Good evening readers, last week we introduced you to the first of our brand new team of blogging brides, aka, our ‘Lovettes’. If you haven’t read about Kasia and Amii yet, you can do so here! This evening, I’m delighted to introduce you to another of our lovely Lovettes, Caroline! I hope you will offer her a warm welcome and that you enjoy reading this post. You’ll find out more information about Caroline and her fiance Will at the end of this feature.
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Will’s asleep on the sofa ‘watching’ the rugby, and I’m sitting with the laptop on my knee. This is my bliss. Quiet time together, in our lovely flat in Brussels. Most weekends from March onwards are filled by going to weddings, and it’s not that I’m so popular that I am attending 25 weddings this year as a guest!
I’m engaged to Will, a beautiful, bearded and talented filmmaker (of Cine Reportage). As well as being his right hand woman in his life, I often assist him in filming weddings. I join him in his cinematic adventures, adding a girl’s eye view and filming the bride on the morning of her big day.
I adore my second job, and I love being a part of the wedding industry, which has so much scope for creativity. I’ve been a regular reader of Love My Dress for over three years, since I began working in the wedding industry, so it really means a lot to be contributing as a Lovette.
Photography Copyright (c) 2015, Lissa Alexandra
Will and I studied at the same Art School, but didn’t meet until after we had graduated. He came with a mutual friend to a party at my house in London. The day after the party I was exhibiting at the Islington Design Fair. I told Will to come along if he could spare the time. He came for the whole day and then again for the next…and the next!
I was so touched that I didn’t spend much time at the exhibition, but sat in the cafe with him talking, sharing ideas and getting to know each other. I felt like I wanted to spend every second with him. I suppose he must have felt the same, as we decided to go on holiday in our second week of knowing one another.
On the realisation that we had no money,we gradually talked ourselves down from the Caribbean to Scotland, where Will’s family live. After meeting them and spending precious days walking up hills and in cosy pubs, I discovered that he shared the same values and sense of humour as me. I knew then that I didn’t ever want us to be apart.
Our engagement wasn’t particularly spectacular or flashy, but was sincere and heart-felt. It was a sunny evening in May, and I had arrived home from work, to find champagne in an ice bucket on the balcony. Lovely – but not at all suspicious, as it was my birthday! Will had chosen a beautiful ring, which he had in his back pocket (so he couldn’t sit down!). Totally unexpected (despite me really, really wanting it for a while!) he dropped to one knee. The quiet garden square behind our flat was suddenly not so quiet! The rest of that evening was spent drinking (probably too much!) champagne, and Skyping our family and friends to tell them our brilliant news! We got a little bit addicted to telling people and were so touched at the reactions of our friends and family.
By the time Will proposed, I must have been to more than 60 weddings! The question I have heard so often since becoming engaged is ‘you’ve been to so many weddings, you must know EXACTLY what you want and what it’s going to be like!?’ I couldn’t feel more differently.
The beauty of some of my favourite weddings has lain in their simplicity and it’s tricky to reconcile the vision of an uncomplicated day with the billions of beautiful ideas available. Despite this, I find myself always on the lookout for more. I wouldn’t say I’m a weddict, but I need a little bit of wedding internet time every day or I begin to feel a little bit nervy. It’s been a joy to find an excuse to paint, make, create again, as all of my professional design work is now digital.
Choosing a photographer from the long list of hugely talented and completely lovely people we’ve met over the past few years was agonising. We eventually settled on Tarah Coonan, who we got to know quite well, having shot several weddings with her. As well as being an amazing photographer, she’s a really lovely person to be around.
We were lucky enough to discover our dream venue, the Wilderness Wood, two years ago, when we shot a film for an amazing couple there. It had stayed in our minds since then, and we feel very lucky to have known about it.
I’m really looking forward to sharing my up and coming wedding plans and equally excited to see what is in store for the rest of the Lovettes.
Caroline x
A little background on Caroline and Will
As this is Caroline’s first post for Love My Dress, we thought it would be nice to share some of her original Lovettes application with you all – to help you get to know her a little better. We’ll be doing the same for all our new Lovettes when it comes to sharing their first posts.
Caroline Ayello Wright, 31
Wedding Date: 12th September 2015
Location: Sussex
Photographer: Tarah Coonan
Find Caroline at: Instagram, Pinterest
How they met:
We went to art school together but didn’t officially meet until the year after at a house party at Caroline’s in London (friend of a friend). The week after the party, Caroline was exhibiting her illustrations at the Candid Arts Fair in Islington. Will came to the exhibition everyday, and by the end of the week it was official!
The engagement was a perfectly timed, low key event on the balcony of our flat in Brussels. It was a balmy May Friday evening. It was Caroline’s birthday, so the champagne on ice was not suspicious! We drank our way through 2 bottles while Skyping our closest family and friends! Then we went to our favourite Congolese cafe for a bite to eat. (think pontoon lighting / brightly painted tables / bunting / smiley people!)
About their wedding:
‘A relaxed day with hand-made touches in a beautiful woodland setting. A touch of gold. Plentiful in love, family and kids.’
We film weddings through Will’s company, Cine Reportage (who have featured on Love My Dress here), and have been lucky enough to have seen lots, each one unique and beautiful in it’s own way.
In 2013 we filmed a wedding at the Wilderness Wood and were immediately blown away with the intimacy and beauty of being wed outside among the trees. Sussex is dear to us. Will was born there, and we lived together in Brighton for 2 years before moving to Brussels. We called the Wilderness Wood and booked it within a few days of being engaged!
We chose to marry in September. The earth has been warmed by the summer sun. We found out recently that there will be a harvest moon (when it looks really big in the sky) on the night of the wedding, which is exciting!
We’re having the ceremony outside in the woodland, (and working with the owners at the moment to see if we can get a marriage licence for the venue). The Paella will be served in a massive pan in the permanent marquee, which will be decorated with hanging baskets, antique candle sticks and illustrations from Caroline.
The theme so far is gold, glittery and bright multi colours. The bridesmaids will be wearing mismatching gold. The flower girls will be fairies and the page boys will be bumble bees (or bears). William will be wearing a kilt and my dress is top secret!
We both have large families, and want them all to be there, with all the kids. The list is around 130 at the moment. We are hoping for a relaxed, sparkly, and fun-filled day.
What does marriage mean?
Forever and ever. Officially a team. Supporting, encouraging, and loving unconditionally.
Favourite Hollywood Icon?
Helena Bonham Carter. British, beautiful and a little bit nuts!
Favourite Love My Dress wedding:
There are so many good ones. Each wedding is unique to the couple. Bridal fashion designer Kate Halfpenny’s wedding stands out as perfectly styled and looked so friendly, relaxed and fun.
