Today’s wedding is everything I love. An intimate, meaningful ceremony. Thoughtful details with pops of fabulous colour. A gorgeous couple whose words and wedding supplier reviews fill my heart. And breathtaking images by lovely Charlotte Sams Photography. I just know you’ll love this one too! Huge congratulations to Zoë and Shree – and thank you so much for sharing your day with English Wedding.
Wedding photographer’s website
South west wedding photographer Charlotte Sams
Wedding photographer review
We discovered Charlotte while searching online for a Bristol-based photographer. We looked on her portfolio and saw that she had shots from the Christmas steps, a location that was dear to us, so we sent an email asking about our day and what we wanted. She sent us an offer which we accepted (informally).
We then had a Zoom call to get to know each other and what we wanted, she was very friendly and just wanted to get know us a bit to better understand what we wanted and to put us at ease. We wanted mostly candid moments of the day and some couple shots around the city, she had shot at all the locations we wanted so understod exactly what we wanted.
We only needed half-day coverage to cover the morning from the Avon Gorge hotel to the afternon tea at Harbour Hotel. We had a rough idea of the timeline but she helped us structure it more and from the start, everything felt straightforward and well organised on her side, from signing the contract to discussing timings and locations.
Since we didn’t have a wedding planner Charlotte was a brilliant source of guidance, she was helpful with questions regarding how the ceremony would unfold: information we couldn’t find on the website of the registry office.
Close to the day we had a second zoom call to iron out final details so that everything flowed smoothly. During the day she blended into the background when appropriate to get the candid shots but was very accommodating of specific shots some of the guests wanted.
Charlotte knew some fantastic photo spots around Bristol. We have such lovely couple shots around the city thanks to her, including several that were special to us. She even stayed beyond her scheduled time to make sure we got a few extra shots, which we really appreciated.
Her communication was excellent throughout, and the turnaround time was rapid. We received a sneak peek within a couple of days and the full gallery just three weeks later. Charlotte is a lovely person to have with you on the day, and a total professional! We can’t recommend her enough.
Your best wedding moment or memory
Seeralan: My favourite moment was when we had dismissed the parents and went to Small Bar with our friends, it was nice to just relax and enjoy catching up with our friends.
Zoë: Walking around the city for the couple photos and going to all of the places such as the benches on King street where we first met and Christmas Steps where we walked down after a first date. We have now moved away from Bristol, so it was like we were taking a piece of Bristol with us.
Tell us anything you did differently – we love hearing about NEW traditions (or none at all!)
We originally wanted a very small family only wedding, so we planned just the ceremony and some afternoon tea with around 16 people. But then as we got closer to the wedding day we realised we wanted friends as well. Luckily we chose a fairly large ceremony room so we could get more people in just for the ceremony. However, the afternoon tea can only hold a maximum of 20 people so after the ceremony we had to dismiss our friends for the tea, and then we met up with just our friends in Small Bar for the evening.
Venue name + review
Some of our wedding guests stayed at the Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin, we mostly picked due to proximity reasons but it turned out to be an ideal venue for pre ceremony photos. It has beautiful interiors and balcony with great views of the gorge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Our ceremony took place at the Bristol Registry Office in the city centre. When we went for our notice giving and interview we were shown the inside of the room for the ceremony. We chose the crimson-walled “Red Room” (officially the Mayoral Room), and while I admit I was slightly taken aback by the bold colour at first, the light and setting of the room were beautiful and the photos turned out great. The two registrars involved were also very friendly and welcoming.
Following the ceremony, we hosted our afternoon tea at the stylish Harbour Hotel right next to the registry office. The interior is gorgeously decorated and the photos from there turned out so well. The staff were brilliant from start to finish. They were friendly, attentive, and incredibly accommodating, especially with a few dietary requirements in our group. Everything was well organised, and even though the space only seated around 20 people, it was ideal for our small gathering of family and close friends. The food was great, the scones were especially delicious, and everything felt freshly made and beautifully presented.
Tell us a little about your outfits – both of you!
