amy & jonathan
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REAL WEDDING - Amy & jonathan, Newcastle upon Tyne
Amy & Jonathan married at The Secret Tower, Newcastle upon Tyne. A stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. A custom BB:06 with added pearls and t-shirt collar neck was the dress chosen for this non-traditional, very cool and conscious bride Amy.
WHICH MRS W DRESS DID YOU WEAR AND HOW DID YOU KNOW IT WAS THE ONE
My first pick wasn't the dress I ended up going with. It was only looking at pictures from my try-on that I realised what suited me and made me feel empowered. Be open to dresses you might not think are "you." You might just surprise yourself!
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO VISIT MRS W AND HOW DID YOU FIND US? TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.
I saw MRS W when I was passing by and knew I just had to at least try some on, even if I couldn't afford them. Obviously, it didn't turn out that way!!!
what accessories did you pair your dress with?
I bought dark green velvet heels from John Lewis (discounted with a mark on ha) and matching clutch bag, some earrings from an Etsy retailer whose shop was in the part of London we used to live in, and my usual rings. I then changed into lavender suede platform converse as soon as dinner started. No regrets there! I wear them all the time now. I kept it really simple.
what fragrance did you wear?
Hwyl by Aesop. I wear it every day.
did you visit many bridal boutiques before finding your dress?
Yours was the first. I went to one more and decided then and there that MRS W was the only place I was going to find my dress.
Talk to us about your bridal dress journey. Did you always have a certain dress designer or style in mind? How did you start your dress journey?
I knew I wanted a modern dress. All the traditional aspects of bridal dresses just didn't sit with me, I didn't want a bodice or a princess dress or anything, and I'd seen some designers online on Pinterest and IG that I liked, like Lola Varma. I'd seen dresses on Reformation and Etsy that I loved too. Very simple, elegant and classic, even Italian style dresses. I'm an artistic person so I needed something to suit my character. Essentially, I wanted those classic lines that you got in the forties, fifties, before wedding dresses became about being as big and princessy as possible. So, I did a lot of online looking and then found wedding shops close by. I also wanted something I could potentially wear again. I hate waste and consumerism, it's one of our (Jonathan and I) core values.
tell us about when you met your husband and how did you know he was the one?
We met through the local music scene in Newcastle. Jonathan was in a band and contacted me under the guise of getting me to be a support act for it. That happened much later but essentially he saw my picture in a fanzine and thought I was a bit fit! It was a couple of years after that we finally got together, when I was living in London. It was a really lovely time. Knowing he was the one was both a gradual process and also something I knew from the beginning. When initially we didn't get together, I thought to myself, if it's meant to be, it will be. And we gravitated back to each other. Everything about him fit and complimented me. He helped me through some difficult times and is always the sounding board for my thoughts, good, bad and wild. He is my anchor when I float a bit too far. I knew early on that he'd make an amazing Dad too. Everything was easy.
ThE PROPOSAL
We were visiting our friends in New Zealand and having a couple of weeks roadtrip around the islands. We stopped in Kaiteriteri in Abel Tasman National Park in a nice hotel and had a slap up three course meal to reward ourselves as we'd been kipping in a Toyota mini van! I was so stuffed after the meal that I declined Jonathan's offer of sitting out on the balcony with a glass of the natural wine we'd bought at a vineyard. It was a bit cold and the midgies were out so I said we'd stay in our wee suite. I was getting my pyjamas on and doing an interpretive dance to Swan Lake (with me humming) when he suggested playing a game of Monopoly Cards. We'd played it every day on the trip so I said yes, found the box, and realised with a heart-dropping thud that the cards were gone. My first thought was that I'd somehow lost them! But when I opened it there was a little velvet box with my perfect crescent moon salt & pepper diamond ring inside. It was really sweet but so us that I'd actively ruined his plan to propose to me romantically! I even said we'd save the wine for a special occasion after he proposed because it just felt so normal. Then I realised we were engaged. So I had a glass and we fell asleep watching a Studio Ghibli film.
I loved learning about my ring, made from the imperfect offcuts of diamonds, so a lot more ethically friendly. Everything he did was perfect, even if I ruined it!
favourite moments from the day?
Hearing everyone just fall apart when my father in-law Gav walked our daughter Juno Ren down the aisle while I waited outside. She completely upstaged me. Forgetting to bring the rings up to the room so our friend Becky had to run downstairs and grab them at the beginning of the ceremony. My best friend Maeve being our celebrant. The chai coming out to warm us up while we got our photographs taken! My Dad's speech took a rogue turn when he decided to invite Jonathan's best men up to harmonise having done zero practise and expecting them to be able to, only for the whole room to join in with "Let There Be Love." I had to do my speech with Juno in my arms, eventually feeding giving her her tea while the speeches continued. Motherhood never pauses! Playing with the lights on the floor with her before she went to bed. And then enjoying dancing to my favourite dancing tune, Tightrope by Janelle Monae so much that everyone else just stopped and watched me!!! Even Jonathan gave up and stood on the sidelines too because I was in my own world.
what would be your advice to brides looking for their dress? Any top tips?
Go for the thing that makes you feel gorgeous and you. My first pick wasn't the dress I ended up going with. It was only looking at pictures from my try-on that I realised what suited me and made me feel empowered. Be open to dresses you might not think are "you." You might just surprise yourself!
Also, nobody knows what anything costs, and nobody is looking at your shoes, girl. Trust me. I bought my veil for £20 from Etsy and nobody could have told you different.
Dress Designer: Bon Bride
Venue: The Secret Tower
Photographer: Jade Angus at GASP photography
Florist: I got my bouquet and table decorations from Feel Pretty Flowers in Grainger Market, arranged them in the vases and also utilised flowers from a previous event at the Tower for tables. It worked out really well!
Cake: Doughnuts by Joe Collins at The Little Shop, Sunderland
Hair Stylist: Matty Bradshaw
Makeup Artist: MEIASophie Pasola
Groom’s Outfit: Paul Smith, shoes from LEAF
Ring: Sophia Perez in Hatton Garden
Cardigans: From Zara and hand embroidered by Northern Embroidery Company. She was amazing. I had Juno in a matching one too.