I’d elope. I’ve never shied away from saying this: if I got married right now, I’d elope. Easy. There’s just something wildly romantic about it being just the two of you (plus an amazing celebrant and lovely photographer, obvs) – and escaping into remote nature to say beautiful words – it’s my dream. So today’s glorious feature comes from stunning couple Matthew and Jane, with lovely Hannah Brooke Photography. I hope you’ll adore this as much as I do.
Matthew and Jane met 4 years ago whilst Matthew was in his penultimate year at university. Although they both attended the same university, their paths didn’t cross until after Jane had graduated. A chance encounter over university accommodation for a friend of Jane’s was the first time they met. They chatted and realized they had been at the same university for a number of years, had mutual friends, hung out in the same buildings but never once saw each other (Matthew says seeing Jane’s face is something he would have never forgotten!)
Though their meeting was far from conventional, they exchanged numbers, went for a drink to discuss the accommodation….and the rest was history!
They had loads of adventures together, culminating in the biggest adventure of all; when Matthew asked Jane to marry him on New Year’s Eve 2019 at Liverpool Waterfront.
They planned the wedding for November 2020, and we all know what happened in 2020! That said, restrictions were easing by the autumn so they planned to go ahead with just 15 guests and had to scramble to rearrange their wedding in 3 days before the November lockdown started!
Since they never got to experience a full wedding, they accepted an unexpected offer from our original decorator @sweetpea_and_ivy to model in their beautiful themed wedding shoot earlier this year. They loved every second of it and decided to embark on this new adventure together where they could showcase the amazing talent of lots of different suppliers in the wonderful wedding industry!
Peak District Wedding Supplier Credits:
Photography https://hannahbrookephotography.co.uk
Dresses @laurajanebridal
Hair & Make Up https://www.chryschapman.com
Bridal headpieces https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SaintBethofficial
Custom leather jacket https://www.themermaideffect.co.uk
Menswear @haworthmenswear
Flowers https://www.etsy.com/shop/bettybloomgifts/
Celebrant https://www.megsenior.com
Happy couple Matthew & Jane
Fairytale wedding inspiration from one of England’s finest castle locations – the dress detail is stunning, as are our bride and groom. The romantic, blousy florals look absolutely breathtaking, and the cake is as elegant as they come. Horse lovers should keep scrolling all the way for Catherine’s Carriages’ magnificent horses (is it ok to say I’m more of a donkey girl?) Thanks to lovely Sue from Elizabeth Anna Cake Design for sharing this wonderful wedding inspiration with us! This styled photoshoot previously featured on Bridal Musings is all kinds of beautiful and I hope it brightens your day! With love,
Photographer – www.saracooperphotography.com
Stylist – www.thetwohummingbirds.co.uk
Venue – www.clearwell-castle.co.uk
Dress designer – www.carolinecastigliano.com
Bridal boutique – www.rachelash.co.uk
Suit designer – www.peterposh.co.uk
Florist – www.ravenandryegrass.co.uk
Stationery – www.instagram.com/hannahlwatt
Wedding Planner – www.smittenweddings.co.uk
Cake and Favours – www.instagram.com/elizabethannacakedesign
Video – www.whitevillaweddings.co.uk
Hair and Make Up – www.roseforrestmakeupartist.co.uk
Bride’s Shoes – www.bellabelleshoes.com
Tiaras – www.ivoryandcotiaras.co.uk
Veils – www.sashandveil.co.uk
Wax Seals and Embossing – www.heirloomseals.com
Celebrant – www.lizbagleycelebrant.co.uk
Car – www.satinandlaceweddings.co.uk
Horse and Carriage – www.instagram.com/klewis306
Confetti – www.shropshirepetals.com
Every little girl dreams of a fairytale wedding in a castle with a horse and carriage right? ‘Gather white horses, a couture gown, blush florals, and sprinklings of natural petal confetti and the result is pure magic’ says wedding planner Dheyna Scholz of Smitten Weddings.
Real Qatari-born couple Shriya and Baks were our fairytale couple at Gloucestshire’s Clearwell Castle. Photographed by Sara Cooper Photography, this shoot is the stuff of little (and big) girls’ dreams.
