Although Tiffany and Bright had already been together ten years when get got married, they still really wanted to have a wedding to celebrate their love with their friends and family. It took place in August in Essex. The ceremony was held at St Bartholomew’s Church in Wickham Bishops, and their reception a short walk away at Wickham Bishops Village Hall.
“Wickham Bishops Village Hall is no ordinary hall”, wrote the bride. “It was originally built in 1928 (my Grandad reliably informed me it was the place to go disco dancing back in the day) and rebuilt in 2005. It has kept a traditional barn look on the outside and fully modernised on the inside. It’s also surrounded by a green with a huge tree in the centre, which was a great spot for for photos.”
The bride described their theme as “boho, colourful and fun with rustic touches and a nod to Bright’s Ghanaian heritage”. They had a gospel choir during their ceremony and lots of lovely, bright décor at their reception. “We also hosted a Great Wedding Bake Off whereby guests brought their own baked creations that we ate as dessert. We also had a completion for the prettiest, tastiest and most creative. It brought out a competitive streak in a lot of people and everyone loved the comradely of getting involved in the wedding and tasting each other’s creations. My boss brought a giant black penis cake that was a funny talking point!”
Tiffany wore a dress designed for her by Charlotte Hardwick of Wilden Bride, and it was made using the original lace from her mother’s wedding dress. “I wanted to feel special and beautiful on my wedding day, but from the offset I couldn’t imagine spending thousands of pounds on a dress”, she said. “It just wasn’t something I felt warranted spending a huge chunk of budget on. However, I remember my Mum had kept her wedding dress and I asked if perhaps I could get it re-modelled for my wedding. She was thrilled at the idea of course but hadn’t opened the dress bag for 30 years! So after we finally located it, we held our breath and opened the bag together – not knowing if it was stained beyond repair or eaten by moths.”
“Luckily, it was in near perfect condition! It was long sleeved and high-necked and had a huge train, it also did NOT fit me, not even close. I knew I needed a talented designer and dressmaker to bring it to life on me. Charlotte was an absolute delight to work with. We completely redesigned the dress to feel ‘boho’ like I wanted, utilising as much from my Mum’s original dress as possible.”
“The best part of the day for me was the ceremony”, she continued. “Bright and I had been together for 10 years before we got married, we’d lived together for 8 years and also bought our first flat a few months before the wedding. To me, I’d made my commitment to Bright a long time ago and the wedding was just one massive party to celebrate it and make it official so I wasn’t nervous at all. I will never forget the moment our bridesmaids, my Dad and I walked in to the church and I saw all our family and friends all together in one place and then Bright and I locked eyes on each other. I don’t think I have ever been so overwhelmed and overjoyed all at once and I will remember that feeling forever. ”
“My main pieces of advice for other couples would be to first of all make lists”, Tiffany concluded, “especially if you’re having a DIY wedding! Also, prioritise and delegate. Easier said than done for control freaks like me, but start with the big things like your major vendors and then go on to smaller, styling bits later. Finally, go to wedding fairs and look out for discounts. There are so many different types of wedding fairs all over the country, and a lot of the suppliers exhibiting there will offer ‘on the day discounts’ if you book them then and there. So do your research in advance, look them up beforehand, and book them on the day to make some great savings!”
The Gallery
Suppliers
- Photography: Rebecca Douglas Photography
- Planner: Utterly Wow
- Ceremony Venue: St Bartholomew's Church
- Reception Venue: Wickham Bishops Village Hall
- Bride's Dress: Wilden Bride
- Bride's Shoes: Office
- Hair & Make Up: Jade Legatt
- Groom's Attire: Reiss
- Bridesmaid Dresses: ASOS
- Flowers: White and Winsome
- Paper Goods: Crafty Pagan Designs
- Catering: Darjeeling Express
- Band : Soul City
- Gospel Choir: Leytonstone City Mission Church Choir
- Transport: Lewis Car Hire