Jamie and Megan Gilbride, a popular digital content creator and health coach, tied the knot on 9th July this year, with a gloriously sunny, summer garden wedding, hosted within the beautiful private grounds of a friend’s home.
After having to cancel their original, more extravagant/expensive plans due to the pandemic, the couple opted for a much more laid back vision with a loose festival vibe. They were keen to hire local suppliers whilst avoiding formal structure and tradition, incorporating more modern wedding day elements like street food vans, which served their guests delicious food all day long.
The bride had twelve bridesmaids and chose to wear the most sublime, sustainable silk wedding dress by London based designer, Andrea Hawkes. Photographs were taken by the wonderfully talented artist, Rosie Hardy. Enjoy!
Shoes, Veil & Accessories
I wore tbe Andrea Hawkes Meaghan Veil – a long, 90” length single tier, with floral lace applique. It felt like a Grecian dream on the day. My shoes were by Loeffler Randall and I wore a dried flower headband by Pretty Wild Bespoke.
I carried a Shrimps bag and wore a pair of earrings from Alighieri. My earrings are not currently available to buy, but I chose them because I felt they really complimented the simplistic design of my dress. Mixing gold and silver is my favourite and I loved the rougher, earthy textures of them against the softness of my dress.
My engagement ring was by my favourite jewellery designer, Alex Monroe. Jamie picked my engagement ring himself from Alex’s ‘One of a kind’ range. My band was a bespoke twist on their birch band diamond ring and Jamie’s chose their fossil band.
My wedding day scent was a combination of Sandalwood, Amber and Cardamom – my everyday perfume. I wanted to feel myself.
I have never really been the girl who dreams of her wedding day – but I do have a very confident relationship with my wardrobe. So when it came to choosing a wedding dress, although I hadn’t spent my childhood dreaming what my dress would look like, I had a very clear vision in my mind for what I’d love and feel comfortable in.
I had some lovely experiences trying on dresses with multiple designers, but I never got that ‘feeling’ and I think that was ultimately because what I wanted didn’t exist. When Andrea approached me about designing a dress together, the ‘a ha’ moment came – it felt like it was always meant to go this way.
I loved absolutely everything about my dress. But mostly it was that it was the most me thing I’d ever worn. I felt 100% comfortable, and didn’t need to give the dress a second thought the whole day, it worked with my body and that was our goal!
∂
They Met on Tinder
Jamie and I met on Tinder! I had been in a long term relationship in my late teens / early twenties and missed the start of online dating becoming the new way to meet people. I didn’t really feel comfortable with the premise of swiping on people’s profiles to determine whether they were a good fit for me, the whole thing made me feel a bit icky.
But at a girls night in, one of my best friends twisted my arm to set up a profile. ‘Even if it was just for the night!’ she said. I matched with Jamie that night, and deleted the app the next day, the rest is history as they say.
Jamie proposed during the first lockdown. He hadn’t planned to – but my Nan had recently been given a terminal diagnosis and Jamie knew how important she was to me. That if there was anyone I wanted to know I’d be getting married, it was her.
So he decided to go for it. It was incredibly special to be able to share that news and time with my Nan, and I’m so grateful Jamie gifted us that experience. We were due to be in Paris, the place we would always visit on our anniversary – but due to restrictions we were very much at home instead.
Jamie left a note on my pillow that morning, saying the Eurostar would be leaving for Paris shortly and that I should get ready and meet him downstairs. I opened the kitchen door to find our dining room dressed as Angelina’s, our favourite Parisian spot for breakfast. With a projector on the wall of photos from our previous trips to Paris. It was the loveliest, most intimate proposal – and although we couldn’t share it with people in person, it was the perfect time and place. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
We were engaged for just over 2 years before the wedding.
Evening & Dancing
Our first dance was Love Cats by The Cure – one of our favourite bands and songs.
Neither Jamie or I felt comfortable with anything too traditionally romantic, and we didn’t really want to dance on our own either – so we chose our favourite song that meant our guests could get on the dancefloor and start the party immediately. Since the wedding, we’ve both had lyrics from the song tattooed.
andreahawkes.co.uk
Credits & Thanks
Annabel View all Annabel’s articles
Annabel is the founder of Love My Dress. She has a passion for photography, walking, yoga, nature, and loves to support talented artists and creative businesses. In 2013, she became a published author. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters Eska and Leanora and menagerie of furry hounds. Annabel supports Philip in the running of the family flower farm at at Moonwind Flowers. She is also co-founder of What About Weddings.