WAXFLOWER REAL BRIDES | LUCY IN HALFPENNY LONDON
With her heart set on a Halfpenny London wedding dress, beautiful Waxflower bride Lucy - as you’ll read - didn’t initially feel like a bride when she first stepped into the studio, but when she found her dream Halfpenny London wedding dress (Cedar), I think it was then that the bridal magic really started to emerge.
Names: Lucy and Niall
Lucy and partner Niall exchanged vows against the breathtaking surroundings of Dorset wedding venue, Mapperton House. Ensconced in this incredible wedding venue’s exquisite grounds (seriously, brides, the venue’s gardens are like something out of a fairy tale) Lucy tied the knot wearing the Halfpenny London wedding dress of her dreams, Cedar. With its elegant halterneck, two-thirds circle skirt and meticulous craftsmanship, this enchanting design by the British bridal designer instantly fit with Lucy’s vision. Read on to discover everything about Lucy’s Waxflower bridal journey (from the bride herself) including how she discovered my Bristol bridal boutique, to her funniest wedding day moment and the advice she’d give to other brides like you…
#1 How did you discover Waxflower Bridal?
“I was pretty sure I would love a Halfpenny London dress. Although I live in London, I'm from the South West originally so wanted to search for my dress in the West Country too - I found Waxflower on the Halfpenny stockists list.”
#2 What drew you to visiting the boutique?
“I went to Bristol University and had lived just around the corner from the boutique so as well as being a Halfpenny stockist, it felt like a perfect match when I found it!”
#3 Who did you bring with you to the initial appointment?
“I was joined by my Mum and one of my bridesmaids.”
#4 What type of wedding dress were you looking for?
“I originally thought that I'd like separates, or maybe the Halfpenny Dahlia. I liked the idea of something simple with clean cut lines. Our wedding was held in the beautiful gardens of Mapperton House, which are simultaneously quite classic but also unfussy and a bit wild. We really wanted to use local suppliers and British brands where possible. Lots of the food on the menu was from Dorset, including some asparagus from my family's farm, and our flowers were all grown about 20 miles away from our venue. I liked that Halfpenny make all of their dresses in their London atelier which also fitted with our ethos.”
#5 How were you feeling about the dress shopping experience before visiting Waxflower?
“I didn't initially feel like a bride, so it was a bit surreal.”
#6 How many dresses had you tried on before visiting Waxflower Bridal?
“None - my visit to Waxflower was my first and only bridal boutique experience. I didn't need or want to look anywhere else!”
#7 How did you feel walking into the Waxflower boutique and during your first appointment?
“Kathy was so warm and welcoming that I felt immediately at home, and was really excited to start trying on the dresses I'd picked out. All of a sudden it felt really real.”
#8 How many dresses did you try on? Tell us about the moment your tried on ‘the one’…
“I think I picked out five to start with, then we filtered the general style down to another couple. I'd tried on the Halfpenny Cheryl first and loved the halterneck, but it felt a bit open at the back for me, which made the Cedar a perfect choice. I loved it as soon as I put it on.”
#9 How did you end up styling your wedding ensemble? Did you choose any accessories from Waxflower Bridal?
“I wore a pair of silver block heeled sandals from Jigsaw (which have been the wedding shoe of choice of quite a few friends - they were so comfy!) and my now-husband gave me a pair of pearl drop earrings from Monica Vinader as a wedding gift, which went perfectly with the dress. I was also very generously lent a Halfpenny veil via my sister-in-law to be, which was an absolutely beautiful and very special "something borrowed" element to have worn during our ceremony.”
#10 How did you feel in your bridal look on your wedding day?
“The dress was so comfortable, I kept telling people that I loved wearing it! It sounds like a cliché but I felt like the best version of myself.”
#11 Your favourite moment from the big day was…
“The ceremony. The whole day I felt like we were glowing with joy but the ceremony in particular was so special. We'd written our own vows and input into the ceremony itself so it was very personal to us both, individually and as a couple. I couldn't stop smiling (I'm usually a bit of a crier at weddings).”
#12 The funniest moment was…
“Seeing one of my school friend's reactions when she found out a guy she used to fancy was joining as an evening guest. We're in our thirties now (and they're both married themselves) but reminiscing over secondary school crushes transported us back to those giddy days and we were both in fits of laughter.”
#13 Your advice for other brides-to-be would be…
“You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Choose whatever makes you happy!”
#14 What was your overall experience like at Waxflower? Would you recommend us to other brides?
“It was brilliant, I really enjoyed the whole process - Kathy put me completely at ease and made the process of finding a dress easy and really enjoyable. I look back on my visits to the boutique as a really special part of the run up to our wedding. And, of course, I would wholeheartedly recommend to other brides!”
THE CREDITS
Photographer/Videographer: Darren Lovell | @darrenlovellpf
Venue: Mapperton House | @mapperton_estate
Hair: Sammy Membury
MUA: Emily Jean Gordon | @ejgartistry
Florist: Katie Priestley of Dorset Flowers Co | @dorsetflowerco
Caterer: Hungry Mule | @hungry_mule
Celebrant: David Linaker
A huge thank you to the super talented Darren Lovell for allowing us to share these beautiful images.
And, brides? If you're inspired by Lucy’s incredible style for your own wedding day, and would like to try on Halfpenny London’s incredible array of wedding dresses and bridal separates, get in touch today!
Love Kathy xo
