Victoria and Arthur's Tower of London Wedding

WEDDING DATE: December 2nd 2023

CAPTURED BY Nic Ford

Victoria WEARS THE Penelope Corset, Sadie Skirt and Stevie Coat

TELL US ABOUT YOUR SPECIAL DAY…

We were married at The Tower of London in The Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, which was very special. It’s a beautiful and intimate chapel within The Town of London. My husband Arthur’s ancestor, the 4th Earl of Kilmarnock was one of the last people beheaded on Tower Hill in 1746 and is buried within the Chapel alongside Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey, so we were kindly granted permission by the Tower of London and Royal Chapel to be married here.

Our guests were then driven in old London buses to an abandoned church in London’s Mile End, where we built the dance floor in the old altar and had over 1,000 candles light up the room.

We found this venue as an old school friend who is now the most incredible and talented artist CJ Hendry renovated this Church to host her exhibition “Epilogue”.

It was a winter wedding (and ended up being -4°C on the day) so we kept everything quite refined, classic and monochromatic, with lots of lots of candles and warm lighting.

We wanted the reception to feel like a long and relaxed dinner party with friends, followed by an epic dance floor.

My husband and I own a company called Brand Stamp that make branded products, so when you looked closer at everything from the ribbons and napkins, to the waiters aprons and the ushers pocket squares, everything was subtly customised with our initials. We also made monogrammed silk scrunchies for the ladies and gave out vintage style sunglasses for dancing (as I always wear sunglasses).

I also made sure to have lots of Aussie touches, starting with the reception venue’s entrance pillars being covered in an array of eucalyptus. We also shipped in Aussie chocolates and lollies and had jars filled with them on the bar. Arthurs evening shoes also had the Australian flag embroidered on one foot too.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR Proposal Story…

Arthur proposed on a morning walk in Cornwall by the beach. We go for a walk every morning so this was very special and as an Aussie he knows how much I love the beach. He planned to propose in Australia, until my parent’s sprung a last minute trip to England on us, so an English beach in winter was his next best option.

How did you choose your PJB Look?

I booked an appointment at Sphere Bridal in Maroochydore when I was a back for a trip last March and immediately gravitated towards all of the Prea James Bridal pieces.

The first items I tried on, ended up becoming my wedding outfit. A few months later I realised that I had actually saved a photo of the skirt and corset months earlier.

In fact, it was the first photo I ever saved when I began my wedding dress hunt.

What did you love most about your gown?

I loved that it was three beautiful pieces and I could really make it my own. I am not really a dress girl, so this was the perfect option. I also loved that it was quite classic but had modern elements and felt very unique.

The organza jacket also made it feel appropriate for the winter weather and also for getting married in a very formal and traditional Chapel.

I wore the corset the whole day and night, however I changed my skirt three times and created three different looks for the ceremony, dinner and dancing. This was so much fun and something I wholeheartedly recommend. I was worried about my main skirt being damaged in the evening, so my fairy godmother helped make me to create the two other ones.

I love that whilst I had three looks, they were all tired together through my corset and I still kept a piece of my actual wedding outfit on for the full wedding day.

tell us how you styled your gown…

I was very kindly given or lent incredibly thoughtful and sentimental items to wear on the wedding day.

My mother-in-law gave me the bracelet she had been given by her father for her wedding, and on the morning of my wedding my Dad also gave me a ring that had belonged to my Grandmother and was given to her on her 40th wedding anniversary.

I borrowed my Mum’s veil and she had it embroidered with her and my Dad’s initials and wedding date and then mine and Arthur’s, which was a surprise for both my Dad and Arthur. My sister is getting married later this year, so she will also do the same for her.

Are there any other wedding details you would like to share?

Alongside all the branded products we made through our business, we also made mini hip flasks for our wedding guests to enjoy on the bus journey between venues and decided to fill them with Sloe Gin. We left the task of filling up the flasks until the last minute and because I was so busy, Arthur had to fill each tiny flask, with a tiny pourer. It almost broke him, but the guests loved it, so it was definitely worth it.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR BRIDES TO BE?

I was very fortunate to have a very helpful husband who was much better at planning a wedding than me. I was good at making mood boards and not much else but if I was to share any advice it would be the following.

1. Find vendors whose work you love, give them a very clear brief and then just trust them and leave them to it. They are the experts and are much better at their job than any of us, so trust their advice and guidance and try not to micromanage.

2. Do a few things really well, rather than doing everything averagely. By this I mean pick the things throughout the day that are most important and focus on these elements. For us this was the food, wine, lighting and a really fun and debaucherous dance floor.

3. Most importantly, on your wedding day remember that you are the special guest and not the host. You are not hosting anyone, you are enjoying and celebrating.

Wedding Vendors

Photographer: Nic Ford // Videographer: Louis Emoto // Hair & Makeup: Cassandra Lusi // Wedding Co-ordinator: Rhiannon at Revelry // Florist: The Flower Stand Chelsea // Stationery: Brand Stamp // Cake: Cutter & Squidge /// Caterer: Kitchen 94 // Accessories (Veil/headpiece/jewellery); Veil - my Mums, Shoes - Scarosso Cinderella Heels, Necklace - Humphrey Butler // Bridesmaids Dresses: My sister wore a dress from Rachel Gilbert. // Groom & Groomsmen’s Suits: My husband wore a suit from Cad & The Dandy //. Band/DJ: Fred CC