“Laugh as plans fall apart and the chaos unfolds – that’s what the memories are made of!” Today’s beautiful bride Wendy is an absolute star for sharing this advice. To look at the gorgeous images of David and Wendy’s wedding you’d never imagine that anything went wrong! Blue skies, fabulous tepees, a relaxed wedding full of smiles and laughter… it looks absolutely perfect. And I suppose that’s the lesson… that no matter what else happens on your wedding day, so long as you’re married the rest is just there to be enjoyed. Smile and keep smiling… and your memories will be amazing no matter what!
There are ideas aplenty here, from Wendy’s simple and graceful one-shoulder wedding dress to the classic rose bouquet, the warming tepees and festival vibe, archways of foliage and bunting lining the tepee roof… it’s just lovely, romantic and magical. Images are by Leeds wedding photographer Joe Stenson – do check out his website at www.joestenson.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/joestensonphotography
http://twitter.com/JoeStensonPhoto
Our wedding report: Wendy and David
Wedding venue:
St Margaret’s Church, Ilkley. Reception held in a field in nearby Beamsley
Wedding photographer:
Joe Stenson
Your wedding style and theme:
Traditional ceremony, followed by a relaxed country reception.
How long did you spend planning your wedding?
Over 12 months!
Best bit of budget advice:
Using a number of different suppliers drastically drops costs, as do the personal touches of DIY but both of these strategies test your stamina in the week prior to the wedding!
Did you fall in love with your wedding dress?
I was relieved to find something comfortable that I felt suited me. There’s a lot of pressure to fall in love with a dress immediately and in reality they can be very hard to wear!
Glitz and sparkle: the bride’s accessories:
Just a pair of pearl drop earrings and ivory satin shoes.
The groom wore:
Traditional morning suit with navy tie.
Beautiful bridesmaids: what did your best girls wear?
Grey dresses from The White Company and nude court shoes.
Hair and make-up – did you DIY or hire a professional?
Hair by The Salon, Ilkley and Makeup by Sarah Schofield, Leeds.
Wedding flowers:
Pale pink and ivory roses, with thistles. Ordered online and put together ourselves. The table centrepieces were gypsophilia wreaths around candles in vases, which looked clean and simple.
Wedding readings?
‘I Love You’ by Erich Fried, and Colossians 3:(12-17).
General styling – did your venue need much decoration?
Bales of hay provided seating outside (and would have been shredded to keep the ground dry if it had rained!) and an arch of foliage and roses marked the entrance to the tipis. We used bunting and swags of greenery inside. One bonus of the tipis is that they require less decoration than a white marquee. A year of collecting jam jars meant there was a candlelight at every table place which gave a warm glow in the evening. The overall look was warm, natural and outdoorsy. Favours were Kendal mint cake for the men and homemade makeup bags for the ladies.
The wedding cake: traditional or quirky?
Traditional and iced white, with lemon and chocolate tiers.
Entertainment:
Hattie Murdoch played a beautiful acoustic set at the reception, then a Beatles tribute band kept everyone dancing in the evening.
On the day tips and advice:
Eat a good breakfast and laugh as plans fall apart and the chaos unfolds- that’s what the memories are made of!
Quick supplier list for other brides and grooms:
Music http://hattiemurdoch.co.uk
Flowers http://www.trianglenursery.co.uk
Catering http://thehogandapple.co.uk
Tipis http://event-in-a-tent.co.uk
Dress http://bridal.amandawakeley.com
Photographs http://www.joestenson.co.uk
what do you think?