Bon bride backless wedding dress

Bon Bride Elegance for a Stylish Healey Barn Wedding in Northumberland

Featuring the following Love My Dress Directory members…

Helen and Steven’s wedding at Healey Barn in Northumberland was filled with warmth, personality, and beautifully considered details. Helen looked effortlessly chic in her modern, backless Bon Bride gown, an absolutely perfect find at Mrs W, a Whitley Bay boutique near Newcastle upon Tyne that we love for its thoughtfully curated selection of contemporary bridalwear.

Helen’s bridesmaids wore elegant burnt orange dresses from Rewritten , adding a warm, effortless touch to the day’s stylish yet laid-back feel.

Captured beautifully by Helen Russell Photography, every moment of their April wedding felt intimate and full of joy. The couple embraced colour in their styling, from fresh, seasonal florals to playful citrus accents on the tables, all thoughtfully arranged by stylist Ruth Goodman. Enjoy!

Bride with platinum blonde hair and a Bon Bride wedding dress. Her groom wears a blue suit. The couple are being showered in real petal confetti and carries a colourful wedding bouquet with peonies.
Modern wedding stationery.

Bride with platinum blonde hair and a nose piercing wearing a Bon Bride wedding dress whilst having her makeup done.

Bridal Beauty & Accessories

My makeup artist was Victoria Holdstock and my hair stylist was Kelsey Simpson.

My shoes were ‘Flawless’ by Russel & Bromley. My Hair piece was made by the company who did my dress alterations, Corsetry & Couture, who are just so talented. They made it from my grandmother’s wedding hairband from 1957. They also made a matching one for my mum, so we both had a little piece of her with us on the day.

Earrings for myself and the bridesmaids were Nue Hoops. Love their stuff! 

My perfume was Jo Malone’s ‘Basil & Neroli’. I wear Jo Malone perfumes anyway, I love how you can layer the different scents to make something unique. One of the services they offer in store is to go along to find your wedding scent and it was brilliant. I ended up choosing something new, but whenever I wear it now it reminds me of our wedding day. I also purchased a candle from Jo Malone to have on the table alongside the guest book.

Bride with platinum blonde hair carrying a large colourful spring wedding bouquet and wearing a Bon Bride wedding dress.

The Dress

Bon Bride, from Mrs W


My Bon Bride dress was from Mrs W in Whitley Bay. I came across Lauren’s shop (Mrs W) when we attended an alternative wedding fair in Newcastle. The dresses she had on display were so different to anything I had seen, just simple but very beautifully made. 

Bride with platinum blonde hair tied up in a loose up do, wearing a backless Bon Bride wedding dress.

My first appointment with Lauren was a dream. You have the whole store to yourself during your appointment and she is just so friendly and patient. Lauren listens to what you are wanting, but because of her wealth of knowledge in the bridal industry she will suggest gowns to you – and also accessories to make your look completely unique.

Elegant modern bride with platinum blonde hair sat on the bed wearing a Bon Bride wedding dress.

You might be like me and end up choosing something completely different to what you thought you would have.

What I loved most about my wedding dress was how it made me feel. I tried on so many stunning dresses, but this is the only one that made me feel so confident, elegant, and dare I say a little bit sexy! I LOVED it. 

Bride wearing a Bon Bride wedding dress surrounded by her bridesmaids in burned orange dresses by Rewritten bridesmaids.

I also really loved that the dress was completely customisable by the designer. We added pearls around the cuffs and back of the dress, and also a zip to the front slit, so you can decide how much leg to have on show.

My wedding veil was also purchased from Mrs W’s store. It was covered in tiny pearls, to tie in the details on the dress.

My bridesmaids wore Rewritten dresses with earrings by Nue Hoops and a necklace by Carrie Elizabeth.

Burned orange dress by Rewritten bridesmaids.

Caroline at Nomad Flower Den is just so creative and talented. The flowers she has are exquisite and just so so beautiful. We knew as soon as we got engaged that Nomad would do our wedding flowers because not only how incredible they are, but we love the colour and wildness Caroline brings to her arrangements.

My dad walked me down the aisle to the sound of an acoustic version of ‘Hysteric’, by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Bride and groom holding hands and walking down a aisle. She wears Bon Bride and carries a colourful wedding bouquet.

The Ceremony


We had a Registrar from Northumberland Registrars officiate our ceremony.

My sister Laura did a reading from the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams:

Bride being walked down the aisle by her father at Healey Barn in Northumberland.

“What is REAL?” asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nanna came to tidy the room. “Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?”

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.

“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.”

Wooden wedding ceremony chairs with aisle end flowers looking like they are growing from moss.

“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”

“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?”

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

Bride wearing a Bon Bride dress holds her groom's hands during the wedding ceremony and smiles lovingly at himl.

Our rings are from Berry’s Jewellers in Newcastle. They provide an amazing choice of truly stunning jewellery with really knowledgeable staff. We chose to go there because thesis where Steven had purchased my engagement ring and I was wanting a band that would fit perfectly. Steven found a platinum band he really liked whilst we were there.

