It goes without saying that your wedding should reflect your personal style, but harness what you have. supposed Having the most important day of your life is surprisingly difficult. Classic, cool, chic, unique: everyone wants to create a certain mood and ensure the day is as memorable for the guests as it is for them. But when presented with options for all the details (invitations, dress, flowers, cake, music, venue…), the list is truly endless, so even the most decisive people can suffer long-term decision paralysis.
I spoke to two brides-to-be with very different styles about their desires for their respective big days. I know both of them very well, as they are part of the Who What Wear UK team. Our managing editor and resident bride with traditional tastes, Poppy Nash, is getting married at the end of September this year. She, like her style, is sophisticated, minimal, and polished — I expect her wedding spreadsheet to be just as diligently organized, curated, and color-coded as the wedding itself.
Sophie Cookson, our in-house insights analyst and token cool girl, is more alternative. Yes, she works in data, but she’s also an eclectic (though always chic) dresser, vintage fanatic, and lover of colors. Although Sophie and her partner Jack haven’t set a date or found a venue yet, they have a pretty good idea of what they want (and what they don’t want).
When you work in a female-dominated industry like fashion, you hear a lot of anecdotes about your coworkers’ lives, about everyday things as well as bigger things. Like, when one of them (or two in this case) is planning a wedding, you get to hear about it from the inside. I can guarantee that these two women would love to create very contrasting marriages, while sharing the same desire to celebrate love, happiness, and family. From flowers and venue to dress and decor, these are the (very different) elements on their wedding mood board that will provide their dream day.
The “Traditional” Bride: Poppy Nash
(Image credit: Who Wears What)
“When it comes to style, mine is quite classic with a touch of ‘pretty’. My colleagues joke that I’m sometimes allergic to colors because my taste in interiors and sense of style is very neutral, so it felt right that our wedding reflected this. If I had to describe the vibe, it would be classic, minimalist and English garden, with lots of white linen and simple stationery,” says Poppy.
In light of this, Poppy and her future husband, Jack, chose Updown FarmhouseA stunning venue in the Kent countryside. “There’s no color scheme, just everything is white,” says Poppy, adding, “Perhaps Light blue bridesmaid dresses, but that’s still to be decided.”
As for the flowers, Poppy has landed on blooming roses and hydrangeas, but instead of big arrangements, she wants “lots of little setups” in — you guessed it — white, which will add to the whimsical and romantic vibe. The invitations are printed on simple, thick white card with no fuss, though she admits she “spent hours deciding on the right font.” Along with lots of white flowers for Poppy and Jack, the non-negotiables were “a big band, an acoustic musician for cocktail hour and lots of speeches. Oh, and while we didn’t ask for gifts (on the invitation), we did ask that each guest give us a card that we could read later.”
“Our highlight for weddings is Kate Moss and Jamie Hince’s wedding in 2011 – because of the English garden, boho and romantic vibes – with a sprinkle of father of the bride.”
Choosing the dress, as it often does, brought a lot of pressure for Poppy. “I’ll admit I was feeling quite anxious. I’m a real dress girl, and I’ve worn a lot of beautiful dresses over the years, but I knew this particular dress had to be the best one yet. I struggled to find something in the boutique that felt right; I didn’t want anything too traditional or covered in beading or lace, because that’s just not for me. Although I love those pretty touches, I’m also a fan of anything overly fussy. Hate it. However, I am a fan of puff sleeves, so after trying on so many options, I realized I wanted My A version of a big white dress: something very simple but still effective.”
As for beauty, Poppy’s choices match the natural, romantic atmosphere of the wedding: “Simple makeup, lots of pink blush and my hair will be in a loose bun.”
Reflecting on her choice to do something more traditional, Poppy says she “always wanted that traditional wedding moment.”
“Not boring, not cookie-cutter and not traditional Everyone Well, but yes, I wanted to go there on the weekend. When it came to wedding planning, I definitely leaned towards the ‘big white wedding’ feeling because I wanted that moment of celebration. I want to go on a day to celebrate us and all our family and friends. I feel like we—and all our loved ones—deserve it!”
Malone Souliers
Cecil 70 White Satin Heeled Mules
Danielle Frankel
Bridal Estelle Satin Twill Minidress in White
simone rocha
Crystal-Embellished Silver-Tone Headband
complete work
gold plated imitation pearl earrings
Rodarte
floral satin jacquard maxi skirt
jimmy choo
Drawstring Mini Bag in White
The “Alt” Bride: Sophie Cookson
(Image credit: Who Wears What)
Sophie and Jack (yes, her partner is also called Jack) are your classic East London couple. She owns a pie bakery in Leyton, and she works in fashion. His vision for his big day, although not yet determined, is reflected in a T-shirt.
“We essentially want two weddings. The first wedding will be at a London registry office with close friends and family attending, followed by a meal St. John’s Bread and WineThere would then be a meeting in a pub or perhaps on a canal boat. Then we would like to organize a big party in a rented house in the Lake District, where everyone can come together and party. Our vibe for the day will be casual, cool, fun and no-nonsense.”
While Sophie hopes the general mood will be very relaxing, the details and decorations will be full of color and joy. “We’re going to have photo-booth photos for the invitations, we want an Irish or country band (of course with cowboy hats and the whole shebang) and lots of colorful flowers. Instead of a cake, we’re leaning toward a big dessert, something retro and a little kitschy.”
I know Sophie and Jack a bit (I frequent his bakery, of victory, At Leighton), I know they’ll both wear something really nice – maybe a little vintage – but keep it looking effortless. “His style is a little more edgy than mine, but we’re both quite eclectic in our tastes; I can see him wearing a bowler tie, and I’m quite keen to wear a green dress instead of white.
“For a London wedding, I envision either a sequin one or a 70s or 80s dress. The second wedding dress I hope to have will be secondhand – I’m thinking something lace, maybe sleek, and long sleeve. I’ll definitely let my bridesmaids choose what they wear to make sure they’re happy with their look. I don’t think we’ll keep them in the same color, but then again There will be some difference so that they stand out. Again, I am telling all the other guests to go OTT and extra; the bigger and bolder the feathers, the better.
“We’re going to have photo-booth photos for the invitations, we want an Irish or country band (of course with cowboy hats and the whole shebang) and lots of colorful flowers. Instead of a cake, we’re leaning toward a big dessert, something retro and a little kitschy.”
When seeking inspiration for what she and Jack want to achieve, Sophie cites two pretty iconic weddings. “I loved Blondie McCoy and Jennifer Murray’s wedding; some elements seemed quite traditional, but they did it in their own way and with a lot of personality. It seemed so fun, free, and full of love. I also loved Lily Allen and David Harbor’s wedding. I guess it’s an understatement to say this now, because they wrote an entire album about their break-up, but I loved getting married by an Elvis impersonator and then fast food afterward. Love the idea of eating something else that feels intimate and carefree.”
Adding to the hassle-free and intimate atmosphere, Sophie and Jack have already enlisted their mother and Jack’s uncle to host the second ceremony in the Lake District, where Jack’s family have close ties. They also like to include their beloved dog, Pepito, and will be hosting a hike the next day for those who want to join (and aren’t too hungry!).
Amina Muaddi
Dalida Satin Platform Mule
tall marmo
Feather-trimmed organza kaftan
Cleo Peppiatt
Till Death Do Us Part Tote
oscar de la renta
Cluster tasseled beaded gold-tone clip earrings
Vivienne Westwood
Bagatelle Duchesse Silk-Satin Mini Dress
erdem
Crystal-Embroidered Satin Headband
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