Our bride today is one we've been waiting for ever since Emma chose the Lola corset to join our collection last year. It was one of the main pieces that attracted Emma to Divine Atelier, and we've been looking forward to seeing it on a real bride ever since!

Liv wore the Lola corset with the Caro skirt for her wedding to David, which took place in Sussex with a traditional church ceremony followed by a beautiful marquee reception at the bride's family home. Liv combined her bridal separates with a high neck lace top, made in-house at Miss Bush by Nortier, giving us the perfect example of how you can take a modern, contemporary bridal outfit and make it suitable for church, adding and removing accessories throughout the day. The lace top added coverage for the ceremony, and was easily replaced later in the day with a chic neck scarf to create a more relaxed, glamorous look for the reception. The bride also preferred a more streamlined look for the corset, opting to remove the hip contouring for a custom finish.

Read on for more details about Liv and David's wedding day, and find out more about Liv's dress shopping experience in her own words.

Divine Atelier Lola corset and Caro skirt with Nortier lace top

I chose the Divine Atelier Lola Corset and Caro Top, paired with a Miss Bush jacket/top and a flowing chiffon Jesus Peiro scarf. Funnily enough, it was the very first thing Emma put me in. I remember looking at it on the hanger and thinking, nooo, that’s the kind of thing you see on models, not me. But I was completely open-minded and had no idea what I was looking for anyway, so I thought, why not try? As Emma started to put it on me, I thought, ok… this could be a vibe. The moment I stepped out and saw my maid of honour and my mum’s reaction, I knew instantly, oh my god, this is it!

As for the jacket, I wanted something in the church that covered my shoulders, not for any particular religious reason, I was just keen to have a look that evolved throughout the day (equally not knowing what the British summer weather would throw at us!). For me, the jacket really elevated the look, so much so that I decided not to go for a veil as I already had so many components, the veil would have made it look like too much was going on.

It was also really important to me to find something I could potentially re-wear, a wedding dress is such an investment. I knew I’d want to change later so I could dance comfortably, and I loved that this outfit allowed me to be interchangeable. And because I was getting married at my parents’ house in the countryside, in a small church, I knew a huge, dramatic gown was never going to feel right.

Most of all, I loved how different and modern the outfit was, I hadn’t seen anyone wear anything like it, and that felt so special. It was modern yet timeless, beautifully practical, and completely me.

I brought my mum and my maid of honour to Miss Bush with me, and the moment I stepped out in the corset and skirt, they both squealed like schoolgirls, jumping up and down with huge smiles. It completely confirmed what I was already feeling. Seeing their excitement made it impossible not to say, yep, this is the one!

Dress Shopping at Miss Bush

I loved how relaxed it all felt, we weren’t rushed at all, and it felt like we had as much time as we wanted (and needed) to try things on and explore different options. The Miss Bush team were so knowledgeable, and it amazed me how they just instinctively knew what would suit me, even without knowing me beforehand, which is exactly how I ended up finding my outfit!

The only small issue I had was when the corset first arrived, it didn’t quite fit me in some of the right places. The Miss Bush team went out of their way to make sure everything was altered perfectly so that I felt completely comfortable and confident in it. Throughout the process they were so reassuring, guiding me through each step and always offering great advice along the way. It made the whole experience feel easy and enjoyable.

Styling

I kept it pretty simple as my outfit did all the talking! When I removed the jacket for the wedding breakfast I wore the scarf which I absolutely loved. It was perfectly weighted and draped around my neck beautifully. All my jewellery was from my brother's company Blackacre. I wore an aquamarine ring which was my something blue (as well as borrowed!). Shoes I kept fairly cheap and simple as no one could see them anyway and a lot of the wedding took place on grass so more of a practical choice!

A magical wedding at the bride's family home

We got married at my parents house which they have lived in for 31 years, a house I grew up in so it was a very full circle moment. Given the house is an old farm, we wanted to keep it rustic and authentic to the countryside. Our colour scheme was dusty pinks and sage green. My mum absolutely loves her garden and made an effort to grow this colour scheme into the garden, it was absolutely stunning. The confetti thrown over us was all home grown and dried and the elderflower cordial used was also all home grown and made. So much love and effort was poured into the wedding day which made it so incredibly special.

The best bits

I actually enjoyed the church and ceremony much more than I thought I would. Whilst the thought of walking down the aisle is intimidating, all those eyes on you, seeing everyone you love, friends & family, in one place is overwhelming but in a truly special way. It's one of those moments you just want to bundle up because you know it will never happen again.

Liv's Advice

Be open-minded. Do not be afraid of try something you haven't tried before style wise. It's good to save things you like on social media but honestly, don't go hunting for just those things and styles. Like me, your dream dress could be nothing you ever imagined yourself in.

Wedding planning wise...

1. Enjoy the build up, in the moment it can be tough feeling the stress but you will miss it all when its gone.
2. Expect something to go wrong, because it will, it's about how you approach the situation, everything will work itself out in the end.
3. Remember its YOUR day. Not your family, not your friends, not your guests. Do what makes you and your partner happy.

Suppliers

Photographer: Kelsie Scully Photography.com
Videographer: Lawson Films
Jewellery: Blackacre London
Hair: Bridal Hair by Leanne
Make up: Hannah Goudman Makeup
Catering: Gastro Catering
Flowers: Arabella Floral
Bridesmaid dresses: Maids to Measure
Band: Truly Medly Deeply
Marquee: Meridian Marquees
Wedding car: Beauford Classic