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Real wedding: a sparkling winter celebration at Stoke Place with an Ian Stuart dress

Gabrielle and Carl lit up their venue the week before Christmas with sequins, tea lights, a gilded cake - and a surprise 'celebrity' guest!

Launch Gallery
“Perfect winter wonderfulness”: that’s how Gabrielle and Carl describe their detail-filled day at stunning country house Stoke Place, Buckinghamshire. The couple used sequins and seasonal blooms to create a look that was seriously sparkling but still sophisticated. Ready to dive into the prettiness? Follow us… Photography | Hannah McClune
First things first: let’s talk about Gabrielle’s gorgeous Ian Stuart dress. She chose a romantic, glamorous ballgown with a soft tulle overlay decorated in intricate hand-beaded lace.  Gabrielle had actually already bought a dress before she found this little beauty. “I had a niggling feeling that something else would be out there, so I kept looking,” she says. “When I put this one on I didn’t want to take it off.”
Check out the delicate detailing on the dress – just beautiful.
The finishing touches? A short Ian Stuart veil, and earrings and bracelet from Olivier Laudus.
Ta-dah! The finished look
Ta-dah! The finished look –
From the back
From the back –
Gabrielle’s lucky bridesmaids got to wear these fabulous frocks from JS Collections at House of Fraser. “We searched for ages to find sparkly, metallic dresses,” says Gabrielle. “These looked fantastic on.”
As the weather was cold and crisp, the bridesmaids snuggled up in chic boleros from John Lewis.
Carl wore a stylish three-piece tailored suit from Gieves and Hawkes. His trusty groomsmen matched him in suits hired from Young’s at Debenhams.
Right, that’s the outfits sorted, now for the celebration! Gabrielle and Carl’s wedding day began with a church ceremony. “We were very fortunate – as it was the last Sunday of Advent, the church was already decorated,” says Gabrielle.
Carl’s wedding highlight? “Seeing Gabrielle for the first time walking down the aisle.” His bride, however, was trying not to look up, as she was afraid she would cry.
The newlyweds. Aw.
The newlyweds. Aw. –
The couple’s theme was elegant with a touch of glamour – and the stationery certainly met that brief. “All our stationery co-ordinated and featured silver snowflakes on ribbon with touches of peals and diamantes,” says Gabrielle. Stationery | Orchards Cards
At Y&YW we love a bit of sparkle, and this mix of silver and champagne gold is right up our street. “As it was Christmas week, I wanted to use as many sequins and sparkles as I could, but ensure the look was still sophisticated,” explains Gabrielle. Pro tip: metallics are a great choice for a colour palette as they’re easy to mix and match. The amazing sequin tablecloths are from Amie Bone Flowers.
Florist Seventh Heaven kept the blooms chic and simple, to balance the sparkle. Arrangements included roses and hydrangea – ideal seasonal flowers for winter weddings – in sundae dishes. Fresh foliage contrasted with the white flowers and gave a light, modern edge to the look.
Check out those tables! As well as those sequinned table cloths, there were mirrored plates under the centrepieces, tea lights and silver charger plates. Now that’s how you nail a winter-but-not-too-Christmas look.
The florist also created an eye-catching centrepiece using twisted beech willow and glass baubles containing different flowers. This looked luscious on the card table
A closer look at those adorable floral baubles.
With tier flavours including chocolate, lemon and fruit, some stunning silver leaf finishing and a chocolate bauble on top, the cake was a real showstopper. Cake | The Cake Fairy
Keeping guests “warm, comfortable and well looked after” was a priority for this couple, so they laid on a selection of treats, from a magician and DJ to a photo booth, sweet table and popcorn machine. Magician | The Deceptionist DJ | Mighty Fine Entertainment Photo booth | Booth in a Box from Pudding Bridge
Carl wanted a fast first dance; Gabrielle wanted to go slow. They compromised with mid-tempo Feeling Good by Michael Bublé.
Hang on, is that Keith Lemon?
Hang on, is that Keith Lemon? – This is genius: as a surprise for her groom, Gabrielle hired an impersonator to turn up dressed as Keith Lemon. We’re currently trying to imagine the expression on Carl’s face. Impersonator | Dean Taylor
Gabrielle's advice
Gabrielle’s advice – Having been there and done that, Gabrielle has some wise words for future brides. “Try to plan ahead as much as possible, as it can be a nightmare trying to find things in the last few months. Try buying some things online instead of hiring – often you can find things cheaper. Set aside a night or two every week to talk about the wedding and make decisions together.” Congratulations, Gabrielle and Carl, we wish you every happiness!
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