Ayla & Jake’s beautiful (and very rainy!) woodland wedding in Hampshire, with Linus Moran Photography
I’m so proud to be able to say we feature EVERY kind of wedding on English-Wedding.com. For me, a wedding doesn’t have to follow a standard formula or conform to a particular look, or trend. It only has to be a celebration of love, with a splash of creativity and imagination… and gorgeous couple Ayla & Jake celebrated their commitment to one another in the loveliest possible way. A sunrise ceremony in English woodland, albeit on a very rainy day, an ‘official’ registry office marriage and a cosy and heartwarming day spent with friends and family make this a really special wedding for us to share. All images are by our lovely friend and Hampshire wedding photographer Linus Moran Photography.
Congratulations Ayla & Jake, and thank you Linus for sharing your images of their day!
Wedding photographer’s website
https://www.linusmoranphotography.co.uk/
How did you choose your photographer?
After looking at several online, we decided we wanted someone who could take beautiful candid images to really capture the day. Having looked at Linus, we loved how vibrant his images were! They were perfect for us, as we were using alot of colour in our decoration and theme. After speaking to him, it was a no brainer, he was perfect!
Were you pleased with your wedding photographer? Do tell… we love a brilliant review!
Absolutely! From start to finish Linus was fantastic to work with! We scheduled several meetings to discuss what we were looking for and to get to know each other. This was wonderful as it made everything feel so personal and well thought out.
On the day Linus went above and beyond the call of duty! We had a busy day planned! We were doing a laymen’s ceremony in the forest at sunrise, meaning a 6am start for him! He was not only willing to cater to such a ridiculous time, but he was energetic! More than could be said for us!
Following this was a civil ceremony at the registry office, then onto the reception venue.
He followed us throughout the day from venue to venue and captured every moment beautifully! It amazed us and our guests how he moved so quickly to capture each angle. At one point he was unexpectedly across a river!
He was joyful, kind and respectful during each part of the ceremonies and celebrations as well as wonderfully creative! He used the decorations to frame and create the most stunning images from the afternoon, so much more than we were expecting!
And to top it all off, he scouted and led us to a beautiful part of the woods to allow for some more intimate and quiet images of just Jake and I. These are a treasure as they not only resulted in some of the most beautiful candid portraits, but they gave us a quiet moment to reflect on the day, without the delightful distraction of guests!
All in all, he was fantastic! So much so that several of the bridesmaids, who also have upcoming nuptials have asked him to capture their day as well!
I cannot give him higher praise and we can’t thank him enough!
Videographer details if applicable – and any thoughts for other couples about having a wedding video?
The only regret I have is not having a videographer. They day was so overwhelming wonderful, and so full of emotion, that neither Jake nor I can remember all of the details of the day.
There were such lovely moments and beautiful words spoken, I wish I could relive it!
Tell us about your venue – what made this place special for you?
We had our laymen’s ceremony in a particular woodland that we would frequent for walks. They were where Jake and I met, and where we continue to visit. They hold so much history for us.
The reception was held in Brockenhurst village hall. We decorated it heavily and it looked absolutely gorgeous! Everyone at the hall was so helpful in working out what we wanted and needed for the day. This is what made it special for us. It was wonderful to know that there was support available when we needed it. If you’re looking for a large venue you can make your mark on in Dorset, look no further!
Did you love wearing your outfits? How was the dress / suit shopping experience?
Jake made parts of his outfit and used a suit he already owned, and I made my dress.
So I suppose the shopping experience was highly bespoke, fun and lengthy!
We both loved wearing our outfits!
Did you hire a florist? Tell us about any floral amazingness
A dear friend of ours put the flowers together from foraged foliage and flowers. They were absolutely stunning.
Did you hire a wedding planner?
We didn’t hire a planner, but the leading lady at Brockenhurst village hall helped us out immensely! Her experience of wedding receptions is far more vast than ours!
As cake lovers here at English Wedding we’d LOVE to know who made your cake, and how delicious it was?
I made the wedding cake, it took a long time and a LOT of iceing sugar!
I was very pleased with how it came out! But the amount of time put into making it! Unless you absolutely LOVE to bake, as someone to make it for you!
Tell us about any special personal touches, or creative projects you made yourselves
Jake and I made pretty much all of it. We rescued some cut coppicing and created our own little autumn forest. Not a patch on the real thing outside, but it brought some of the magic inside with us.
I made my dress, Jake made his waistcoat. We made cravats and buttonholes for the gents, and hair decoration and pendants for the ladies.
We made wire sculptures of woodland animals for the table decorations. These came out wonderfully with the addition of lights and foliage around them.
We made the cake, and a lot of nibbles for the afternoon.
Our guests were fantastic and each brought a dish of sweet or savoury food for the evening reception. No one went hungry that night!
The most special part for me though was the rings. Jake carved each of our rings himself. They mean so much to both of us, because of the design and time that went into them.
Did you personalise your vows or have any wedding readings? What were they?
We did personalise our vows to each other, and we had personalised readings from our parents.
There wasn’t a dry eye around after the ceremony, and during the evening reception.
What was your first dance song? Why did you choose it?
Thin Lizzy, Dancing in the moonlight.
It’s just the perfect song for us.
Favourite wedding suppliers
https://www.linusmoranphotography.co.uk/
http://brockenhurstvillage.org.uk/
https://www.thenewforestpizzaco.co.uk/
2 Comments
Radek · January 8, 2021 at 11:33 pm
Absolutely gorgeous wedding, love the photography, especially from the woods. That cake made by bride, my goodness, very special!
Melanie Soden · January 19, 2021 at 10:54 am
What a wonderful vibe – can’t beat an outdoor wedding for that amazing natural relaxed feeling. I love the photography, the colours the couple chose, the flowers and most of all that incredible cake. Very inspiring.