Colourful Alternative Wedding with a Dip Dye Wedding Dress

Oh hello! What loveliness I have to share with you today; the super cool, colourful alternative wedding of WWW followers Louise and Steve. YES!

They were hitched on the 17th October 2020 in The Lost Village of Dode in Kent, in what was a very magical ceremony. Their day was so vibrant, fun, intimate and relaxed, with just 12 guests in attendance. COVID-19 may have reduced their guest list from 70, however as Louise and Steve tell us they would really recommend having a small wedding. After seeing their first gorgeous wedding, I for one, cannot wait to see their second do!

I mean what’s not to love about a stunning orange dip dye wedding dress teamed with a sequin cape and boots? Louise looked incredible! Steve meanwhile was suited and booted in a blue suit with colour pop orange tie, I love the cheeky guest in his hat too. Then there were the magnificent flowers and the personal touches at the reception, very special indeed. I really can’t thank Hollie Carlin Photography enough for sharing these stunning images with us.

Colourful Alternative Wedding

The Proposal

Steve proposed to me on holiday in Mauritius. Niffler (from Fantastic Beasts) had been smuggled with the help of my parents to the hotel, and then was hidden in a bush at a National Park there by our tour guide. I found him hiding my engagement ring in his pouch. We got a round of applause from onlookers and both cried.

The Vision

We wanted a casual and “different” wedding day. We knew it had to be super colourful with amazing food and wanted it to be relaxed and not too big. We wanted to share our day with our closest friends and family.

Budget

Difficult to tell as we have ended up having two days – ceremony and dinner this year and our reception next year. Adding bits to this year added to the cost… around £30,000 altogether.

The Venue

We got married at The Lost Village of Dode, it was the only place we went to look at and booked our date on the first visit. It was perfect. Our reception was supposed to be at Greenhill Farm, but that has been postponed to next year. Instead we put a small marquee on the side of our conservatory and had a fantastic dinner at home with our 12 guests.

Your Outfits

I always knew I wanted a colourful wedding dress. I found Lucy Can’t Dance online and fell in love immediately. It was so difficult to choose a dress, so they ended up making me a bespoke mishmash of dresses with elements of my favourite styles. I found Despicable Daisy on Etsy and we designed my sequin cape together. It was warm, comfy and super shiny.

Steve’s outfit was from Walker Slater in London, he chose it because it was a good mix of smart and colourful and it was an outfit that he wouldn’t usually wear. He was told to buy an orange tie and didn’t know why!

The Ceremony & Music

We had a civil ceremony at Dode. I walked down the aisle to Dire Straits, I made sure we had some George Michael and The Darkness while we were signing the register and we left to King of the World by Weezer (a reference to my happy drive homes when we first met for my drum lessons!). We have a handfasting ceremony next year and will have our band and dancing at reception then too, featuring lots of 80’s music.

Why not check out our first dance song ideas or father daughter song inspiration too?

Your Photographer & Filmmaker

Hollie Carlin Photography did our photos. She is an absolute legend, spoke to us so much in the lead up to the day, was really flexible with the Covid situation and her hours and in the end it felt like one of my friends was doing our photos all day. She didn’t make us feel like we had to spend hours posing for photos and they’re exactly how we wanted them to be.

The Styling & Decor

Styling was quite short notice, as we only had 4 weeks to re-plan the day after the guest numbers were reduced again to 15. Our florist (Sue Davies) was amazing, she decorated our conservatory and marquee with garlands so the space felt special and not just like our house!

Home Gurr’own added colourful and cute little flowers to the tables from their small holding and put out our fluffy blankets (that were also our wedding favours). Our place settings were cacti in handmade (by me) planters that stabbed everybody periodically throughout dinner. They were also wedding favours. Home Gurr’own also used my Great Nans tea set for teas and coffees after dinner. I cannot recommend the Home Gurr’own guys enough, they were truly fantastic and the food was epic.

The cake was from Filo Vegan Cakery, adorned with orange décor.

Steve’s cousin came round at 8am on the day to hang hundreds of photos of Steve and I growing up and together that our mums and us had picked out. It was such a fantastic personal touch and everyone enjoyed chatting about them and having a nose. Plus fairy lights, everywhere.

The Honeymoon

Hopefully Fiji, when holidays are things again. We had a “minimoon” to The Dug Out in Hereford, which I would highly recommend.

Memorable Moments

Our surprise ski arch we walked through when we got home! And crying at my bouquet (because it was amazing). Steve’s “I’ve pulled a rabbit out of my hat here” gag inspired by his Dad.

Advice For Other Couples

I would really recommend having a small wedding. We had originally planned for around 70 guests in total, and ended up with 12. It was so personal. Don’t feel like you have to invite everyone you’ve ever met.

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Goodness me, what a glorious day.

Louise and Steve thank you ever so much for sharing your colourful alternative wedding story, I loved it all.