I’m in love with this wedding. It’s bright and joyful and colourful and… well, it’s everything. Jimmy and Aaron are gorgeous. Their photos show a love and tenderness which is just adorable. Their day is relaxed and fun, playful and full of special moments which are making me smile back at my screen. The venue is very quirky. Aaron and Jimmy are a super relaxed couple, very much in love and asked their guested to dress in the LGBTQ+ flag colours and they did not disappoint. The outfits and shoes were just wonderful, as you will see. It was a wonderful colourful wedding. I always like to begin a new month with an amazing wedding, and today’s makes me SO happy. I do hope you love it too!
Because of the pandemic, Aaron and Jimmy’s images were a team effort, as their original photographer, lovely Shell at Rose O’Toole Photography, had to self isolate. So their photo editor was Rose O’Toole Photography, and their photographer on the day was associate shooter Emma Shaw Photography. Emma stepped in to associate shoot at 24 hours notice, and the images are just wonderful and so full of love!
Wedding photographer’s website
How did you choose your photographer?
We did a Google search of photographers around Cambridge. We found Shell’s website and we immediately fell in love with her style of free and easy photography. It was really fun, natural and exactly what we wanted
Were you pleased with your wedding photographer? Do tell… we love a brilliant review!
We loved having Shell as our photographer. Right from the first email, she was fun and most importantly, replied immediately. Whenever we had a problem or query, she was on it straight away. She was also uber prepared, with lots of contingencies (especially for Covid issues), which really put our minds at ease.
She sadly couldn’t be our photographer due to Covid, but again, due to her amazing prep, her friend and colleague Emma stepped up and filled in for her and did a fantastic job in Shell’s place. Shell’s editing of the photos was fantastic and captured our day fantastically for us.
Start to finish, Shell has been, hands down, the best we could’ve hoped for and we are so lucky that she said YES! to us!
Videographer details if applicable – and any thoughts for other couples about having a wedding video?
Due to the pandemic, we had a lot of family and friends who couldn’t come from overseas, including Aaron’s dad in New Zealand. A few people as well, couldn’t come due to mixing in big crowds which was understandable. In order for as many people to be a part of the day, we hired a live streaming company. Everyone around the world was able to watch in real time and online afterwards and leave lovely messages for us. We were also able to save the stream to rewatch later as well. It wasn’t the same as having everyone there, but it was the next best thing. The only thing you had to worry about was saying something you shouldn’t whilst being mic’d up!
https://www.wedding-live-streaming.co.uk/
Tell us about your venue – what made this place special for you?
The Missing Sock in Cambridge fit the bill for us. It was exactly what we were after in a venue. We’re not formal or tied to any wedding traditions (unless they’re legal requirements!) And The Missing Sock is such a fun and quirky venue, with a laid back environment, which you can easily adapt to suit your wedding needs. Crucially, it had a huge outdoor area which catered to our Pride festival theme wedding, but plenty of indoor space for the night time and in case of our unpredictable British weather!
The staff were genuinely lovely and made the day a breeze! All of our guests had an amazing day and loved the venue.
Did you love wearing your outfits? How was the dress / suit shopping experience?
Our outfits were the BIGGEST headache of the entire process! It was only 3 days before the wedding that we were finally happy with what we were wearing.
We had so many ideas in our head that either didn’t pan out or were way too expensive, but we got there in the end. I think people mostly loved our shoes from the entire outfit!!
Did you hire a florist? Tell us about any floral amazingness
We didn’t hire a florist, instead we did our our floral arrangements. We got over 100 beer bottles, scrubbed them clean and filled each one with a single Gerbera flower and some fairy lights. We placed these around the venue and the effect was simple, but beautiful, especially at night.
It was a relatively inexpensive, but time-heavy solution.
Did you hire a wedding planner?
We planned about 90% of everything ourselves, with the help of the venue staff, especially Sarah at The Missing Sock. We managed to plan the wedding on a spreadsheet that I created and updated at every step of the way.
As cake lovers here at English Wedding we’d LOVE to know who made your cake, and how delicious it was?
