The journey
I did the opposite of what most people do and went to my first bridal appointment alone, at The Fall Bride. I knew I wanted that first experience to feel calm and instinctive, without too many opinions in the room, and The Fall Bride felt like the perfect place to do it. They have such a contemporary approach to bridal – chic, cool and relaxed without being intimidating – and I knew they’d understand the kind of bride I was trying to be. I already suspected I’d found my dress after seeing the Gianna gown by Prea James on Instagram, but I kept an open mind and tried on a handful of others just to be sure.
Shortly after that first appointment, I found out I was pregnant, which added an emotional layer to the process. It became less about finding a dress I loved and more about trusting myself and taking a risk on how I’d feel in my postpartum body. I had moments of wondering whether I should choose something safer or more forgiving, but every time I came back to the Gianna, it still felt the most like me.
I did go back with my mum and sister, because I wanted that emotional, girly bridal moment with them too. Funnily enough, they almost confused me for a second – they loved another dress on me – but I knew the Gianna was the one.
The vision
I always knew I wanted something unfussy, modern and romantic. I’m quite particular about silhouettes and fabrics, so I went in knowing I wanted clean lines, with softness coming through in the styling.
The Gianna felt very “me” immediately – it’s a sleek column gown, though, and I did wonder: is it too simple? Then the girls at The Fall Bride showed me the removable Grace overskirt and I couldn’t believe my luck. Decision made. The skirt gave me beautiful volume and drama walking down the aisle, and then for cocktail hour we did a little “reveal” moment and removed it entirely. I loved that it became two looks in one – something more romantic and bridal for the ceremony, then cleaner and more effortless for the evening.
The decision
Surprisingly easy. Because I’d already connected to the dress before even trying it on, there wasn’t much second-guessing afterwards. Being pregnant was the only time I hesitated, but overall it was a calm decision rather than a big dramatic moment. I just felt comfortable, confident and like the best version of myself in it.
The style support
I trusted my own instincts a lot throughout the process, but once I’d narrowed it down, my mum and sister and the team at The Fall Bride were amazing – they really understood the balance I wanted between timeless and fashion-forward.
The accessories
Because the dress was quite clean and elegant, there was a moment where I wondered if I should go bold with jewellery. In the end, soft and delicate suited me better.
My earrings and necklace were pearl drops from ASOS, which I loved because they worked perfectly and were incredibly affordable. I also wore a satin crepe scarf from a small independent Etsy seller, Ivory Maison Bridal, which added a contemporary edge at cocktail hour, paired with dark cat-eye shades.
One of my favourite styling details was my tier-on-tier veil by Harriette Gordon, it completely changed the feeling of the look. Veils feel so magical and emotional to me – there’s something about putting one on in those final moments before the ceremony, where reality suddenly hits. Because the dress is understated, I loved being able to create fashion-led layers through the accessories instead.
My shoes were the most special part – they were custom-made by a dear friend, the founder of footwear brand Sadi Studios. She incorporated my “something blue” into the soles and then completely surprised me by making a matching pair for my baby girl, too. It was an emotional full-circle moment, given that so much of the wedding season was tied up with becoming a mother at the same time.
Advice for brides
Don’t get too consumed by what photographs well. The right dress is usually the one that makes you feel the most like yourself, not the one that gets the biggest reaction.
Going to at least one appointment alone was the best thing I did – it helped me understand my own taste.
Favourite photo
There’s a photo of us leaving the ceremony, walking up the steps, that captures the dress, the veil and the shoes so beautifully.
