Planning an English wedding
17 Feb
Written by: Wan Sim (just married TWG reader!)
Wan Sim is just one of many Malaysians who having lived overseas, suddenly find themselves with two weddings to plan. One wedding back home for the family & friends, and another in their current location. Wan Sim was recently featured in Andy Lim’s post as he shot the couple’s pre-wedding pictures in Langkawi. She loved TWG so much (I think!:), that she very kindly sent in some articles. So for all the ladies who are planning both a wedding overseas and here in M’sia – this is a great read for you! Do check out Wan Sim’s very own LWB at the end of the article!
In the beginning
It all began when we got engaged in April of 2008, while we were crossing the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Southampton on the RMS QE2. I could have never guessed that as the ship began to sail off from the port of Manhattan, it was actually the beginning of a lifelong journey for both my husband and I. Three months later, we took our parents for a weekend cruise to Bruges and gave them a surprise by announcing our engagement onboard. Boy, did their jaws drop as they screamed with joy! It was yet another wonderful celebration sur la mer.
Courtesy of Steve Shipman Photography
The guestlist
65 of our very close family and friends in the UK and from all around world. We had guests coming from France, Italy, Czech Republic, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and Malaysia.
The Venue
It was like love at first sight. When we drove up the driveway of Rowton Castle, we were stunned.
Courtesy of Steve Shipman Photography
The Bridal gown
A British handmade, Italian silk taffeta ivory dress with French Chantilly lace bolero. After three months and fifty dresses, I came to realise that it was impossible to find a dress that could suit two very different venues, ceremonies, climates and countries. It was not until my third visit to Suzanne Neville Couture that I decided to have a bespoke dress made. My bridal style was classic and timeless with a hint of contemporary twist. I wanted a structured dress that had a modern front silhouette with a dramatic back view. It may sound simple, but infact it was a very complicated couture piece. I recalled vividly the very moment Suzanne showed me her finished sketch; I was almost in tears and hugged her. I loved it. It was the Dress. My Dress.
Courtesy of Andy Lim Photography
The Bridal shoes
I love shoes. I was skipping to Jimmy Choo Couture with my bridal style folder once I had my dress details sorted. It was so much fun when choosing my own material, heel height and shape, the shoe structure and style for my shoes. All very crucial decisions as it reflected my personal style. I think comfort is Jimmy’s thing and true to his belief, I have never worn such comfortable high heel shoes in my life! I could have done some sprinting in them! Jimmy and his team are ever so friendly. When one of my bridesmaids Elsie came with me to one of my fittings, Jimmy asked if she could sing her hottest new single for him, the ‘T-Shirt’ song with his name in it (Elsie looks a bit like the singer Shontelle)! We both burst into laughter. He has such wonderful sense of humour.
The Groom & groomsmen
Chris and the best man, ushers and the fathers wore the traditional English morning suit in classic black jacket and pinstripe trousers. The Groom wore an ivory satin waistcoat with chocolate brown cravat and hanky, with silver cufflinks and Black Baccara rose buttonhole. His men wore dusky pink cravat, hanky and cufflinks with Sweet Avalanche roses as buttonholes.
Courtesy of Steve Shipman Photography
The Bridesmaids
And for my five bridesmaids, they all wore chocolate brown satins shoes to match with their dusky pink cocktail dresses tied with satin/organza brown sashes and diamante broaches. All the girls wore Black Baccara rose wrist corsages instead of having flower posies.
Courtesy of Steve Shipman Photography
The Details & Decorations
It was hard work assembling all the little personal touches for the wedding. The reception room was filled with my favourite Penhaligon’s Lily of the Valley scented candles. The aroma was just gorgeous. For flowers, I chose Dutch Avalanches roses with the bold coloured Black Baccara roses as my wedding flowers. I bought various types of Laura Ashley lanterns and glass lamps to scatter around my ceremony room, just to get that homely quintessential English feel that I like. My favourite deco of all — was the heart shaped symbol that I created by using two hanging birdcages stuffed with some Laura Ashley scented paper roses. They looked rustic and beautiful. To add some oriental touch to our venue, our family friend from Hong Kong sent us an embroidered Chinese cloth with our names and UK wedding date on it. For the Chinese, it was used traditionally as a ‘guest book’, and so we did!
Courtesy of Steve Shipman Photography
Wedding Cake
Our beautiful wedding cake was made by Chris’s mother, who six months prior to the wedding had already started making the traditional fruit cake, sugar craft flowers and trimmings. It was absolutely delicious. Traditionally, the top tier cake is saved for either your first anniversary or for the christening of your first born. Since we have two tiers of cakes left, we can have one for our first anniversary and another for our first-born! Bellissimo!
