Real JTBC Bride: Connie and her Sassi Holford Wedding Dress at Owlpen Manor

A Traditional English Wedding at Owlpen Manor

There is something incredibly romantic about a traditional English country wedding and this beautiful celebration for JTBC bride Connie at Owlpen Manor in the Cotswolds was exactly that.

With a timeless blue and white colour palette, beautiful toile details, blue and white china and soft, neutral florals, my bride Connie, created the traditional English wedding she had always dreamed of. And at the heart of the day was her stunning Sassi Holford wedding dress, she found at my studio, located in the heart of the Lake District.

From a nervous beginning to feeling “absolutely a million dollars” on her wedding day, this is the story of Connie finding her dress, enjoying every fitting and finally stepping into her dress on the morning of her wedding.

Read on to hear more about Connie’s JTBC dress journey and her wedding day – beautifully captured thought the lens of Rachel Friend Photography.

Finding the Dress at JTBC

For many brides, wedding dress shopping can feel both exciting and daunting. For Connie, there was an added layer of nerves after a previous dress shopping experience had made her apprehensive about trying dresses and speaking up about what she really wanted…

“I was nervous about wedding dress shopping – I had a bad experience at another boutique which made me nervous about getting changed and speaking up about what I really wanted!

My bridal appointment at JBTC, Julia was warm, welcoming and immediately puts me at ease. Julia has such an incredible eye for what suits each bride and takes the time to understand what you’re looking for, while also giving honest, thoughtful advice when you need it.”

Connie had already fallen for a particular dress she had seen from the Sassi Holford bridal collection and knew she needed to see and try it in person. At the time and luckily for Connie, JTBC was hosting it’s annual Sassi Holford Collection Trunk Show…

“I had seen the exact dress by Sassi Holford that I knew I needed to try it. Luckily, Julia was holding a Sassi Holford Trunk Show, so I knew I had to book an appointment at JTBC.”

Sometimes, you really do just know the style you want and the bridal appointment becomes about finding the dress that brings that vision to life.

The Moment Connie Found “The Dress”

There are some bridal appointments you never forget. For Connie, the moment she put on her Sassi Holford gown, everything fell into place…

“When I put on ‘the dress’ I just felt absolutely amazing. When I showed my Mum she cried and loved it just as much as I did. I tried on a few other dresses to be sure but none compared.”

And it her Mum’s reaction that ultimately confirmed what Connie already felt…

“I knew from the outset exactly the style of dress I wanted and when I put on the dress and showed my Mum, she was sobbing and loved it just as much as I did and thats when I knew!”

A Personal Bridal Shopping Experience.

At JTBC, my aim is always to make finding your wedding dress feel personal, relaxed and completely about you. Connie describes her experience as one where she felt supported without ever feeling pressured.

“Julia is warm, welcoming and immediately puts you at ease. She has such an incredible eye for what suits each bride and takes the time to understand what you’re looking for, while also giving honest, thoughtful advice when you need it. She never overstepped or interfered with ideas but if you have specific questions she can advise and she is always right!”

And once the dress had been chosen, the fittings were every bit as enjoyable…

“I LOVED the dress fittings and seeing everything come together.”

I absolutely couldn’t agree more. Your wedding dress fittings are such a special part of the journey – not simply a practical step before the wedding day, but another opportunity to put your wedding dress on, see everything coming together and enjoy those little moments of excitement before you finally wear it for real.

From Finding Her Dress To Wedding Day: Owlpen Manor, Cotswolds

After finding her dream dress here at JTBC, the next chapter for Connie was the wedding day itself.

Set at Owlpen Manor in the Cotswolds, the celebration had a distinctly traditional English feel. Blue and white details, toile, blue and white china and neutral flowers created an elegant, timeless look.

“My wedding took place at Owlpen Manor in the stunning Cotswolds. The theme was blue and white with loads of toile/blue and white china and neutral flowers. I wanted the whole thing to look like a big traditional old English wedding – like the film, ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’.”

The setting was the perfect backdrop for a classic bridal look, romantic, elegant and wonderfully timeless and complimented Connie’s dress perfectly.

Getting Ready with her Girls

Some of the most precious wedding memories happen before the ceremony even begins. For Connie, getting ready with her bridesmaids was a highlight of the day and she was so excited to finally put her wedding dress on!…

“I have the best memories of getting ready with my bridesmaids and remember being absolutely desperate to get into my dress. My mum helped me with it and we have some beautiful photos of me and my mum, before all the girls came in to see the dress for the first time.”

“I Felt, Absolutely a Million Dollars”

After being desperate to put her dress on since the early hours of the her wedding morning, the moment finally arrived for Connie…

“I was desperate to get it on from about 6am on the wedding day! Once it was on I felt absolutely a million dollars. I had so many compliments on the day and it was everything I ever dreamed it would be.”

And that is exactly how I want every bride to feel when she walks down the aisle. Not simply beautiful, but completely herself. Confident, comfortable and utterly excited to be wearing her wedding dress.

A Wedding Dress Journey to Remember

From feeling nervous about wedding dress shopping to finding her perfect dress, Connie’s experience at JTBC is a lovely reminder of how special the journey to finding your wedding dress can be. Her dress was exactly what she had been looking for, but the experience surrounding it became just as memorable…

Why Connie Recommends JTBC

For Connie, the experience went far beyond finding her wedding dress.

“Well, where do I start! I chose my Sassi Holford dress with Julia, and she was hands down the best wedding supplier we had throughout the entire wedding planning process.”

“From the moment you walk through the doors of her beautiful studio, Julia is warm, welcoming and immediately puts you at ease. She has such an incredible eye for what suits each bride and takes the time to understand what you’re looking for, while also giving honest, thoughtful advice when you need it.”

“Her collection of wedding dresses is absolutely beautiful, but it’s Julia herself who makes the experience so special. She is incredibly knowledgeable, patient and genuinely invested in helping you find the right dress. I never once felt pressured or rushed, and every appointment felt so personal and enjoyable.”

“I couldn’t recommend Julia highly enough. Finding my wedding dress was such a special part of the wedding planning process, and I feel so lucky that I got to experience it with her!”

A huge thank you to my beautiful bride, Connie, for sharing her heartfelt dress journey and wedding day words.

It was such a pleasure to share this journey with you, wishing you and Alex a lifetime of joy and happiness.

Ready to Find Your Wedding Dress?

If you’re looking for your perfect dress and want a bridal appointment where you can take your time, explore your options and feel completely at ease, I’d love to welcome you to JTBC.

Whether you already have your dream dress saved on Pinterest, you’re searching for a particular style, or you have absolutely no idea where to start, your bridal journey can begin here.

Book your bridal appointment at JTBC and let’s find the dress that makes you feel absolutely a million dollars!