We're thrilled to share Alex and James's relaxed, intimate two day wedding with you this afternoon! Taking place over two glorious July days, the wedding started with a beautiful ceremony at Islington Town Hall, followed by celebratory drinks at Middleton Arms and a relaxed family dinner at the Drapers Arms. The couple celebrated their marriage the next day, with a fun and colourful marquee garden party at home in Mickleham, Surrey. Alex described the wedding as 'true to us' and was filled with homemade decorations, delicious food, lawn games and lots of personal details to make the day extra special.

Alex wore a custom Jesus Peiro wedding dress, combining elements from styles 2524 and 2508, resulting in an elegant strapless gown with a sleek luca satin skirt. This was topped with a custom cape from Nortier, made from floaty silk chiffon. To style her look, Alex chose classic diamond jewellery, with her Nana’s diamond necklace as her 'something borrowed.' Crushed velvet magenta Moschino heels completed the look for the ceremony, which Alex switched for block heels the following day to suit the outdoor garden party.

Read on for more details about Alex and James's two day celebration, and find out more about Alex's dress in her own words. With images by  Will Fuller Photography and Christopher Andreou.

Jesus Peiro wedding dress and cape

The dress felt magical each time I wore it, the fabric felt like a second skin and with each fitting the experience only got better (and settled my nerves more - alongside the cool, calm and collected MB team). I loved that it took all the parts from the top and the skirt and seamlessly blended these together.

The custom made cape was the pièce de résistance and truly elevated the look, adding versatility and again, designed and made by the geniuses at MB.

I brought my mother and maid of honour to my first appointment where the dress was conceived. It was a unanimous ‘that’s the one’ having flitted through numerous, gorgeous (in my opinion) looks and having received a few ‘no’s and ‘you look like Jackie O’ from my mother (clearly not a fan).

Dress Shopping at Miss Bush

My favourite part of the dress shopping experience was having a sanctuary inside the Miss Bush chapel. Every time I stepped inside it was unequivocally ‘me time’ - phones off, imagination galore and smiles all round. As a full time working bride to be without a wedding planner those appointments were precious, I was a little sad they had to come to an end…!

The team were so flexible and accommodating with the schedule, despite everyone being on such tight timelines and the Miss Bush team being in such demand!

Styling

My something old was my Nana’s diamond necklace, my something new were emerald cut diamond earrings which matched the ring, my something borrowed was a linen hankerchief from my mother, and my something blue was a secondhand hard case clutch in baby blue and white pearlescent beads which said ‘I do’.

For the town hall ceremony I wore crushed velvet magenta Moschino, and on the Saturday radio wooden block heels more suitable for a lawn, slipping into vintage cowboy boots for the first dance.

A two day celebration in Islington and Surrey

We had our Civil ceremony at Islington Town Hall in the magnificent Council Chamber followed by drinks at the cosy and sunny Myddleton Arms and a dinner at the Drapers Arms for the families on their characterful dining room. On the drive to Surrey we had a small reception at the iconic Running Horses with friends and family.

Saturday proceedings kicked off mid-afternoon in my parents’ garden with food trucks, the garage acting as a bar and lawn games. Sun was shining and we wrapped around 2am!

The best bits

It was all magical and surreal, but the Saturday morning getting ready with my bridesmaids and mine and my husband’s family making the family home so chaotically happy and the anticipation of the party was a lovely feeling. My brother emigrated to Australia the day after so a lot of emotions.

Alex's Advice

In my first job I was told ‘you can’t teach a feeling’ - no one can tell you how you should feel in your dress or what ‘the perfect dress’ feels like, but you do inherently know what feels better / worse, and it may not be fashionable or conventional. So be honest with yourself and your dress maker. Also, MB are the experts, and will have years of experience on you, so ask questions, any question, no such thing as a stupid question.

Suppliers

Photography: Will Fuller Photography and Christopher Andreou
Make up: Ella Mosley
Hair: Nikki Diggins and Emma Howell
Venues: Islington Town Hall, Myddleton Arms, Drapers Arms
Coordinators: Luna and the Lane
Catering: Chop and Chip, Surrey Hills Smokehouse and Surrey Hills Wood Fired Pizza
Cake: Icing Elegance
Marquee: Lewis Marquees
Loos: Sweetpea Toilets