The jury’s out on whether this is a festival-style wedding, or a festival with a wedding in it. Because this amazing pair’s festival game is strong! All the love for GORGEOUS couple Jamie & Luke for celebrating their way. This wedding / festival rocks its socks off, and we’re all in for the party of the decade!
Our beautiful bride and groom had the look, taste and sound of a real mini festival, with fire dancers (keep scrolling – they’re at the end!) and bands and musicians playing full sets before the DJ took over late in the evening.
Wedding photographer’s website
Wedding photographer review
Amie was great and listened to all ideas that we had. She made the day really enjoyable!
Your best moment or memory
Walking down the aisle surrounded by so many friends and family (lock down rules for outside weddings had only been lifted 2 weeks prior.) A friend was marrying us and another friend sang Mrs Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel.
Tell us anything you did differently – we love hearing about NEW traditions (or none at all!)
Our confetti was hand dyed rice that was passed out to all our guests. We had a children’s tent with 2 childminders in to help entertain the children. We also had 2 different food vans to give the wedding feel!
Our Fire Dancers were amazing – they were from House of Bonita Entertainment
Venue name + review
We hired 3 teepee style tents from Elite Tents. They were amazing and they were so helpful when the wedding got postponed due to Covid. Wedding was held in Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire, on my parents land.
Tell us a little about your outfits – both of you!
My dress was by the designer Lillian West and bought from Elia Pearl in Rugby. Suits were hired for the groom and best man.
Dress or suit shop name + review
Ellia Pearl in rugby, just an amazing shop they made me feel comfortable and made the choice very easy!
Florist name + review
The Wild Bee and Me – Sarah Sutton – She was incredible, listened to exactly what I wanted and the flowers were just beautiful
Cake maker name + review
wildflower cakes bakery – Dawn Cunnington – The cake had white icing on the outside and inside had different coloured layers all with different flavoured sponge but was just right and was perfect
Music
Music – As it was a festival themed wedding we had Phil Poole sing us down the aisle and did a second set. James Currey did 2 45 min sets. Steve Faulkner did 2 30 min sets! And we finished it off with the amazing DJ Fitz Samuel who was joined for a while by a saxophone player from light it up
Any crafty projects or homemade styling touches?
First dance song? Playlist recommendations?
Love someone by Lukas Graham
Wedding planner name + review
Hayley Knight – a colleague of my dads that saved the day and saved me from getting too stressed out
Hair + makeup name + review
I did the make up Jade Elizabeth did my hair I was so so amazed she did exactly what I asked which wasn’t the easiest!
Vibrant colour, a gloriously fun and joyful aesthetic, and a wedding which went by in a blur of laughter and love! Today we’re beaming with happy Friday-ness as we share gorgeous couple Sophie & Kris’s Hothorpe wedding, with images by the fabulous Hannah Hall Photography.
Wedding photographer’s website
Hannah Hall Photography https://hannahhallphotography.co.uk/
Wedding photographer review
Hannah was absolutely incredible! Not only was she an epic photographer that delivered the most gorgeous shots, she was a lifeline navigating pandemic planning and was so helpful on the day helping us make the most of every little moment.
Your best moment or memory
Honestly the whole day was just a blur of laughter and love! I do have a soft spot for our ring exchange, when we discovered Kris’s ring was actually a bit too small and I had to force it on in front of everyone
Venue name + review
Hothorpe hall woodlands We were so happy to find our dream venue at the woodlands. Finding an outdoor, woodland ceremony space that also had a proper bar and kitchens and toilets (!!!) was just perfect for us, it meant we managed to have a DIY aesthetic without actually having to do any of the logistical work!
Tell us a little about your outfits – both of you!
My dress was a beautiful long sleeved beaded number from Eliza Jane Howell. I bought my dress during lockdown so I actually only managed to try on one and thankfully it was perfect! It was definitely an odd experience trying on my wedding dress for the first time in my bedroom on my own! Kris tried on so many more suits in every colour available and landed on a nice neutral sandy colour which made the bright Liberty accessories pop.
Dress or suit shop name + review
Dress was a sample via still white, a perfect opportunity to own my dream dress in budget!
Cake maker name + review
I was very lucky that my best friend and maid of honour is an incredible baker and she made our cake and all our evening goodies for us
Any crafty projects or homemade styling touches?
We DIY’d as much as possible, I designed all of our stationery myself and roped in bridesmaids for everything from bunting stringing to place card making
First dance song? Playlist recommendations?
Our first dance was Kiss Me by six pence none the richer and we had an indie disco DJ that played all the throwbacks from our teenage years
Hair + makeup name + review
I was again very very lucky to have very talented hair stylist and makeup artist friends who did absolutely everything for me!
Lake District wedding photographer Hannah Hall is a member of English Wedding, available throughout the UK
Web: https://hannahhallphotography.co.uk
And now for something completely different…
I’d like to think this wedding is at the heart of everything you’ll see on English Wedding. It’s full of fun and character, loaded up sky high with hearty chuckles and must have been the BEST day for everyone who was there.
Bride and groom Gemma & John share a brilliant sense of humour, and there are plenty of photos here which will make you laugh out loud. Their wedding was sent in by our good friends, London wedding photographers York Place Studios. It really shows how essential it is to ‘click’ with your wedding photographers… whether that’s over a shared sense of humour, love of Monty Python or anything else that makes you grin!
