Lillian West Wedding Dress for Stylish Wedding with DIY Decor

Photography by Sharon Cudworth Photography

Being creatives, Abbie and Carnell designed the majority of their wedding themselves, (with the exception of Abbie’s stunning Lillian West dress). Ensuring each element of their wedding was relevant to them as a couple, they took inspiration from their hobbies, memories and even made origami swans as decoration - symbolising their first date at ‘The Swan’ pub! The bride and groom also decided to sit their guests with people they wouldn’t normally meet - encouraging everyone to mingle and chat! We love that each aspect of this wedding showcased the couples individual style and their relationship together. So, if you’re looking for a little inspiration when designing your own wedding, perhaps don’t look too far…

Beautiful flower girl with naturally curly hair

Bride getting ready on the wedding morning in a Lillian West wedding dress

Boho bride in lace Lillian West wedding dress with long sleeves

Groom in pink blazer and groomsmen in grey waistcoats and jackets

Stylish groom patterned waistcoat and pink blazer

Bride in Lillian West wedding dress outside the church

Church wedding ceremony bridal entrance in Lillian West wedding dress

Bride and groom exchanging vows at church wedding ceremony

Bride and groom standing at the altar holding hands

Bride with short hair and bridal crown laughing during the wedding ceremony

Groom in red blazer and bride in Lillian West wedding dress kissing at the altar

Stylish bride and groom kissing during the wedding ceremony

Bride and groom confetti exit with bride in lace Lillian West wedding dress

Stylish bride and groom confetti exit with bride in Lillian West wedding dress

Bride and groom portrait outside their wedding venue Abbots Hall, Suffolk

Bride in Lillian West wedding dress and groom in blazer

Bridal party portrait with bridesmaids in pink dresses

Deep pink and blush bridal party bouquets

What Made Our Day Unique
We made every element relevant to us as a couple, our hobbies, memories etc. We made origami swans for decorations made from vintage music sheets, these symbolised our first date that was in a pub called the swan and Carnell’s career and passion as a musician. Our cake toppers included a pair of trainers as Carnell is a collector and a mini singer sewing machine as Abbie is a fashion designer. This was also reflected in our stationery that we handmade incorporating vintage fabrics. All of our decorations were either handmade by us or sourced from charity/vintage shops to reflect our love for vintage and re-purposing.
Abbie & Carnell

Lillian West

Abbie’s stunning dress features beautiful lace embroidery throughout, giving us all those romantic, boho chic vibes. The lace illusion back provides a stunning silhouette, leading down to the scalloped edged wedding train (have you seen that detailing!?) We also love the illusion sweetheart neckline, providing you with that extra coverage you may want. Abbie’s dress exudes her own personal style, and is perfectly finished by her choice of accessories and colourful bouquet (that matches the grooms blazer!)

Inspiration & Styling
Our main aim was to have a happy relaxed atmosphere and nothing too forced. We also felt it was really important that our guests were relaxed, had plenty of food and drink and were happy! We sat everyone with others they wouldn't normally meet, to encourage everyone to mingle and chat with each other. This was also the case with our styling, we stayed away from anything too polished and went for a vintage eclectic, yet informal style that reflected our personalities.
Abbie & Carnell

Bride and groom walking through the fields

Stylish bride and groom portrait kissing in the fields

Stylish bride and groom portrait by Sharon Cudworth Photography

Sharon Cudworth Photography bride and groom portrait

Bride in Lillian West wedding dress with illusion neckline and long sleeves

Groom in a velvet blazer kissing his bride in a lace Lillian West wedding dress

Stylish groom in red blazer and silk shawl kissing his bride

Bride in Lillian West wedding dress and groom in pink blazer next to a steam engine

Bride in backless Lillian West wedding dress

Stylish bride and groom sitting on a bench together with bride in Lillian West wedding dress

Bride with short hair wearing a gold headdress

Intimate wedding photography by Sharon Cudworth Photography

Bride in long sleeved Lillian West wedding dress

Bride and groom first dance in a festoon lit barn with bride in Lillian West wedding dress

Fun wedding party portrait with bride in Lillian West wedding dress

DIY table centrepiece with stacked books, doilies and wild flowers in vintage tin

Bride and groom entering their marquee wedding reception

Groom giving a wedding speech with fabric bunting backdrop

Fun bridal party portrait with bridesmaids in pink dresses and bride in Lillian West dress

Bar with wooden crates and light up letters

Planning & Advice
When planning your budget, think about the things that you're willing to spend more on and spend less on. For us, we were willing to pay more for a premium photographer for example, as we felt our photos are the one thing we'll have forever. This was similar when it came to our flowers, we knew these would make a big impact on the aesthetic of the day and therefore the photos. Lastly, no matter how much you plan, things on the day may not go 100% to plan, don't stress it! You'll be so wrapped up in your day the smaller details won’t really matter!
Abbie & Carnell

Just as Abbie and Carnell advice, it's so important to prioritise your budget. If you need a little help to get you started, look no further than our How To Allocate Your Wedding Budget article. And, if the thought of things going wrong fills you with fear, listen to our Plan B podcast to ensure you're prepared. Global pandemics aside!