In Her Own Style Part 5: Rebecca’s Decision To Switch Her Wedding Dress Before the Big Day at Tythe

Tythe wedding Oxfordshire

Rebecca Trotter, 34 married Katsu Hoshino, 36 on 1st July 2021 at Tythe. Originally, she bought the McKinley dress from Enzoani then changed her mind to the Pronovias Hopkins.

This is part 5 in a series of 6 articles that ask brides who married at this beautiful Oxfordshire wedding venue to reflect on their wedding day fashion choices – with insights that will benefit all readers on the hunt for their wedding dress or wedding day attire. You’ll find the other brides here.

Smiling bride in the Hopkins wedding dress by Pronovias. She carries a light pastel bouquet for her summer wedding at Tythe in Oxfordshire. Matt Penberthy Photography.

The closer it got to our wedding date, the more I kept saying to my mum, I really don’t think I like my dress

The Hopkins wedding dress by Pronovias. Matt Penberthy Photography.

Our original wedding date was August 2020, but we had to move it back because of lockdown. The more time I had, the more I looked online and the more anxious I became about it.

The Hopkins wedding dress by Pronovias. Matt Penberthy Photography.

One of the first things I did when I got engaged, was try on wedding dresses.

Just three months later, I’d bought The Enzoani McKinley dress. It was too quick, especially when you consider we got engaged two years in advance of our eventual wedding date.

I got caught up in the excitement and wanted to get the dress early. I had an idea I wanted it to be slim fitting and sexy, so I didn’t try on any other styles.

It was a slim mermaid silhouette with a very long train. But I have curvy hips, boobs and a bum so it probably wasn’t the right choice for me.

Bride standing by a full length mirror ready to be married. She wears the Hopkins wedding dress by Pronovias. Matt Penberthy Photography.
Bride hand in hand with her father walking towards her wedding ceremony at Tythe, Oxfordshire. Matt Penberthy Photography.

Our original wedding date was August 2020, but we had to move it back because of lockdown. The more time I had, the more I looked online and the more anxious I became about it.

One of the first things I did when I got engaged, was try on wedding dresses.

Bride wearing the Hopkins wedding dress by Pronovias for her wedding at Tythe in Oxfordshire. She is smiling as she glances away from her Japanese groom who wears a blue suit. Matt Penberthy Photography.

Just three months later, I’d bought The Enzoani McKinley dress. It was too quick, especially when you consider we got engaged two years in advance of our eventual wedding date. I got caught up in the excitement and wanted to get the dress early. I had an idea I wanted it to be slim fitting and sexy, so I didn’t try on any other styles.

It was a slim mermaid silhouette with a very long train. But I have curvy hips, boobs and a bum so it probably wasn’t the right choice for me.

Bride & groom exiting the barn into a shower of confetti at Tythe wedding venue, Oxfordshire She is smiling as she glances away from her Japanese groom who wears a blue suit. Matt Penberthy Photography.

My mum was with me when I bought the first dress, but she isn’t the type to tell me what I should do, she wasn’t going to away me

Bride & groom just after their wedding ceremony at Tythe wedding venue, Oxfordshire. The bride carries a glass of bucks fizz and a pretty pink pastel wedding bouquet. She wears the Hopkins bridal gown by Pronovias and a long cathedral length wedding veil. Matt Penberthy Photography.

She was very supportive of what I thought I wanted. But the second the wedding had to be moved back I knew it was my opportunity to change the dress. It was a blessing in disguise for me personally.

There was talk at one point of perhaps marrying a little earlier, but by then I had in my head the dress was changing so we had to wait. We paid for our own wedding and it was only my money I had spent so I only had myself to blame.

Intimate and romantic black and white photograph of a bride and groom gently touching noses and looking in love. Matt Penberthy Photography.

Ilack and white photograph of a bride and groom standing outside at Tythe wedding venue, Oxfordshire. The bride wears the Hopkins wedding dress by Pronovias.  Matt Penberthy Photography.

When I tried on the Pronovias Hopkins, I went by myself to the store on Bond Street in London. This dress was my fun, wildcard option. It was very sparkly, an off white with a slightly blush tone to it and the detailing looked a little like cherry blossom, which felt like a nice connection as my husband is Japanese.

Smiling bride in the Hopkins wedding dress by Pronovias. Matt Penberthy Photography.

It suited me, it skimmed my waist and hips and was much more flattering to my figure. It felt special. I didn’t set out to buy a strapless dress this time, I worried I’d end up pulling it up all day. Everything else I tried that day had a V neck or sweetheart neckline with a sheer tulle skirt.

I sold both dresses after the wedding – I sold the Enzoani dress at a massive loss. It was the girl’s dream gown, so I let her have it for about £1,000. At this point, I just thought whatever I managed to get back was a gain.

