Oxfordshire was the splendid country house venue for John's wedding on 22 December 2017. Inspired by their love of Christmas, the pair worked tough to create a day that was full of warm festive vibes and beautifully-crafted personal touches using plenty of ivy and accents of gold. John works in consultancy and Gracie just launched her bridal couture label, plus they first met on vacation in Scotland.

"We wanted a venue that felt traditional but additionally allowed us the freedom to make it our own. My mum lives in this little village in Oxfordshire having a beautiful, private country house. When John and I got engaged I just checked to determine if they may hire it and it ended up they do several weddings every year."

"I'd always imagined I'd make my very own dress. I've been making clothes for a long time and studied fashion textiles so I knew what I was doing. I wanted something unique – something which was quite traditional and would keep me warm throughout the day – but became something more unconventional and contemporary, and allowed me to invest the entire evening around the dance floor."

"I desired to make a dress which was very unusual, super sexy, and beautifully elegant – often not the simplest of combinations! I shaped the gown so it had been figure-hugging which managed to get very sexy, as the high neck and long sleeves, managed to get very elegant. The embroidered pattern helped on both fronts."

The flower girls were also in baby flower girl dresses, whilst the page boys looked super-cute in suits and little bow-ties.

For a warm, luxe feel, the bridesmaids wore deep blue gowns with shoes, with gold ivy within their hair to complement Gracie's in addition to bracelets.

"I needed to work very toughly to get John to fancy me. I first spotted him on vacation in Scotland and was hooked. Unfortunately, he didn't have the same way and thus ensued an 18-month chase before he gave in." Click

"The clincher would be a ski trip I'd invited myself, convinced that if he spent a complete week besides me, he'd need to fall for me! John proposed in December 2016, seven years as we first met. We'd made an advent calendar with little stockings that people put a present in each day… and around the 9th there is a beautiful diamond engagement ring inside my stocking."

"I'd always desired to get married right before Christmas therefore we had almost exactly twelve months to plan – and obtain making!"

"We love our photos. Ollie captured the fun and festive mood from the day so perfectly and apart from a couple of shots when I is in my dress, he didn't ask me to pose whatsoever which I appreciated; it's not my forte!"

For Gracie, the ceremony was her favorite part of the day.

"It was pretty unusual and merely so much fun. I've never been to a marriage where individuals have laughed a lot during a ceremony. I walked on the aisle to 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' (which many people were probably dreading I'd sing along to). Our rendition of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' where different groups sang different verses was hilarious, and we finished with 'Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin' Stevens – complete having a bridesmaid and groomsmen band."

As the evening party and dancing got underway, Gracie transformed her gown by removing its sleeves and tulle skirt. Djing was book-ended through the newlyweds' first and last dances.

"We chose 'Happy Hearts' by Andy Williams. It has beautiful lyrics along with a perfect balance of slow and speedy sections. More important was our last song. We wound up doing a really (impromptu and unrehearsed!) interpretive dance to 'Let It Go' from 'Frozen'."

Words of Wedded Wisdom

"I think it is amazing the number of people spend a lot of money on an outfit that's off-the-shelf. Wearing something unique for you feels incredible."

Article produced at: https://www.feeltimes.com/