decadent desserts, tea, coffee and cake all followed suit – we had plenty of waiters available to serve and they were all decked out in cute costumes to fit the atmosphere.” LOOKING THE PART “I loved wearing my wedding dress, it made me feel genuinely beautiful,” recalls Kate. “I chose fabrics that would be light and breathable as comfort was a top priority and we even added a silk pyjama-like lining inside to make me feel even more cosy.” Kate wore a custom square-neck Netta BenShabu A-line elite couture gown with an extra-long train for the ceremony, accessorised by an heirloom tiara and necklace worn by both Kate’s mother and grandmother on their wedding days. “I wore two Cartier bracelets gifted by Justin and creamy Valentino platforms. For the reception, I took off my veil and tiara and dropped the straps on my square neckline to create a fresh off-the-shoulder look,” adds Kate. After cutting the cake, the bride changed into a custom figure-hugging Reem Acra trumpet couture dress with a puddle train and a dazzling oversized crystal bow on the back. “Willis then threw my pony tail into a gorgeously spun bun and Katie added a bold winged eyeliner and a bright red lip to my look. I loved it. I pulled on my custom Kerry Parker ‘vow gloves’ and Sophia Webster butterfly shoes for our first dance. I later switched into sweet, custom ballet flats that read ‘I Do’ across the front of them for the after-party.” Justin looked dapper in a custom light grey morning suit with tops and tails! “This look was created especially for him by a European designer in Miami name Pepi Bertini – Pepi has since become a lifetime friend of ours!” shares Kate. “Justin’s groomsmen also wore grey suits but didn’t have tailcoats nor a top-hat – we wanted the groom to shine of course!” The groomsmen had black piping to tie in with the fathers’ black tuxedos whereas Justin’s had none. The groom also wore a shimmery white bow tie to match Kate’s glittering tulle gown and the other men all matched each other with sage-coloured bow ties. “Justin took such pride in piecing together his look and it really shows throughout our album and how he felt wearing them,” adds Kate. “When I first saw him, I was actually shocked at how hard he was crying! It made my legs shake and my heart melt. He looked even more handsome than he does on any regular day ‒ he was genuinely glowing. I felt extremely lucky and blessed in that moment. I was really excited to get down the aisle to him so he could lift up my veil and kiss me!” The flowergirls got to play princess for the day in couture wardrobes as well, with custom gowns made from The House of Doloris Petunia. They had sweet details, like sashes, embroidered linings and monogrammed buttons. TIME TO CELEBRATE “I would say entertainment was the largest aspect of our wedding, behind love of course!” shares Kate. “When Justin and I first sat down together to start discussing our wedding planning ideas, we each decided to choose one category to ‘blow the budget’ on. Justin chose catering and executed it brilliantly, creating a lifelong memory for everyone involved. I happened to choose entertainment and did the same! It has been my dream since a little girl to have an immersive and memorable feel to my wedding, unlike anyone else’s. We had performers from Black Rabbit Projects Ltd from the beginning of the week to the very end. We had them playing cricket with guests at our welcome party and dancers for our rehearsal rooftop party. For the wedding day we had so much fun going on! We were only allowed ballerinas for the ceremony, but they were not allowed to be photographed until outside of the chapel. In the gardens, there were body-painted naked statue men, women dressed up as large flowers, a magician, two live artists painting portraits, a string quartet in tulle gowns, canapés coming out in hot air balloons, a Pimms bicycle, a woman with a fruit basket on her head and more! We had performers hand out bus tickets to guests to board the double decker buses onward to the reception space. When they arrived at Banqueting House, there were tons of flowers, candles and performers 36
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=