The Dress With Annie Vischer

Finding the perfect wedding dress is a huge part of planning for the big day. In our new series, Annie Vischer shares their journey to finding ‘The One’.

Annie Vischer and Oliver Billson. We married on a sunny 17th September 2022 in Richmond, North Yorkshire. Everything except the ceremony took place on site at the beautiful Middleton Lodge estate. Guests stayed and celebrated on the Gin Terrace the night before (Ollie gamely opened Champagne bottles with an antique sabre), took their pews in the village church for the ceremony the morning after and walked through the blooming walled garden to the Fig House afterwards for the reception. The brief was an English country affair – a pretty period drama made modern.

The Journey

I went to one bridal appointment and said yes to the first dress I tried on. I always thought I’d go bespoke when it came to my wedding dress, but a year ahead of the big day I saw Alena Leena’s Armeria gown on Instagram and messaged one of my bridesmaids to say, ‘it’s the one!’. I thought it was too good to be true, that I’d try it on eventually and it wouldn’t look quite right, nevertheless I knew I had to get it out of my system. I found two stockists in the UK and one of them happened to be in Ilkley, Yorkshire. I grew up in Yorkshire and my parents still live there, so I headed to The Aisle with my mother, my sister and my aunt. I tried on a few other dresses for good measure, but couldn’t see beyond the Armeria dress. It really was the one.

The Vision

I never sat down and drew up my dream wedding dress – maybe I would have done had I not seen the Armeria – but looking at the design, I can see why it appealed to me so much in the first instance. I’m a period drama obsessive so a cinched in waist and full skirt were always going to catch my eye, but I have a real aversion to heavy silks and corsetry that looks impenetrable and solid. I wanted movement and a romantic, Disney-esque silhouette. Have you ever seen The Lady and the Highwayman? Not one of Hugh Grant’s career highlights, granted, but I was obsessed with the romance of it all and the dresses. And Kenneth Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing – firstly, Denzel Washington and Keanu Reeves in romanticised military gear and riding boots? Please. More relevantly, Emma Thompson and Kate Beckinsale running around under the Tuscan sun in bright white corseted dresses was everything. Then there’s Grace Kelly’s white dress in To Catch A Thief. I’ve always loved that sweetheart neckline and the way the fabric seems to drape across quite a structured bodice, a sartorial dichotomy that’s common to Alena Leena’s Armeria dress. It’s an amalgamation of life-long influences that made the dress feel like it had been made for me.

The Decision

I had it pretty easy on the decision front, didn’t I, so yes the process was short, sweet and so much fun. The design suited my figure, so I only needed one appointment at The Bobbin Ilkley to take up the length a little. I didn’t um and ah, I didn’t question my decision at any point, so there was never any angst. My mother, sister, aunt and I met my father at Betty’s Tearoom after that first appointment and toasted the dress with afternoon tea and a few glasses of Champagne. It was such a wholesome morning.

Style Support

Honestly, no, I was pretty decisive and excited about the whole thing, but it was great to have my friends and family along for the ride.

The Evening Look

Yes. I’d always had a vision of reentering the dance floor in a white sequined jumpsuit – wide-legged, long, flowing sleeves and slashed to my navel – a real 70’s glam affair. I hunted high and low for the perfect one – online, independent boutiques, vintage shops and finally, finally found it on a site called Pretty Lavish.

The Accessories

My shoes were a real stroke of luck. I knew I wanted a closed-toe design, heels that looked elegant but would be comfortable enough to wear all day. I inherited a number of Gucci courts from my Grandmother that fitted like a glove and thanks to the buttery soft leather, were a dream to wear. On the way back to London after my first dress fitting in Yorkshire, I scanned eBay and found the exact same design in white leather with five minutes left on the clock. I won them for £50! To this day they are my favourite pair of shoes. I swear my Grandmother sent them to me.

As for jewellery, I didn’t want to go too off-piste. I rarely wear necklaces but love styling up a curated ear of studs and hoops. I wore a beautiful pair of drop earrings from La Grotta Collective – big baroque pearls – and a statement cuff from Completedworks. That was it apart from my Grandma’s engagement ring, a glinting band of diamonds set in gold that paired perfectly with my engagement ring and gold wedding ring.

The Second Outfit

Relaxation and comfort were the order of the day. I’m known for my vast collection of cream jumpers, so I couldn’t disappoint. I wore a cashmere v-neck one that fell over one shoulder, and a pair of cream trousers. The sun was out, but there was a minty autumnal nip in the air – it was as though summer had held out just long enough for our big day – so a bit of cosy knitwear was just what the newlywed ordered. I wore my wedding earrings again to lift the outfit with a sparkle.

Advice For Brides

To not overthink it and to go with your gut. Feeling a magnetic pull towards the dress your mum just told you she hates? Ignore her and try it on again. Put down the deposit on a look that’s still keeping you up at night because you’re just not sure? Don’t settle, book in a few more bridal appointments to see if ‘the one’ is still out there. I always think of that Marie Kondo saying – ask yourself does this ‘spark joy’? Finding the dress was pretty easy for me, I was lucky, but if you’re feeling lost and you’re finding yourself trying to weigh up your taste with friends and family’s opinions, the style of the venue, all the variables that come with planning a wedding, try and drown out the noise and tune into the look that, more than anything else, sparks the most joy in you for no apparent reason.

Favourite Photo Of The Dress

First and foremost, Ollie and I look so happy and at ease in this picture, so the feel of it is beautiful from the off. As for the dress, the intricate draping of the fabric is on full display, the late summer light is pooling through the delicate layers of crinoline and you can see the movement in the skirt. The silhouette is so evocative of all the period dramas, romantic novels and Disney films that have informed my daydreams since childhood. It looks perfectly at home in the wildflower beds of the walled garden too. It’s like I’m inhaling a lungful of fresh country air every time I look at this shot, everything about the image just breathes.