also from Mia Bridal.  She completed the look with a rather fabulous pair of Kurt Geiger shoes, and a spritz of Dolce and Gabbana, Desire – her ‘something borrowed’ from a very close friend.

Neil and Diane chose Lauren McGuiness Photography to capture every moment of their glamourous day with her lovely, unobtrusive style.  Diane’s words of praise are very touching.

“From the first meeting I had with Lauren herpoise, work ethic and love for photography shone through. I knew I didn’tneed to search around for another photographer as I had found someone whowas on the same page as me and whose talent is amazing.  I wouldn’t hesitateto recommend this woman to everyone I meet. I also found a friend in Lauren.”

Isn’t that lovely?   How wonderful to use suppliers you get on with so well you consider them friends by the end of your day.

Neil donned a bespoke suit from Austin Reed and cut a very dashing figure!  He accessorized with a pocket watch (a gift from Diane, bought from a vintage market in Penrith) and a peacock feather button hole.

“It was so stylish and suited the era of the wedding perfectly.”

I do love a registry office wedding- too often there is a (completely incorrect!) idea that they are unattractive municipal buildings, but so many are absolutely beautiful, and the Carlisle office is certainly one of this lovely type – all dark wooden panelling, big fireplaces and chandeliers.

Finally, to enhance the 1920’s feel of the day, Diane opted to carry a wonderful peacock feather fan, rather than a bouquet of flowers, and enriched her look with make up by Bridget Foster and a short, slicked-back hairstyle, perfect for a roaring 20’s bride, by Cherri Brett from Violet White Salon.

Paige, Diane’s eldest daughter, had the very important job of walking her mother down the aisle to the family’s favourite song; Cristina Perry’s ‘A Thousand Years’.  The photos of Mother and eldest daughter getting ready together are very lovely.

Paige also gave a reading during the ceremony which she chose herself and is just adorable.

‘Once upon a time you two met, 
You’ve shared so much love and laughter. 
May your marriage be a fairy tale after? 
I’m glad I’m in the fairy-tale and you are too I guess.
Congratulations King and Queen from the fairy-tale Princess.’ 

“I loved every minute of the day but my proudest moment was my daughter doing her reading at the ceremony- she didn’t leave anyone with a dry eye.  Everything was perfect and it all came together; I would not have changed any of it.”

Diane’s two adult bridesmaids also carried smaller version of the peacock fan, teamed with gorgeous hair accessories from BellaCescaBoutique on Etsy, and geometric, art-deco style dresses from Needle and Thread at ASOS, which were altered by the fabulous team at Mia Bridal.  They have a rather fabulous 1920’s flapper feel to them don’t you think?

“I loved the bridesmaid dresses and how different they were and that I knew once they were altered that no one else would have them; they were also the first item I bought.”

Both little girls wore pretty embroidered dresses from Monsoon, which echoed the design of their Mum’s Jenny Packham frock, and the little pageboys looked wonderfully smart in cream outfits from Marks and Spencer.

The couple moved to The Tithe Barn, also in Carlisle, for their black and gold themed reception- a beautiful space with sweeping wooden beams and brick walls- and filled the space with lights, glamour and big martini glasses!  I know I shouldn’t, but I do particularly love the photographs of Diane filling the tower of vintage-style champagne glasses, and knocking them all over!  The look on her face is priceless, and it says a lot that she is still smiling and laughing!

The pair chose a relaxed style of wedding breakfast, without a seating plan, and served pizzas from a wood fired oven, provided by Little Britaly– delicious.

I absolutely love the sculptural art-deco style cake- a true work of art by Cutie Pie Cake Company.  It fits the theme of the wedding so well and is almost architectural in its bold and blocky design.

Karl Hull, an locally based  singer, performed for the guests throughout the evening, and the newlyweds danced to Latch, an acoustic cover of Disclosure, for their first dance as a married couple.

“We had trouble choosing a first dance song, buy on hearing an acoustic version we felt the lyrics were appropriate for our relationship.”

Words of Wedded Wisdom

Diane’s simple, but oh-so-sensible, advice is;

“Not to stress and not to worr,y as all the little details are not the most important thing.   It’s much more about family and friends, so just relax and enjoy every minute of it.”

I couldn’t agree more. Thank you so much to the lovely Lauren McGuiness, for allowing us to use these lovely shots today, and massive congratulations to the new Mr and Mrs Watson on their marriage.  Do we have any other readers who will be having a registry office wedding?  If so, where?  And will anyone be wearing Jenny Packham?  We can’t get enough of her beautiful creations here at Love My Dress.

Much love, as always,

Shona x

 

Photographer – Lauren McGuiness Photography
Venue  –  Carlisle Registry Office
Reception – The Tithe Barn
Wedding Dress – ‘Azalea’ by Jenny Packham, purchased from Mia Bridal, Carlisle
Hair Accessories – Flo and Percy
Other Accessories – Earrings – Accessorize, fan –Etsy
Shoes – Kurt Geiger
Bride’s Scent  – Dolce and Gabbana, Desire
Groom – Suit – Austin Reed, shoes – Casanova  Menswear, buttonhole – Etsy – KirahleyKreations
Bridesmaids – Needle and Thread at ASOS
Bridesmaids Accessories – fans – LitteWorksofArt, eBay, hair accessories – BellaCescaBoutique, Etsy
Bridesmaids shoes – eBay + Misguided
Flowergirls – Monsoon
Page Boys – Marks and Spencer
Ushers/ best man- Suit from Next 
Cake – Cutie Pie Cake Company
Entertainment – Karl Hull, Wedding Singer
Rings – Bride – Saint Nicholas Gallery, Carlisle (no website) , Groom – eBay shop
Catering – Little Britaly
Makeup Artist – Bridget Foster
Hair stylist – Cherri Brett from Violet White Salon
Transport – Driven by friends