Lovely Kerrie from Vivienne May weddings sent this fabulous shoot in – I just love the festoon lighting, the magnificent florals and the super cute dinky painted macaroons! The delicate shoulder details on the bride’s dress are lovely, and it makes me very happy indeed to see a groom styled without a tie for a summer wedding. (Huge fan of simple shirts and waistcoats here – always plan to lose suit jackets immediately after the ceremony, guys – especially for a boho wedding day!) The florals are the star of the show – they are incredible! Beautifully arranged by Julia Dilworth, these absolutely make the teepee atmosphere and I just know you’ll love them. I’ll hand over to Kerrie to tell you more. Have an excellent weekend, everyone! (Enjoy a little respite from the heatwave – I can’t wait for just a little rain!)
When Nadine from Teepees & Tents asked me to assist with planning and styling one of her amazing Teepees at a newly launched Wedding Venue in Northamptonshire, she asked me to think outside the box; it had to stand out and be different to a traditional rustic look that usually springs to mind when thinking of a Teepee Wedding. I replied instantly: Challenge accepted!
Nadine has an incredible eye for detail! She also owns Nerissa Eve Weddings and she supplied all of the gorgeous decor and tableware for the shoot. From the beautiful, ornate candlesticks, to the intricate glass tealight holders, to the delicate glassware, all added that perfect hint of luxury that we were aiming for! Nadine has also started hiring out a collection of lovely tableware including hemstitched linen napkins, frilly gold rim plates and matching cutlery that are super pretty and were key in bringing the table to life!
New Lodge Lawns is a picturesque family-run venue set in the rolling Northamptonshire countryside (and the views are incredible!) They also have a Vineyard on-site (another perfect backdrop for photographs when in bloom) and the Teepee location was set amongst the Bluebell Woods and it truly felt like we were in the middle of a magical, fairy woodland.
From visiting New Lodge Lawns and seeing their stunning gardens, I instantly knew that I wanted to use an abundance of colours so we began a Pinterest board filled with country garden roses, elegant tableware and delicate details!
We chose three pretty pastel shades of pink, blue and lilac and used matching Ester & Erik candles to bring more colour to the tables. However myself and Nadine wanted to ensure an equal balance of Pretty vs. Woodlands, so when it came to deciding about furniture, we chose wooden cross-back chairs and a vintage suitcase to act as a coffee table, whilst also including a whiskey barrel for the cake and casual tables, this perfectly complemented the pastel shades and brought layers of textures to the overall styling.
When we mentioned to Julia from Julia Dilworth Florals that we wanted to bring the quintessential country garden inside the Teepee, she was so excited about the colour palette and she went above and beyond our expectations (especially with the entrance displays!) We also asked Julia what she thought about a decorative hanging display to sit above the main table and this was a showstopper! She used an old ladder and draped Ivy throughout, then suspended glass baubles filled with flowers and candles that floated just above the Top Table.
We added several gold accents to add a level of luxury to the shoot, from the glassware, to the vintage candlesticks, to the ornate crockery; all perfectly complemented by the flickering glow of hundreds of candles and pink lanterns hanging from the beams, making it a truly romantic setting.
The stationery by Jenna was timeless and elegant, and the place names had silk ribbon delicately floating off the side of the table settings, whilst the table plan was printed on material, adding a striking addition to the entrance of the Teepee.
The fabulous cake was created by Debbie from My Little Cake Studio who included intricate sugar hydrangeas and heavenly roses which matched the flower displays perfectly. Debbie also made a selection of beautiful macarons for the favours (and they tasted delicious too!)
We opted for natural, glowing makeup by Yvonne Aucott and a wavy updo with wispy curls by Amelia for the Bride to ooze an effortlessly, chic look. This was perfectly complemented by a stunning Sassi Holford gown provided by the fabulous team at Courtyard Bridal Boutique.
And for the Groom, we wanted a suit that had a nod to the British countryside and a handsome Marc Darcy tweed suit from Albie & Lonnie’s was the perfect fit!
The couple finished the evening by cuddling up around a cosy fire, complete with marshmallows ready to be toasted!
