Ellie Sanderson real life bride in Suzanne Neville at Caswell House

Jay + Luke | 12.08.18

Today we’re talking to Jay! Move over Holly Willoughby real life bride Jay looked absolutely stunning in Belle by Suzanne Neville for her Cotswolds wedding to Luke, with a theme that reflected the couple and their home we love the natural and relaxed vibe of their day. Read on to be inspired, their photos are like something out of a beautiful editorial…

Team ES | Tell us about your proposal?

Jay | Luke had booked a weekend away in the Cotswold. We stayed at Dormy House and throughout our stay Luke kept giving me envelopes with little surprises – a picnic/massage. He said he forgot something in the room before dinner and when we went back to the room it was full of candles and a gorgeous bouquet of flowers and he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. The following morning he gave me another envelope for a stay at Foxhill Manor. The following morning he gave me my final envelope and he had booked for us to go and see a wedding venue but when the man in the car park wished us congratulations and I burst into tears I knew I was too emotional to go so we postponed until the following weekend!

Team ES | Did you pick up any tips during the planning stage?

Jay | I have two key tips which I am sure you will have read lots on blogs. Firstly, it is so easy to get carried away in the planning process, try and stay focussed on what’s important and not try and do everything. Secondly everyone says trust in your suppliers but it’s so true. As a Buyer I have to be in control & organised and prior to the day I had panicked and made PowerPoints for the venue to follow but I really shouldn’t of worried, these people are experts and they know exactly what they are doing. Having suppliers you can trust on the day is key.

Team ES | What was your wedding dress experience like?

Jay | Once engaged I found Ellie Sanderson in Beaconsfield that stocked Belle. My first experience I went with my Mum and was greeted by Ellie herself who was so complimentary and lovely from the moment I went in. Eira from my first visit to my second with friends was so calm and made me feel very at ease. Eira was amazing from start to finish and I always felt confident that they would make sure everything went seamlessly. I went to a few other dress shops but Ellie Sanderson stood out through being genuine and not pushy.

Team ES | How did you choose the ‘THE ONE’?

Jay | I actually saw ‘Belle’ on Holly Willoughby at the Oscars before I was even engaged and fell in love with the dress. I loved how it complimented her curves and I knew when I got proposed to I had to find that dress!

Team ES | What did you love most about your dress?

Jay | This is too difficult to answer, I actually loved everything! I loved the simplicity of the dress, I wanted a dress I would look back on in years and still love and I think Belle is timeless. I loved the halter neck which I thought was very flattering and also covered my nervous chest rash! Lastly the crepe fabric along with the cut made me feel very special.

Team ES: Where did you get your wedding inspiration from?

Jay: It’s so easy to get overwhelmed with social media, wedding magazines and Pinterest. I was a sucker for a monthly magazine and got lots of inspiration from Rock My Wedding as well as friends weddings.

Team ES: Did you follow the ‘something old, something new…’ tradition?

Jay: I did…My Grandad passed away a year before the wedding and I really wanted him to somehow be a part of the wedding. After much thought I bought a gorgeous aquamarine blue diamond ring from him as my something new and something blue and I felt like he was with me all day and every day since.

Team ES: We loved your style, were you following a certain theme for your wedding?

Jay: Our theme reflected us and our home, neutral! Our Florist Rachel was amazing and helped with ivory and peach florals complimented by soft green and grey foliage. Our invites and wedding station was marble themed.

Team ES: Did you walk down the aisle to a particular song?

Jay: I walked down the aisle to Alicia Keys if I aint’ got you being played on the Saxophone, it was perfect!

Team ES | What about your first dance song and did you practice your dance or completely wing it?

Jay | Our first dance song was Florence and the Machine you got the love. A first dance was my worst nightmare but we completely winged it with lots of swaying and throwing our (well my) hands in the air!

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