The Dress With Veena McCoole

Finding the perfect wedding dress is a huge part of planning for the big day. In our new series, Contributing Editor Veena McCoole shares her journey across three boutiques in two continents to find ‘The One’ for her big day in Gloucestershire.

The Journey

For a process that gets so hyped up on social media, I found dress shopping surprisingly smooth and straightforward! I visited three boutiques: Isabella Grace Bridal in Tunbridge Wells, Rosa Clara in London, and Blessed Brides in Singapore, where I ultimately found my dress. My first appointment at Isabella Grace Bridal was the perfect place to start: they stock a wide range of designers and have plenty of dresses in different styles, so it was useful to begin the journey by looking at a wide range of options before narrowing down. From there, I knew I wanted something timeless, elegant, and church-appropriate, which led me to Rosa Clara’s Bond Street Boutique to continue the search.

The Vision

I’ve always been in love with the classic romance of Kate Middleton‘s wedding gown: delicate lace sleeves and a dramatic skirt make for a real princess moment. You only get married once, so I definitely wanted to go big on the dress. Even though I had this style in mind (so much so that at one point I was considering getting a dress made in a similar style), I was surprised by how much I loved the range of different dresses I tried on. From high-necked looks to strapless statements, trying on a number of looks was instructive in helping me decide on the finer points I wouldn’t have otherwise thought about, like the weight of the dress, the size of the train, and so on.

The Decision

Truthfully, it was not as emotional or high-stakes as I thought it would be, based on everything you see on social media of people breaking down in tears when they find “the one.” I intentionally kept the appointments low-key with only my mum or my mother-in-law joining me. With fewer opinions, it’s easier to tune into how you really feel and observe your own reactions. I would describe the moment I knew I’d found my dress as a quiet inner knowing, rather than a big teary outburst. I had actually seen a photo of my dress on its hanger online, but it didn’t look like anything special and I nearly dismissed it altogether. Once I put it on, it fit like a glove, and I knew it was my dress. A lesson, perhaps, in not judging a dress by how it looks on the hanger, and giving it a chance.

Styling

The dress was such a statement; everything else needed to remain really simple to do it justice. I wore my hair in a sleek knotted bun so that the dramatic lace boat-neckline could take centre stage. A simple yet voluminous tulle veil flowed seamlessly down the open back and blended beautifully into the skirt. Finally, I chose a white satin pair of slingbacks from Dune London, which peeked out from beneath the dress and were comfortable enough to walk down the aisle in (as well as on gravel and grass after a few drinks later on!).

The Accessories

I accessorised with beautiful Raindance double drop diamond earrings from Boodles, which were sparkly enough for a special day but didn’t detract from the grandeur of the dress. I wore a strapless jumpsuit for the welcome drinks the night before, so that was my opportunity to accessorise more boldly with Boodles’ statement Be Boodles pink diamond earrings and a gorgeous tennis bracelet.

Advice For Brides

Find something that feels unmistakably you. Tune out the trends, minimise outside opinions if you need to, and go with your gut. You deserve to feel like the most special person in the world wearing the dress you choose, and if it doesn’t make you feel that way, it’s probably not right.

Also, it needs to feel comfortable when you’re wearing it in the shop: if you’re fidgeting, feel itchy or are self-conscious when you’re trying it on, those feelings will only be magnified when you’re wearing it on your wedding day. On the best day of your life, you do not want to be worrying about a strap that falls down or a scratchy fabric that feels too tight: you want to be able to throw your arms around the people you love, raise a glass to your new married life and let loose on the dance floor!

At weddings, I always say “there is nothing more beautiful than a woman in love,” which is why we can’t take our eyes off the bride. Trust that you will be a glowing vision because of the love you feel surrounded by, and the dress will be the icing on the cake!

Favourite Photo of The Dress

This is one of my favourite images from the morning, captured beautifully by Jessica Lily Photography. It offers a glimpse of the low back, the echoes of the bouquet in the floral motifs on the sleeves, and a view of the veil and skirt tumbling together to make a sweeping ivory statement. The dress is just as classic and romantic as the venue we chose: it feels like it was destined to be worn before Elmore Court’s charming, historic façade. We were blessed with bright clear skies, so the parasol pictured here was actually necessary for morning pictures!