The Dress with Kate Bieszke

Kate and Chris Bieszke married in Braga at Fountain Lane, Portugal on 4th July 2024. Tania and Natalie from Veil and Véu planned the three days perfectly, making it stress-free. With a black-tie dress code, the day balanced classic, elegance and fun, and Kate stunned in a showstopping strapless wedding dress with detachable sleeves by Ricca Sposa.

The Journey

I started looking for dresses in June 2023 (around a year before the wedding) worried that I might have left it too late and I might not find “The One”. I visited five shops in total, starting with two amazing boutiques in Cheshire.

At the first shop, I tried on about 15 dresses. The first dress felt almost perfect, but something was missing. All the dresses I tried seemed to be the styles I wanted, but none felt just right.

In the second shop, I found another dress, reserved it, and even paid a deposit. But once I got home, I changed my mind, much to Chris’s delight!

I returned to the first boutique and tried on a crepe dress— my first strapless wedding dress. It had a beautiful train, but was too simple for what I envisioned. A strapless wedding dress wasn’t what I originally wanted, but after seeing it on and loving the silhouette, I knew I had to find the perfect one.

I started searching online and came across a Ricca Sposa number with removable sleeves, which I instantly fell in love with. But it was a shop in Northampton, almost three hours away— but I didn’t care. Even if it was six hours away I would have gone! So, I enquired straight away, securing a slot on the upcoming Saturday.

Saturday came, and my mum and I set off to go and see the dress. I tried it on and instantly knew it was the one, even just the fit of the sample felt amazing and the most comfortable and flattering dress I’d tried on, and I tried a lot! I instantly, knew it was the one. There was much to it, lace, small beads and sparkle.

The Vision

Before I even started looking at dresses, I knew I wanted a belt with a low back, or a sheer corset dress giving the illusion of a low back. Even though my dress ended up looking different from my original vision, it still had the base qualities I wanted: a nude underlining, a low back, belt and a long train.

My dress also had lace sleeves, allowing me to have two looks in one dress. Removing the sleeves after the ceremony and enjoying the afternoon in a strapless wedding dress was a such a relief on our warm wedding day.

The Decision

Choosing my wedding dress felt like a high-pressure experience. I put a lot of pressure on myself to find the perfect dress, and then had to wait for it to be made, which added to the stress. Managing timelines and ensuring everything would be ready on time made the process all feel even more intense.

Looking back though, I always had more time than I thought. It was stressful, but once I got closer to finding the dress, it became a much more enjoyable and lovely experience.

The Style Support

I mostly relied on myself to complete my bridal look, as I’m quite a perfectionist and a bit of a control freak, but also indecisive. I wanted everything to be perfect. My bridesmaids were on hand to keep me sane and offer advice, but the main support came from my mum. Hearing her say she loved the dress was all I needed.

The Evening Look

I had a second dress by Rosie Etienne: a corset lace mini dress with a voluminous skirt, 3D hand-placed appliqué flowers, and embellished beading. I toyed with the idea of having a second dress for ages, because I loved my main dress so much and it already had detachable sleeves that provided two looks. I eventually decided on a second dress to stay cooler and dance more comfortably into the evening in the heat.

The Accessories

Once I had my dress, I returned to one of the Cheshire boutiques to purchase my long and lace-trimmed veil by Helen Martin Veils, and a belt to complete the look. My shoes— from Lipsy— weren’t the top priority, but complemented the outfit well. Chris also gifted me a Christian Dior necklace, and my bridesmaids gave me matching earrings.

The Second Day Outfit

For our pre-wedding celebration the night before, I wore a Meshki white dress with a bow on the back. Post-wedding, I initially had a planned outfit, but I ended up staying in my bikini and white sarong all day.

Favourite Photo

So hard to choose, but the iconic car shots with sunglasses on added a touch of old-school Hollywood glamour.

Advice For Brides

Trust your gut. If you think you’ve found “The One” but hear a voice in the back of your mind saying it’s not right, listen to it. Remember, once the dress is being made, no changes can be made. Be persistent, and don’t settle for anything less than your perfect dress. Remember, you’re not annoying the boutique staff—they’re there to help you find exactly what you want!