Silchester Farm & Isle of Wight: A Romantic Two-Day Wedding With Bridal Gowns by Whistles & Berta

Bridesmaids in lilac Maids to Measure dresses.

Arabella and Jonathan’s romantic wedding unfolded over two unforgettable days back in July 2023.

The celebration began with a heartfelt ceremony at St. Helen’s Church on the Isle of Wight, followed by a delightful reception at the Seaview Hotel. The festivities continued at the idyllic Silchester Farm in Reading, a perfect rural haven.

Arabella was lucky enough to wear two beautiful dresses, making both high street and luxury designer choices. Day one saw he wear a chick, backless halterneck by Whistles and on day two, she wore a show-stopping Berta creation for the main wedding celebration

These glorious images were captured by Benjamin Stuart, enjoy!

Bride and groom in a shower of confetti at Silchestser Farm. Bride wears a Berta wedding dress. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

Day 1, The Isle of Wight

Our day one wedding ceremony was held at St. Helen’s Church, followed by a reception at the Seaview Hotel – both of the Isle of Wight. I grew up on the Isle of Wight and have always loved water and the sea so it was really important to me that our chosen venues and locations had some element of water – which is something both the Isle of Wight and Silchester Farm provided.

St Helen’s Church where we were married on the Isle of Wight day 1, has really important family connections as my lovely Mum and Granny Eileen are both buried there. Having the ceremony on the Isle of Wight meant that my elderly Grandpa could be with us on the day to celebrate. I wouldn’t have wanted to get married anywhere else.

Bride wearing the Eileen wedding dress by Whistles. She is arm in arm with her father. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

I bought my really simple and beautiful Eileen dress by Whistles for the Isle of Wight St Helen’s church ceremony. The woman in store recommended Bride & Alter who did incredible same day alterations to make it longer so that it fit perfectly, when I had last minute concerns the week of our wedding regarding the final fit.

The Whistles silk dress was made longer by adding an additional panel so that it fit me perfectly. My day one dress was particularly special as it shares its name with my wonderful Granny Eileen who is sadly no longer with us. On day one, I also wore my Granny’s Eileen’s pearl drop earrings.

I also wore a veil on day one. It was a lovely French lace veil from Bride & Alter. My little sister Flo got married later that summer and I lent it to her for her wedding day too.

Leaving the church we mistakenly told Ben, our photographer, to go to the incorrect beach one cove down. We found ourselves on our favourite beach alone in our wedding attire with no phones being congratulated by beach goers as they passed. Thankfully one friendly lady, who also offered to be our photographer, allowed us to use her phone to call Ben and tell him where we were. It actually ended up being one of our favourite moments as we had a beautiful moment to ourselves where we could really enjoy having just got married and being all on our own.

Afton Blooms provided our flowers for the church at the Isle of Wight that included a flower arch around the church door. Afton Blooms also provided my bouquet for day one which was simple and perfectly suited to the small intimate day and ceremony. After the ceremony, the flowers from day one were put in the church yard to celebrate my darling Mum and Granny.

The Seaview Hotel provided afternoon tea and champagne for our day one Isle of Wight wedding and did a brilliant job.

Bride and groom standing by the water on The Isle of Wight. Groom in a checked 3-piece suit. Bride wears the Eileen. halterneck wedding dress by Whistles and carries a white wedding bouquet. Benjamin Stuart Photography.


Silchester Farm wedding. Bride in a Berta wedding dress with delicate tulle puff sleeves. She carries a bouquet of white wedding flowers. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

Day Two

Silchester Farm


On day two, I wore a spectacular Como Berta dress for the big wedding day. The dress was provided by The Wedding Club in London with alterations provided through their partner tailor.

Bride with long wavy hair in a Berta wedding dress with delicate tulle puff sleeves. She carries a bouquet of white wedding flowers. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

It was the dress of my dreams and I couldn’t have been happier with it.

It was a overwhelmingly positive experience getting the dress through The Wedding Club and I couldn’t love the dress more.

Silchester Farm wedding. Bride in a Berta wedding dress with delicate tulle puff sleeves. She carries a bouquet of white wedding flowers. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

My day two dress was my biggest extravagance for the wedding, and one I will never regret. As soon as I tried it on (after lots of practise with other dresses and patience from my friends and family!) I knew it was the dress for me. It was perfect for our day two ceremony, celebration and party. On the hanger I hadn’t picked it out by my bridesmaid Camilla cleverly suggested I try it, and the dress couldn’t have been more fabulous. I wish I could feel like that everyday.

Silchester Farm wedding. Bride in a Berta wedding dress with delicate tulle puff sleeves. She carries a bouquet of white wedding flowers. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

Bridal Beauty & Accessories

For day two, the big Berta dress didn’t require a veil, it was all dress!

My makeup artist was Sian of Brush Beauty Co. Sian and her team were wonderful and did a brilliant job of looking after my bridesmaids and i and making us feel ready for the day.

