Bride in a cowl neck wedding dress walking with groom in a brown suit.

Cowl Back Wedding Dress

Photography by Kitty Wheeler Shaw Photography

A cowl back wedding dress, a cocktail hour, custom-scented candles, and an Italian menu. If that doesn't sound incredible to you, then you should take a look at these stunning images and you might be persuaded. Martha & Alex opted for a November wedding so they could have plenty of twinkling lights and a soft romantic atmosphere. Of course, we also have to mention the pretty flower installation in the reception room. Our jaws have hit the floor!

Gorgeous Bon Bride satin cowl back wedding dress

With the wedding being in London we had so many options with suppliers. There were some things I knew I wanted like a vintage photo automat that just a thorough Google search led me to find a company for. Otherwise, I’d love to say we found our suppliers in some really original ways but I found the vast majority through Instagram...

Martha & Alex

Groom turns to get his first look at the bride

Bride and groom share their first kiss as a married couple

Best men in grey suits smile at the groom who wears a brown suit and large flower buttonhole

Groom in a brown suit with loose unbuttoned shirt kisses the bride in a satin wedding dress holding a pink and yellow bouquet

Bride and groom face their wedding guests as husband and wife

Bride in an off the shoulder satin wedding dress smiles at the guests as she sits with the groom during their wedding ceremony

Orange and white order of the day sign leaning against a large mirror with the couples' personalised scented candle

Bride and groom look happy as they have their confetti exit from their city wedding

Mother of the bride walks the bride in an off the shoulder cowl back wedding dress down the aisle at Clapton Country Club

Bride wearing a pleated veil sits with the groom in a brown suit to sign the register

Bride holding a bouquet with anthuriums, orchids and roses leaves with the groom in a brown suit from the ceremony

Wedding guests throw white confetti over the happy couple

Bride in an off the shoulder satin cowl back wedding dress shares the first kiss with the groom in a brown suit

Wedding guests sit waiting for the ceremony to begin

Bride in a cowl back wedding dress smiles as the groom puts the wedding ring on her finger

Bride and groom smile widely and hold hands as they participate in their wedding ceremony at Clapton Country Club

Bride with a sleek bun wedding hair puts in her earrings on her wedding day

Cowl Back Wedding Dress

Nothing says party like a cowl back wedding dress! Or a sparkly dress change! The main thing Martha & Alex envisioned when planning their wedding was a big boozy party. After hours of beer, wine and fizz, they decided to do a cocktail hour for evening guests to get the party started. They had margaritas, espresso martinis and brambles in the most beautiful glassware. Martha & Alex often find the best dance floor moments at weddings are from when the DJs play. Based on this, the couple decided to only have a DJ and the dance floor was packed all night! The photo automat photo booth they hired captured chaotic mementoes of the party, which Martha & Alex love looking back at and seeing stuck on guests’ fridges when they go around their houses!

Food, Drink & Surprises

Martha & Alex chose to have a November wedding because they liked the idea of it being dark with soft twinkling light. Making the venue smell good was important, so in addition to flowers, the couple had personalised lime, basil and mandarin candles lit to add to the twinkly ambience. Some guests got to take candles home at the end of the night too! The couple both love Italian food and always cook pasta, so they designed their menu with pasta in mind. Alex isn’t that keen on cake, so they opted for a stack of brownies from their local bakery instead. One of the two best men organised a surprise with a big chest full of wine that friends and family added to with their favourite wine with a note about why they’d chosen it and when the couple should drink it. A great stash of wine to take into married life!

Groom in a brown suit with an unbuttoned shirt stands with the bride in a satin off the shoulder wedding dress holding a yellow, pink, and brown bouquet

Bride holding a bouquet with anthuriums, hydrangeas, orchids and roses for city wedding

Bride and groom smile brightly at their city wedding with a pink and brown colour palette

Wedding guests stand and applaud the bride and groom's entrance to the reception

Bride in a sparkly sequinned evening dress walking with the groom in a brown suit

Bridesmaids in black dresses and jumpsuits with flower girls in white and pink ribbon dresses standing next to the bride in a cowl back wedding dress

Bride in a cowl neck wedding dress looks back at the camera walking holding hands with the groom in a brown suit

Bride in an off the shoulder wedding dress walking with the groom in a brown suit for their city wedding holding a pink, yellow and brown bouquet

Bride laughing as the groom reads out his speech

Clapton Country Club wedding venue decorated with foliage and a large disco ball

Simple and minimal red and white wedding table plan

Orchid buttonhole with leaves worn by the groom in a brown suit

Bride in an off the shoulder long sleeve wedding dress enters the reception with the groom holding a pint

Personalised scented candle made for the wedding

Bride makes a speech as the groom covers his face and the best men raise their glasses

Mother of the bride reads out a speech as everyone listens

Bride and groom share a kiss as the groom reads out his speech at their wedding reception

Clapton Country Club wedding venue decorated with foliage, pink flowers and dried grass and a disco ball

Bride and groom pose together outside of their vintage photoautomat photo booth

Groom holds the bridal bouquet as they share a kiss on their wedding day in London

Pink and purple roses, anthuriums, gypsophila and leaves decorate the wedding lighting

Bridal party with bridesmaids in black dresses and jumpsuits holding matching bouquets with anthuriums

Groom in brown suit with unbuttoned shirt with the best men in grey suits and pink flower buttonholes

Bride with sleek hair in a bun in a cowl back wedding dress with the groom holding the bouquet in a brown suit

A sparkly dress change, cocktail hour and DJ are giving us all the party vibes!

If a tradition doesn’t feel like you as a couple, don’t bother with it. Focus on what you love and spend your money on that. For us, that was probably food, drinks, fashion and aesthetic details.

Martha & Alex

Loving Martha's cowl back wedding dress? So are we! If you're looking for your dream dress remember to check out our wedding dress guide for advice. A DJ is essential for a party wedding. If you're looking for one, head to our Recommended Suppliers for yours!