While it’s chilly outside I like to feature a little sunshine on the English Wedding Blog – today, a summer garden party wedding with paper lanterns and bunting, bright flowers and of course lots of wonderful sunshine.
Rebecca is beautiful. She wears a gown by So Sassi, and a gorgeous floral headband by Rock n Rose, which I think is amazing! Lee looks fab in a suit from Slaters, and the flowers by Wild and Wondrous are just stunning.
Huge thanks to Zoe from ZT Photography for sharing the images of the day with us here on the English Wedding Blog. They really capture the atmosphere of the day, with romance and excitement in every one. Do check out ZT Photography if you’re marrying in the north west:
- www.ztphotography.co.uk
- www.facebook.com/ztphotographs
- @ZTPhotography
- www.pinterest.com/ztphotography1
- instagram.com/_tinkertaylor_/
Before I show you all the lovely pics, here’s my favourite snippet of advice from Rebecca: “Plan time for the two of you to be on your own at some part of the day. We went up to our room and stood on our balcony and looked out over the garden where all our friends and family were enjoying themselves. It was one of the most memorable times from the day.” Isn’t that lovely?!
Our wedding report: Rebecca + Lee
Wedding photographer’s website:
Were you pleased with your wedding photographer?
Yes, very pleased, they were just the right mix of professional, laid back and fun.
Wedding venue:
St James Church, Didsbury, Ye Olde Cock Inn, Didsbury, Eleven Didsbury Park, Didsbury
Can you describe your wedding in a single sentence?
A relaxed, sunny day with our friends and family.
What was your reaction to seeing your wedding photos for the first time?
It was very special to be able to relive the day and also see some things that we would have otherwise missed.
Your wedding style and theme:
Summer garden party, relaxed but quite traditional.
Any happy tears on the day?
We both nearly cried as I walked down the aisle, but we managed to hold it together. During the speeches I had to wipe away a few tears and then a few minutes later the tears really started when my bridesmaids gave me a book full of photographs and little messages from all of my closest friends.
How did the two of you meet?
We met on an online dating site but met for the first time in person in a bar that serves pies and peas. Lee treated me to pie, mash and peas and the rest is history!
How long did you spend planning your wedding?
Lee proposed back in the same bar where we first met. We were going on holiday to Australia shortly after so we didn’t start planning the wedding until after we returned, we then planned for just under a year.
Best bit of budget advice?
Think about what really matters to you, try not to get carried away with anything that you didn’t budget for and keep track of your spending – we used a spreadsheet!
Wedding invitations and on the day stationery:
We found a tree design that matched our garden theme and used this on all our stationery. We ordered our invitations online, but printed our own orders of service, menus and inserts. I wrote the seating plan by hand.
Did you fall in love with your wedding dress?
It took me a long time to find a dress that felt right, I tried on a lot and had a very understanding bridesmaid who trailed around with me, even though she was heavily pregnant at the time. In the end I found my dress in a shop that I found online, it was quite a drive away but it was well worth it.
Wedding dress designer and bridal boutique:
So Sassi by Sassi Holford, Bellissima Bridal in Ramsbottom
Glitz and sparkle: the bride’s accessories:
Rachel Simpson shoes, Rock and Rose flower headband, pearl earrings and bracelet that I had worn as a bridesmaid for my friend’s wedding (who was now one of my bridesmaids!), Alex Monroe silver bee necklace, my mum’s little heart ring. I had a Ted Baker floral shawl and parasol in case the sun got too hot, but I didn’t need to use either on the day.
The groom wore:
suit and tie from Slaters
Beautiful bridesmaids: what did your best girls wear?
My bridesmaids were both breast-feeding at the time so we needed to choose dresses that were both practical and gorgeous. I chose Phase Eight dresses in duck egg with pearl bracelets.
Hair and make-up – did you DIY or hire a professional?
Hair – my hairdresser, the lovely Steph from Toni and Guy came to the hotel to style my hair and my bridesmaids on the morning of the wedding. Make up – Emmalene Sophia, Didsbury. Emmalene also came to the hotel on the morning of the wedding to work wonders with our make up.
Wedding flowers:
from Wild and Wondrous, Blackrod. I wanted natural, English wild flowers and was really pleased with the results that Wild and Wondrous conjured up.
The ceremony:
Traditional church service at St James church Didsbury.
Wedding readings?
My sister read a quote from Dinah Craik’s A Life for a Life about friendship. Lee’s family friend read 1 Corinthians 13.
General styling – did your venue need much decoration?
No, Eleven Didsbury Park is beautifully decorated so there really wasn’t a need for many extras. We added paper lanterns and bunting to the area where we ate our meal and some extras on the tables such as jars of sweets as table numbers. I decoupaged a post box for wedding cards and we had a colour-in-a-bird picture in a frame which we asked guests to colour in and to add a personal message to each bird’s speech bubble.
The wedding cake: traditional or quirky?
We had a dessert table with a naked three layer Victoria sponge cake, chocolate honeycomb cake, Baileys cheesecake and rose and pistachio bars from Dish and the Spoon, Didsbury. We hear that all were delicious although unfortunately we didn’t get to taste them all ourselves.
Entertainment:
In the afternoon during reception drinks, we had a harpist, Louise Thomson playing in the garden and croquet on the lawn. During the wedding breakfast we held a raffle, which requested that guests write a joke or piece of advice on their raffle ticket to enter – a lovely keepsake for us. In the evening we had dancing to the fabulous singer/guitarist Nicky McCallan, later we played our own music playlist into the night through the venue’s sound system. Our photographers supplied their Boof! photo booth, which was a great hit with everyone in the evening.
On the day tips and advice:
Plan time for the two of you to be on your own at some part of the day. We went up to our room and stood on our balcony and looked out over the garden where all our friends and family were enjoying themselves. It was one of the most memorable times from the day.
What’s the best thing about being married?
We don’t feel any different from before we were married. Maybe the best thing is that nothing has changed!
Quick supplier list for other brides and grooms:
Photographers – ztphotography.co.uk
Cakes – And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon, Didsbury
Venue – Eleven Didsbury Park
Dress – So Sassi, Bellissima Bridal Gowns, Ramsbottom
VW Campervan – Split the Difference
Harpist – Louise Thomson
Guitarist – Nicky McCallan
Shoes – Rachel Simpson
Chocolate favours – Cocoa Cabana, Didsbury
Make up – Emmalene Sophia
Hair – Toni and Guy
Flowers – Wild and Wondrous, Blackrod
And The Dish Ran Away With The SpoonBellissima Bridal GownsEleven Didsbury ParkEmmalene Sophiagarden party weddingLouise ThomsonNicky McCallanRock n RoseSo SassiSplit the DifferenceWild and WondrousZT Photography
what do you think?