Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship?
I'm Meriel, an interior designer, and my husband Dale is a professional golfer. We are both from the beautiful leafy green area of southwest London. I never thought I would marry someone in the sports industry as I was terrible at PE in school. However, we met when we were 18 and 19 at a club in central London 10 years ago and have been inseparable ever since. We love travelling and exploring the world. But when we're not seeking new adventures, you'll find us cooking at home in our little London apartment, exploring new restaurants, or taking a walk down the Thames near us.
Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme or style? Tell us a little about the setting, the styling and some of your favourite details.
My vision was to create a romantic and whimsical atmosphere with a modern touch, set in a Georgian property or Victorian-style greenhouse surrounded by lush gardens. Luckily, we found the Fig House at Middleton Lodge Estate, which had the perfect combination of these elements, and we instantly fell in love with the venue.To achieve a cohesive look, I opted for a minimalistic colour palette of white, creams, and warm coffee browns while incorporating various textures and organic shapes. Since the venue was surrounded by a beautiful garden, I aimed to keep things simple and not overpower the natural beauty. In the dining room, I chose grand statement florals, including a hanging installation and a floral centrepiece, which made a memorable impression and has to be one of my favourite details. It was important to maintain consistency in the colour palette throughout, from the bridesmaid's robes to the table runners, and even the guest attire, to keep the event looking sophisticated.
How did you spend the morning of your wedding? How did you deal with the nerves leading up to the wedding?
I believe that getting ready is such an enjoyable part of any event and our wedding morning was no exception. To ensure a relaxing and beautiful start to the day, we booked the charming farmhouse at Middleton Lodge for both nights surrounding the wedding. This served as a background for getting-ready photos and for my immediate family to stay in. I organized hair, makeup, and breakfast for my six bridesmaids and mother, wanting them to be able to relax and enjoy the morning without lifting a finger. The Camillo Bubble Robes from Meeka in a soft nude was a perfect fit for my girls and complemented the day's colour scheme perfectly. For myself, I chose the Diana Dobby robe with a matching bralette, french knickers and embroidered scrunchie also from Meeka.
Tell us about your main outfits of the wedding day
I always knew I wanted more than one bridal look, so I managed to fit three outfits into my bridal wardrobe. To make my welcome evening just as special as the wedding day itself, I rented a dress from Shona Joy at Hurr and paired it with modern chunky drop pearl earrings from & Other Stories and Brandy strap heels from Meshki.
Initially, as a bride-to-be, I had a clear idea of the type of wedding dress I wanted. However, when it was time to go shopping, I decided to keep an open mind and try on different styles. I was torn between several options, including a slinky satin dress, an embellished gown, and a classic elegant style. After trying on around 20-25 dresses across three different shops, I finally found "the one" at Lovely Bride in Fitzrovia, London. The Wren dress by Louvienne was simple yet timeless and comfortable, made from a simple crepe fabric that allowed me to play with accessories. I paired it with a pearl veil from Pronovias, modern statement earrings and hairpins from Sabben Maison, and satin Manolo Blahniks.
A dress change after the first dance for me was a must, as it allowed me to wear a sparkly number and refresh my look for evening photos. Since it would only be worn for a few hours, I didn't want to spend too much on this dress, so I opted for the dramatic and dazzling Sadie dress in silver by Nadine Merabi. I accessorized it with star gazer drop earrings from Untamed Petals and stayed in my Manolos.
What items or services did you think were a waste of money? VS what are you so glad you splurged on?
I'm happy that I don't regret spending money on anything that I would consider a waste. However, I was cautious and did a lot of research during the planning process. I always believe in quality over quantity, so we kept the guest count small, at 64 people, in order to treat our guests to some special things like live music throughout the day, free-flowing champagne, and a vintage double-decker bus to take guests to and from the church. I also enjoy the getting-ready aspect of any event, so we rented a beautiful cottage on the grounds of our venue for myself and the girls to get ready on the morning of the event. It was pure bliss. I would definitely say that the must-splurge item has to be an amazing videographer and photographer whose work you love so much that you can just leave them to capture the day effortlessly.
Any advice you would like to give to future brides
Venue - Middleton Lodge Estate
Dress - Louvienne
Veil - Pronovious
Bridesmaid Dresses - Pretty Lavish
Photography - Alex Wysocki
Videography - MadeToLastFilms
Florals and Styling - Wedding and Events Floral Design
Makeup - Becca Hunton
Hair - KH Makeup Artistry
Stationary - StampDesignCo
Cake - WhereTheRibbonEnds