A Sleek Pronovias Gown for a Bride in Glasses + her Gin Inspired Wedding

Mid-April already! I hope that all of you lovelies are having a wonderful Spring, and getting lots of inspiration from the weddings we’ve shared so far in 2019.

I’ve had the pleasure of sharing some absolute beauties, and have today’s to add to the mix. Picture a charmingly-decorated venue, a sleek Pronovias gown and just a few references to gin. Intrigued? Let’s meet the bride and groom. Secondary mathematics teacher Rachel wed Scott, a fire alarm engineer, on 29 July 2018 at Beeston Manor, Houghton, Preston, in a countryside-inspired day filled with pink summer roses, rustic detailing and… gin!

Photography Laura Duggleby Photography

Time to talk about Rachel’s simple, totally modern Pronovias gown which I am head over heels for because of its clean lines, simplicity and touch of sparkle. Can you believe it was the very first gown that she tried on at Walton-le-Dale boutique Foxglove Brides? I think its halterneck design and gorgeous V-back is so different, too.

“I was looking for a simple but elegant look and something that was not too glitzy. I loved the material and the way it was different from all the others. I loved the way it fit and the way it made me feel – like I didn’t want to take it off. It was also so comfy. It has been said that this dress was made for me and was described as being ‘just me’.”

The bride wore a puddle veil, also from Pronovias, which matched her dress in length.

“It was plain, with small diamantés that glistened in the light.”

The venue, which has spectacular country views, was local to the couple and offered everything they were looking for for their family-focussed day.

“It’s a family-run venue with a rustic feel, open beams and whitewashed walls. We were immediately drawn to the country surroundings and amazing views, and loved how the ceremony room was separate from the main room.”

“The staff at Beeston Manor were friendly and approachable and it was close to home, with easy access for all our guests.”

The couple first met whilst working as lifeguards at their local leisure centre and were together eight years before Scott proposed in the Lake District.

“We soon became good friends and then had a Christmas smooch. We officially became boyfriend and girlfriend on Valentine’s Day 2009. We bought our dream home in May 2014, where I am sure we will stay till we are old!”

“Our house did not feel like a proper home until Scott bought a black Labrador puppy called Baxter in May 2015; he has given us lots of laughs and definitely kept us on our toes. Crackers is not the word! After realising that Labradors need lots of exercise we took numerous trips to the Lake District.”

“A place we have grown to love, it was here that after almost nine years together, Scott proposed in August 2017. This was such a surprise and I was over the moon – I had thought it was never going to happen! The wedding was booked in December 2017 and the big day was to be in July 2018; this did not leave long to plan and organise.”

Whilst Rachel prepared, Scott and his groomsmen dressed in blue suits, shoes, shirts and ties from Slaters Menswear in Preston. Scott asked his older brother to be best man, whilst the bride’s younger brother and three of his school friends were groomsmen.

The bride travelled to the Manor in her father’s Jaguar, whilst the bridesmaids were taken in Range Rovers belonging to the fathers of the bride and groom. 

 

As Rachel walked down the aisle with her father, ‘A Thousand Years’ by Christina Perri played. The couple exchanged vows under a canopy of fairy lights and balloons – isn’t it so magical? Rings were from Sovereign Jewellers in Preston, recommended to the pair by friends.

I think the bride totally rocked her sense of self by wearing her statement glasses. She added her great-grandma’s gold diamond ring and diamond studs, a present from the groom on the morning of the wedding. For her ‘something borrowed’ one of her bridesmaids also lent her a bracelet, given to her on her own wedding day by her husband.

   

Rachel managed to find bridesmaids’ pleated gowns that complemented her own halterneck gown from online store TFNC. They wore them with the cutest cream court shoes, decorated with tiny flowers, from Dorothy Perkins.

They all wore Pandora love knot earrings gifted to them by the bride and groom and their braided up-dos were adorned with fresh gypsophila.

Photographer Laura Duggleby has captured such glorious ‘getting ready’ shots from the day, as well as the beautiful ceremony and reception shots. Her style is clean and crisp – and so colourful too.

“She was clear and organised from the start and very attentive during the day, with a documentary style which suited our look and resulted in fab photographs.”

The bride carried a bouquet of peonies and foliage put together by Margaret Mason, a friend of Scott’s family. The bouquet is the epitome of summer – but I may be biased as peonies are one of my very favourite flowers.

“I searched through Pinterest many times to find the perfect style of flowers. I had to match the bridesmaids’ dresses and also the venue. I went for pink peonies for my bouquet and pale pink roses with lots of green for the bridesmaids.”

After the ceremony, a very important guest arrived to help Rachel and Scott celebrate.

“As he is such a massive part of our lives, the day would not have been complete without having the company of our black Labrador Baxter. A family friend brought Baxter to the venue for photographs; a picture of the three of us was chosen for our thank you cards.”

Rachel embraced her crafty side for the wedding, designing and making the stationery herself as well as collecting all the gin bottles to create the pretty decorations, supplemented by fresh flowers in jam jars, hessian ribbons, wooden centrepieces and ears of corn.

“We had over 150 gin bottles collected from friends and family and washed in the bath weeks before the wedding. These were grouped together to create table centre-pieces as well as used for the table plan and scattered around the venue as decoration, filled with fresh flowers and bottle lights.”

The newly-weds and their guests sat down to the wedding breakfast, with the additional sweet treat of gin and tonic cake pops, from Lesley Anne Cake Design. She had also been tasked with baking this tiered masterpiece.

“To keep with the rustic country theme, we went with a semi-naked sponge cake of three layers, all different flavours. Traditional jam sponge on the bottom layer, chocolate orange in the second and lemon sponge on the top. The cake was dressed with fresh pale pink flowers from the florist.”

“Our love of gin resulted in gin-themed centrepieces, favours, table plan and many more decorations. We also wanted a country rustic feel so lots of flowers and hessian helped to decorate the beautiful venue. My bridesmaids were in pink and this was matched with pale pink roses and pink chair sashes.”

Rachel and Scott took to the dance floor for their first dance to Thomas Rhett’s ‘Die A Happy Man’, before partying the night away to music from The Rush.

“There’s only one word to describe them; amazing. Our wedding would not have been the same without them.” 

“The day was exactly what we had hoped for, relaxed and full of laughter.  We wish we could do it all again!”

 Words of Wedded Wisdom

“Don’t worry too much about the little things and focus on the things that your guests are going to remember. Food was important to us and so we incorporated this into every part of our day, even including an ice-cream van as the evening guests arrived!”

“Entertainment is also one of the things our guests talked about long after the day. The dance floor was full all evening.”

“Do not stress about trying to please everyone. Remember it is your day and enjoy it.”

Rachel and Scott, many congratulations and a massive thank you from all of us at Love My Dress. The day looks so wonderful, and I’m very pleased that Baxter managed to play a part in it too! Lovelies, if you’re taken with Rachel’s gown then be sure to head here where you can see more brides in Pronovias. And finally, thank you of course to Laura Duggleby Photography for your beautiful work.

Ele xx