I was working as a fashion editor when I got engaged, so the dress was one of the first things I thought about. I knew I wanted lace because it’s romantic, feminine and very me. People are shocked at how much couture costs, but when you see how much work goes into it, it begins to make sense. I didn’t opt for couture because I wanted something showy, more because I wanted the craftsmanship and detailing. I wanted a dress made by a British designer and I chose Bruce as he stands out as having trained in the old-fashioned way. He can cut and sew, unlike some of the younger designers who can come up with a concept but don’t know how to put it together.

We talked about what I wanted and the style of my wedding, which was taking place in a church, with a reception at the Wallace Collection museum in Central London. From that conversation Bruce drew a sketch that became the basis for the dress. Over five months I had ten fittings, and the attention to detail was incredible. The lace was hand-embroidered in Paris to pick out each flower, and every crystal was applied by hand. When the veil arrived Bruce sent it back to Paris because he said it didn’t match the dress perfectly, so everything had to be unpicked before it was re-dyed. He even came to the wedding to make sure that the dress looked absolutely perfect before I walked down the aisle.

As a lover of fashion, the opportunity to work so closely with a British icon, on a dress that is unique, was special. I’d love to think that maybe a daughter or granddaughter will wear it one day, but there’s such a story behind it that I’ll always treasure it, even if it’s never worn again. In a way, my dress was also the inspiration for my bridal personal shopping company. Looking around many bridal shops, I often found the service quite pushy and for many brides it’s stressful. Buying your dress should be fun.