Shree: I hired my wedding suit from Clifton Suits, a navy three-piece with a subtle tweed check, and was thoroughly impressed with both the quality and the service.
From the initial fitting to the final collection, it was a smooth process. A minor mix-up was resolved swiftly and without any fuss, which I greatly appreciated. The suit fitted perfectly and was comfortable to wear throughout the day. I paired it with a navy trench coat from YMC, although the suit itself was more than warm enough.
I wore a pair of tan brogues by Loakes which I got from InStep in bristol. The husband and wife owners are also lovely people who were incredibly helpful, in fact the first pair the owner picked was perfect, the man clearly knows his shoes.
Zoë: For my wedding outfit, I wore the elegant Afra bustier gown from crafted from Solace London. It was made of soft crêpe and satin with a subtle back slit that added a touch of glamour.
Over it, I layered a wool- wrap coat from the white company with an exaggerated shawl collar and detachable tie belt — warm, chic, and the perfect complement to the simplicity of the dress. To complete the look, I wore Rachel Simpson ivory peep-toe shoes, delicately adorned with double bows. They were my dream shoes (a lucky find on eBay for £35) and they made me feel every bit as special as I’d hoped.
Florist name + review
Roots Floral Designs has always been a special place for us. We used to live right next to it and it’s where I bought flowers for Zoë on our very first Valentine’s Day back in 2016, so it was natural to have them create our wedding flowers too. They offer beautfully designed set arrangements at extremely affordable prices.
To us custom arrangements was not important, only that it looked like the very first flowers I bought all those years ago. So we just picked the arrangement that matched the valentines flowers and the buttonholes and ordered online.
In the week leading up to the wedding, I popped into the shop a couple of times just to check in, and the team were always super friendly and very reassuring. They don’t usually open on Saturdays, but since our wedding was that day, we collected the flowers on Friday evening.
The florists gave us clear, practical instructions on how to keep everything fresh overnight and were so understanding about the timing. They even reassured us that if there were any issues the next morning, we could email and they’d come in early on Saturday to sort it! The flowers looked absolutely beautiful on the day and were still perfectly fresh. It felt really special to have flowers and a design from the same place that’s been part of our story from the beginning.
Any crafty projects or homemade styling touches?
Shree is Tamil and is of Sri Lankan origin so we had handwritten name cards for the seats that were in Tamil and English. And we got some lovely real petal confetti from Confetti Bee, confettibee.co.uk!
Wedding ceremony
The ceremony it self was straight forward, one of the registrars took us to a different room beforehand to do get the pronunciation of our names right. We used the speakers they had in the room connected to a phone and had some music planned. We had a pretty minimal ceremony, no readings just music for the procession, recession and some ambient music as various signatures were scribbled.
Hair + makeup name + review
Make up by Macy, makeupbymacy.com
Macy did an amazing job on my hair and makeup! I came to her with a vision for my hair that I wasn’t even sure would be achievable, but she absolutely exceeded my expectations and I received so many compliments on the day.
As someone who doesn’t usually wear much makeup, she completely nailed the subtle yet dressy look I wanted, and I felt so confident thanks to the excellent job she did. I found Macy through an online search for makeup artists in Bristol and booked a trial at her studio. The trial was great, she really listened to what I wanted, offered helpful suggestions, and made sure I was completely happy with the look.
A super stylish, utterly beautiful intimate wedding for you today – and one I’ve been beyond excited to share. Alice and Jackson married with their closest, most special people in the world… then the following day, headed to Tuscany all together! Their day is perfect, the images are toe-tinglingly amazing, and every moment of this wedding beams with joy. Images are by the exceptionally brilliant Grace Elizabeth Photography, who gets a gorgeous review from the happy couple!
Wedding photographer’s website
Devon wedding photographer Grace Elizabeth
Wedding photographer review
We honestly couldn’t be happier with our wedding photos! Grace was amazing – not only are the photos stunning, but she felt like part of the family throughout the day. She made everyone feel so comfortable, brought so much fun and creativity, and captured the vibe of our little wedding so beautifully. We would recommend her to absolutely everyone!