Our cake was spectacular! We used Becky’s Cake Bakes in Cambridge as her designs are out of this world! That helped because we’re both sci-fi nerds and our cake design was based around our solar system! Right from the start, Becky was up for the challenge we set her of creating, and was so adaptable through the whole joyed
The cake was AMAZING, both in taste and design! The cake topper of the two of us was, spot on! Each layer was beautifully light and gorgeous!
https://www.beckyscakebakes.co.uk/
Tell us about any special personal touches, or creative projects you made yourselves
All of our decorations for the venue were decided and executed by us. We were so proud of ourselves by the way everything looked and flowed on the day.
We had quite a large planning spreadsheet which helped us with planning and budgeting that we created and updated over the entire process
Did you personalise your vows or have any wedding readings? What were they?
To be honest, this is the part that we were both slightly dreading. Standing in front of all those people and taking the final step in getting married. We kept it short and simple and read the prepared vows! The registrar was AMAZING! She kept the proceedings light and fun and interacted with us and the guests, which put us both at ease, which is exactly what we wanted.
What was your first dance song? Why did you choose it?
We adamantly didn’t want a first dance! We hate dancing! It was a conspiracy between my niece Evie and one of two of the best men, Tim and Stuart that surprised us with a first dance to George Michael & Mary J Blige – ‘As’. We didn’t choose the song, but as first dance songs go, it is a pretty amazing first dance song. We danced awkwardly and had fun at ourselves doing it, but it did mean that people were then dragged on to the dancefloor with us pretty quickly and got the night going, which didn’t stop until 2am!
How did the pandemic affect your wedding plans? Do you have any advice to share with couples planning their weddings right now?
We luckily only had to postpone our wedding once by 4 months. We managed to arrange our wedding via a very large and complex spreadsheet that we set up. We kept track of our spending, key dates for payments and a to-do list.
Do something while you can and have time to do it without being stressed. Don’t think “Oh I can do that later’ as ‘later’ will arrive a lot sooner than you think!
Make sure you have a clear idea in your head as to what you want and then allow for that not to be logistically or financially possible and then find a way around it. Other people may have a different and alternative way of doing things that you may not have thought about.
Don’t let others railroad you into doing something you don’t want to do. We made that mistake for a few things and cost us time and money.
What really helped us was going to a brilliant wedding 4 weeks before our wedding and creating a list of all the things that we hadn’t thought about and how we could tailor it around our wedding theme. We were very fortunate that happened for us, but it’s not always possible!
Favourite wedding suppliers
Photographer – Rose O’Toole Photos
Venue – The Missing Sock in Cambridge
Cake – Beckys cake bakes
Confetti – Dollz Confetti
Bespoke shoes – Embassy London
Entertainment – Max Marcus
Live streaming – Wedding Live Streaming
Max was a brilliant DJ and MC. He was really enthusiastic about the way the sound should be set up, the lighting for maximum effect and then the added extras like the amazing selfie-mirror that our guests loved and gave us extra photo memories on top of the official photographer.
Max has a library of music that you’re able to go through and create your own bespoke playlist, which he was able to use and do a fantastic mix on the night and kept everyone in a fantastic mood.
A glorious late summer inspiration shoot, with lovely Michele and Graziella, who’ve been featured on English Wedding before! I’m loving instagram right now as a place to discover some really lovely LGBTQIA couples who are modelling for wedding shoots like this, and today’s shoot is pretty special because we get to discover a little more about this gorgeous pair thanks to Stylish Celebrant Tony. The images are divine, with a sprinkling of much-needed sunshine! And I’m completely in love with the glorious yellow and blue florals on the wedding table, set in the grounds of the magnificent Marden Park Mansion. Thanks to lovely Jenny at Juno Weddings for sending this one in and introducing it with some special words below.
The aim of this shoot was to combine a fabulous real Lesbian couple with sustainable wedding elements in the beautiful English countryside. The amazing backdrop of Marden Park Mansion, surrounded by the rolling Surrey hills, provided the perfect canvas.
For this shoot I wanted it to be LGBTQ+ friendly and combined with the Pantone colours for 2021 (Ultimate Grey & Illuminating Yellow) to bring sunshine vibes to the English countryside. I wanted a sustainable element to the shoot which is demonstrated through the faux flowers used on the cake all of which will be reused and/or recycled. Inspired by Michelle and Graziella’s real love story their ‘ceremony’ was brought to life by Tony (celebrant) who used the couple’s journey as inspiration for their hand-fasting ceremony, combining 5 different coloured cords reflecting their love.
