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Carley & Mark’s Unforgettable Cornish Celebration in Maggie Sottero

A long-distance work connection that led to an intimate, joy-filled day in Falmouth.

When it comes to planning a wedding, swapping high-pressure expectations for pure, unscripted personality (almost) always yields the best results. For Carley and Mark, an intimate gathering in the coastal haven of Falmouth, Cornwall, provided the perfect setting for a day defined by laughter, warmth, and effortless rustic style.


Their story began with a cross-county workplace connection that eventually brought them to the same post code, paving the way for a down-to-earth partnership and a delightfully unpretentious engagement at home. When the time came to say "I do", the lush coastal backdrop of St Michaels Resort hosted a celebration packed with spontaneous, joyful energy and a few unexpected ceremony interruptions that instantly broke the ice!


Carley’s search for her dream wedding dress was guided by a clear vision of what she wanted, and at Bellissima, her first and only bridal boutique, she fell for a striking Maggie Sottero design that captured exactly what she was looking for. Life subsequently brought a wonderful plot twist to her bridal vision shortly after ordering, but with a few expert modifications, her gown was transformed into a truly unique, functional piece that suited her and the day perfectly!


bride in maggie sottero wedding dress groom in beige suit at falmouth wedding


Carley's Real Wedding Q&A


1. How did you two meet?

We met at a company we both were new at. Mark was based in Wolverhampton but managed the EHSS (Environment, Health, Safety, and Security) for my site in Rainham, Essex, where he would travel down once a month for a few days. He moved down to Essex a year later after being headhunted for a new role. The rest is history!


2. How did you get engaged?

This is a funny story. We had been talking about it for a couple of years, and we were sitting at home one night, and Mark asked me what I thought about fancy and extravagant proposals, to which I replied I thought they were too showy for me and would create unnecessary social anxiety. After a few minutes he disappeared upstairs and called out to me; I thought by his voice he had broken something upstairs. When I got up there, he was in the bedroom, in his pyjamas, on one knee with a stand-in ring he had ordered a few weeks before. (We had already agreed to choose our own rings from a specialist shop in the jewellery quarter.)


3. What was your favourite moment(s) from the wedding?

Our 4-year-old son walking around mid-ceremony with a walking, roaring T. Rex toy Grandad had bought for him. It was such a funny moment and really took the pressure off. Another has to be the secretly prepared line dance we did to the country song Fake ID straight after the first dance. My dress was modified so I could hike it up quickly.


4. Tell us all about your wedding dress. What details do you love? How did it make you feel?

My dress was the first I tried on at my first and only wedding dress shop appointment. The shortlist process really helped me narrow down the selection and stopped me from feeling overwhelmed. Before the appointment I had a pretty good idea of some key features I wanted, particularly the embellished top, plain skirt and material.


I did have to have a number of modifications done as I became pregnant shortly after ordering my dress, so it ended up being a unique, functional gown with some personal touches all put together by the lovely Dale. When I look at the photos now, I feel so happy with my choice and that we could make it suitable for me and my shape.


5. What was the general decor for your big day?

The general decor for our wedding was rustic/woodland; I made my own table decorations reusing leftover bottles, candles and hessian from both my sister's weddings and added some white faux flowers. We had a local supplier bring in some floor-standing flower arrangements, the signing and top table arrangements and a post box. The favours, cake topper and my jewellery came from Etsy and were wooden/forest themed.


6. Do you have any advice for future Bellissima Brides?

My advice would be to look at lots of pictures of bridal gowns and note the different elements you like on certain wedding dresses. I didn't realise how flexible the alterations process could be. If a dress has 80% of what you're looking for, expert modifications can certainly make it 100% yours.


7. Do you have any local suppliers you would like to recommend?

We used Hitched to find local suppliers and did almost all of the organising remotely:


8. How was your Bellissima Weddings experience?

My Bellissima Weddings experience exceeded all my expectations. From shortlisting and welcome drinks during the first visit to fittings, ordering, alterations, collection, and cleaning services, everything was catered for in one professional and beautiful setting at very convenient times.

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