Our favourite sparkle queen, Winifred Rose, is back with a brand-new collection that brings all the bling!

We’ve featured Winifred Rose a few times on these pages because they keep dropping the most epic, sparkliest collections imaginable. If you’re a bride who wants to shimmer, shine and sparkle down the aisle or dance like a literal disco ball at your reception, then this is the brand for you.

Designer Rosie told us all about this latest drop. “For the new collection we really put the time into sourcing fabrics that were truly showstopping. The Glow sequin is unbelievably sparkly and makes an amazing fluttery noise when you move. We’ve also considered the needs of different body shapes, with more covered-up versions, flattering fits, and both long and short lengths.”

The collection feels bold but considered, and the pieces are thoughtfully designed to be comfortable as well as make brides feel like the very best version of themselves. This latest drop feels like a true reflection of the brand at its most confident.

“Our aim is to give brides a choice of pieces that can reflect their uniqueness, whilst still giving a nod to the traditional with some white, pearl and iridescent tones, and a few more clearly bridal fits,” Rosie says. “The silhouettes nod to classic eveningwear and old-world glamour, but the styling, cuts and fabrics feel modern and unique, designed for brides who want something timeless yet bold.” This new collection is priced from £65–£280, while custom work begins at £200

Shop now at winifredroseclothing.com and follow @winifredroseclothing on Instagram for seriously sparkly bridal inspo and sneak peeks.

Kyleigh and Bailey’s vintage inspired wedding only featured things they actually cared about: vintage fashion, emo music, tattoos, family history, and a venue with its own past. They didn’t have plus ones for guests, they didn’t follow the usual schedule, and almost everything was thrifted or DIY.

They married at Chandelier Ballroom in Hartford, Wisconsin, a space that once hosted gigs from everyone from Joan Jett and Motörhead to Chubby Checker and Rick Springfield. The building carried decades of music history, which made it the right setting for a wedding inspired by nostalgia and alternative culture in equal measure.

“Our theme was a mixture of us as a couple; vintage, eclectic, vampy, with a little bit of emo,” Kyleigh explained. “We wanted to tie together the 1950s era of weddings with our love for alternative aesthetics and music.”

Kyleigh wore a vintage 1950s A-line midi dress sourced from an antique store in Milwaukee, paired with her mother’s 1990s pearl crown veil and pearl choker. She also wore her late grandmother’s acrylic clip-on earrings from the 1960s and cotton gloves from the 1950s. The shorter hemline was intentional as she wanted to show off her tattoos. “They’re a huge part of my look and I wanted to be as much of myself as possible for our wedding day”, she explained.

Bailey complimented her with the same mix of eras for his outfit, which was also thrifted. He rocked an oversized 1980s pinstripe three-piece suit and a vintage bolo tie from the 1950s. Their guests were invited to wear thrifted and vintage looks to help create what Kyleigh described as “a time capsule” in the photographs.

The ceremony was handled by Bailey’s longtime friend Isaac, who kept things personal and funny rather than overly formal. Their grand march entrance was to For Whom the Bell Tolls by Metallica. They had originally planned to ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles into the ballroom, but the venue owners shut the idea down over concerns about preserving the floors.

Kyleigh and Bailey settled who would put the rings on first with a game of rock paper scissors. The rings were heirlooms – Bailey wore his father’s original wedding band from 1995, while Kyleigh’s engagement ring used Bailey’s mother’s original diamond, redesigned into a new piece.

There were also no public vows. Instead, they saved them for later and read them privately to each other in a gazebo outside after the ceremony. “We decided to read them to just each other post-ceremony,” they said. “We used a quaint little gazebo outside for a beautiful, intimate moment for just us two.”

For the reception, they skipped hiring a DJ and handled everything themselves using their own sound equipment. Bailey built a playlist of vintage classics, country music, hair metal, pop, and emo. In fact, almost every part of the wedding involved secondhand finds, family heirlooms, or DIY projects. Decorations came from thrift stores and dollar stores. Friends handled both the photography and the cake.

Planning the day taught them quickly that outside opinions are unavoidable. “We learned that people really like to give their own opinions on what they think you should do, but it’s best to go with your heart; do what you want! We wish people knew that there’s no perfect way to do a wedding. In today’s world, it can really be anything you want it to be. You can keep all traditions or none at all; as long as you two are happy, that’s truly all that matters!”

By a Colorado lake with mountain views, Lida and Joe had a self-solemnised wedding ceremony with just eight of their loved ones (and their two dogs!) as witnesses.

Self-solemnisation, or self-uniting marriage is legal in certain US states and allows couples to marry themselves without an officiant making it the perfect option for couples that want something truly personal for them alone.

Lida and Joe chose their date, August1st, as it was going to be a full moon and the ceremony included a sage smudging. They explain, “We always knew we didn’t want a traditional wedding. It was important that the day felt completely true to who we are. Lida had a clear vision from the start, centred around a dark, dramatic, and slightly ethereal atmosphere. She had always dreamed of wearing a black wedding dress, which became the foundation for the overall aesthetic. Being surrounded by nature was incredibly important to us, so we chose a mountain setting to ground everything in that raw beauty. The overall vibe was dark and ethereal, with a romantic and slightly otherworldly feel.”

“Even the weather aligned perfectly. A storm rolled in and gave us the most dramatic sky, which felt like it was meant to be. Joe complemented the look in a rich dark green suit, which tied everything together while still feeling unique. We also intentionally chose our date to fall on a full moon. It was important to us that the day carried that sense of energy and symbolism, like the universe was part of sealing our bond.”