Black and white photography of the wedding party walking towards the camera.

Photography

Helen Russell is such a talented photographer. She captured the day perfectly. Apart from the formal pictures with family, we couldn’t tell if Helen was there, she just seemed to seamlessly fit in to the day.

We chose Helen not only because of her talent, and the many recommendations from people we knew, but also because she just so happened to go for a walk a day or two after Steven’s proposal to me and photograph the words written on the beach. She had posted it on social media and that’s how we got in touch. We thought it was a meant to be. 

Bride in a Bon Bride dress tossing her head back laughing as she is surrounded by her bridesmaids in burned orange dresses by Rewritten Bridesmaids.

How They Met

We first locked eyes at our local yoga studio, but it wasn’t until lockdown when we had our first date after speaking properly via a dating app. We met July 2020 and were engaged February 2022.

Steve proposed somewhere we used to walk a lot during the early days of us dating, by writing in 6 foot letters made of stones on the beach. We went for a walk that day, and when we reached the cliff top, there was the proposal on the beach! It was incredible! 

We married April 2024.

The Reception

We wanted lots of colour, but also wanted to go for a clean, slightly retro look. We also wanted to try and source our suppliers as local as possible.

Ruth our wedding stylist used flowers from Nomad, tapered coloured candles, fabric napkins, and amber cut glass water glasses. She also used stones used from Steven’s beach proposal to decorate around the venue, alongside cut fruit (lemons and grapefruits) which brought the most incredible pop of colour. We also had a banner made by Daydreamer Creative to have on the top table.

Alongside our guestbook, we chose to have a retro phone audio guestbook from Odd Audio.

Caroline of Nomad Flower Den asked us about the venue, what styles of flowers we would like and the colour of the bridesmaid dresses so she could design her arrangements. We asked only that she bring all the colour – and boy did she deliver! They are hands down the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen.

Deb from Gerty and Gardner designed our save the dates, invites, and stationary for the wedding day. Our cake was by Bake Make Eat.

I met Linda at a wedding fair – she is so friendly and will instantly put you at ease. Not only are her cakes delicious, we chose her because she offered us with vegan and gluten free options.

Walking down the aisle and seeing Steven at the alter was so special. But one of the moments that really sticks with me is when we sat down for the wedding breakfast. We had a sweetheart table and honestly it was the most perfect decision because we got to spend some time alone just taking everything in.

We looked out on to this room that was filled with people that we loved, and who loved us, and our favourite songs were playing and we had a glass of fizz…..and it was just perfect. There was just so much love and laughter.

Back of a bride whose face is turning towards her groom as he delivers a speach. She wear a backless wedding dress by Bon Bride.

Notes From The Wedding Planner

Ruth Goodman

After initially looking at a totally different colour palette to what we ended up with, it was a singular image Helen found and sent over that I honed in on as inspiration to create multiple mood boards which then lead us to find the perfect ‘look’.

We went with a variety of colours and textures, blending neutral with pops of colour whilst allowing the most beautiful florals from Nomad Flower Den to bring the magic together.

Whenever developing mood boards for my couples, Im always looking to see what wild and wonderful trends are big in America and LOVED the idea of using fruit as decor; I was super excited when Helen & Steven were on board with the idea. We used lemons, oranges and grapefruit amongst the simple table decor and it gave Healey’s rustic charm the perfect Sicilian twist – it smelt divine too!

Everything about the decor was fun, vibrant and warm – a true reflection on this proper lush couple, who were an absolute dream to work with.

Black and white photograph of a bride wearing a Bon Bride wedding dress.

Black and white photograph of a bride wearing a Bon Bride wedding dress and long veil covered in pearls.

Words of Wedded Wisdom

Try to take a moment to just sit and take everything in. Everyone says the day will go by in a blur, and it will! Enjoy being surrounded by those you love and who love you and have the most incredible day.

We didn’t necessarily have a wedding budget. We were careful, and tried not to go overboard on decor and entertainment etc. But we didn’t want to necessarily rule something out that we loved because of price.  

There were truly so many amazing parts of the day. If we could go back and do it all over again, we would in a heart beat!

Intimate shot of bride in a long sleeved, backless Bon Bride wedding dress hugging her groom closely and looking at the camera.

Love My Dress Wedding Directory Members

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

Credits

Suppliers and venues noted with a tick are part of the Love My Dress Wedding Directory.

Wedding VenueHealey Barn
Wedding Dress DesignerBon Bride
Bridal BoutiqueMRS W Bridal
BridesmaidsRewritten
Bridal ShoesRussell & Bromley
EarringsNue Hoops
Makeup ArtistVictoria Holdstock
StationeryGerty & Gardner
Audio GuestbookOdd Audio
Wedding RingsBerry’s Jewellers
Cake MakerBake Make Eat
Acoustic GuitaristHattie Murdoch
EntertainmentAMV Live Music

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