White wedding bouquet wit dried flowers and white roses. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

Jimmy Choo Sacora 100 design pearl shoes with block heel. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

For both days, I wore a pair of Jimmy Choos – the Sacora 100 design. They were provided as a very generous surprise wedding present from my wonderful husband the groom. I had to secretly borrow them in advance of the wedding day to take them for dress fittings, and couldn’t believe my eyes when I opened the box!

My bridesmaid dresses were lilac and came from Maids to Measure in London. We had two different styles in the same colour, one with bow ties on the shoulders and ones that were buttoned at the front.

The dresses were lovely, the perfect colour. Maids to Measure provided an excellent service where my bridesmaids could try the dresses on in their showroom in South Kensington so we could pick them in person.

Some of my bridesmaid wore adorable lilac sash bows that they brought with them for the day. We also had some tacky but perfect white heart sunglasses from my hen-party in Barcelona that were an excellent addition for some of my favourite wedding party photos on day two.

Jonny’s very clever sister Rosie expertly hand made absolutely beautiful sashes and bows for the flower girls Ottilie & Bo out of the matching liberty print used for the groomsmen’s ties and pockets squares. Our flower girls had flower wands for day two that were quickly swapped in exchange for the bigger bridesmaid bouquets to avoid a melt down by my 2 year old niece!

The flower girls dresses were lent to me by my sister and were repurposed with the original sashes for her wedding later in the summer.

Bride in a Berta wedding dress standing in the middle of her bridesmaids in lilac wedding dresses by Maids to Measure. Benjamin Stuart Photography.
Bride in a Berta wedding dress at Silchester Farm wedding venue. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

The Ceremony


My lovely dad Mike walked me down the isle on both days.

The amazing Lisa Canny sang and played the harp as my father and I and bridesmaids and I walked down the aisle on the second day.

Wedding harpist Lisa Canny playing at a wedding. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

Lisa played Hide and Seek, by Imogen Heap for the bridal party and A thousand years, by Christina Perri as my father and I walked down the isle. (This got a tear from Jonny and is the only time I’ve every seen him cry).

Bride in a Berta bridal gown, walking down the aisle with her father at Silchester Farm wedding venue. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

Tom, who introduced us, officiated the Silchester ceremony on day 2. As we had officially been married at the church the day before we were lucky to be able to have him officiate and Jonny wrote the ceremony with him, which was a complete surprise to me on the day and made me cry too!

Bridesmaids wearing a lilac dress by Maids to Measure at Silchester Farm wedding venue. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

The ceremony and vows were a tailored mix of a classic English wedding. We both agreed very early on that we wouldn’t want to write our own vows and were very happy withe the tried and tested version. Both ceremonies were incredible meaningful but concise, leaving us plenty of time for the celebrations afterwards.

On day two Jonny’s sister Rosanna Sharp read an Extract from ‘Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett’ that ended “The perfect time is now. Be glad of it.”

Jonny designed the order of ceremony template for both days using a template from templett.com. We had these printed locally.

Bride and groom holding hands during the wedding ceremony at Silchester Farm. She wears a Berta bridal gown. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

The beautiful multicoloured confetti for both days came from Jonny’s parents garden. Jonny’s parents grew, collected and dried the petals for a year and a half ahead of the wedding and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

Bride and groom in a cloud of confetti at Silchester Farm wedding venue, .Benjamin Stuart Photography.

Photography

We were lucky enough to have Benjamin Stuart provide our wedding photography for both the Isle of Wight and Silchester farm. Ben was incredible and a huge part of the two days. I can’t thank him enough and I’ll treasure the photos and memory he captured forever.

He photographed our days perfectly and authentically and was without a doubt the best supplier we had a pleasure of working with. When I look at those photos now it takes me straight back to how we felt at the time. We will treasure the experience and photos forever.

If I could do it again I would have had a videographer join us for the wedding but we didn’t prioritise it at the time as you have to make the decision to stop booking suppliers eventually

How They Met

Whilst Jonny was briefly in the RAF he had a mutual friend Tom also serving who organised a night out with some friends from the RAF and the girls who were living with Bella in London. A few weeks prior to the meeting Tom shared Bella’s name and number to set us up and the rest is history!

After about 5 yrs dating we moved in together, spent lockdown together, ticking off the classic lockdown activities like getting a dog and a much needed garden. At the end of 2021 we went on holiday to Mauritius where Jonny preposed to me with his great grandmother Sidney’s ring. Miraculously it fit perfectly, 120 years since it was first worn. We were engaged for just over a year an a half.

Bride and groom holding hands walking on the grass at Silchester Farm wedding venue. The bride wears a Berta Como wedding dress. Cool bridesmaids with heart sunglasses and a lilac dress by Maids to Measure. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

Jonny wore suits from Clements and Church, Day one was a dark grey Prince of Wales check three-piece with double breasted waistcoat. Our new surname was embroidered into the inside of the collar and the wedding date and initials was embroidered onto the inside breast pocket. Jonny wore his grandfathers gold cufflink

Day two was a three-piece charcoal morning suite with blush pink double breasted waistcoat. My surprise wedding gift to Jonny was a Nomos dress watch that he wore on day two. He also wore his late grandfathers gold cufflinks which have both his grandfathers and his own initials engraved on them. Jonny wore his grandfathers gold cuffli

We didn’t have page boys, but Reggie our cocker spaniel had a bowtie made from the same liberty print as the groomsmen ties. Reggie had a cameo as honorary groomsman and ring bearer day 2.

