I've lost count of the number of friends I've told about this wedding - because there was one very special moment during the ceremony which I absolutely love. Dave and Niamh are definitely independent spirits who didn't follow any boring old wedding…
Inspired by / images by London wedding photographer Jordanna Marston
I’m half hoping you’re reading this blog post because you think I’m a little insane… who on earth is actually out there looking for wedding photos that aren’t perfect?! Surely we should all be carrying out a careful search for the very best wedding photographer our budgets will allow? And with all the time and effort we’re putting into planning our weddings, we want the day not only to be perfect, but to look perfect in our pictures?
What even is perfect, though?
I like to feel like I know you guys. I know you love indulging in a little wedding pretty on the internet – scrolling through fabulously pretty, beautifully styled wedding editorials and bridal photoshoots on blogs and Pinterest. Hey, so do I! And I imagine you’re reading this post because the last thing you are is Princessy. But maybe you’re still a little unsure about your wedding photographs being less than ‘perfect’. Shall I explain?
All images by One Love Pictures & flowers by Bohotanical
This one’s for all of you lovely brides and grooms considering alternatives to the traditional wedding bouquet and arrangements. Inspired by a press release which landed in my inbox the other week – it was one of those where I disagreed with pretty much every word! – I just had to write a little about wedding flowers.
Too many couples – if the report is to be believed – think wedding flowers are overpriced (they’re not).
And too many couples seem to be turning to artificial wedding flowers – which have some serious downsides of their own. So I thought I’d share a few thoughts, with my humble experience of being a wedding blogger for 10 years and hearing the thoughts of hundreds of couples when it comes to wedding flowers.
Hey lovelies! Welcome to Monday… and to a fabulous festival wedding in June at Northside Farm, Northumberland. This is a beautiful barn venue with glamping huts & tipis for brides, grooms and guests can stay in. Gorgeous bride Laura and dapper hubby Daryl enjoy their festivals, and with TONS of wonderful handcrafting. Laura worked on her wedding stationery almost every night for a YEAR! She also learned how to crochet so she could make blankets for her guest in case they got cold in the evening! Laura describes their wedding as “3 days of pure joy and happiness” – and it shows in the pics. I hope you love all these ideas as much as I do!
“From before we were even engaged I had the theme of our wedding picked out. Daryl and I enjoy a festival and we knew we wanted to have a wedding over the full weekend and spend as much time celebrating with all our family and friends. (I’m the kind of person who has a birth month not a birthday) The wedding venue (Northside Farm) allowed us to do just that in a beautiful setting. They were very laid back like us and just let us do our thing.”
Hey, beautiful! I have a treat for you today – not just one editorial, but three looks and styles from one enchanting Gloucestershire venue. Join me at the Matara Centre in Tetbury, for a sublime collection of wedding ideas from a talented bunch of local creatives and wedding suppliers. Images are by Photography by Sally-Anne, who introduces each look and scene below.
“The Matara was carefully chosen for its beauty and Asian fusion where bamboo and beautiful light is plentiful in the gardens. This wonderfully spacious venue creates a feeling of tranquillity and peace throughout. Couples will have a plethora of choice for their special day and be able to create the most stunning memories together.
We carefully chose all our suppliers where soft pinks, subtle golds, beautiful foliage with orchids and peonies were the core of the styling, all connecting with the beautiful swaying Asian themed gardens of the Matara.
Images by Chloe Ely Photography, from the English Wedding archive (full feature here)
I’ve known Bernadette Chapman from the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners since before the English Wedding Blog even began. I know she’s an absolute professional, a true expert in her field and someone who is extremely dedicated to her work. If I had an important question about planning a wedding she is the first person I would ask.
Quality is a huge thing for Bernadette and the UKAWP, as is reputation and customer service. Every wedding planner trained by the UKAWP has integrity, honesty and creativity. And with a wealth of experience and information at her fingertips, who better than Bernadette to give us the low down on finding wedding suppliers who we can absolutely trust!
“The majority of wedding suppliers are in this industry because they want you to have your most perfect day. They truly understand how special a wedding is and know they are playing a small part in creating ever-lasting memories.
Honeymoons have evolved into far more than just chilling on a beach for a couple of weeks. In fact, it’s way more fashionable to have a honeymoon that’s just a little bit different. Whether it’s hopping in a car and hitting the open road or adding a green, environmentally friendly tinge to your honeymoon, there really is no limit to what your honeymoon can look like. So, get ready to throw out the rulebook and do what you want to do! Here’s just a few honeymoon trends that we think will be on the rise in 2020…
When it comes to travelling, people are becoming more environmentally conscious, whether it’s limiting the single-use plastics they use while they’re away or choosing to book somewhere that only serves farm-to-fork food. This extends to the world of honeymoons, where newlyweds are keen to learn how they minimise their carbon footprint while staying in paradise. Hotels such as Bawah Reserve in Indonesia or Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives are always looking at ways in which they can reduce waste, offer a sustainable way of living and both educate and get guests involved so they feel like they’re giving back to the natural paradise they’re staying in.
