Syon Park Wedding – Mike and Lucy

When Covid hit, so many brides postponed their big day. Lucy and Mike were no exception, having had to wait exactly a year from their original date, this blog post is dedicated to all brides who did, and we think the photos show just how amazing the day was!

When was the wedding?
Our wedding was on 11 September 2021 (hopefully a lucky day for us!) It was a perfect early autumn day and happily the sun came out for us.

How did your partner propose?
I had been at my family home for the weekend and when I arrived at the flat he was down on one knee in our living room. I walked into the front entrance and there were these candles on and I shouted out why are these candles on to a response of “oh I just thought it would be nice”, despite this being most unusual I still didn’t twig as I was half listening to a podcast whilst grappling with my luggage. When I came into the living room there were flowers and candles everywhere with a song on that means a lot to us (and would later be our first dance song) and of course some champagne. It took me some time to register what was going on but eventually I said yes much to Mike’s relief. Safe to say he took me completely by surprise!

Where did you get married?

We got married on the outskirts of London at Syon Park. The wedding took place within the main building of the venue.

Where was the reception held?
The reception was held in the conservatory on the grounds.

What dress did you wear?
I wore Morilee Providence dress which was off the shoulder, with a nipped in waist and a full skirt. The dress was quite plain material no lace but was offset by the most incredible statement veil made by Hazel at HoneyV , it really was my favourite part of the day and I loved the personalisation and detail – it was the item I got the most comments on.

And the bridesmaids?

My sisters wore Whistles dresses. I had been to a close friends wedding a few years ago and her bridesmaids also wore the same dresses. They’re in a beautiful green which I love as a colour and I asked my friend if she wouldn’t mind me copying her – thankfully she was super relaxed! The dresses also were bardot off the shoulder cut so I thought tied in well with my dress.

What were your bridal shopping experiences like?

Mixed really. I did not go to many wedding dress shops or follow many Instagram accounts as I did not want to get overwhelmed by choice. The first shop I went to in central London did not live up to the expectation you have of dress shopping, it was an expensive appointment with a sad glass of Prosecco but no warmth to the staff or relaxed atmosphere, I went with my mum and sisters but somehow it was underwhelming. Compared to when I went to Gillian Roberts and the staff were all really friendly, unpretentious and relaxed. I picked Gillian Roberts as I had seen the dress in a magazine and this was the shop that stocked nearest where I lived – the lovely ladies let me try on as many dresses as possible and there was no time limit or over formalisation to the process.

How did you know you’d found the perfect gown?
I felt very comfortable with the dress as soon as I tried it on and I have always liked my shoulders and that cut with a nipped in waist,

Which accessories did you wear and how did you choose them?
As above, the real statement for me was the beautiful veil. I also had some pretty fun green earrings to tie into the bridesmaids dresses and my emerald engagement ring.

And Shoes?

I am probably the worst bride ever but I actually got my shoes Amazon by Steve Madden. I am quite tall so did not want to tower over everyone all day plus wanted to be able to stay in them all day. They’re quite simple block heel but glitzy.

What did your husband wear?

Mike had a navy suit from Ede & Ravenscroft on Savile Row – he likes a good suit but also did not want anything too fussy. Matched whith a white shirt and pink tie.

How did you feel when you saw each other for the first time at the ceremony?

It was quite overwhelming and also went by in a flash. Mike tells me he was wowed and very emotional, I was largely focused on not falling over!

What was your theme?
No Theme!

Who did the photography?
Liza Edginton – she had photographed the venue numerous times which was important for me. Her images are also very classic and natural.

What was the best moment for you?

I think the moment straight after the ceremony where I could catch up with Mike and bask in his compliments ha ha and also show off my outfit (dress courtesy of pockets!) We had both been very involved in the planning so really being able to share in the beauty of the day that we had organised meant a lot.

Your highlights?

Highlights were seeing all our friends and family after a prolonged time during Covid plus we spent the last year living abroad. To be able to celebrate without restrictions with lovely weather meant so much to us. I really enjoyed being able to dance and spin in my dress.

Did anything go wrong on the day?

Not to our knowledge and really we were just so happy we had even got to that point meant we were super relaxed.

Any funny stories from the day?

Some of our guests who knew each other turned up in matching green jumpsuits – I think everyone thought they were inadvertantly the bridesmaids!

What was your best buy?
The veil for sure –  it was unique and so special for me!

Any money-saving tips?

Whistles only had one of the bridesmaids dresses in stock but I managed to find another one on Ebay for less than half the price for someone else who had only worn it once as a bridesmaid. This is also personal choice but we had such a beautiful venue so went very light on decorations and favours and no one seemed to notice. There’s also always a discount code for Papier (wedding stationery). We had no corkage at our venue which was helpful and we kept an eye out for Christmas alcohol deals.

Any bridal wear shopping tips?
Don’t be scared to go on your own – I know my own mind when it comes to what suits me and only wanted my family to see the dress when I was happy with it rather than get clouded by other people’s tastes.

 Any wedding suppliers or services you would recommend?

Our caterers were amazing – the food was so good, some of the best we’ve had at large events – Caper and Berry. I also loved the band – the Kingdom. The Cake supplied by Surburban Bakes was also made by old colleague of mine who has turned her passion into her job.

Any additional thoughts to share?
I think it helps to try and stay as relaxed as possible and not to worry on the day, I felt elated in the morning and was just so happy to get on with the day. We had planned everything but also if anything does go wrong you won’t notice.