Caroline Castigliano designs what are some of the most exquisite wedding gowns in the world. That's a known fact – however, if you're not too familiar with this designer's gowns, let this real wedding feature be testament to how beautiful a Castigliano gown can leave a Bride looking and feeling. 'Beautiful', being the operative word here, because this particular wedding gown goes by that very name.
This beautiful Caroline Castigliano Bride is Anne Sophie, who married Husband Håkon in September 2009 at Chewton Glen Hotel, New Milton in Hampshire.
"The sales assistant picked the dress out for me. I initially thought I wanted something vintage and flowery, Alice Temperley-style. I quickly realised they did nothing for my figure though – "Beautiful" however really ticked the boxes. As I was being laced up the first time I tried it on, my face was one big smile. It was so romantic and classical at the same time – it reminded me of 50s dresses such as the one Grace Kelley wore. With a lace bolero and lace edged veil to top it off, it was pure perfection."
Love My Dress UK Wedding Blog – All Photography Copyright (c) Fjona Wei-Ling Photography
Sophie Anne also wore a Caroline Castigliano veil and jacket. Her pretty hair band was a Jenny Packham…
Anne Sophie's pretty pearl-drop earrings were from Bridal Rogue Gallery…
Marc's suit was a Marc Wallace, his shoes from Jeffery West and his bow tie from John Lewis…
"Our flowers were provided by Liz Wyatt from Corbins Flowers, mix of hydrangeas, various types of roses (david austen, avalanche) lots of herbs – rosemary, lavender, myrtle. Wanted a country look, but not messy, in line with a slightly vintage/romantic feel to it all. On the tables we had lots of candles as well. The rings of myrtle hanging from my bouquet is something i noticed in wedding pictures of our grandparents, the tradition has died out now, but they symbolise luck.
We had the string quartet adapt Metallicas "Nothing Else Matters" for the signing of the register – the look on our friend's faces when they realised what was playing was priceless."
"We had a wellie-throwing competition inspired by the wellies on display at the entrance of Chewton Glen, mainly to shake things up a bit during the canape reception. It worked a treat – some of the guys really got the testosterone flowing! Once we had decided on the venue, that decided much of the styling of the rest of the weekend. The luxe english country house weekend-party with a lot of fun thrown in I guess would be our theme. We didn't have a theme to start with, it just sort of evolved that way."
"Planning a wedding is stressful, no doubt about it, but trust your own good taste, and don't let anyone push you into things you "have " to have. It's you and your partner's wedding – do it your way."
Wow, what a dress, and what a beautiful wedding. Anne Sophie, thanks so much for letting us steal all your style secrets, and thank you too to Fjona Wei-Lung for kindly allowing us to reproduce this wonderful Photography on Love My Dress.
Now everyone go and check out the Caroline Castigliano website for this, and many more examples of beautiful!
♥
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.