In researching their love story Tony asked Michele and Graziella what they love about each other, and these are just some of their comments
I love you because you know my fears, and stand by me as I face them
I love you because you can tell with just a look what kind of day I’m having
I love our ability to forgive one another and always find our way back
I love you because you make me feel like the most beautiful woman there is
I love you for the dreams you believe in, even when I have doubts
I love you for accepting every flaw, and building my strengths
I love you without knowing why, or how, all I know is I don’t want to stop
The love between Michele and Graziella, is so inspiring and I wanted their love to shine through the shoot and combining the bright coloured florals with the elegant surroundings bathed in sunshine brought my vision to life!
The outfits for Michelle and Graziella were supplied by Matchimony who I chose to work with on this shoot because I really identify with their business ethics and values. Their wedding outfits are designed, ethically sourced and tailor made in Vietnam, providing independence and income to local women who make their products and this for me speaks volumes about their ethical values, which married perfectly with the values of my own company and the styling for this shoot. It demonstrates that you can find ethical products for those couples who are more socially and environmentally conscious.
Marden Park Mansion wedding suppliers
https://thebostons.co/
https://www.lukebatchelorproductions.com/
https://www.makeupbybabicampos.com/
https://matchimony.co.uk/
https://www.unfauxgettable.co.uk/
https://www.rachelsokhalbridal.com/
http://www.dianehassall.com/
https://co-ordination.net/
https://www.stylishcelebrant.co.uk/
https://junoweddings.co.uk
https://www.woldinghamschoolvenuehire.co.uk/
Article by our friends at Truly Experiences, header image by Artisan X Photography. See Jennie & Verity’s wedding here
Are you looking for style inspiration for your same-sex or LGBTQI+ wedding outfits? We’re here to help!
Gone are the days of rigid rules regarding what brides and grooms can wear on their wedding days. Nowadays, you can essentially wear whatever wedding attire you’d like to – and while that gives you plenty of freedom, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed and at a loss as to where to start putting your outfits together. This is especially true when the big day you’re planning involves two grooms or two brides (or two people without any labels at all!).
Stephen and Colin, Lefkada, Greece. See their vow renewal on English Wedding here. Photographer credit Maxeen Kim, sent in by Lefkas Weddings
Do you want your outfits to match? Do you plan on dressing completely differently? What about your hair and makeup? Will both of you be wearing dresses or suits, or a combination thereof? Do you want your accessories and grooming styles to match, or would you rather express yourselves individually through your fashion choices?
Here are our best fashion tips for coordinating your same-sex wedding outfits to ensure that you both look flawless on the most important day of your lives!
1. Determine Your Dress Code
Your wedding’s dress code is an excellent place to start when you’re looking for outfit inspiration. What is the style of your venue, and what do you want your guests to wear to the ceremony? If you have a dress code in mind, consider the season in which you will be getting married as well.
Winter weddings call for warmer outfits, stylish thick jackets and longer dresses, while summer ceremonies give you a chance to play around with shorter and lighter garments. Working out your wedding’s dress code will immediately give your attire choice a direction.
From Michele & Graz’s Rustic Rainbow styled elopement in Kent, in the English Wedding archives. Image credit Wild Meadow Photography.
2. To Match or Not to Match?
Many same-sex and LGBTQ+ couples choose matching outfits for their weddings, but, as we mentioned above, there are no rules holding you back. Choosing matching outfits can make things easier for a pair of grooms in particular, while brides may struggle to find a dress style that flatters both of their body shapes and personalities.
One benefit of choosing matching outfits is that this choice immediately halves the number of decisions you need to make regarding your wedding attire. Matching outfits can also look sleek and impressive – and remember, you don’t need to match entirely, either. Shake things up with ties, pocket squares and shirts in different colours for grooms, or matching shoes, accessories or bouquets for brides.
3. Let Your Personal Style Guide Your Choices
If you and your soon-to-be-spouse aren’t keen on the idea of matching completely, you can still coordinate your styles while giving your outfits your own personal flair. Complementary outfits are a fantastic solution for any bride or groom pair, as they look cohesive and compliment each other without being too uniform.
