Hello my lovely! It’s wedding time again, and today we’re heading to The Great Barn in Rolvenden, Kent, for Chantal and Alex’s spring wedding. It’s beautiful – highlights are the styling and decor for the barn, which Chantal describes as a blank canvas. The paper lanterns are quirky and different, I think you’ll love them!
Chantal’s wedding report includes some great advice for other couples: “Make sure you take time to yourselves as the day goes so fast and remember something will always go wrong but it really isn’t important, just remember the reason why you are getting married!” – there’s plenty more to read so do grab a cuppa and scroll right down to the end today. The lovely images from Penny Young Photography are just gorgeous so if you’re looking for a wedding photographer in Kent do check her out!
www.pennyyoungphotography.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-Young-Photography/277932812258375
blog.pennyyoungphotography.com/
Huge thanks to Chantal and Alex for sharing their day and writing a lovely wedding report listing suppliers and giving great advice! Everyone – enjoy!
Chantal and Alex – married at The Great Barn, Rolvenden, Kent
Our wedding report: Chantal & Alex
Wedding photographer’s website:
Were you pleased with your wedding photographer?
Absolutely, Penny and Jim were amazing and really put us at ease which was so important for us. We feel like we have known them for years!
Wedding venue:
St Mary’s Church Speldhurst and the Great Barn in Rolvenden
Wedding date:
5 April 2014
Can you describe your wedding in a single sentence?
A relaxed family affair
What was your reaction to seeing your wedding photos for the first time?
Thrilled with how beautiful they were, it was so lovely to relive the day and to see the things we had missed. The photos were better than we could have imagined.
Your wedding style and theme:
Country – Though we did want to capture all the things that were important to us! We love the countryside so a barn was perfect! I’m originally from London so we hired an old routemaster bus to transport our guests and the place name cards were actually beach pebbles as Alex proposed at Camber Sands.
Any happy tears on the day?
Lots, from first seeing the flowers as they turned up at our cottage to waiting outside the church, and saying our vows
How did the two of you meet?
In a bar in London, not the most original story!
How long did you spend planning your wedding?
15 months, but mainly as we wanted a spring wedding
Best bit of budget advice?
Decide what the most important things to you both are and prioritise these. It’s also worth splashing out on an amazing honeymoon!
Wedding invitations and on the day stationery:
Wedding invitations by Heritage Stationery and order of service provided by our church. Everything else was handmade
Did you fall in love with your wedding dress?
Absolutely, I knew as soon as I put it on that it was the perfect dress
Wedding dress designer and bridal boutique:
Nicola Anne from Isabella Grace, Tunbridge Wells
Glitz and sparkle: the bride’s accessories:
Earrings & hair pins from Chez Bec’s from Isabella Grace along with the veil. Necklace was a gift from Alex on our first Christmas together. 1 pearl bracelet was a gift from my sister and the other was my great Nan’s, a present from her parents on her 21st birthday. Finally I hung a pearl ring from my bracelets which I borrowed from my sister. I also had 2 pairs of shoes, 1 for the day and 1 pair of flats for dancing!
The groom wore:
Moss Bros hire– Black tails, stripped trousers and a grey waistcoat
Beautiful bridesmaids: what did your best girls wear?
Vintage style dresses in Oasis from Dessy
Hair and make-up – did you DIY or hire a professional?
Professional – by Nicki Humble who was wonderful
Wedding flowers:
Absolutely beautiful – from the Flower House in Mayfield
What do you remember most about the wedding ceremony?
Our vows, we had traditional ones and hearing Alex say those words still brings a tear to my eyes
Wedding readings?
2 bible readings, we wanted to keep the service traditional. They were read by my aunt and Alex’s sister
General styling – did your venue need much decoration?
Loads – it was a blank canvas so we had to hire everything in and decorate ourselves, it gave us more scope to show our personalities in the venue
The wedding cake: traditional or quirky?
Traditional and delicious!
Entertainment:
Harp during drinks (Nicola Veal) and a DJ in the evening
On the day tips and advice:
Make sure you take time to yourselves as the day goes so fast and remember something will always go wrong but it really isn’t important, just remember the reason why you are getting married!
What’s the best thing about being married?
Knowing that we get to spend the rest of our lives together and thinking about all the exciting things to come
Quick supplier list for other brides and grooms:
Dress: http://isabellagracebridal.com/
Bridesmaid Dresses: http://www.poshfrocksandgowns.co.uk
Cake: http://www.cake-a-licious.org/index.html
Flowers: http://www.theflowerhouse.biz/
Caterers: http://www.chicksthatchop.co.uk/
Reception Venue: http://www.greatbarnweddings.com/
Car: http://www.ryeclassics.co.uk/
Invitations: http://www.heritage-stationery.com/store/home.vc
Harpist: http://www.nicolaveal.co.uk/
Cake a liciousChicks that ChopGreat Barn RolvendenIsabella Grace BridalOld London BusPenny Young PhotographyPosh Frocks and GownsRye ClassicsThe Flower House
what do you think?