Real Bride Lani Wearing Alara at Laceby Manor
- elizabethkatebridal
- Aug 27
- 11 min read
From a surprise birthday trip to Paris to a beautiful summer wedding at Laceby Manor, Lani and Curtis's wedding story is full of surprises, including the wedding dress Lani never expected to fall in love with.
When Lani first started looking for her wedding dress, she thought she knew exactly what she wanted. In fact, she was very clear about one thing she didn't want: a nude underlay.
Then she tried on Alara.
The very first dress Lani tried at Elizabeth Kate Bridal turned out to be the one, and suddenly everything she thought she wanted went out of the window.
With its beautiful floral detailing, added floral straps and matching veil, Alara gave Lani exactly the romantic, feminine feel she was looking for, while still feeling completely like herself.
After being recommended to Elizabeth Kate by several of her clients, Lani found not only her wedding dress but a bridal experience she says felt more like visiting friends than attending appointments.
On 18th July 2026, Lani and Curtis said “I do” at Laceby Manor, surrounded by their favourite people, peach-toned details, beautiful flowers and fireworks that brought the perfect day to an end.
Here's Lani's story.
From Tesco Colleagues to a Paris Proposal
Lani and Curtis first met while working together at Tesco in 2016.
It wasn't until 2020 that they finally got together, after Curtis sent Lani a slightly unexpected message while he was drunk.
“I think we should go out one time.”
Lani agreed, and their first date was a walk beneath the Humber Bridge during Covid.
Not exactly the most conventional romantic setting, but as Lani says, the rest is history!
A few years later, Curtis decided it was time to plan a proposal, and he knew that if he wanted to surprise Lani, he was going to have to do something very different.
A Birthday Surprise in Paris
For Lani's birthday, Curtis told her he'd booked a surprise weekend away.
As Lani usually does all the holiday planning, she was already intrigued. But Curtis had told her she didn't need her passport, so she was convinced they were heading to Edinburgh.
Instead, when they arrived at Doncaster train station, Curtis pulled out their passports.
They were going to Paris.
Once they arrived, Curtis was keen to head straight towards the Eiffel Tower because he wanted a photograph of them together.
This in itself was unusual because, according to Lani, she normally has to force him to take photos with her!
He asked to stop in two different places before Lani eventually agreed to the photo, and somehow she still didn't realise what was coming.
Curtis had secretly asked a lovely lady to take a video.
Then he got down on one knee.
All you can hear in the video is Lani crying.
And the surprises didn't end there.
After Lani had dragged Curtis around the Christmas markets, she discovered that he'd been carrying two small bottles of Prosecco in his pockets the entire time.
They had a little celebratory toast together, while Lani immediately started questioning him about how he'd managed to keep the whole thing secret.
A pretty perfect Paris proposal!
Planning a Romantic Summer Wedding at Laceby Manor
Lani and Curtis got married on 18th July 2026 at Laceby Manor.
When they first booked their venue, Lani didn't have a particular wedding theme or aesthetic in mind.
In fact, she admits she went through just about every bridesmaid dress colour there is!
Eventually, they settled on peach, and choosing the bridesmaid dresses helped everything else fall into place.
The peach colour became the starting point for the rest of the wedding, influencing the flowers and décor and helping Lani finally visualise how she wanted the day to look.
The overall feel was romantic, soft and summery, but with one thing more important than any colour scheme or styling choice:
They wanted it to be fun.
Lani wanted a day where she and Curtis could simply enjoy themselves with their guests and create memories they would never look back on wishing they'd done differently.
A Wedding Without Regrets
When Lani and Curtis first started planning, they didn't really have a set wedding budget.
Lani says she simply didn't know what weddings cost, and openly admits she's a “chronic over spender”!
Instead, their priority was creating a day they would never look back on and think:
“I wish we did that.”
And for Lani, the money spent was worth every penny.
She says she doesn't regret a single penny.
The Moments Lani Will Never Forget
There were plenty of special moments throughout the wedding day, but some stand out above the rest.
Getting ready with her bridesmaids was one of Lani's favourites, followed by seeing Curtis waiting for her at the end of the aisle.
And then came the fireworks.
That was the moment everything suddenly sank in.
“Wow, we've done it!”
After all the planning, decisions and inevitable wedding stresses, that one moment made everything disappear.
The only thing that mattered was that they had finally done it.
Finding Alara at Elizabeth Kate Bridal
Lani was recommended to Elizabeth Kate Bridal by several of her clients.
They'd all told her about their own experiences and said they'd found their wedding dresses at the boutique, so when it was time for Lani to start looking, Elizabeth Kate was already on her list.
From the moment she walked through the door, she says she felt welcome.
The atmosphere was warm and friendly, and rather than simply getting straight into trying dresses, Kim and Holly sat down with Lani and got to know her.
They asked about her, the styles she liked and, importantly, all about the wedding she was planning.
And it clearly worked.
Because the very first dress Lani tried at Elizabeth Kate was her dress.
The Dress She Never Expected to Choose
Lani chose Alara.
And the funny thing is, she arrived with a very definite idea about what she wanted.
She was convinced she wanted an ivory underlay.
