CORNISH COAST WEDDING AT THE POLHAWN FORT

Alex visited our showroom for the first time when her sister chose to have an Indiebride dress. I was delighted to welcome her back when it was time for Alex to get married. She was planning a wedding at the Polhawn Fort in Cornwall and was looking for a understated bohemian dress, and she found exactly that! If you're getting married in Cornwall, you'll love going through Alex and Sammy's wedding pictures and reading about all the details, including pink and lilac flowers, bridemaid dresses and Birkenstocks! 

Congratulations Alex and Sammy!

- Miina -

THE WEDDING DRESS JOURNEY

What made Indiebride London stand out from the other wedding dress suppliers you were considering, and why did you ultimately choose us? 

Miina’s dresses are just so unique and beautiful, and I love how the material is such high quality and ethically sourced, making the dresses so comfortable and soft to wear. It was also such a bespoke personal experience from start to finish, with Miina always making me feel at ease. It all felt very special and I had complete faith in Miina that she’d fit the dress just right. 

If you had to describe your experience with Indiebride London in one sentence, how would you do it?

Incredibly personal, reassuring and empowering. 

What was the biggest worry about your wedding that Indiebride London helped alleviate?

I thought I would look and feel silly in a wedding dress, and I wasn’t sure I would find something that felt completely like ‘me’. But all those feelings disappeared after my first visit to Indiebride. I loved so many of the dresses and didn’t feel silly at all. 

Tell us about a moment you especially enjoyed while working with Indiebride London.

My first visit to Miina was very special as I was able to take my 2 sisters and my mum. We shared a bottle of Prosecco, and it was such a nice and relaxing experience. 

Miina also made my sister’s wedding dress earlier in the year, so it was nice to see her again, and felt like a real family affair! Miina gave me the time and space to deliberate for quite a while as I narrowed my favourites down to 3 dresses, and then kindly let me return the following day (at very short notice!), to try them again and make my final decision. 

Miina as a person is not pushy or over the top in her compliments, which I think can be the case in other bridal boutiques. She has a warm character, offering her expertise and advice if asked, and she gives you the space and confidence to make the right decision for you. 

Read more about Alex and Sammy's wedding after the image gallery by Lyra and Moth

THE WEDDING

Tell us about your bridal look

I wanted a dress that was quite understated in its style and fit, with a floaty/bohemian feel. The dress I chose from Miina’s collection was Pixie, which is lined with soft organic bamboo, so when I put it on, it felt so soft and comfortable. The flower-embroidered lace was made in Scotland, which was a special detail for me after we got engaged there. We decided to go for dried flowers so that the bridal party could keep them afterwards, and I loved the vintage look of them. We wanted a colour palette that resembled the wild flowers on the west coast of Scotland, which the bridesmaids chose their own dresses to match up with. The finishing touches for me were my beloved flower crown by Florence and Flowers and my lilac Birkenstocks! 

What did you have as entertainment and food at your wedding?

We arranged for a local male voice choir to sing at the ceremony, which kept everyone occupied while they arrived at the church. Then an acoustic folk band played for us as we walked from the ceremony to the reception and then during reception drinks. During their set we all had freshly baked Cornish pasties too, which went down a treat, and a small artisan coffee van parked up outside the venue! We had our sit-down meal (catered by Lafafa Catering) early in the evening, this was middle-eastern sharing food that was laid out along the table, a nod to my husband’s heritage. Then we had an 8-piece funk band afterwards who got everybody up and dancing the night away! Good music and food are both very important to us, so we wanted them to be at the heart of our celebrations.

Was there anything that went wrong on your wedding day, and how did you deal with it?

We’d planned a large part of the wedding to be outside in the garden, overlooking the beach below. But on the day of the wedding it was pouring with rain! So we had to make the last minute decision to move our reception inside, which included the pasty stall, beer and cider barrels and the live band! We both felt quite disappointed initially, but in the end, being inside meant the folk band set turned into a full-on jig, with people stamping their feet and clapping along. It was a bonus party and nobody thought it was the ‘plan B’!! 

Apart from saying yes to your husband, what was your favourite moment on your wedding day?

Two moments, if I’m allowed! The first was when I was stood in the doorway at the church. The door was open and my bridesmaids had gone ahead of me, so I could see the candles lit and a few friendly faces looking at me. I can’t really describe the emotion I felt at the time, but it was very special. And thanks to Miina, Nandi who did my hair and make-up, and with my amazing flower crown on my head, I felt really beautiful. 

The second moment was when we were walking from the ceremony to the reception down the road. The folk band started playing one of our favourite songs ‘Fisherman’s Blues’, and we reached the top of the hill where we could see Whitsand Bay ahead of us (our favourite beach!). Some of the locals had also come out of their houses and were waving at us as we passed. It just felt such a joyous moment, even in the drizzling rain!!

What advice would you give to brides who are still planning their wedding?

Just enjoy it, the whole experience from start to finish. See it as an opportunity to throw a celebration that represents you as individuals and as a couple. And if things don’t go according to plan, remember that you’re surrounded by people you love, so it doesn’t really matter! Also, it’s always best to keep the guests well fed and watered.

- Alex -