Courtesy of Steve Shipman Photography
The First Dance
We chose to do an Argentine Tango, with one of our favourite songs Por Una Carbeza. Five weeks before our wedding, we decided to sign up for some private dance lessons in London. Our teacher choreographed our first dance and it involved a lot of hard work! Sometimes I wondered if they realised that we were absolute beginners and not professional ballroom dancers like themselves! They were suggesting some moves like up-in-the-air-twirling and technical lifts. I was too nervous to try them since I would be the one up in the air!! But the lessons were an enjoyable experience; it was like a timeout from our wedding ‘chaos’. We practiced for many, many hours – but it was all worth it in the end. Everybody was so amazed and surprised especially Chris’s parents, who have done ballroom dancing all their lives and did not have the slightest clue about our secret dance lessons!
The Best Moment of Our day
It is definitely when we exchanged our vows. The minute when we said our lifelong promises to each other we knew this was the moment that we have been waiting for. We were nervous, but we were ready to be joined in matrimony. I could not plainly explain it as it was just this very joyful, contented and blissful feeling that we felt when we both spoke. Our personal vows were the main storyline for our UK wedding clip, if you would like to catch a glimpse of it, click here.
That was Our day.
oh so pretty! a wedding in england must feel so traditional… the castle looks wonderful – didn’t madonna get married in a castle too?
Gorgeous photos!
I’m also having two weddings one in the UK and one back home in Penang. Organising two weddings is such a nightmare but your wedding looks so beautiful it has really inspired me. I’m still looking for the perfect dress so will check out Suzanne Neville. Loved your video by the way :) You guys make such a great couple, is your husband malaysian too?
Thanks so much for posting this article!
Hi Denise, yes, we wanted a traditional wedding! :) The castle was wonderful, and we had it all to ourselves, so it was very nice and cosy with just family and friends.
Joanne,
Thank you for your kind words! Congratulations on your engagement! I’m glad that our wedding inspired you a bit! :) It is a lot of hard work!! My husband is a Brit, hence having a formal ceremony in England. Is your fiance a Brit too?
You can get Suzanne Neville’s made to measure dresses in most wedding shop (In Europe,made to measure is standard sizing cuts then inhouse alterations to your size). If you want couture, a toile made (your exact size), I would suggest you to go to her Knightsbridge showroom, that’s if you live around London. Suzanne does all the toile fitting herself. You’ll be so amazed! You do have to pay a little bit more for Knightsbridge dresses though. Suzanne is very nice and her PA Katherine as well. You should also check out Bruce Oldfield, just next to Suzanne’s. He only just launched his bridal collection this year.
Hope this help. Good luck!
Thanks Wan Sim for the info …..too bad we already booked a venue otherwise Rowton Castle looks super nice!!
By the way I forgot to mention that your dress is absolutely beautiful! Unfortunately I live up in Manchester so theres probably not as much choice as in London. I guess the good thing about having 2 weddings is I get to wear my dress twice :_)
My fiancee is actually a malaysian too but we want to have a ceremony here for all our friends and family here. My sister thought your husband looks a bit malaysian but now that you mention it he looks and sounds pretty english to me! Just watched your video again…..really nice! My fiancee wasn’t keen on getting a videographer but after watching yours he changed his mind so I think I will contact Mintyslippers once I’ve got my dress sorted.
Joanne,
Thank you so much for your compliments on my dress!!! It was a sad day for me when I sent it to the dry cleaners. You are absolutely right!! Wearing it twice is such a bonus. Suzanne has just opened a showroom in Cheshire, closer to you. I’m sure the ladies will be very helpful. :)
Very happy to hear that you like our video!! :)) Do contact them soon if your wedding is around the peak time (spring/summer).
I have to say Wan Sim’s dress was gorgeous.
So many people loved your video.
Love, Danny & Julie
Great post! Makes me want to get married all over again :p
Your vows are so touching and heartfelt I didn’t even know you can write your own.Loved the video by the way…its like some hollywood trailer unlike the usual videos I see!
Hey guys,
Great to see everyone commenting! It was very kind of Wan Sim to share her story and tips with TWG and the readers! She’s got two more posts coming out soon as well.
Danny – Thank you so much for mentioning us in your newsletter. And well done with the video!!
Cynthia – Yes, Mad did get married in a castle but it was in Scotland :)
Cynthia, I don’t think the churches in UK will allow personalised vows, probably need to check it out. Same for certain county registras (I attended a wedding where photography wasn’t even permitted during the ceremony!). Our registrars were really nice and helpful, so we were lucky!! :)