Your best wedding moment or memory
It was all perfect! The sun was shining, and we had the best time celebrating our wedding with family – both in Exeter and our trip to Italy straight afterwards! Jackson says his favourite memory was watching me walk down the aisle.
Tell us anything you did differently – we love hearing about NEW traditions (or none at all!)
After 12 years together (since school!), we wanted nothing more than a relaxed day with our closest family. The next morning we all jetted off to Tuscany for a few unforgettable days, and once everyone flew home, we carried on our honeymoon in Florence and Milan. It couldn’t have been more perfect!
Venue name + review
Venue was the Jury Room and Exeter’s Historic Guildhall. It was perfect, super central and full of character and history.
Tell us a little about your outfits – both of you!
I always knew I wanted to wear a short dress, just felt very me and went with the chill, fun vibe of the day.
Jackson’s suit was from Moss Brothers. As were all the men’s suits on the day, super helpful in the Exeter branch!
Dress or suit shop name + review
My dress, veil and shoes were all bought from Champagne & Charlotte in Bideford – couldn’t recommend enough! All was perfect. Dress was by Watters, Shoes were Charlotte Mills. Alterations were done by Lorraine at https://www.philhamhousedressmaker.co.uk/
Florist name + review
Dingles Florist in Barnstaple. Our flowers were perfect and exactly what we asked for. We loved having the freesias, peonies, and roses included, as they hold such a special meaning for our family.
Cake maker name + review
Cake was from Waitrose and was decorated by my mum and mother-in-law the night before! It was perfect.
Stationery maker’s name + review
I made our invitations myself on Canva.
Wedding readings?
We had two readings, a poem read by my little sister, Ellie. And another poem read by my father-in-law, Jason.
Hair + makeup name + review
My hair was done by Claire (my mother-in-law), and my make up done by Jasmine (my sister-in-law). Both are so important to me and so talented at what they do. They run Cross Street Social (hair and homeware studio) in Barnstaple.
An intimate wedding in the perfect setting today, as I write this blog from a damp and autumnal Lake District. The backdrop for Lois and Marcus’s day was beautiful: soft light on fading bracken and a relaxed ceremony by the shore of a private lake. Images are by Mark Battista Photography who gets a glowing recommendation from our gorgeous newlyweds!
Wedding photographer’s website
Lake District wedding photographer Mark Battista Photography
Wedding photographer review
We had such a great experience with Mark!
He instantly made us feel at ease – really chilled, funny and easy to get along with, which made the whole shoot so relaxed.
On top of that, his photos are amazing. He captured everything beautifully without it ever feeling forced.
Would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a Lake District wedding photographer who’s both professional and a joy to be around.
Venue name + review
The Gilpin was everything we could have hoped for and more.
The setting is absolutely beautiful, with the Lake House overlooking its own private lake – so peaceful and special.
The staff were amazing, so attentive and friendly, and they really made us feel looked after.
The food and service were faultless from start to finish.
Honestly, it was the perfect venue!
Tell us a little about your outfits – both of you!
The bride wore a beautiful ivory dress, while the groom looked smart in a blue suit, matching the style of our guests.
Our flower girl looked adorable in her own elegant dress, which tied everything together perfectly.
Florist name + review
Bluebell & Ivy Professional florist – unreal and so so perfect!
Images from our archives by London documentary wedding photographer Emis Weddings
Sometimes all the trends from every generation just seem to merge into something extra special. In fifteen years of writing about weddings, I’ve seen everything from vintage to fine art, boho and timeless weddings go by. A favourite “trend” for me was intimate weddings, which followed the 2020 pandemic out of necessity. And through all of these trends, one constant remained: the longing for a unique and different wedding.
Listen to experts like Mark Niemierko, the UK’s leading celebrity wedding planner, and you’ll see how uniqueness and creative thinking go way beyond wedding trends. And the quiet wedding – brought into the limelight by Gen-Z celebrities this summer – has always been a super classy approach for the ultimate in celebrity weddings. Suddenly we’re all talking about quiet weddings and “RegistryCore” (where your ceremony’s in your local registry office) is exciting news.
