Alex and Folco's gloriously historic wedding at Hever Castle, with Teri V Photography

Weddings with personality are all the time incredible. Alex and Folco’s unique Kent wedding is wonderful, with a surprising bespoke dress by lovely Felicity Westmacott and the picturesque backdrop of Hever Castle. History is vital to this lovely couple, and all the things about their day slots together just beautifully. Congratulations Alex and Folco, and thanks as well to talented Teri V Photography for allowing us to share the photographs of such a fabulously unique wedding on English Wedding today.

https://www.terivphotography.co.uk

How did you select your photographer?

Teri V was on an inventory of suppliers from the venue (Hever Castle) and we loved her kind of photos the very best.

Were you pleased along with your wedding photographer? Do tell… we love a superb review!

Absolutely! She captured not only all the important thing moments but additionally the intricate details and the composition of her pictures is amazing. Five stars all the best way! Incredible. Many individuals have commented that the photos are the very best wedding pictures they’ve ever seen. All credit to Teri!

Tell us about your venue – what made this place special for you?

Hever Castle – I’m very desirous about Tudor History and had visited Hever before. It was Anne Boleyn’s childhood home and she or he was a dynamic woman who intrigued me. Although her wedding to Henry VIII didn’t end well, I still find the castle romantic.

Did you like wearing your outfits? How was the dress / suit shopping experience?

I knew I desired to get a dress made for me from the very starting; I’m curvy and infrequently things off the peg don’t fit. What higher opportunity than my wedding day to get a cutom made dress?! I used to be directed to the wondrous Felicity Westmacott who was willing and joyful to work under time and pandemic constraints. The result was my amazing smoky pink silk dupion gown, with inspiration from the 80s, the 50s, the Victorian and Tudor periods. I’ll all the time love my dress and Felicity is actually the dress alchemist!

Folco’s suit was from Hugo Boss complete with a hand-crafted tie that Felicity fashioned using the identical silk as my dress.

From Felicity Westmacott, bespoke wedding dressmaker:

Alex contacted me about her dress right in the midst of lockdown #3 when nobody knew what the following yr would bring. I used to be so excited to have a bride enquire and be keen about wedding plans again, I couldn’t wait to start!

Alex desired to meld 1950’s and Tudor vibes to create something unique. Taking inspiration from history but not being held back by a way of things having to be ‘right’ or ‘accurate’ is my ideal design atmosphere. The long sleeves and boned bodice hint on the Tudor history of her wedding Venue, Hever Castle, while the gathered seam detailing and full skirt are all 1950’s glamour. Alex has a tremendous figure, tall and comely, the proper solution to set off acres of material and statement design elements just like the oversize bow-back train.

We emphasised Alex’s waist with a waist-cinching hidden lace up corset with the potential to drag in Alex’s waist line as much as 4″. The dress closed excessive with an actual button and loop back closure. I designed shaped panels on the bodice and underbust gathers for texture. The off the shoulder neckline swept to a slight point at centre front and revealed Alex’s decolletage. Long, slim sleeves fastened with real buttons and loops to echo the dress back.

The skirt was cut as full circle with a small, proportional train sweeping behind but then an enormous, long, statement bow with ‘sash ends’ extending far beyond the dress. Each the dress train and the sash ends had a wrist loops and bustle hook-up for dancing, after all!

Alex’s wedding date was originally planned for winter and we’d have made the dress in a wonderful red velvet. But when plans modified to a summer wedding we simply lightened the color and fabric weight to this beautiful dusty pink silk dupion to maintain all the weather Alex wanted.

I also made Alex her cathedral length veil in soft grey to go with the muted tones of her silk dress.

Did you hire a florist? Tell us about any floral amazingness

https://emmyloufloristry.com/

The wonderful Emma Fuller designed the bouquet, buttonholes and table flowers. She had worked at Hever as a gardener for a few years and fashioned my beautiful bouquet in greens, whites, dusky pinks and lilacs.

Did you hire a marriage planner?

No, although I did seek the advice of Laura at Devine Bride to search out a dressmaker. She was really helpful and directed me to Felicity Westmacott.

As cake lovers here at English Wedding we’d LOVE to know who made your cake, and the way delicious it was?

My amazing sister Charlotte O’Kelly of Astrid Bakery made our cake. A two tiered delight, one lemon (groom’s favourite) one chocolate (my favourite) all finished off with a silk bow to match the one on my dress.

Tell us about any special personal touches, or creative projects you made yourselves

Jars of jelly baby favours.

Did you personalise your vows or have any wedding readings? What were they?

We weren’t allowed any readings within the ceremony due to covid regulations so on the drinks reception we had some poems and songs accompanied by the harpist.