Tythe wedding venue in Oxfordshire. Matt Penberthy Photography.

Even though I have a daughter now, I would love her to pick her own wedding dress when the time comes. A girl from Romania bought the Pronovias dress which was lovely because she couldn’t afford it full price.

The dress felt perfect to wear at Tythe – it was a subtle A line silhouette that felt very light and ideal as we were marrying in July. I loved the floral detailing and the fact it wasn’t pure white – it worked so well with the fact we were remarrying outside and, for the first time in Oxfordshire, not under a structure. The rules had been relaxed.

A friend of mine found Tythe. When I viewed it, it was a cold January day, very overcast with no flowers in bloom, no leaves on trees. We knew if we loved it then, we were going to be so happy in the summer. The team are incredibly friendly.

Real bride wearing the Hopkins wedding dress by Pronovias at Tythe, Oxfordshire. Matt Penberthy Photography.

I got married nearly three years ago now and I still love my dress

I wouldn’t go back and change anything about it. I never questioned this dress and I wore it all day. That would be my advice to anyone, you may have a really solid idea in your head of what you want but try on the different styles.

Slim fitting dresses look amazing and there is a place for them, there is always going to be an occasion in your life when you could wear one.

Real bride wearing the Hopkins wedding dress by Pronovias, standing holding hands with her Japanese groom, beneath a canopy of greenery and festoon lights at Tythe, Oxfordshire wedding venue. Matt Penberthy Photography.

But I knew I was never going to wear a dress like the Pronovias one to any other occasion in my life – I’m never going to the Oscars or a ball. Part of me wishes I had kept a little of the fabric from it, but it is enough for me to have the video and the photos.

Bride posing inside a photobooth with her wedding guests. Matt Penberthy Photography.

I would also say, remember that you have to eat on the day. I could have left my dress a little less fitted than it was. I felt like I didn’t eat as much as I may have liked at my own wedding because my dress got slightly tighter throughout the day. It’s not the most romantic piece of advice but it is the most practical.

I knew I’d made the right choice when I was leaving the farmhouse and heading for the ceremony at the barn, I felt so ready for what was coming. This image really sums up the sense of anticipation of what’s to come.

Intimate photograph of a bride gently looking down to catch her step, as she gathers her Hopkins wedding dress by Pronovias to step through the doors at Tythe wedding venue, Oxfordshire. She carries a pale pink pastel colour summer wedding bouquet.. Matt Penberthy Photography.

I knew at this point that whatever the stress has been in the lead up or whatever may go wrong, I wouldn’t care about anything other than the fact I was getting married.

I had a spot on my face, I forgot to put my perfume on and my garter with its little blue ribbon but none of it mattered. I just remember feeling really excited and beautiful. I couldn’t wait to get married. We had thirty guests instead of our original intended ninety but everything was perfect.’

Festoon lit open sided canvas at a wedding with benches and poles covered in trailing greenery. Matt Penberthy Photography.

The Tythe Barn

Oxfordshire Wedding Venue

The Tythe Barn is an award-winning wedding venue in Oxfordshire, comprising a cluster of beautifully restored barns alongside a 17th century boutique Farmhouse. Tythe is one of the most impressive wedding barns in the country: elegantly rural, undeniably fun, this exclusive estate is set on the working farm of the Deeley family in rural Bicester.

Relaxed and informal, yet well-known for its incredible attention to detail. This charming venue brings together the beautifully restored thatched Tythe Barn (dating back to 1370), adjoining Cowshed with its old terracotta roof, luxury dressing room (fondly referred to as The Nook), the stunning interior-designed Manor Farmhouse offering seven double en-suite bedrooms and the cosy Shepherd’s Hut which sleeps an additional two.

Tythe can be hired exclusively for two nights and offers everything on site: licensed for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies with the flexibility to adapt to both small or larger wedding parties, dedicated rooms for the groom and the bride to get ready in and accommodation for 16 guests – including tea and cake and a farmhouse supper for residents as well as breakfast on both mornings.

@tythebarnlaunton
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The Tythe Barn

Love My Dress Recommended Vendors & Venues

The below suppliers and venues featured in this article are part of the Love My Dress Wedding Directory.

Wedding Llamas at Tythe Barn wedding venue Bicester Oxfordshire

Tythe

Additional Credits

The below suppliers and venues are featured in this article, but are not part of the Love My Dress Wedding Directory.

Jade Beer

Jade Beer View all Jade's articles

Jade Beer is the former editor of Conde Nast Brides, a role she held for eight years, keeping it at the number one spot for the duration of her editorship. Today, she is the editor of the Mayfair Wedding Guide; editor-at-large for The Wedding Edition and she writes about fashion and lifestyle for the national press and women's magazines. She is the author of three published novels including her latest The Last Dress from Paris.

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