One of their photographers, Kevin, actually led the ceremony and they closed it with a pagan handfasting ritual at the end to symbolically bind them together.

Every decision they made tracked back to the idea of having a day that felt honest, authentic and close to their loved ones who were there with them. “Our favourite part was how intimate the day felt. We have had so many friends say that their wedding day went by in a blur, and that they barely got to spend time with their partner. Our experience was the complete opposite. It was truly the best day of our lives and we wouldn’t change a thing.”

Mad Men, the mid-century modern aesthetics and Manchester were the main sources of inspiration for Amy and Graham’s wedding. They wanted a big party in the city that wasn’t stuffy or formal, and really reflected how they already spend their time together.

Ducie Street Warehouse was the perfect venue – in a great location and already decorated in a style they loved. Its mid century lines and open layout meant they could keep decoration minimal and focus on details they cared about like bright florals, vintage phones and Andy Warhol prints which came from their own home.

They had only 50 people at their ceremony, kept small because of the size of the space. The rest of their guests gathered nearby and joined immediately after. Amy’s sister walked her down the aisle. They left the ceremony to You Make My Dreams Come True and headed straight into the drinks reception where they had cocktails, canapés, an ice cream cart and games like corn hole and ping pong ready for people to play.

One of their highlights of the day was doing their portrait session with their photographer, Kelly Clarke. “Kelly was incredible and the one supplier we wouldn’t compromise on”, Amy said. “Her photos were exactly what we wanted, relaxed and non-traditional, and she made it feel like one of your best mates was shooting your wedding. She made us feel completely at ease.”

At one point they walked through the Northern Quarter. It was a bank holiday afternoon and everyone sitting in outside the pubs cheered as they went by. “It was a sunny Bank Holiday and the crowds erupted into cheers as we passed, such a perfect reminder of why we chose Manchester.”

They then headed back for their reception which featured small plates and a BBQ rather than a formal meal. Amy changed into a gold Nadine Merabi jumpsuit for the party.

Costs were managed through a mix of DIY and prioritisation. Flowers, décor and cake were all done by themselves or friends. “We saved so much on flowers, décor and the cake because we did them ourselves”, Amy explained. “We bought flowers from a wholesaler (approx. £300), vases from Primark and eBay, and made a large glitter heart using a cheap Amazon backdrop. The cake cost around £30 as it was a dummy that I iced myself. Although my dress was made to order, it was still much cheaper than a traditional wedding gown as it was essentially a party dress in ivory fabric (£390). We also saved a fortune of stationary as we used WhatsApp for save the date, invites and updates, we made the group admin only so people didn’t get bombarded with alerts, then switched it on the morning of the wedding so guests could share photos.”

Looking back, there are only small things they would skip, like the ice cream cart that only a few people used. The small ceremony room size was a bit of a challenge with the guest list too but everything else was totally aligned with what they set out to do.

“We may have hired a wedding planner”, Amy said when asked if there’s anything they’d have done differently. “It would have meant the lead-up feel more enjoyable and we weren’t overthinking everything. it also might have cut down the amount of admin we had to do ourselves. It all takes more planning than you think. Every 15-minute slot of our day was accounted for on a spreadsheet!”

Amy and Chelsea spent 16 years spending time in the same places in Atlanta without ever meeting, but in 2020 their paths finally crossed. They had both had turned toward spiritual practice and found their own connection to Reiki.

They explained, “As if cosmically initiated we both experienced individual relationships with Reiki that eventually pulled us together like soul-centred magnets. As we spent more time together, we both realised how aligned a life together felt. In a city bustling with the living, we found peace, ease and clarity spending time walking in Oakland Cemetery with the spirits, ancestors, animals and plants that reside there.”

This mutual love of spiritual practice informed their wedding massively, from the Shamanic officiant that let the ceremony, their choice of vendors and the cemetery location. “Our wedding ‘theme’ was Anam Cara, the ‘Soul Friend'”, they continued. “This ancient Celtic philosophy, serves as both the inspiration for this day and the foundation of our devotion. It is a sacred promise to move through the world not just as lovers, but as a spiritual team.

The couple got ready together at their hotel and did photos on the rooftop before heading to the cemetery together. The ceremony itself opened with a land acknowledgement, recognising Indigenous stewardship and inviting accountability. They also reworked the structure of the ceremony itself, walking in together and writing their vows as a team. “We included many spiritual practices within our ceremony. Many of these practices were born from Reiki and Shamanic traditions. These traditions are the guide posts for our lives and it was incredibly important for us to honour these traditions in our commitment to one another.”

The reception took place at Kimball House, a restaurant they had both spent years visiting so it was somewhere they already knew and loved. The invite list was intimate and friends were woven into the day in many practical ways. One friend handled the florals while another baked the cake using local tea blends. Their photographer was someone they’d met through part of their Reiki community. Their rings were made by another friend who is a jeweller. “We were gifted so much time with the people in our community whom we love so deeply.”

“Navigating the patriarchal, capitalistic, cultural conditioning that comes up in wedding was difficult”, they admitted, “The conditioning that is often attached to organised religion and peoples ideas around who you are allowed to love and what that love is supposed to look like. We did have some underlying nervousness about being a queer couple and navigating whether each place you go, from the venue, to the bridal boutique will accept your love for one another without judgement. However we were very lucky with our vendors, they were all amazing.”

“We want to shout out every single person who helped us co-create the magic that was our wedding day. We chose to build our wedding with the support of our local community and friends. We could not have done it without these relationships and we both find it deeply important to support small businesses when co-creating such an important day.”