The Off-The-Shoulder Wedding Dress That Stole Her Heart
For Bridal Indulgence bride Hannah, her dream off-the-shoulder wedding dress (Harlow by Watters) first caught her eye while scrolling on Instagram. She soon discovered it waiting for her on the glistening rails of our Farnham bridal boutique.
Hannah first met her groom, Brian, during a spontaneous three-day house party she hosted with her flatmate at the time, Emily, who would later become her Maid of Honour. “Brian used to be a Dubstep artist”, explains Hannah, “Emily booked him to play at a club night she was promoting on Valentine’s Day. I went along to support her, and after the night was over, we invited a ton of friends and some of the artists that were playing back to ours for a house party, which ended up lasting for three days. We got introduced by Emily at the house party, and the rest is history”!
What followed was a romantic, festive engagement (the engagement ring was under the tree) and a wedding day that was nothing short of magical! Discover the finer details as we catch up with the beautiful bride herself to discover everything from her favourite part of the wedding dress shopping experience at our Farnham bridal boutique to the advice she’d give to brides going through the same process.
The Dress Experience
For Hannah, it was love at first sight when it came to her dream off-the-shoulder wedding dress. “I saw an Instagram post for the Harlow dress and I fell in love. I immediately looked to see where I could try it on, and Bridal Indulgence came up in my search!” she says.
Although Hannah wasn’t sure at first which style of wedding dress would suit her and was happy to try a few different options (something we always encourage with our brides at our Surrey bridal boutique), she did know one thing: “I did want something a little different to your typical dress, which is why I was drawn to the Harlow gown.” Accompanied by her mum and Maid of Honour, Hannah confesses that her favourite part of the wedding dress experience was getting to try a variety of styles. “I told my mum and Emily to pick dresses for me to try on as well. Emily actually picked out Harlow before I had even said that was the one I had come to see! I knew that was a good sign,” notes Hannah.
And, on finding ‘the one’? “I think deep down, I always knew Harlow would be the one from when I first saw that Instagram post. When I tried it on, it just confirmed it and knowing Emily had picked it out and loved it as well - I was sold.”
The Dress
When it came to the dress, it was the unusual blend of glowing, polished satin and delicate, enchanting lace that really sealed the deal. “Just trying Harlow on and seeing how different it looked with the lace underlay and the draping of the skirt, I knew I wouldn’t find anything else as individual as that. I loved how it incorporated satin and lace as well as the corseting.”
We absolutely loved how Hannah styled the Harlow gown, elevating this stunning off-the-shoulder wedding dress with her carefully chosen veil, earrings, and bag. “I wasn’t too fussed about having fancy shoes as I knew they wouldn’t really be on show and I also didn’t want to wear anything too high as I’m tall anyway and didn’t want sore feet all day,” she explains. “What I really invested in was my veil. I have always loved the idea of a fancy veil which was non-traditional. When I came across Jacqueline Au Studio, I was obsessed with their ostrich feather trim cathedral veil and knew I had to have it to complete my look. It was so elegant and added extra texture and interest, which I loved.”
As for Hannah’s accessories, she decided to rent her pieces. “My earrings were rented from Hurr Collective and were Swarovski Mesmera drop earrings. My bag was also rented from Hurr Collective and was a Cult Gaia Dory feather pearl bag.”
The Wedding
Having scoured what felt like every wedding venue in the UK online, the couple finally decided on Drapers’ Hall in London for the reception. “We felt the London wedding venues offered something different and less traditional. We wanted somewhere memorable and for the whole day to be an experience. When we found Drapers’ Hall, we knew we would never find a venue as breathtaking and impressive, and immediately decided to hold our wedding reception there,” says Hannah.
For the ceremony, the couple always knew it had to be The Asylum in South London. This ceremony-only wedding venue is loved for its peeling paintwork, stained-glass windows, and rustic, atmospheric charm. “The Asylum was a place I had always imagined getting married in. We didn’t think they would have availability, but we were able to match up a date that worked for both venues. Both venues were a complete contrast, and we loved that each was amazingly beautiful in different ways.”
The wedding day was truly unforgettable and everything they had hoped for. “We were on such a high when we woke up the next morning, looking back at everything,” says Hannah. “All the hard work of organising had all come together perfectly. It was lovely to see all the details and hear the guests enjoy them - such as the flower arrangements on the tables and the double-decker bus ride.”
Walking down the aisle for bride Hannah was a very emotional moment. “I felt like I was going to have a panic attack just before walking down the aisle!” she exclaims. “I had to keep taking deep breaths to calm myself down. As soon as I heard the song we had picked to walk down the aisle being played by the string quartet, I felt so emotional. When I started walking, I began crying, but then remembered to take in the moment and somehow that made me feel calm.”
And, her most memorable moment? “We did a secret first dance, just by ourselves in the massive Hall with the painted ceiling, and it was so atmospheric and emotional. It was something we decided to do at the last minute, and the venue was so accommodating. We can’t thank them enough. It was a moment I will never forget and something that made the day even more unforgettable.”
Advice for Brides-to-be
As with all of our gorgeous Bridal Indulgence brides, we always ask for their own words of wisdom post-wedding - the advice they’d give to other brides currently searching for the wedding dress of their dreams, be it an off-the-shoulder wedding dress like Hannah’s, or something completely different.
For Hannah, finding the right wedding dress was all about keeping an open mind and giving herself plenty of time. “Don’t be too fixated on what you think you want”, suggests Hannah. “Do your research online when looking for wedding boutiques to visit to make sure they stock brands you love. I think a wedding shop that stocks brands from overseas just gives you more variation to select from, and you might find something individual and different. Also, give yourself enough time as dresses can take months to be made.”
The Wedding Team
Photography: @yazminemayphotography
Florals: @kinky_flowers_
Dress: @watters
Bridal shop: @bridalindulgence
Makeup: @jennifer_makeup
Hair: @vanityloungelondon
Nails: @holidaynails1
Venues: @maverickprojects @drapershallevents @battylangleys Cake: @heartofcakelondon
Suit: @paulsmithdesign Veil: @jacquelineaustudio
Fallen in love with Hannah’s glamorous off-the-shoulder wedding dress by Watters? Discover Harlow and even more long-sleeved and off-the-shoulder wedding dresses at Bridal Indulgence.
Get in touch today or take a scroll across the Bridal Indulgence Instagram for even more bridal inspiration.
Kerri & the Bridal Indulgence Team x