Waxflower Real Brides | Sophie in Suzanne Neville
If it’s drama you’re after, prepare to be swept away by real Waxflower bride, Sophie’s incredible bridal style. Styling her Suzanne Neville Penny wedding dress to perfection, Sophie showed us how to bring a little drama to the aisle.
Wedding Date: 8th September 2023
Bride’s name and partner: Sophie and James
Taking to the aisle at The Shack Revolution in the heart of Herefordshire, Sophie looked absolutely sensational in British bridal designer, Suzanne Neville’s Penny design with custom sleeves. Paired with our Pearl Veil by the one and only Ashley Wild Bride, Sophie brought together a truly dreamy combo for her aisle style. I still remember Sophie’s very first appointment (literally like it was yesterday). The moment she tried on Penny, I could just tell that she was ‘the one’. It was such a truly special moment and one that I will always remember and treasure! Read on to discover everything about Sophie’s Waxflower wedding dress journey (from the bride herself) including how she discovered the Bristol bridal boutique, to her favourite wedding day moment and the advice she’d give to other brides like you…
#1 How did you discover Waxflower Bridal?
“Instagram! Which we found so useful for inspo as well as for finding the best suppliers.”
#2 What drew you to visiting the boutique?
“The selection of designers – as well as the decor! The space is heavenly.”
#3 Who did you bring with you to the initial appointment?
“My mum came with me for my first visit to Waxflower, we had the best day.”
#4 What type of wedding dress were you looking for? Did you have an idea in mind?
“I was very open-minded when it came to the dress, but I knew I wanted something fun with a bit of drama! Our venue and the overall vibe of the wedding was really laid back – more like a big party, so I was looking for something contemporary, that wouldn’t be out of place at The Shack, which is a cool industrial space. The only thing I knew for definite was that I didn’t want lace!”
#5 How were you feeling about the dress shopping experience before visiting Waxflower?
“I didn’t really know what to expect, I’d heard about so many mixed experiences so again went into it with an open mind. I did my research and found Instagram really helpful in terms of deciding whether a boutique is right for you.”
#6 How many dresses had you tried on before visiting Waxflower?
“Before Waxflower I’d only been to one other boutique where I tried on roughly six or seven dresses, all beautiful but definitely not right!“
#7 How did you feel walking into the Waxflower boutique?
“It was so special! After my very first appointment at the previous boutique where I was in the shop with another bride, I didn’t realise that it would just be me, my mum and Kathy at Waxflower! My first couple of appointments were at the previous location in Chepstow, so I got to see both of Kathy’s gorgeous spaces. You feel at home right away, I never wanted to leave!”
#8 Talk us through your first appointment…
“It was dreamy and will forever be one of my favourite parts of the whole wedding planning process. We started by looking through all of the dresses, choosing my favourites and then trying all of the options. Having the space to yourself makes it feel like you can take your time, ask a million questions and really take everything in. I never once felt rushed or overwhelmed with Kathy, she immediately makes you feel comfortable and at ease.”
#9 How many dresses did you try on?
“I think roughly five or six. One of the reasons I chose Waxflower was based on the designers Kathy stocks, and I originally made a beeline for the amazing Halfpenny separates and Bowen Dryden.”
#10 Tell us about the moment you tried on ‘the one’ (had you considered a dress like it? Was it something you knew you would love?)
“After I’d tried on a few options Kathy asked me if I’d be open to trying a dress I hadn’t originally considered. She brought Penny into the dressing room and as soon as she was on, my mum and I just knew. After seeing what I’d previously picked and tried on, Kathy knew exactly the sort of look I was going for and of course she got it so right (because she is the BEST at what she does!). We added the Penny sleeves for extra drama and it was everything I wanted. I have to admit I was sceptical when I first saw it, as going into the dress search I thought I’d go for something colourful, or with sequins, but the feeling I had when I put Penny on was so different that I knew I’d found my dress.”
#11 Did you opt for any bespoke alterations? If so, what were they and why did you choose them?
“We didn’t do much in the way of alterations, the dress was perfect. We did choose to reduce the length of the split on the front of the skirt, which for me made the dress easier to move in.”
#12 How did you end up styling your wedding ensemble? Did you choose any accessories from Waxflower Bridal?
“I added a beautiful pearl veil by Ashley Wild Bridal from Waxflower, some fluffy feathered mules and then an OTT white fedora-style hat for the evening, which was so fun!”
#13 How did you feel in your bridal look on your wedding day?
“I was so at home in that dress. She was a dream to wear, and all that drama just added to the fun of the day. James and I aren’t very good at being ‘minimal’ so we went all out on our outfits and told our family and friends to do the same (our dress code was ‘extra AF!’). We both felt completely ourselves which we loved. The dress was also perfect for the 33-degree heatwave we ended up having on the day!”
#14 Your favourite moment from the big day was…
“It’s always hard to choose just one, but our first dance to ‘Purple Rain’ by Prince (performed impeccably for us by our band Miami Vibe, who learnt it especially for our first dance) is something we won’t forget.”
#15 The funniest moment was…
“Ah so hard to choose! My bridesmaid Steph sneaked a T.rex costume in and surprised us during our photos, our best man’s speech was legendary, and my brother presented us with the world’s tiniest sword on a cushion to cut our tiny wedding cupcake!”
#16 Your advice for other brides-to-be would be…
“Do what makes you happy. Don’t take it too seriously. And the little things that aren’t perfect don’t matter.”
#17 What was your overall experience like at Waxflower? Would you recommend us to other brides?
“I loved it, and I really miss going to see Kathy! Not just for the dresses and the beautiful space she has created but because she is one of the loveliest people you will ever meet. She makes you feel at home immediately and turns wedding dress shopping into an experience you will cherish forever, rather than just another job on the never-ending list! I couldn’t recommend Waxflower enough, I love being a Waxflower bride!”
A HUGE thank you to Sophie for her kind words and for letting me share her incredible wedding day on the Waxflower Blog. I loved helping you find ‘the one’!
THE CREDITS
Bride’s name and partner: Sophie and James (@sophieevanssmart, @jamesevanssmart)
Photographer: Mark Horton (@markhortonphotos), 2nd Shooter: Tom Preece (@tomxpreece.photos)
Venue: The Shack Revolution (@shackrevolution)
Florist: Faye Lane @ Rural Floral (@ruralfloral)
Make-up: Ruth Starkie (@ruthstarkiemua)
Music: Miami Vibe 80s Band (@miamivibe80sband)
Caterers: The Beefy Boys (thebeefyboys)
Stationery / Décor: The Modest Lobster (@themodestlobster)
James’s Suit: Nicholas Simon Tailoring (@nicholas_simon_tailoring)
Confetti: Flutter Darlings (@flutterdarlings)
Banner: Daydreamer Creative Studio (@daydreamer_creative_studio)
Big love to the super talented Mark Horton for these phenomenal images.
And, brides? If you're inspired by Sophie’s style and sartorial drama for your own wedding, and would like to try Suzanne Neville’s Penny wedding dress, get in touch now.
Love Kathy xo