Imogen & Owen
Imogen and Owen’s outdoor wedding in Essex brought together a romantic setting with thoughtful, personal details.
Following the first chapter of Imogen’s bespoke dress journey, we’re delighted to share her wedding day. From a ceremony led by her sister to celebrations beneath a traditional pole marquee and an evening at their local pub in Ongar, this was a wedding with family and familiarity at its heart.
An Outdoor Wedding at the Family Home
Imogen and Owen chose the grounds of Owen’s family home in Essex for their outdoor wedding ceremony. With its garden setting and connection to the couple, the location gave the day a particularly personal atmosphere.
Imogen’s sister acted as celebrant, making family part of the ceremony itself. Surrounded by their loved ones, the couple exchanged vows in a place already woven into their lives.
The photographs capture the charm of a garden wedding: guests gathered outdoors, flowers bringing colour to the greenery and moments shared against the backdrop of the family home. There is a lovely sense of ease throughout, alongside the unmistakable occasion of a wedding day.
Colour, Flowers and a Garden Marquee
Vivid colour ran through the celebration. Orange and yellow flowers, fresh green foliage and richly coloured dresses brought warmth to the garden setting. Against this palette, Imogen’s ivory gown created a striking focal point.
A traditional pole marquee, with a sweeping peaked roof and wooden supports, provided a gathering space within the grounds. Open sides connected the celebrations to the garden, while bunting and colourful hanging decorations continued the cheerful atmosphere beneath the canopy.
The combination of outdoor space, relaxed seating and personal touches gave Imogen and Owen’s garden wedding its own character. Every detail belonged comfortably within the setting.
A ceremony with family at its heart
Imogen and Owen married outdoors in the grounds of Owen’s family home in Essex. Choosing somewhere with such a personal connection gave the celebration an intimacy that runs through the photographs.
Imogen’s sister acted as celebrant, bringing another family connection to the ceremony. Surrounded by their loved ones, the couple exchanged their vows in a setting that was already part of their lives.
The colour throughout the photographs adds to that sense of joy. Orange and yellow flowers, fresh greens and richly coloured dresses sit beautifully against the garden backdrop. Among them, the clean lines of Imogen’s gown feel especially striking.
A Bespoke Mikado Wedding Dress for Imogen
For her wedding dress, Imogen chose a full ballgown silhouette with a scoop neckline, statement puff sleeves and a defined waist. Created over twelve months at our West London atelier, the gown balanced sculptural volume with clean, considered lines.
Mikado gave the dress its structure and gentle lustre. The fabric held the shape of the sleeves and full skirt beautifully, allowing the silhouette to speak for itself.
Within the bodice, internal corsetry and carefully placed boning formed the foundation of the fit. Developed through the bespoke fitting process, this hidden structure supported the finished shape and the smooth line of the outer fabric.
At the back, a large detachable bow introduced a further sculptural detail above the sweeping train. A veil softened the outline, falling over the gown as Imogen joined Owen for their outdoor ceremony.
Seeing the finished dress in the garden, surrounded by colour and family, brought a new dimension to the design we had developed together.
Mikado, sculptural sleeves and a sweeping skirt
Imogen’s dress combined a scoop neckline, statement puff sleeves and a defined waist with the generous volume of a full ballgown skirt. The Mikado gave the silhouette its structure and gentle lustre, allowing the cut and proportions to remain the focus.
Inside the bodice, carefully developed corsetry and boning provided the foundation for the fit. These are the details that remain largely unseen in the wedding photographs, yet they are central to the finished dress: supporting the shape and giving the outer fabric its clean line.
At the back, a large detachable bow added a sculptural flourish above the sweeping train. In the ceremony photographs, the veil falls softly over the structured silhouette, bringing a delicate layer to the bold sleeves and full skirt.
From the garden to an evening in Ongar
The evening reception took place at the couple’s local pub in Ongar, Essex, continuing the celebration in another familiar setting.
There is something lovely about that combination: the occasion of a bespoke wedding gown, the intimacy of a family garden and the easy warmth of a local pub. Together, they made room for both the romance and the relaxed spirit of Imogen and Owen’s day.
A final reflection from the atelier
After twelve months of working together, receiving Imogen’s gallery was a particularly special moment. I had come to know the dress through sketches, calico fittings, fabric and the many small decisions that refined its shape. These photographs give it a different context, surrounded by the people and places it was created for.
Imogen, thank you for entrusting me with your wedding dress and for sharing these beautiful photographs. It was a pleasure to create your gown, and a joy to see you and Owen celebrating together.
For brides considering a bespoke wedding dress, our West London atelier offers a personal design journey, from the first conversation to the final fitting.
Photography: Jess Martin