Blogger who couldn’t pick a wedding gown wore FIVE dresses worth £50K

A blogger who couldn’t decide on her wedding dress has revealed she showcased five different gowns across two big days, with her bridal wardrobe valued at a total of £50,000. 

Rachel Ward, 27, tied the knot with her husband Thomas in The Maldives in November 2017 where she showcased a bohemian, beachy look in two different gowns and again at a church ceremony in the Lake District in June 2018, wearing three more sophisticated evening-style dresses.

‘I’m really not a bridezilla I just simply love fashion which is what I studied, for my degree,’ Rachel told Femail, of her two weddings to Thomas Cottrell. 

‘I think I got a little carried away and just kept seeing more and more that I liked, only looking back now do I realise how many I had.’

Rachel bought one of her dresses herself, costing more than £10K and her parents bought a second dress, while others were sent to her by brands as she’s a full-time influencer with more than 250,000 followers on Instagram. 

Rachel Ward, 27, from Cheshire on her wedding day in the Lake District in June 2018, wearing her ‘dream’ wedding dress, one of five different gowns shre wore for the celebrations 

After the ceremony and meal, Rachel changed into a second outfit change for drinks and mingling with her guests at her Lake District wedding in June this year

After the ceremony and meal, Rachel changed into a second outfit change for drinks and mingling with her guests at her Lake District wedding in June this year

You may now kiss the bride! Rachel and her new husband Thomas with the bride wearing her third outfit of the day - a fishtail feathered dress she showcased for her first dance 

You may now kiss the bride! Rachel and her new husband Thomas with the bride wearing her third outfit of the day – a fishtail feathered dress she showcased for her first dance 

Rachel met Thomas five years ago through mutual friends and spent months searching for her perfect dress with her mother.

‘I then went to Eternity Bridal wear in Warrington and spotted my dream dress in a look book on the table. The dress was by Nicole Spose and was only available in Milan. 

‘The lovely owner of the shop was able to pull some strings for me and have one shipped over, so I was the only one in the UK with that dress.’ 

However, Rachel also found that brands were eager to dress her for her big day and eventually had a ‘lightbulb moment’.

For her wedding ceremony in The Maldives in November 2017, Rachel wore a floaty dress by Virgos Lounge that was perfect for the warm temperatures 

For her wedding ceremony in The Maldives in November 2017, Rachel wore a floaty dress by Virgos Lounge that was perfect for the warm temperatures 

For her evening celebrations in The Maldives in November 2017, Rachel wore a glamorous embellished fishtail gown  

For her evening celebrations in The Maldives in November 2017, Rachel wore a glamorous embellished fishtail gown  

‘It clicked that I could change throughout the day and truly feel like a princess on the most magical day of my life,’ she explained.  

For the UK wedding, Rachel wore her Nicole Spose dream dress for the ceremony and meal, an evening dress by Jadore evening Australia for drinks and mingling and a  ‘fun feather fishtail dress’ for her first dance. 

‘Changing was easy as I had my mum and three bridesmaids on hand,’ she said. 

‘My husband and I went on holiday to the island of Kurumba in the Maldives the year before our wedding and instantly fell in love with the place and wanted to get married there with 20 close friends and family members. 

Rachel was the only bride in the UK with her dress as she imported it from Milan after spending months searching for her dream gown with her mother 

Rachel was the only bride in the UK with her dress as she imported it from Milan after spending months searching for her dream gown with her mother 

Rachel and Thomas on their first wedding day in The Maldives. The couple wanted to celebrate in one of their favourite places with close family and friends but had a bigger second wedding in the UK this summer 

Rachel and Thomas on their first wedding day in The Maldives. The couple wanted to celebrate in one of their favourite places with close family and friends but had a bigger second wedding in the UK this summer 

‘However the marriage would not be legally recognised in the UK and not everyone who we wanted to celebrate with us was able to go to the Maldives, so that was a perfect excuse for a second wedding.’

For her Maldives ceremony, Rachel found that having multiple dresses was ideal due to the temperatures.  

‘My day dress from Virgos Lounge was cool, floaty and comfortable. The weather was also very hot so it definitely served its purpose as you want to feel comfortable on your big day.

The happy couple on their second wedding day in June 2018: Rachel admitted she's received some negative reaction over her five wedding dresses on Instagram, but says the vast majority of people have been supportive

The happy couple on their second wedding day in June 2018: Rachel admitted she’s received some negative reaction over her five wedding dresses on Instagram, but says the vast majority of people have been supportive

‘I then wanted to stun my guests in the evening when the sun wasn’t so hot in a lovely corseted glam lacy number.’ 

Rachel admits there have been a few negative comments about her multiple dresses, but says the vast majority have been ‘lovely and positive’.

‘My first images of my Nicole Spose dress went viral, reaching over one million views,’ she said.  

‘I am very lucky because I have a number of celebrity friends who support my images and we all support each other through the negativity which just comes with the job.

‘I also have a lot of good friends and family who support me and know how hard I work to achieve the things I do and that’s all I can ask for. I love sharing my story on line and I love following and sharing other Instagrammers.’

 

 

 

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