My Perfect Christmas: Kate Fearnley

You started the year on cloud nine, having scooped the National Bridal Designer of the Year accolade at the Wedding Industry Awards. Fast-forward two months and we were forced into the first lockdown. How has COVID impacted your work?

This year has really been a rollercoaster. Winning the national award felt like this was really going to be my year… I had no idea what was coming, as nobody really did! We were excited to be showing at the White Gallery designer show in London, where we were to launch our first bridal collection to boutiques across the globe. Unfortunately, COVID-19 got well and truly in the way and the show was cancelled. Luckily, we’ve been fortunate that the boutiques that were interested in viewing the collection agreed for me to take it to them. I’m still feeling positive about it all – and I’m looking forward to getting a reaction from all the brides that are about to finally see it!

What about all the proms that got cancelled?

Thankfully, a lot of the prom girls went ahead with a small celebration or prom photo shoot, which meant we got to finish the dresses for a lot of them. We had a few brides that went ahead with their weddings, too. Even though it wasn’t as they’d planned, they all said how special and intimate the day was. 

Who does the cooking when it comes to Christmas dinner? 

I do not get asked to cook a single thing on Christmas Day – and that’s perfectly fine by me! I’m much better at designing dresses than cooking or baking! I leave it in the very capable hands of my lovely mum and sister, who create a feast. We sit down to turkey with every vegetable known to man, as well as pigs in blankets, Champagne, wine, cheese, port, Toblerone and every sweet and nut in the world!

How does Christmas Day typically unfold in the Fearnley household?

Bob will wake me up at about 6am, excitably rip everything open by 6.15am and then create chaos with all the presents he gets from Father Christmas while I’m trying to give him his breakfast. I’ll give up and just feed him chocolate – and that tends to be the theme for the rest of the day! I drag him away from all of his new things kicking and screaming, only managing to get him into the car with bribery of more gifts at Auntie Alice’s, and that’s where we spend our Christmas Day and night. We eat at around 1pm, then open our presents before drinking, eating more, listening to music and playing games. We somehow manage to eat even more party food for tea and drink until we collapse in a heap!

Finally, let’s fast-forward to December 2021 – how are you hoping to spend Christmas next year once we have (fingers crossed) put COVID well and truly behind us?

Next year all social gatherings with friends will be a much bigger deal, with more parties and gatherings than ever! Fingers crossed for a better 2021!