Camilla Blyss Howard Bradley, the Global Director of PR & Advocacy for Charlotte Tilbury Beauty, and Charles Alexander Craven, former British Army officer and current investment banker at J.P. Morgan, met a few days before Christmas at The 151 Club on Kings Road. They were introduced by their mutual friend James Dyson. Four years of dating later, Charles hijacked the birthday weekend Camilla had planned for him and popped the question at The Painswick Hotel in Gloucestershire.
Since the pair had both grown up in Central London, they immediately agreed to stay local. “Not many of our friends actually ever get married in London! We therefore wanted it to be quintessentially English,” Camilla says. For the ceremony, they chose the Royal Military Chapel, as Charles’s army service granted them permission to book the space. Dartmouth House in Mayfair, coincidentally on Charles Street, was where the reception was held. “Everyone was able to walk across St. James Park past Buckingham Palace—the tourists didn’t know what to think with all the morning suits and a few piping Scotsmen!” Camilla took on the task of planning everything herself as she produces events for a living and had a college internship with Easton Events under her belt. And to capture everything, Joshua Tucker stepped in.
After searching in London and New York for her perfect dress and coming up short, she turned to British designer Bruce Oldfield, who her mother, Amanda, works for, to help create her timeless look with a London vibe. “Bruce and Sophie, his assistant and fitter, showed me sketches and samples of an evening dress they had made before, which they thought would be perfect with a few key modifications (including my long train) and in white crepe. I felt so at ease in the whole process and was blown away by the finished dress,” says the bride.
Having worked in beauty for 10 years, Camilla had a very talented glam squad behind her. The makeup was all Charlotte Tilbury, of course, and two Charlotte Tilbury pros handled her look: Kelly Mitchell and Christine Anderson. For hair, she trusted Sonnie Jo and Hari’s Salon. “Hari’s was my first client 10 years ago, so it was very special to be looked after by them,” Camilla says. Nails were done by DRYBY, lashes handled by EDY London, and she trusted Shavata Brow Studio with her brow boot camp and lash tint. In the months leading up to walking down the aisle, Camilla had regular facials from Rhian Truman Therapies, face workouts with Facegym, lymphatic drainage treatments by Flavia Morellato, and regular Infared sauna visits to glow bar. Now that’s a beauty regimen!
Charles, for his wedding day look, wore a morning suit jacket from Hackett, trousers from Oliver Brown, and a waistcoat from Favourbrook that Camilla had gifted him for a previous birthday. He accessorized with cuff links, also from the bride, from McKenna & Co. “I designed them, and [they] had Cs on them—both our first names and last name begins with C, so it felt appropriate,” Camilla says.
The ceremony was a balance of traditional Church of England religious moments and personal songs, hymns, and readings. “We were so lucky to have our ceremony performed by the Reverend Justin Bradbury, Chaplain to 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, and the Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards,” the bride says.
After their first kiss as husband and wife, the newlyweds jumped in a classic black cab and headed to the Mayfair champagne reception and dinner. Before dancing, Camilla and Charles cut their cake—made by her two friends, Zoe Nowicki and Rosanna Holmes—with the bride’s great grandfather’s naval sword.
The couple then had their first dance to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” played The Fabulous Hurricanes, and then stayed on the floor to keep swaying with guests. “As a couple who enjoy dancing, watching all our friends and family of different ages tearing up the dance floor was a special moment,” the bride remembers.
To end the night, the newlyweds had a sparkler exit onto the London streets and went around the corner to The Connaught Hotel. “It was the perfect end to a quintessentially London wedding!” Camilla says.
