Celebrating Lifelong Friendships: The Importance of Being There on Special Days

"Brooke you changed the dress to exactly how I wanted it, we are so grateful for everything you've done for us."

It's uncommon to see a bride on her special day after making adjustments to her dress.

For me, assisting my beautiful friend Justine was just that. She married her wonderful partner Amelia in the scenic Cotswolds, making it a genuine 'friendship affair'.

Justine's bridal look

Justine bought her Made with Love dress close to her hometown, but she and Amelia got married in our hometown of Gloucestershire at the beautiful Stone Barn, which meant I was the one to make sure Justine's dress was perfect for the big day.

Initially, her dress was purposely bought slightly oversized which did mean it was lacking bust support and too loose around the waist, which concealed Justine's beautiful figure. Additionally, it featured plain straps that didn't suit her style.

By raising the shoulders, taking in the waist, and crafting a custom angel sleeve from the fabric trimmed from the hem, the dress was transformed to better reflect her personality.

Bridal shoes

But we didn't stop there... Amelia was quite unsure about her desired look for their day. After discussing and exploring various styles, she decided on a jumpsuit from Reiss. We modified it by removing the exposed pockets and adjusting the bodice for a better fit. However, to my surprise, she changed her mind again for the big day!

Amelia completed her 2 piece suit with a gorgeous champagne silky blouse and pointed ivory heel. I'm so glad she went with this option, as it was undoubtedly more comfortable for her, and she looked fabulous!

Finishing touches for Amelia and Justine were creating bespoke ties and pocket squares for the dads and siblings to link them in with the bridesmaids sage colourway.

It was absolutely lovely to see the work put into their wedding come together on the big day... and was pleased to hear the jumpsuit was worn in the evening by Amelia for a cheeky outfit change!

Venue: Stone Barn

Alterations: By Brooke

Photographer: Darina Stoda

MUA: Angie Jones

Hair styling: Lauren Gosling