Gemma’s gorgeous; John her perfect partner and you can see their love and laughter just bursts from the screen. There’s every bit of wedding magic here: the stunning dress and fabulous suit, the beautiful bouquet, the lovely venue full of fairy lights… and that’s just for starters. The props and signage are utter genius, the entire day just looks incredible. Often I’ll try to pick out a favourite ‘bit’ of a wedding we feature here, but (dead parrots, spam and eggs notwithstanding) I can’t choose which moments I love best, and I can’t stop scrolling and laughing at John and Gemma’s uniquely wonderful day!
Huge thanks to Dom & Liam at York Place Studios for sharing this gem of a wedding with us today. You can (and we recommend you do!) find out more about their documentary wedding photography style over at https://www.yorkplacestudios.co.uk.
Oh, and if you’re looking for wedding table centrepiece ideas, do consider the classic dead parrot, won’t you?!
Award-winning wedding photographers York Place Studios and York Place Films are members of English Wedding
Web: www.yorkplacestudios.co.uk
Lisa and Duncan’s is a beautifully unconventional wedding, and one we’re more than thrilled to be able to share with you today. The couple’s own words of wisdom are golden so we won’t waffle on, other than to mention their amazing Kent wedding photographer Benjamin Toms, who’s kindly shared his images of the happy pair with us today. Over to Lisa & Duncan because we LOVE their wedding story:
“We’re not big fans of the wedding hype. Covid had a lot of negative impact on the wedding industry, but one good thing was enabling people to shrug off convention and not get caught up in spending money for the sake of it. Love and fun are all that matter! There is such unnecessary pressure on couples to have the ‘perfect day’. Our advice would be to pick a couple of things that are really important to you, and focus on those. For us it was fun, friends, food, and dancing. Don’t do anything for anyone else: no one cares if there aren’t favours on the table, you don’t need to hand write everyone’s place name, or get fancy paper invites. Don’t invite people just to be polite. Don’t do it because your mum/best friend/Aunty thinks you should. Ask yourself, “will I remember this in 20 years time?” If the answer is no, then smile and let it go. It’s very liberating!”
Kent wedding photographer’s website
https://benjamintomsphotography.co.uk/
How did you choose your photographer?
We wanted relaxed, informal and fun photos, and Ben’s past wedding pics were just like that. We had a quick chat over the phone and booked him straight away.
Were you pleased with your Kent wedding photographer? Do tell… we love a brilliant review!
Yes, we adore our pics. Ben and his assistant really captured the celebration and love of our wedding day.
Videographer details if applicable – and any thoughts for other couples about having a wedding video?
https://www.wagtailproductions.co.uk/alternative-wedding-video
We wanted a video to capture the speeches, guests and dancing so we didn’t forget all those details, and to share it with people who couldn’t attend. Ayla makes the most beautiful and unique wedding videos, and she was so easy to work with.
Tell us about your venue – what made this place special for you?
We wanted to get married somewhere that was relevant to us; somewhere we’d visit and enjoy for years to come. Luckily we live in Margate, so we decided to get married on the beach. We walk past the spot pretty much every day and it’s made our hometown feel even more like home. We had the wedding day across three venues, and guests paraded between them waving sticks with ribbons on as the kids bashed tambourines. It was brilliant.
Did you love wearing your outfits? How was the dress / suit shopping experience?
I got an off the rack dress from Free People for £200 and then a spangly jumpsuit from Rosa Bloom for the after party. I couldn’t bring myself to spend silly money on a white dress I’d never wear again, so these were both perfect. So comfy, fun and easy to wear https://www.rosabloom.com/
Did you hire a florist? Tell us about any floral amazingness
Posy Patou created the most incredible floral headdress from paper flowers, with each flower carrying a special meaning for us https://www.posypatou.com/ It’s something I will wear to every party from now on! I loved the idea of paper flowers over fresh, as they’re more sustainable and last forever. The headpiece was so elegant, and much better than being lumbered with a bunch of flowers in my hand!
Did you hire a wedding planner?
Camille was the most incredible wedding planner. She helped us plan the day, think through logistics and imagine what we wanted it to look like. On the day, she prepped the beach and decorated the evening space with incredible paper art. We loved working with her and she filled our day with joy, love – and no stress! https://www.instagram.com/posy_patou_weddings/
What was your first dance song? Why did you choose it?
At Last, by Etta James. We had the most incredible Kent wedding band. They were relaxed, professional and had everyone dancing all night. We trawled the internet for a decent band who weren’t too cheesy, but who played the kind of music we love – and Double Bass Dan exceeded all expectations https://www.doublebassdan.com
Favourite wedding suppliers
https://benjamintomsphotography.co.uk/
https://www.wagtailproductions.co.uk/alternative-wedding-video
https://www.rosabloom.com/
https://www.posypatou.com/
https://rebeccabrownmakeupartist.co.uk hair and make up
https://www.doublebassdan.com/ the most incredible wedding band
https://jessicaleahcatering.com/ a mind blowing, family-style sharing feast from Kent wedding caterer Jessica Leah
https://carouselcreche.co.uk/ wedding creche is genius. The kids and parents both have fun!
Kent wedding photographer Benjamin Toms is a member of English Wedding
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/
