Picking My Registry Wedding Look
I am by no means a fashionista, but I do love to shop (tehe), so picking my registry look was easily one of the most enjoyable and least stressful parts of the entire wedding planning process. I knew I wanted something chic, an outfit I could look back on in 20 or 30 years and still love, but I wasn’t quite sure at first which direction to go.
Like everyone else on Instagram, I was obsessed with Dimma Umeh’s gorgeous registry wedding look last year — the hair, the makeup, the A-line skirt, the bow — pure perfection. It would have been easy to replicate her look in Ghana with a good tailor, but I wanted something that felt uniquely me. I also wanted something ready-to-wear, with a little “give” because, honestly, any outfit that doesn’t require worrying about last-minute fit is always a winner in my book!
Finding the Dress
Early on, I became fixated on the idea of a cream skirt suit, something you could imagine Elizabeth James (Natasha Richardson’s character in The Parent Trap, one of my all-time favourites, RIP to an icon) wearing or even designing. I wanted that elegant, 90s vintage Chanel vibe. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything that fit the bill in the UK, though I was determined.
Since I was already planning to travel to Ghana in May for fittings for my other dresses, I figured, why not add another custom piece? True luxury, right? But after chatting with my mum, she persuaded me to keep an open mind, sometimes being too prescriptive can make you miss hidden gems. And she was right. That was one of my biggest lessons from the wedding planning process: I had such a clear vision of what I wanted that some vendors felt boxed in creatively.
The Perfect Find
As they say, mother knows best. So I set my sights on the high street. With the rise of fast fashion (or rather, online shopping, since most brands use similar production methods), searching “cream” or “ivory” dress kept bringing up Club L London options, beautiful, yes, but not quite what I had in mind. I wanted to splurge a little, but not quite at Nadine Merabi levels — something in the happy medium.
After a bit of digging, I stumbled upon the Ralph Lauren Cape Georgette Cocktail Dress, and it was perfect. Maybe it was the model, a beautiful Black woman with her hair slicked back in a bun, styled exactly how I envisioned myself, or the elegant jewellery, but I knew instantly that this was the dress. My mum and sister agreed, and I bought it right then and there in January — even though my civil wedding wasn’t until June. It was one of the best decisions I made. Having that sorted early was a blessing as everything else started to ramp up.
Shoes, Glorious Shoes
When it came to shoes, I enlisted my ever-stylish cousin, who immediately started reeling off brands like Aquazzura, René Caovilla, Sophia Webster, and Amina Muaddi — all stunning, but unfortunately not within my under-£100 budget. Another cousin sent me beautiful Steve Madden dupes, but they were often sold out or unavailable in the UK, which was frustrating.
I knew I wanted shoes with bows, either on the front or the back, so I decided to focus on the style rather than the brand. Eventually, I found the perfect pair of bow heels for under £50 (thanks to a timely sale) from Coast. Chic and affordable — a dream combination!
Accessories and the Something Blue
For accessories, I was determined to include my “something blue.” My best friend had given me a sapphire necklace for my birthday the year before to serve as my something blue (incredibly thoughtful), but the neckline of my dress didn’t quite suit it. I considered blue shoes or sapphire earrings, but in the end, I chose classic pearls. My sister wore a blue dress, which ended up being my “something blue”, which worked out even better, if you ask me.
The Hat
The dress was stunning, but it needed that final touch, something to pull everything together. I asked myself, what would Elizabeth James do? (I always think of that Parent Trap scene where Annie picks out the white hat for the model in the halter wedding dress.)
I was also inspired by Kerry Washington, Zendaya, and Diana Ross at the recent Met Gala, where the theme was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. So many of their looks were elevated by their hats, the perfect finishing touch.
I browsed Harrods, Etsy, JJ’s Bridal House, Hobbs, and Phase Eight, but couldn’t justify spending too much on something I’d likely never wear again. So, naturally, I turned to my favourite accessories hub — AliExpress. I found the perfect cream hat, and it tied the entire look together beautifully. I also picked up some pearl hairpins (and a few floral ones, just in case), but ultimately went with the pearls to match my earrings.
The Day Itself
Our registry day was perfect. After the ceremony, we headed home, changed into boubous, and had a kenkey party — complete with all the trimmings — courtesy of my in-laws, plus a gorgeous cake from the one and only Pink Fluff Cakes.
It was the perfect balance of elegance and ease: fancy in the morning, laid-back in the afternoon.
Final Thoughts
We often assume custom-made is the only route for big occasions, but there are so many gems on the high street. Brands like Reiss, Hobbs, Ralph Lauren, Coast, Ghost, LK Bennett, Karen Millen, and Phase Eight all have beautiful, elegant options for registry looks, and at reasonable prices.
So, if you’ve got a big event coming up and you’re tired of scrolling the same online stores, try revisiting the high street, both literally and figuratively. You might be surprised by what you find.
With love,
ATW