In fact, she was so sure that she even said:
“I strictly do not want a nude underlay!”
Then she put Alara on.
And everything changed.
Lani immediately knew.
She actually teared up and says the dress made her feel like herself as a bride, rather than like she was simply dressing up as one.
That feeling is what made Alara so special.
Dress Spotlight: Alara
Alara was the perfect match for the romantic, feminine feel Lani wanted for her wedding day.
The standout feature for Lani was the floral detailing, which gave the dress a beautiful soft and romantic quality while still creating the wow factor she was looking for.
Although she hadn't originally planned on a nude underlay, seeing the dress on allowed Lani to appreciate how beautifully the detail worked against it.
She also chose to add floral detailing to the straps.
It was a small personalisation that made a big difference, and Lani says she's so glad she did it because it completed the look and gave the dress the extra wow factor she wanted.
She finished her bridal look with the matching veil, bringing all of those romantic floral details together.
But the most important part of Alara wasn't actually a particular detail.
It was the way Lani felt wearing it.
“I just felt like it was me as a bride, not me trying to dress up as a bride.”
And honestly, that's exactly what finding your wedding dress should feel like.
The Journey After Saying Yes
For Lani, saying yes to Alara was just the beginning of her Elizabeth Kate journey.
She returned to the boutique for her fitting appointments as the wedding approached, and those appointments became one of her favourite parts of her bridal experience.
Lani says that Kim and Holly felt like friends throughout the wedding planning process and that going back to Elizabeth Kate for her fittings was genuinely a highlight of her “bridal era”.
It's something we particularly love about being part of a bride's journey.
Finding the dress is the big moment, but there are lots of little moments afterwards, seeing the dress again, making those final adjustments, adding personal details and eventually seeing the whole look come together.
For Lani, that included the floral detailing on her straps and her matching veil, until the Alara she had first fallen in love with was finally ready for her Laceby Manor wedding.
And then, after all those appointments, it was time to wear her dress for real.
Lani's Advice to Brides Looking for Their Wedding Dress
If Lani could give one piece of advice to another bride, it's to keep an open mind.
Especially when you think you already know exactly what you want.
Her own experience is the perfect example.
She was adamant that she didn't want a nude underlay, and that's exactly what she ended up falling in love with.
“Definitely just try on anything and everything even if it's what you don't particularly like as it may shock you!”
It's advice we completely agree with.
Sometimes the dress you have saved hundreds of times isn't the one that makes you emotional when you see yourself in it.
Sometimes the dress you walk straight past is the one that makes you think, this is me.
Would Lani Recommend Elizabeth Kate Bridal?
Absolutely.
In fact, Lani says she's already recommended Elizabeth Kate to anyone who asks where she found her dress.
She describes Kim and Holly as feeling like friends throughout the wedding planning process and says her fitting appointments were one of the highlights of her bridal experience.
“100000% visit Elizabeth Kate.”
And that's something we're incredibly grateful for.
Lani's Wedding Suppliers
Lani had lots of wonderful suppliers involved in creating her Laceby Manor wedding and was more than happy to recommend them all!
Dress - Elizabeth kate Bridal
Lani received so many compliments on her dress and says her fitting appointments were one of the highlights of her bridal experience
Hair & Makeup - Leanne & Emma
Lani received so many compliments on her hair and makeup, and says her hair was still perfect the following morning.
Wedding Coordinator - Joanne at Laceby Manor
Lani says Joanne knew exactly what she was doing and that she had complete trust in her throughout the day.
Photography - Lindsey at Jasmine Cottage Studio
Lani had already received her preview photographs when she shared her story with us and was absolutely thrilled with them.
Videography - Daniel Marshall
The wedding video was another emotional highlight for Lani, she cried watching it back.
Flowers - Sarah Richards
And the flowers were, in Lani's words, more than she could ever have expected.
It sounds like every supplier played their part in making the day feel exactly as special as Lani and Curtis had hoped.
Lani & Curtis's Laceby Manor Wedding
From a drunken Tesco text to a first date beneath the Humber Bridge, a surprise trip to Paris and a proposal beneath the Eiffel Tower, Lani and Curtis have certainly had an eventful journey to married life.
Their wedding at Laceby Manor brought all of that history together.
A soft and romantic summer setting, peach bridesmaid dresses, beautiful flowers, the people they love most and, finally, fireworks lighting up the night.
And somewhere in the middle of it all was Alara.
The dress Lani hadn't expected to choose.
The underlay she was convinced she didn't want.
The very first dress she tried at Elizabeth Kate.
And ultimately, the dress that made her feel completely like herself.
Because sometimes the best thing you can do when wedding dress shopping is forget the rules you've made for yourself and simply see what happens when you put the dress on.
Congratulations, Lani & Curtis.
Thank you for letting us be part of your bridal journey and for sharing your beautiful wedding story with us. We loved having you back for your fittings and seeing everything come together, and we're so happy Alara was the one you chose for your Laceby Manor wedding.
Thinking About Finding Your Own Wedding Dress?
If Lani's story has taught us anything, it's that you don't always know your dress until you put it on.
