Over the weekend, actress Eleanor Tomlinson and rugby player Will Owen tied the knot, making things official at Euridge Manor in Chippenham, where the bride wore a beautiful white gown by Pronovias – which happened to be the very first dress she tried on.
We caught up with Tomlinson right after her big day to find out all the details of her breathtaking bridal look, from the sparkling De Beers diamonds to her dewy, glowy make-up and of course her enormous train, which took up so much space on the ride to the alter that her dad couldn't fit in the back of the car with her.
Choosing something that was a world away from the slinky, sleek dress or the Grace Kelly-inspired design that she thought she would be drawn to, here's how Tomlinson decided on the most important gown of her life.
How did you choose your wedding dress?
I think every bride-to-be has an idea of the kind of wedding dress they want but it’s amazing how that changes once you actually try one on for the first time. Having played a bride in Love Wedding Repeat, there was a style of dress I felt I had already worn, which thankfully ruled out quite a few options.
I went to Pronovias on Bond Street with my brother Ross and my two best friends, Victoria and Bex, and – the first dress I tried on was the one. I looked at my brother and he burst into tears and I just knew, I’d found my dream dress and then some.
The Pronovias team were sensational from the start and they made me feel like a million dollars. So it wasn’t really that difficult. I still tried on pretty much every other dress in the shop – because why not? – but I knew nothing could beat the dress I’d already found.
Did any famous brides inspire your look?
I’ve always been obsessed with Grace Kelly’s wedding dress, even as a little girl. Saying that, when you find your own dress, all the ideas start flooding in and you build your own picture of how you want to look.
I then called my friends for their advice and together we came up with this look that I just seemed to know in my core would work. I didn’t keep the wedding dress a secret from my girlfriends. I wanted them to be included and involved in the excitement. After all, it’s your friends that make you feel beautiful.
Did the rest of the wedding plans inspire your dress choice?
The venue and the details play a huge part in finding the right dress. You create an image in your mind for the whole day and it all falls in to place like magic. I knew I wanted to get married at Euridge Manor in Chippenham – it is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to. Once I’d seen the aisle, the setting, the different areas in which moments of our big day would be playing out, I was able to envision the dress in the surroundings.
My brother’s fiancé Alex was our wedding planner and we wouldn’t have had the slightest clue where to even begin with any of it without him. Top tip for any bride-to-be, get a wedding planner! Second tip – get Alex! He was incredible – he even led the ceremony as I wanted it to be a friend, someone I love, standing up there with Will and I.
Did anything surprise you about the choice of dress?
Dress wise, I had thought I would go for something slinky and sleek but as I’ve said, when you’ve decided on your venue and you try on different dresses, I found that the dresses I thought I would have loved, were not right at all.
Instead, I had the most stunning dress with the most outrageous train. There wasn’t even room for my Dad to sit next to me in the car – he had to sit in the front! I have never felt so confident though. So happy. So loved. And so ready to walk down that aisle.
How did you decide on your accessories?
Finding jewellery was the thing I was most worried about. I wanted something simplistic, but beautiful. Something that would make me feel elegant but at the same time not detract from the dress.
I went in to see De Beers and shared my look and ideas with them and they were so unbelievably kind and helpful. I tried on their Snow Dance collection and immediately just fell in love and felt like a queen. The necklace, earrings and bracelets were that final touch that really completed the look and I just felt so lucky to be able to wear their diamonds with my beautiful dress. I’m still pinching myself.
Did your line of work make the process any easier?
I think having some experience of red carpets and the world of fashion did help my nerves certainly. Although saying that, when you first arrive at the aisle and you look out and see the faces of friends and family that you love looking back at you, it all goes out the window and the bottom lip starts to tremble… and then, boy do those happy tears come.
Tell us about your beauty look.
I’m not sure that I had hair and beauty inspiration, exactly. Ultimately, I wanted to feel like myself and be able to have the best time dancing the night away with all our friends and family. I wanted glowy, dewy skin and so my make-up artist, master Justine Jenkins and I met for a little trial beforehand and created the look together. Nothing too much, just classic, clean and glowy.
It was kind of the same vibe creating the look for the hair. Katie Hale, my hairdresser extraordinaire, is such a visionary and an artist. We looked through mood boards, we had a trial and Katie created this curly, sexy, textured masterpiece. I’ve never felt so fabulous. To have Katie and Justine getting me ready for what was one the best days of my life... well, I’m a lucky girl to have such talented, wonderful friends.
Do you have any advice for any brides-to-be who are still deciding what to wear?
My advice for any brides to be would be to include your family and your closest friends in the choosing of your dress. That is where the magic really begins. Your friends radiate their love of you and it’s that radiance that bounces back. Trust your instincts – if you feel fabulous, you will look fabulous. You wear the dress, the dress does not wear you. So, rally your closest friends, include them, and they will give you that extra boost and allow you to shine on.
