I’m really loving taking a look back at our favourite weddings from 2018! Today is the turn of gorgeous Dinachi and Onu, whose day is elegant, beautiful and oh-so-beautifully styled. Dinachi told me their focus on the day was on having a relaxed and fun wedding day – and their smiles throughout are proof that they nailed it! The venue is Northbrook Park in Surrey,  their photographer is Marriedtomycamera.com. I LOVE this so much… I hope you do too!

More favourite weddings from 2018 – Rosie & Steve’s woodland wedding // James & Keye’s festival wedding // Tig & Piers’ glamorous celebration // Daisy & Will’s family-focused wedding.

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Dinachi and Onu’s wedding took place at Northbrook Park in Surrey, with the ceremony at All Saints church nearby. The wedding looks so wonderfully joyful, especially the images of stunning bride Dinachi and gorgeous groom Onu being introduced and dancing into the wedding breakfast! I can only describe today’s wedding as take-your-breath-away-beautiful. The styling and colour palette are uniquely elegant; florals and decor just divine. All this, and yet Dinachi tells me their focus was on having a relaxed and fun wedding rather than a ‘perfect’ one. It totally looks like both!

Wedding photographer’s website:

Marriedtomycamera.com

We both wanted pictures that would tell the story of our wedding and so when we saw David’s portfolio, it was an easy choice.

David captured the real and intimate moments as well as the liveliness and vivacity typical of a Nigerian wedding in England.

He also went out of his way to allay our concerns and make us comfortable; from getting a second shooter to deal with the myriad group portraits that Nigerians love to accommodating the extended hours of our after party.

The fact that all our friends and family love our wedding photos says it all.

The first time we saw our photos we were still on our honeymoon and it truly felt like we were getting married all over again as we went through the photos from getting dressed to our last dance of the evening.

Wedding venue:

Ceremony – All Saints Church, Crondall
Reception – Northbrook Park, Farnham

Wedding month:

July

Can you describe your wedding in fewer than 10 words?

beautiful, fun and relaxed – experiences not perfect arrangements

Your wedding style or theme:

Light and summery

Where did you find your suppliers? (Blogs, magazines, recommendations?)

Mostly online and through recommendations. Pinterest was great for getting ideas.

What’s your top tip for saving money?

Choose and budget for what’s most important to you and figure out what you can do without.
Go with a venue that suits your style with the least amount of additional work.
Get your dress in a sample sale and look out for sales for bridesmaids dresses and groom/groomsmen’s suits.

… and which elements of your wedding are you glad you spent more on?

The venue, photographer and food – that’s what everyone seems to remember.

Where did you buy or source your wedding stationery – or was making it a labour of love?

Half and half. We had our programmes done in Lagos and flown in just in time by our parents. However, the place cards for our small Nigerian wedding of 200 guests were hand written on luggage tags and only just completed the night before the wedding!

Did you fall in love with your wedding dress?

Eventually…but I still have second thoughts of the dress that got away.

Wedding dress designer and bridal boutique:

Maggie Sottero
Elizabeth McQueen Bridal

Tell us about your accessories: jewellery, shoes and anything else!

I bought my vintage style pearl earrings from a jeweller in my local market. Onu got me an engraved bracelet as a wedding day present. Shoes, I was bent on wearing something old until I fell in love with a pair of champagne pointies with blue laces from Hobbs.

And what did the groom wear?

A dark navy Reiss suit with a silver waistcoat and cravat, burgundy belt and shoes.

Beautiful bridesmaids: what did your best girls wear?

Pale pink floor length dresses from ASOS bridal.

Hair and make-up – did you DIY or hire a professional?

I wasn’t taking any chances on my makeup and my DIY hair trials didn’t quite go to plan, so it was professional all the way.

Describe your wedding flowers. Who arranged them for you? (florist details would be lovely please)

Blush pink sweet avalanche roses and peonies with white lizzy, trac and eucalyptus arranged by Rachel from Classical Floral Designs in Farnham.

General styling – did your venue need much decoration?

It was very bright and summery with lots of greenery so we didn’t need to do very much at all.

Crafts and makes – tell us about any homemade elements of your wedding… did you enjoy them?

I loved making our flower frame photo booth, a clothes line style table plan and baby’s breath wreaths for the flower girls.

The wedding cake: what kind of cake did you choose and why?

We went for a simple semi-naked cake with sugar flowers because we thought it would look great against the exposed brick walls of our venue and it was cheaper than a fully iced cake.

Entertainment: any musical recommendations, surprises or treats?

We had a Nigerian DJ play the latest Afrobeat hits.

Words of wisdom: share your best piece of advice for other couples:

Your wedding won’t be perfect, it will probably cost more than you budgeted for, and it will all be over in a flash. At the end of it all though, what you want to remember is the feeling of getting married to the love of your life in the happiest environment possible. So focus on what’s most important and don’t sweat the small stuff. (Disclaimer: easier said than done!)

What’s the best thing about being married?

Having a partner who accepts ALL of you, wants the best for you, and is willing to fully take part in the journey of who you are becoming. Oh and having a lifelong best friend to have fun with :).

Favourite supplier web links for other brides and grooms:

Florist – classicalfloraldesigns.co.uk
Decor hire – surreyweddingcompany.co.uk
Sound/light – farnhamsoundandlight.co.uk
Catering – magicfingersevents.co.uk
Videography – tajayi.com