Wedding story of FRANCESCA & FRASER

Step into the enchanting celebration of Francesca and Fraser, where old-school romance met the glamour of Las Vegas in the grand setting of Ashridge House. Continue reading to uncover the personal touches, unexpected revelations, and cinematic moments that transformed their celebration into a truly once-in-a-lifetime wedding.

What was the main idea of your wedding?

We wanted our wedding to be a huge party! Every aspect had to have a fun atmosphere, but also honing in on who we are as a couple and ensuring every part had a touch of ‘us’ in it.
Our theme was old school romance with a dash of Las Vegas. The dress code was black tie with a colour theme of dark tones to fit in with the personality of the venue. Fraser and I were both in white, and we asked our guests to go bold, wear something they wouldn’t get an opportunity to wear again.

Please tell us a little bit about your location for the wedding. Why did you and your husband choose it?

From the start, we knew we wanted our wedding to feel like a once-in-a-lifetime event, not just for us, but for our guests too. A grand venue was a must. Both my husband and I grew up in Hertfordshire, so we wanted to honor that by staying within the county.

Fraser found the venue — Ashridge House — the first and only one we looked at. With over 700 years of regal history, it instantly felt right. The moment we drove up the spectacular driveway, all we could say was “wow.” Before even stepping inside, we knew it was the one.

We had the entire venue for our celebrations, starting with a “something blue before we do” party in their Vault bar the night before. Each part of our wedding unfolded in a different room, leading our guests through breathtaking décor and fairytale grounds that exuded elegance and sophistication.

With over 180 rooms, no one had to worry about travel. On-site was also the most stunning chapel — when the sun streamed through the stained glass windows, we knew it was where we’d say our vows.

What was the most memorable moment of your wedding day?

We opted to have a champagne tower instead of a wedding cake. This was set at the top of the cantilevered staircase, which was the inspiration for the Harry Potter movies in the Main Hall of Ashridge House.

As all of our guests gathered at the bottom, with champagne in hand, Fraser and I stood at the top, looking down, embraced in a moment together, taking it all in. We had one of our favourite songs playing – Midnight City by M83, and we were announced as husband and wife, descending down the stairs hand in hand and being cheered on whilst we filled the tower with bottles of champagne. The song, the people, and the venue made this moment completely unforgettable; it honestly felt like a movie.

What made your wedding special?

There were so many personal touches throughout our day, our brother-in-law designed all the stationery, my mum arranged some of the floral arrangements, the speech from my dad, mum, best men, and Fraser were, and will always be my most cherished moments.

But the most special was what we had kept a little secret for an entire year. We eloped in Las Vegas, and I announced this to our guests during our wedding breakfast. Not only was it our wedding day, but also our 1-year anniversary. We had wax-sealed envelopes on the tables with the photos from our Vegas wedding. Seeing everyone's faces and having Viva Las Vegas play and fill the room right before our evening started was a moment that made the day so special for us.

Describe your wedding atmosphere in three words.

Romantic. Wondrous. Elegant.

We will be happy to hear about your experience with Milla Nova. Where and under what circumstances did you find the dress? Was it love at first sight? Tell us everything!

I knew I wanted a Milla Nova dress from the second I started looking. I found a store in Colchester that stocked the collections and booked an appointment straight away. I tried on so many different designs. I grew up modelling and competing in beauty pageants, so for me, I struggled to settle on a design as I feel like I have worn every dress before. I wanted my wedding dress to be set aside from all of that. The only thing I knew was that it was going to be a Milla Nova.

I was torn between two dresses and arranged to come back to view them both with a clear head. In between the appointments, Chapter: Bride collection dropped. I instantly emailed the dress shop to see if they were going to be stocking it, which they were. As I walked into my appointment the lady said “If you’re torn between two dresses, you know neither of them are the one” the honesty was like a breath of fresh air, but a slight panic came over me and as we walked through the dressing room, beside the door right in front of me was one of the new collection dresses, not my style or what I envisioned I would wear. But it was placed where I could not have noticed it. I had to try it. It was there for me. It picked me. I didn’t pick the dress. Right dress, right moment, right bride.

Which dress did you choose after all? How did you understand it was that one?

The dress that chose me was the Dmytra, and I also had the matching veil. The second I stepped foot into the dress and felt it on, I knew it was the one. There was a complete rush of emotion, and I can honestly say I have never worn something that made me feel that beautiful and felt like it was handcrafted just for me.