A Dream Wedding in Southend Barns: Watters Wedding Dress brings Timeless Elegance
For our bride Rebecca, finding the perfect wedding dress was a journey of unexpected choices and sentimental nods to cherished memories. She walked down the aisle in the stunning Elynor dress by Watters—a minimalist, fitted gown that featured detachable sleeves, adding a touch of versatility and elegance. Though initially out of her comfort zone, this "wild card" dress perfectly captured her style and reflected her unique journey to the altar. Rebecca’s wedding day, held at the picturesque Southend Barns in West Sussex, was filled with sunshine, personal vows, emotional moments, and even some surprise encounters with alpacas. Here’s a closer look at how their special day unfolded.
Photo by Fox and Gazelle
The Proposal
Some love stories begin in the most unexpected places. For this couple, their journey started at work, where sparks quietly flew across departments. Ben worked in IT, while Rebecca was part of the Customer Support team. Despite their mutual interest, neither knew the other felt the same.
"I had to create more opportunities for us to spend time together," she laughs. "Let's just say the Customer Support department had a lot of technical issues for a while."
In February 2022, on the Rebecca’s 31st birthday, Ben planned a special getaway to Chichester, a place that would later become home. Having missed the chance to celebrate her 30th due to lockdown, she thought it was just a thoughtful birthday trip to make up for lost time. But Ben had an entirely different plan.
“The weather had been awful all week, but when we arrived, the skies cleared, and the sun came out,” she recalls. They took a stroll along West Wittering beach before dinner, where Ben surprised her by getting down on one knee. “I was so convinced he’d propose once we moved into our new home. He really got me!”
Photo by Fox and Gazelle
Photo by Fox and Gazelle
The Dress
Rebecca had discovered Watters wedding dresses and was looking for a stockist when she found Bridal Indulgence which was very close to her in-laws. “It is a beautiful shop, when I saw the pictures I just knew this was where I wanted to find my dress.”
Rebecca brought her sister, mum-in-law and sister-in-law to her appointment at Bridal Indulgence.
When it came to finding her wedding dress, Rebecca initially had a vision—an A-line gown with sleeves, something floral and flattering to her figure. However, inspiration struck in an unlikely place when she saw a beautiful fitted strapless gown on TV. Despite feeling it was out of her comfort zone, she decided to give fitted wedding dresses a try.
“I thought, why not try something different?” she explains. “The dress I ended up choosing was a wild card, nothing like the styles I had been showing my friends for years.”
Photo by Fox and Gazelle
Photo by Fox and Gazelle
Rebecca’s favourite part about wedding dress shopping was the moment she knew she had found ‘the one’.
“I loved trying on all the dresses of course but I was always worried about “what if I didn’t find the one” or “how will I know I found the one” so I found it a bit stressful. The moment I found the one, I could finally relax!”
The One ended up being the Elynor gown which has stunning detachable sleeves, reminiscent of flamenco dresses, which evoked cherished memories of family holidays in Spain.
“The sleeves were a nod to those holidays, and a little tribute to my mum, who’s no longer with us,” she says. “The moment I put them on, I just knew.”
“I never thought I’d suit this style of dress, let along feel beautiful and confident in it.”
Photo by Fox and Gazelle
The Wedding
The couple had always dreamed of a barn wedding and chose Southend Barns in West Sussex. While it’s common to visit multiple venues before deciding, they knew right away this was the one. After attending a wedding fair there, the decision was easy.
“We just said, if we don’t do it now, when will we? So, we booked it. Sometimes, you just know,” Rebecca said.
Their wedding day was nothing short of magical. Against all odds, the sun made a rare appearance on a day that had been forecast for rain. The bride walked down the aisle to the Jurassic Park Theme played by The Piano Guys, holding back tears before she even saw Ben.
“I was fine until the music started,” she recalls. “Then, the tears came, and I wasn’t the only one—Ben was crying too!”
The ceremony featured heartfelt personal vows, filled with nerves and excitement. Though the moment was a blur for the couple, the day had its lighter moments, too. Their confetti exit didn’t go quite as planned—her father-in-law accidentally stepped on her veil, pulling her back, and the wind blew it into a nearby milk canister. But what could have been a mishap became a fond memory captured in their photos.
Photo by Fox and Gazelle
Photo by Fox and Gazelle
One of the unique highlights of their wedding was meeting the resident alpacas during their sunset photo session. One particularly bold alpaca even developed an affection for the videographer, providing some of the most entertaining pictures of the day.
"The alpacas were a hit! We snuck away for some sunset shots, and they just made the whole experience even more fun," Rebecca said.
The evening continued with heartfelt speeches, filled with laughter and tears. The speeches were a defining moment for the couple, creating memories that would last a lifetime.
Photo by Fox and Gazelle
Advice for Brides-to-Be
When asked what advice she would give other brides, Rebecca emphasises being open to unexpected choices when it comes to picking a wedding dress.
“I had convinced myself that only an A-line dress would look good on me, but I tried something different, and it was the best decision I made,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to go for a ‘wild card’—you might surprise yourself!”
Photo by Fox and Gazelle
Wedding Team
Photographer/videographer: @fox_and_gazelle
Florist: @helleboreandrose
Hair and makeup artist: @evieloveseymakeup
Venue: Southend Barns