Should you have a quiet wedding?
Never listen to what the wedding media say you should do. Your wedding is your own, and it’s up to you whether you fall in love with this trend, or any other you see on Pinterest for that matter! We shared a lovely blog about quiet proposals earlier this summer, and scaling things back certainly seems popular right now. While the media are already proclaiming wedding trends for 2026, and many are talking of smaller guest lists and a focus on authenticity (and content creators!), plenty more will be claiming 2026 as a year of opulent, luxurious weddings. (They always do!) Everyone’s different… and that’s always been a wonderful way to approach planning an individual, unique wedding. You do you!
Pros and cons of quiet, registry office weddings
- Smaller guest lists are the simplest way to rein in spending
- Fewer guests will often mean less planning stress
- If you have a generous budget, a more intimate wedding allows you to focus on really luxurious details
- Personal touches can be ramped up if you’ve only a handful of guests. Think handwritten notes with special memories for every guest, or polaroids of your times together, elegant calligraphy menus and handwritten touches
- A pared down, minimalist ceremony in a registry office almost invites a full-on celebration later – and this can be anything you want it to be. Hire a celebrant, dance all day long, hike up a mountain. With the formalities out of the way, you can have a weddingy event full of imagination and authenticity – and that already sounds amazing
- But you can’t style a registry office wedding. I’m thinking of spaces like Hackney Town Hall, where your time slot is everything. In contrast, a country house or barn venue allows a creative, styled ceremony
- And you will have to sit through the standard, “we declare our relationship formally to the UK government” vows if you marry in a registry office. (Note: they don’t literally make you say those words, but that’s the gist of it, and romantic it is not!)
What can we learn from the RegistryCore and quiet weddings trend?
I’ve always loved wedding blog readers for being independent thinkers, and ahead of the crowd! You lovely lot don’t follow trends blindly – so it’s almost pointless me saying there’s more to this than meets the eye.
Q: Where did the ‘trend’ for registry office weddings come from?
A: A desire for a unique and different wedding.
Cheeky Q: What’s not going to be unique and different now?
Cheeky A: Registry office weddings. Oh.
If you’re looking for something unique and different, look to your relationship, to what makes the two of you special and unique (ask your friends).
I’ve yet to see a trend for not formalising your wedding vows at all, but having a celebration regardless – and that one, I will jump on the bandwagon for! Hell, I’ll drive the thing!
My ultimate tip for a unique and different wedding
Don’t avoid Pinterest and instagram entirely. Binge them – understand what other people are doing on their wedding days, and what you like and don’t like. Then drop all wedding social media like hot potatoes. Go cold turkey. (Sorry for the food metaphors: I’m writing this hungry!) Step away from all of those preconceptions about what a “wedding” should be, and ask yourselves how you’d celebrate your relationship and declare your commitment if you were the first couple ever to do it?
Where would you go? (up a mountain, out to sea, to Africa or Iceland?)
What would you wear? (party clothes, suits, wetsuits, glitter?)
Who would be with you? (no one, everyone, or family and friends at separate events or times?)
What would you eat? (breakfast, pizza, street food, ice cream?)
What would you dance to? (nothing, your fave festival band live, classical on the lawn or RnB at the coolest club in New York?)
Then do that. And have the most incredible time doing it!
Weddings with personality are always incredible. Alex and Folco’s unique Kent wedding is wonderful, with a stunning bespoke dress by lovely Felicity Westmacott and the picturesque backdrop of Hever Castle. History is important to this lovely couple, and everything about their day slots together just beautifully. Congratulations Alex and Folco, and thank you as well to talented Teri V Photography for allowing us to share the images of such a fabulously unique wedding on English Wedding today.
Wedding photographer’s website
https://www.terivphotography.co.uk
How did you choose your photographer?
Teri V was on a list of suppliers from the venue (Hever Castle) and we loved her style of photos the best.
Were you pleased with your wedding photographer? Do tell… we love a brilliant review!
Absolutely! She captured not only all the key moments but also the intricate details and the composition of her pictures is amazing. Five stars all the way! Incredible. Many people have commented that the photos are the best wedding pictures they’ve ever seen. All credit to Teri!
