I didn’t have a dream dress in mind when I was planning the wedding, and I wasn’t at all sure what style was for me, but I knew I didn’t want to feel too traditionally bridal or unlike myself. Heart Aflutter was the third shop I’d visited, and Cecilia quickly worked out what I wanted and pulled the perfect dress from the rails. Her judgement and taste are impeccable, and I immediately trusted her thoughts and feedback - she wasn’t just out to flatter me, which felt like a refreshing change, and one I really appreciated! She helped me work out the customisations I wanted, and the process was absolutely seamless and stress-free.

We were intent on having a wedding that truly reflected us and the 13 years we’d spent together so far. Rich and I had first met while working on a history TV series on the South Bank, and we knew early on that the National Theatre - just around the corner from where our office had been, and with breathtaking views of the river - was the venue for us. My floaty, floral Truvelle dress contrasted beautifully with the iconic brutalist architecture of the NT. It was light enough to move and dance easily, but also had the perfect hint of drama in its silhouette and the details of its fabric.

History was a theme running through our day, from the location to the stationery and our guest book: our history together, but also how our story is one of countless others that have played out on the banks of the Thames over the centuries. We were so excited to gather all our favourite people in this part of London that means so much to us, and to weave them into those histories too. Our wonderful humanist celebrant, Anna, crafted a ceremony that reflected this and so much more, and included a performance of ‘I Wanna Grow Old With You’ from The Wedding Singer by my brother (not a dry eye in the room!), and the ritual mixing of a cocktail designed for us by one of our best friends.

It’s such a cliché to say that your wedding is the best day of your life, or that it’s so full of joy that it passes by in a blur, but both of those things are absolutely true. For me, it was the people we shared it with and the story it told that made our day perfect. Feeling like the best version of myself, in the most beautiful dress I’ll ever wear, made it all the more special.