Charlotte and Corey were married in November at Stubton Hall in Newark, Nottinghamshire. Planning a winter wedding with guests travelling from across the UK, they chose the venue for its central location, exclusive use and formal architecture. As a confident plus size and curvy bride, Charlotte chose a long sleeved Essense of Australia bridal gown from Sheffield bridal boutique, Emily Bridal, that offered structure, comfort and a timeless silhouette, perfectly suited to a black tie celebration.
The brief was simple. A black tie wedding with classic styling, designed to feel considered rather than trend led.
Camera shy and largely uninterested in the spectacle of weddings, Charlotte and Corey approached the day in a way that felt natural and unfussy. Charlotte’s gown was sourced from Emily Bridal boutique in Sheffield, while Corey wore a classic black tie tuxedo.
Photography was by Jess Hazelhurst, whose approach suited a couple keen to avoid excessive direction.
Charlotte honoured her late mother with keepsakes in the bridal suite and a memory chair during the ceremony. Other choices were practical and personal, including choosing their wedding scents together and sourcing accessories second hand.
Thank you, Charlotte and Corey, for trusting Love My Dress to share your wedding day.
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The Dress
Essense of Australia
I lost my mum in 2015 after a long battle with cancer, and having her included in the wedding in some way was incredibly important to me.
I had a bear made from her wedding attire, which was placed in the bridal suite while I was getting ready, alongside a photograph of me and my mum. We also had a memory chair in the front row dedicated to her, allowing her presence to be felt throughout the day.
I wore an Essense of Australia dress from Emily Bridal in Sheffield.
I can’t even begin to put into words the experience I had at Emily Bridal. From trying on the collection to the overall service, everything was an absolute 10/10. Nothing was ever too much to ask, and the whole experience was truly amazing.
Trying on such incredible dresses and making such big decisions can feel overwhelming, but Emily and the team made the entire journey feel effortless. I was very anxious about trying on dresses to begin with as a plus size bride, but after my first 5 minutes in the boutique all of those worries had gone.
My dress was actually the last one I had chosen from all the options I initially picked out, but as soon as I tried it on, it immediately felt right.
The material felt perfect, and the dress featured optional sleeves, which I chose to include. I opted for the newer crepe fabric rather than chiffon, as it created the more fitted and simple look I was hoping for. The sleeves were then altered by the seamstress at Emily’s, with flared cuffs added to give an elegant touch to the otherwise clean and understated silhouette.
I knew I wanted a dramatic veil to complement my simple dress, but I also knew I wouldn’t be wearing it for very long. Like a few other elements of the day, I turned to Vinted. I found an ivory, cathedral-length veil that was practically brand new for £33. The bride I purchased it from had only worn it for around an hour on her own special day.
Again as I was searching vinted on vinted – I found a pair of new Be Mine bridal shoes for £7.80!
When it came to scent, I wore ‘Sunny Side Up’, by Julliette Has a Gun. We went together to choose our fragrances together, making the experience feel personal, meaningful and intentional. It felt shared rather than individual, as soon as we smelt this it felt very much like a ‘me’ scent. A very smooth warm smell which felt very homely
Corey wore Goldfield Banks & Bohemian Lime. I had actually owned Bohemian Lime a few years ago and remembered how much I loved the smell – The fresh citrus notes stood out immediately.
My bridesmaids wore the Nevaeh One Shoulder Maxi dress by Pretty Lavish.
The Ceremony
My dad, Simon, walked me down the aisle. I always knew he would, there was never any doubt in my mind. Losing my mum in 2015 had been so hard for all of us, so as a family we’d been navigating grief together for years. Having him there that day felt especially meaningful – it was a beautiful, comforting moment amidst everything we’d been through, and I honestly couldn’t imagine anyone else by my side.
We were accompanied by the song ‘Iris’, by Chris Lanzon.
Our wedding rings were from F.Hinds - I chose a plain gold band to go along my already simple emerald cut engagement ring, I wanted to create a timeless stack that I could add to in years to come.
It may sound cliché, but walking down the aisle and seeing Corey and marrying him, was everything. In that moment, all the stress, all the worries, all the thoughts in my head simply vanished. Nothing else mattered; it was just him, and us, and the joy of saying “I do.”
Photography
Our photograper was Jess Hazelhurst. From the first point of contact Jess was amazing. We felt so at ease in communicating our day and vision. Jess is so kind, caring, calm and unbelievably conscientious.
Jess’s talent is incredible. The way she captured the emotions, the little moments, the love, the laughter it’s honestly magic. We keep noticing new details every time we look through the gallery, and it’s like reliving the day all over again. These photos tell our story so beautifully, and that is such a gift.
Having Jess be part of our day was genuinely one of the highlights. It’s so clear how much heart and soul she puts into her work, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have been on the receiving end of that. I couldn’t recommend Jess enough and have already had messages from future brides asking about Jess.
Our videographers were Clique Visuals.
How They Met
We met online in late 2018, and after our very first date we were inseparable, eventually moving in together when lockdown was enforced.
We got engaged at the Nobu Hotel in Shoreditch in November 2022, during what is usually our annual trip to London, our favourite city. This time, however, the trip was a little different. The suite was decorated with “MARRY ME,” and the balcony doors were open, overlooking London’s nighttime skyline.
After a three-year engagement, we were married in November 2025.
The Reception
Our caterers were Henson’s Catering and our cake was by Patisserie Valerie and we had the Lambeth Cake design. We wanted a cake that was just enough for all of our guests, without being too over the top.
We were able to pre-order the cake months in advance, which helped with planning and reduced stress closer to the wedding. It was delivered the day before the wedding in a protective, temperature-controlled box to keep it cool and in perfect condition. The final result struck the right balance between a classic design and a personal touch, especially with the addition of our personalised topper from Etsy.
Our Save The Dates and Invitations were by Blossom Grove Designs, our place cards, menus and seating plan was designed by myself and our welcome sign and memory sign were by VowStudioUK on Etsy.
The welcome sign had the words ‘I would find you in any lifetime’ on it. It was a talking point that many of our guests loved and even asked for further details to possibly use at their own special events.
Evening & Dancing
Corey and I are massive ‘Gavin & Stacey’ fans, so there was only one song that would make sense for our first dance; Last Request, by Paolo Nutini. We also did a first dance sweepstake and gave £50 cash to the winner of the correct guess of our first dance.
Words of Wedded Wisdom
Don’t let your confidence or any worries creep into your special day. This day is about you as a couple, and everyone there is attending to celebrate you. Try to let go of any pressure to make everything perfect or to please everyone else.
Take a moment to really soak it in, enjoy the little details, and focus on the both of you. The day will pass in a blur, so be present, laugh, cry, and celebrate exactly who you are together. That’s what everyone will remember most.
I wish I had given a speech. I spent so long declining to do one because of nerves and confidence, but looking back, I really wish I had shared a few words publicly with our friends and family on the day.
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