Hey beautiful! I have something special for you today – a very special saving on luxury, calligraphy wedding invitations and on the day stationery. These are some of my favourite wedding invitations and the bundle is listed on Etsy from £300. YOU, my lovely, can save 20% on your wedding stationery by quoting the code ENGLISHWEDDING at the checkout when you order online.
Fall in love with this wedding invitation bundle in blush pink ink on handmade papers, with wax seal stamp and silk ribbons.
Mix and match from the collection to build your entire wedding stationery suite
Designed by @bymoonandtide – my calligraphy studio based on the edge of the English Lake District
Save money on the prices below by ordering a larger quantity!
Handwritten calligraphy invitations £6*
Silk ribbon ties £2
Addressed envelopes £3
Return addresses on envelopes £2.50
Hey there beautiful! So today is an ideas day. We’re so full of ideas for a festival wedding I really don’t know where to start. This is a joyful celebration full of everything from English country fete to sustainable wedding style, all at Greenwood Grange in Dorset. There are old fashioned wooden skittles and garden games – not forgetting the old classic ‘hook a flamingo’ (or something!). There’s a cake table which reminds me of our annual village show – and they’re ALL winners! There’s a children’s party field and – from the handprinted signs – a secret midnight rave.
https://www.linusmoranphotography.co.uk
Ro and Matt had an eye on sustainability for their quirky Dorset wedding, which I love. There are vintage style gin and vodka dispensers to fill cute plastic cups – which are yours for the night to reduce waste! – and a recycling station. Our gorgeous bride wears a flower crown dried blooms and seedheads, which is just the loveliest idea. And oh – did I forget to mention the whole reception happens in a little network of yurt pods? It’s fabulous – and we get a bird’s eye view of it all, courtesy of our fabulous friend and sponsor, Dorset wedding photographer Linus Moran Photography.
It’s been a strong dress week! We’ve featured latest collections from Belle & Bunty, Anna Campbell and now the rather legendary (in the bridal world at least) Jesus Peiro. While I’m a huge fan of our UK designers (and there are some wonderful emerging talents out there) I love how the interweb has turned bridal shopping into a global experience for us all. You’ll find a list of 40 or so Jesus Peiro UK stockists at the end of this post. You’re welcome!
Jesus Peiro wedding dresses are designed and manufactured in Spain. The collection – named CALA – includes elegant embellished gowns and jumpsuits for the more contemporary bride. Necklines are sleek and sassy, details are bold and gorgeous. Jesus Peiro is synonymous with quality and high fashion, sophistication and refinement. As such, top UK stores include Morgan Davies, Miss Bush, The White Closet, The Bridal Boutique Warwickshire and Frances Day.
Hey lovelies! Are you thinking about a farm wedding? They’re becoming super popular as we all look to cut costs and the whole rustic trend still has our hearts. Oh, and of course a barn wedding will save £££ compared to a stately home or country mansion ‘do’! So today I have the loveliest farm wedding style feature to share with you. Images are by Tom Cullen Photography, with flowers by the fabulous Jo at Eliza Rose Artisan Floral Design in Loose.
The secret to styling a beautiful farm or barn wedding is to really embrace the vibe of the place. Little Fant Farm is a heritage cottage farm tucked away in the Kent countryside. The wooden sides of the barn give a warm look to the place; the shoot includes rural craft details and the styling of our bride’s dress with the beautiful embroidery just fits in perfectly. Hay bales are the cherry on a rather stunning cake… speaking of which, look at this STUNNING cake!
Hey lovely! Thank you so much for coming back to English Wedding. I just know you’ll adore today’s feature, with beautiful bride Julia and her gorgeous new husband Joe celebrating their marriage at Shiplake College, Henley on Thames. They’re a fabulous, fun couple whose wedding is full of personality – from their first look (the photos are just wonderful!) to the floral styling around the venue. Images are by my lovely friend Ayshea Goldberg Photography, who gets such a fantastic review from the happy couple.
We came across Ayshea’s website while browsing online and really liked her style of photos.
Ayshea was a pleasure to work with! From the moment we met her, we knew we wanted her to be our photographer – she was professional but also fun and relaxed, and put us at ease immediately. She was great on the wedding day – she helped calm any nerves and was unobtrusive the whole time but captured the day perfectly.
© The English Wedding Blog 2019. All Rights Reserved