Dog at a wedding wearing a lilac bow tie around his collar. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

Behind shot of a bride wearing a backless Berta bridal gown at Silchester Farm wedding venue. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

The Groom

Jonny wore suits from Clements and Church, Day one was a dark grey Prince of Wales check three-piece with double breasted waistcoat. Our new surname was embroidered into the inside of the collar and the wedding date and initials was embroidered onto the inside breast pocket. Jonny wore his grandfathers gold cufflink

Day two was a three-piece charcoal morning suite with blush pink double breasted waistcoat. My surprise wedding gift to Jonny was a Nomos dress watch that he wore on day two. He also wore his late grandfathers gold cufflinks which have both his grandfathers and his own initials engraved on them.

Bride and groom at Silchester Farm wedding venue. She wears a Berta bridal gown and he wears tails with a pink waistcoast. Benjamin Stuart Photography.
Wedding table setting at Silchester Farm wedding venue. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

The Reception


One of my favourite elements from the wedding we’re are speeches which were absolutely incredible, so clever and wonderfully funny.

The table plan was displayed on a huge mirror and kindly put together by my bridesmaids on the day. That mirror was later signed by all of our guests and now hangs on the wall in our hall at home as a wedding keepsake.

Elegant minimalist wedding table setting a Silchester Farm wedding venue. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

We had beautiful wedding invitations provided through Larach Creative that included an illustration of St Helens church for day 1. For day two our invites were through paperless post.

Our menus for day two were even better then I expected and in- keeping with the wider decor. They were provided through Laurel Design Studio.

Silchester Farm wedding venue. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

Kalm Kitchen provided catering for our second day canapés, wedding breakfast and late night food which was very enjoyable.

We were lucky enough to be recommended Laura who owns Deluce Cakes. The cake was remarkable, and absolutely delicious with hand crafted sugar floristry. Laura had had a last minute cancellation as we had been let down by the local cake supplier who had originally catered for our engagement party, so it was meant to be.

3 piece wedding cake with real flowers, linen and taper candles. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

I’d thoroughly enjoyed the post wedding breakfast cocktails and English sparkling wine ahead of our cake cutting so it was more of an memorable event for Jonny on the day!

In hind sight I think cake- cutting as part of the post ceremony drinks reception is an excellent idea.

Long wooden trestle tables with cross back chairs at Silchester Farm wedding venue. Rustic wedding reception setting. Benjamin Stuart Photography.

Helen Elizabeth provided the beautiful flowers for day two that included table decor, flower girl wands, bridesmaid bouquets, button holes and my wonderful bridal bouquet.

Jonny’s brother Richie and his girlfriend Cath kindly dried my bouquet whilst we were on our mini- moon in Cornwall and it now sits proudly in our kitchen looking as beautiful as ever.

Silchester Farm wedding venue with modern chandeliers hanging from a rustic wrought iron ceiling.  Benjamin Stuart Photography.

Evening & Dancing

Our first dance was to Cosmic Love, by Florence + The Machine.

We hired jazz, soul and pop band, ‘Josie and the Majestics‘. Our DJ was Jodie Yang.

Words of Wedded Wisdom

It’s the small intimate details that you’ll cherish. Family mementos and wedding day details contributions from friends you’ll remember fondly forever.

Don’t be afraid to work with small suppliers. Some of the loveliest elements of our wedding came from smaller suppliers that provided exceptional quality and service.

For larger suppliers you are made much more aware that, whilst this is a wonderful moment for you, it’s a business and they’ll have to do it all over again tomorrow for someone else. Always focus on the most important thing (each other!) and enjoy every moment, even if you are presented with challenges or mistakes from suppliers on the day.

It’s not very romantic, but my practical advice would be to avoid spending saved wedding budget cash early. Prioritise spending on an interest free credit card early on and make sure you pay of any wedding borrowing before you’re charged interest on it. You’ll need cash towards the end of the wedding planning process where some large invoices will require cash payment.

Our wedding was perfect for us. The only recommendations I would make to future brides would be tiny tweaks, such as cutting the cake as part of the drinks reception post-ceremony and hiring a videographer to capture live moments from the day.

We also really felt the difference between working with smaller and more commercial suppliers with there being pros and cons to each. My recommendation would be to generally go smaller.

We planned our wedding ourselves – which was more of a undertaking then originally expected. Rightly or wrongly we didn’t set a budget and I didn’t have a spreadsheet. I planned most of the wedding using my phone and a wedding planning book. I attempted to get a fair price from each of our suppliers to have the wedding we wanted as cost effectively as possible.

I’ve never added it up and never will.

Silchester Farm wedding

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Annabel

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.

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