Tell us about your venue – what made this place special for you?
Hever Castle – I am very interested in Tudor History and had visited Hever before. It was Anne Boleyn’s childhood home and she was a dynamic woman who intrigued me. Although her wedding to Henry VIII didn’t end well, I still find the castle romantic.
Did you love wearing your outfits? How was the dress / suit shopping experience?
I knew I wanted to get a dress made for me from the very beginning; I’m curvy and often things off the peg don’t fit. What better opportunity than my wedding day to get a cutom made dress?! I was directed to the wondrous Felicity Westmacott who was willing and happy to work under time and pandemic constraints. The result was my amazing smoky pink silk dupion gown, with inspiration from the 80s, the 50s, the Victorian and Tudor periods. I will always love my dress and Felicity is truly the dress alchemist!
Folco’s suit was from Hugo Boss complete with a handmade tie that Felicity fashioned using the same silk as my dress.
From Felicity Westmacott, bespoke wedding dressmaker:
Alex contacted me about her dress right in the middle of lockdown #3 when no one knew what the next year would bring. I was so excited to have a bride enquire and be enthusiastic about wedding plans again, I couldn’t wait to get started!
Alex wanted to meld 1950’s and Tudor vibes to create something unique. Taking inspiration from history but not being held back by a sense of things having to be ‘right’ or ‘accurate’ is my ideal design atmosphere. The long sleeves and boned bodice hint at the Tudor history of her wedding Venue, Hever Castle, while the gathered seam detailing and full skirt are all 1950’s glamour. Alex has an amazing figure, tall and shapely, the perfect way to set off acres of fabric and statement design elements like the oversize bow-back train.
We emphasised Alex’s waist with a waist-cinching hidden lace up corset with the potential to pull in Alex’s waist line up to 4″. The dress closed over the top with a real button and loop back closure. I designed shaped panels on the bodice and underbust gathers for texture. The off the shoulder neckline swept to a slight point at centre front and revealed Alex’s decolletage. Long, slim sleeves fastened with real buttons and loops to echo the dress back.
The skirt was cut as full circle with a small, proportional train sweeping behind but then a big, long, statement bow with ‘sash ends’ extending far beyond the dress. Both the dress train and the sash ends had a wrist loops and bustle hook-up for dancing, of course!
Alex’s wedding date was originally planned for winter and we would have made the dress in a beautiful red velvet. But when plans changed to a summer wedding we simply lightened the colour and fabric weight to this beautiful dusty pink silk dupion to keep all the elements Alex wanted.
I also made Alex her cathedral length veil in soft grey to compliment the muted tones of her silk dress.
Did you hire a florist? Tell us about any floral amazingness
The wonderful Emma Fuller designed the bouquet, buttonholes and table flowers. She had worked at Hever as a gardener for many years and fashioned my beautiful bouquet in greens, whites, dusky pinks and lilacs.
Did you hire a wedding planner?
No, although I did consult Laura at Devine Bride to find a dressmaker. She was really helpful and directed me to Felicity Westmacott.
As cake lovers here at English Wedding we’d LOVE to know who made your cake, and how delicious it was?
My amazing sister Charlotte O’Kelly of Astrid Bakery made our cake. A two tiered delight, one lemon (groom’s favourite) one chocolate (my favourite) all finished off with a silk bow to match the one on my dress.
Tell us about any special personal touches, or creative projects you made yourselves
Jars of jelly baby favours.
Did you personalise your vows or have any wedding readings? What were they?
We weren’t allowed any readings in the ceremony because of covid regulations so at the drinks reception we had some poems and songs accompanied by the harpist.
How did the pandemic affect your wedding plans? Do you have any advice to share with couples planning their weddings right now?
We weren’t allowed readings and the guests had to wear masks in the ceremony. Of course the number of guests was limited too to 15.
Favourite wedding suppliers
https://sjbhairandmakeup.co.uk/
https://www.terivphotography.co.uk
https://felicitywestmacott.co.uk/