At Elizabeth Kate Bridal, we want your appointment to feel relaxed, personal and completely about you. We'll talk through your wedding, your style and what you think you're looking for before helping you explore the dresses that could work for you.
And if you tell us, “I definitely don't want that one”?
Well… we might just ask you to try it anyway.
Ready to find your dress?
Continue your bridal Journey:
FAQ — For Brides Considering Elizabeth Kate Bridal
How much do wedding dresses cost?
Wedding dresses at Elizabeth Kate Bridal currently range from approximately ÂŁ1,399 to ÂŁ3,000, depending on the designer and dress.
Do I need an appointment to try on wedding dresses?
Yes. Elizabeth Kate Bridal is an appointment-only bridal boutique, giving each bride dedicated time and personal styling support during her visit.
How many people should I bring to my bridal appointment?
We recommend keeping your group small so you can enjoy the experience without feeling overwhelmed. Usually up to three guests works beautifully, with four possible depending on the appointment.
How long is a wedding dress appointment?
A first bridal appointment is two hours, giving you plenty of time to talk through your wedding, try different styles and discover what makes you feel amazing.
Can I come back and try my wedding dress again?
Absolutely. Revisit appointments are available for brides who want to try their favourite dress again before making their final decision.
Does Elizabeth Kate Bridal offer wedding dress alterations?
Yes. Elizabeth Kate Bridal offers in-house alterations, giving brides the reassurance of having their dress professionally fitted by an experienced alterations team.
When should I start wedding dress shopping?
Most brides benefit from starting their search around 12–18 months before their wedding, although the right timing depends on your wedding date, the designer and whether alterations are required.
Where is Elizabeth Kate Bridal?
Elizabeth Kate Bridal is an appointment-only bridal boutique in Crowle, North Lincolnshire, conveniently located for brides travelling from across Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and East Yorkshire.
Which wedding dress designers does Elizabeth Kate Bridal stock?
Elizabeth Kate Bridal stocks a selection of modern bridal designers including MWL, Eva Lendel, Serene by Madi Lane, Rebecca Ingram, Enzoani Love and Elysee.
Google Business Profile Posts
Post 1 — Real Bride Lani
REAL BRIDE 🤍 | Lani wearing Alara
Lani arrived at Elizabeth Kate Bridal convinced she knew exactly what she wanted.
Including one thing she definitely didn't want:
“I strictly do not want a nude underlay!”
Then she tried Alara.
The very first dress she tried at Elizabeth Kate became the one.
With beautiful floral detailing, added detail on the straps and her matching veil, Alara gave Lani the romantic bridal look she had been hoping for — and, most importantly, made her feel like herself.
Lani and Curtis went on to have the most beautiful summer wedding at Laceby Manor.
Read her full Real Bride Story on our blog. ✨
Post 2 — The Proposal
FROM DONCASTER TO PARIS 🇫🇷🤍
Lani thought Curtis had planned a surprise birthday trip to Edinburgh.
He'd even told her she didn't need her passport.
So imagine her surprise when they arrived at Doncaster train station and Curtis pulled out their passports…
Paris!
Then came a walk towards the Eiffel Tower, a secret video, a very emotional proposal and two tiny bottles of Prosecco that Curtis had somehow managed to carry around the Christmas markets without Lani noticing.
Their wedding day at Laceby Manor was just as special.
Discover Lani's full love story — and the Alara dress she chose — on the Elizabeth Kate Bridal blog.
Post 3 — Keep An Open Mind
THE DRESS YOU DON'T EXPECT 🤍
Lani's wedding dress story is proof that sometimes the dress you think you don't want can be exactly the one.
She arrived at Elizabeth Kate convinced she wanted an ivory underlay.
She fell in love with Alara with a nude underlay instead.
It was the first dress she tried.
Her advice to other brides?
“Definitely just try on anything and everything… as it may shock you!”
And we couldn't agree more.
Come with an open mind, tell us what you love — and what you don't — and let us help you discover what makes you feel like you.
Pin Title 1
Real Bride Lani Wearing Alara at Laceby Manor
Pin Description 1
Meet Lani, a real Elizabeth Kate Bridal bride who found her dream Alara wedding dress at the very first dress she tried. Discover her romantic summer wedding at Laceby Manor, her surprise Paris proposal and her advice for brides who think they already know exactly what they want.
Pin Title 3
Wedding Dress Shopping Advice From a Real Bride
Pin Description 3
Lani thought she knew exactly what she wanted from her wedding dress — including an ivory underlay. Then she tried Alara. Read her advice on keeping an open mind when wedding dress shopping and discover her Elizabeth Kate Bridal story.
Suggested Image Alt Text
Lani wearing her Alara wedding dress at Laceby Manor
Lani in her Alara wedding dress with floral detailing
Bride Lani wearing Alara with matching veil
Lani and Curtis on their Laceby Manor wedding day
Lani with her bridesmaids in peach dresses
Lani and Curtis during their romantic summer wedding
Peach wedding flowers at Lani and Curtis's Laceby Manor wedding
Lani and Curtis enjoying fireworks at their wedding
Floral detailing on Lani's Alara wedding dress
Lani wearing Alara with floral strap detailing
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