There are a few factors to remember when coordinating your wedding outfit styles: your personal styles, your wedding’s colour scheme, and the dress code you’ve chosen for your guests. You could select a handful of complimentary colours and patterns or contrasting fabrics for your outfits, or change up your accessories to add interest to your looks. One can wear a bow tie and the other a necktie, for example, or one of you could wear a dress in a certain colour and the other a suit with a tie or shirt that matches that hue.
Brides can pick two vastly different dresses with similar details or fabrics to create visual cohesion in their looks. Couples can choose attire according to certain themes, like art deco or grandmillenial styles, to achieve this effect. Even the simplest of commonalities, like matching necklines or patterned ties, can coordinate wedding outfits beautifully. Bridal tuxedos and jumpsuits are in fashion right now, and they add an interesting spin on the traditional, tried-and-true white dress and suit combination.
Jess and Hannah’s dresses work beautifully together. Their wedding at The Green, Cornwall is here. Image credit Devon wedding photographers Evolve Photography and flowers by Pumpkin and Pye
4. Celebrate Opposite Day
Still not keen on matching your outfit with your about-to-be spouse’s? Each of you are free to choose an outfit that reflects your personal taste and style instead. This is a particularly suitable option for couples who have distinctive or alternative daily looks and want to convey their personalities through their choice of wedding attire.
Your wedding is the perfect occasion to express your true self, after all! One of you can wear white and the other black or colour, or one a dress and the other a suit, or any variation of traditional attire you can think of. The choice is up to you, so be sure to choose an outfit that you are comfortable with and expresses your individual tastes and preferences.
5. Coordinate Your Grooming
Groom and bride couples alike can add cohesion to their wedding outfits by harmonising their grooming and makeup approaches. For example, a pair of grooms can style their hair or beards similarly while keeping their outfits unique for a touch of uniformity without going overboard.
For many brides, hair and beauty forms a big part of their special day. Brides can have their makeup done in similar styles or highlight the same features with smokey eyeshadow or dark lipstick. If you don’t like the idea of looking like twins but you would like some visual unity, this is a subtle way to achieve that on a fairly minimal budget.
It’s Your Day To Shine
When it comes to same-sex wedding outfits, the sky is the limit. You can opt for traditional attire or choose to wear something completely unique and breathtaking on your big day.
Groom and bride pairs can opt to wear suits, dresses, or a combination of the two, matching, contrasting or somewhere in between. It’s no longer necessary to stick to the tried-and-true white dress for women and dark suits for men – unless you’d like to do so, of course.
Our top tip is to ensure that your wedding outfit communicates your irreplaceable sense of style and personality to your guests, and that you feel comfortable and confident while wearing it. If you’re pleased with your choice, your spouse will undoubtedly be happy too.
Back in the 1950s (or something) we called it the ‘bridal industry’.
In 2021, we’re a little more aware. And unless you’re a wedding dress shop*, if you’re starting a new wedding business you absolutely need to acknowledge that not every wedding has a bride.
*to be fair, I’d like to suggest that this applies to you too, dress shop owners!
Today’s blog post is nothing but a simple plea to new wedding brands: think ever so carefully before you call yourself anything ‘bridal’ or ‘bride’.
Be inclusive. Be welcoming to anyone who doesn’t identify as female. Consider whether your branding will alienate LGBTQ+ couples. (And realise, that from every possible perspective, alienating anyone is WRONG to do.)
Consider as well, that many weddings do have at least one groom. And that the wedding media portrays weddings as primarily a feminine thing.
Weddings are about humans: not just brides, just people in love.
And the words we use every day should reflect that and include everyone.
Thank you for reading this.
I’d love to feature more LGBTQ+ weddings and elopements on these pages. I don’t get nearly enough submissions – so if you’re a newlywed couple, or a photographer or stylist with a wedding you’d love to share, please please do email me to submit.
contactenglishwedding@gmail.com
Header image of Stephen & Colin from our archives – see the full feature here
Image credits:
Planner: Claire Salisbury of Lefkas Weddings
Photographer: Maxeen Kim Photography
Ceremony Venue: Fly Me Lefkada
Accommodation: Villa Avra
Groom Attire House of Fraser
Cake: Patisserie Il Sapore