Gorgeous Lydia | A Halfpenny London Bride

REAL WEDDING

10 May

Halfpenny London separates and a bespoke beaded headpiece for a summer garden party wedding in the Cotswolds.

“I was 5 months post-partum (with my second baby in 18 months), with a body that I didn’t fully recognise or know how to dress. I immediately knew Halfpenny was what I needed when I saw girls with curves looking comfortable and glowing.”

— Lydia

Set amongst the rolling countryside of the Cotswolds, beautiful bride Lydia and her husband Aaron tied the knot in a black tie ceremony in July last year. Choosing the exclusive venue of Sezincote House, the couple welcomed their closest friends into the beautiful Indian-style manor for a Bridgerton inspired garden party.

After celebrating the birth of her second baby, Lydia was just five months post-partum when she began to search for her dream dress and she knew exactly where to start.

“I hadn’t even attempted to look,” Lydia said. “I was 5 months post-partum (with my second baby in 18 months), with a body that I didn’t fully recognise or know how to dress. I immediately knew Halfpenny was what I needed when I saw girls with curves looking comfortable and glowing.

My Mum and I always agree we make our best choices ‘power shopping’ and that’s what we did. We came in with a goal of choosing my outfit(s!), told Niamh that was the goal and she more than delivered!”

“I feel we don’t always see the stories of mothers trying to find their place in the bridal world and I loved that Halfpenny not only accommodated all bodies but really championed this. (I also really needed to be able to drive my dad’s double clutch 1948 Series 1 Landrover - the Halfpenny Bride really can do it all!)”

“The message of being a postpartum bride is an incredibly important part of my story. I immediately thought about being able to pick up my boys comfortably in my outfit, my body changing considerably throughout fittings and I stopped breast feeding a few weeks before my wedding. I feel we don’t always see the stories of mothers trying to find their place in the bridal world and I loved that Halfpenny not only accommodated all bodies but really championed this. (I also really needed to be able to drive my dad’s double clutch 1948 Series 1 Landrover - the Halfpenny Bride really can do it all!) Daily life at the moment is far from glamorous, so when I thought ‘bridal’ I wanted it to be polar opposite to how I dress every day. I wanted to feel regal, to really dress up for the black tie occasion and to feel like it honoured my body at the phase it was in.”

Lydia fell in love with the Okotan corset and Long Okotan skirt and wanted a dramatic skirt to pair with this beautiful look, finally settling on the hand-beaded details of the Silver skirt which complimented the Indian-inspired architecture of Sezincote House. Lydia perfectly curated each element of her bridal look before turning her attention to the accessories, working with us on a stunning, bespoke headpiece.

“I had an image of a bride in New Zealand with a lace capped headpiece, but knew Halfpenny didn’t quite have anything like it. As soon as Niamh connected me with the design team, my headpiece almost created itself with their imagination, combined with incredible skills and their ability to listen. The embroidered honeybees, sainfoin and borage were designed straight from images my parents had taken at their honey farm in the Cotswolds. The movement, colour and story that the team created was precisely what I’d envisioned, which for a perfectionist is exactly a dream come true! Right down to the single honeybee climbing up my veil to my ring finger, honouring a very special moment from my parent’s wedding.

The emotion that is embodied within every piece will last long beyond our special day. All this whilst embodying the Halfpenny spirit with detachable pieces that changed with my dress and can now be worn again.”

Lydia looked sensational and we’re so thrilled that she chose to wear Halfpenny London for her special day. We loved working with her on her dream wedding look and wish her and Aaron all the happiness in the world!

Love,

Kate & the Halfpennys xxx