Planner, Stylist & Co-Designer: Vivienne May Weddings
Teepee, Furniture & Co-Designer: Teepees & Tents
Décor, Tableware, Linen: Nerissa Eve Weddings
Photographer: Sarah Vivienne Photography
Wedding Venue: New Lodge Lawns
Florist: Julia Dilworth Florals
Cake & Macarons: My Little Cake Studio
Bridal Boutique & Hair Accessories: Courtyard Bridal Boutique
Dress Designer: Sassi Holford
Stationery: Jenna Claire Stationery
Suit Store: Albie & Lonnies
Suit Designer: Marc Darcy
Makeup Artist: Yvonne Aucott Makeup Artist
Hair Stylist: Amelia Grace MUA
Lighting: Strobe Disco Roadshow
Modelling Agency: Mustard Models
Models: Chelsea & Tom
The most beautiful whimsical florals you ever did see, and a beautifully styled summer wedding scene for you today! This romantic inspiration is from lovely Mel at Your Story Events. Collaborating with an amazingly talented team of Crockwell Farm wedding suppliers, Mel brought together this beauty of a styled shoot to inspire your summer weddings! The florals are breathtaking; the styling touches are so carefully and thoughtfully curated… and our model bride and groom Kirstie and Jack are just fabulously gorgeous and adorable together! I’m delighted to be able to say Your Story Events is an English Wedding member. You’ll find all the talented suppliers featured today listed below.
Planning/ Design: Your Story Events www.yourstoryevents.co.uk
Photographer: Ellie Mac Photography www.elliemacphotography.com
Florist: Hibiscus Floral Design www.hibiscusfloraldesign.co.uk
MUA/ Hair: Jessica Nurse www.makeupmyweddingday.com
Cake maker: Caked by Jessica www.cakedbyjessica.com
Macrame Styling: eadie and Lola www.etsy.com/uk/shop/EadieandLolaMacrame
Venue: Crockwell Farm www.crockwellfarm.co.uk
Stationery: Charlotte Lyes www.starchar.co.uk
Dresses: Love Spell Design www.lovespelldesign.com
Bride footwear: Emmy London www.emmylondon.com
Hair Accessories and earrings: Garter and Veil www.garterandveil.com
Veil: Visionary Veils https://visionaryveils.co.uk
Wedding rings: Rings with Grace www.ringswithgrace.com
Groom Suit and footwear: Model’s own
Tableware: Wren Ark https://wrenark.com/
Table runner and napkins: Silken Ribbons hellosilkenribbons@gmail.com
Bridal robe: Jessica Hollie Gifts www.jessicaholliegifts.etsy.com
Models: Kirsty Schneider and partner Jack
On the day assistant: Lauren martin
My vision for a romantic, Boho styled wedding shoot came to life with some amazing suppliers, in the stunning setting of Crockwell Farm, Northamptonshire – the perfect location for a bohemian infused backdrop, whilst providing a beautiful and whimsical charm. With the added bonus that both the interior and exterior of this location enhanced the look I wanted to achieve.
I choose a soft colour palette of dusky pinks and ivory to create a dreamy summer wedding. The floristry was a key feature of the shoot and with meadow arrangements becoming a trending floral installation for weddings, these were a must have to sit by the side of the table. As you can see, Hibiscus floral design did an incredible job of bringing my floral vision to life.
Another popular trend right now is macramé, which fitted naturally with my Boho styling. I’ve highlighted its versatility with a variety of different pieces from Eadie and Lola, illustrating how they can be added into your decor. Swapping between a macramé to silk table runner, along with a selection of tableware options, the shoot allowed me to design different table set ups. Star Char wedding styling provided gorgeous, complimenting place setting cards for the finishing touch, along with our wedding stationery.
For the bridal looks, both dresses were from Love Spell Design, and each one suited the theme beautifully. Especially when paired with the bespoke veil from Visionary Veils. Hair and make up was styled by Make up my wedding day – opting for soft, relaxed and effortless looks that reflected our theme. Adding golden glimpses through our jewellery and accessory selection from Garter and Veil, as well as wedding bands from Rings with Grace.
The whole day was captured perfectly by Ellie Mac Photography – whose soft and relaxed style of shooting is mirrored in the images. Her natural eye and use of light, really emphasis the dreamy and romantic feel we had intended.
I hope you feel inspired by this shoot and have as much fun looking at the pictures as the team and I did creating it.
Watch out for Mel’s (Your Story Events) super helpful article on ‘How to style a boho wedding’ coming to English Wedding very soon!
What’s the craziest wedding venue you can imagine… on top of a mountain, underwater (I’m kidding, who’d do that?!), a cave maybe? It’s fantastic to see couples really getting creative with venues and locations – with awareness of wedding celebrants growing, being able to have a quick legal ceremony at your registry office and then the most amazing day you could imagine – wherever you like, if it’s celebrant-led – is such an incredible opportunity.
I was thrilled when I saw images from this wedding shoot on lovely Cornwall wedding photographer Hannah Timm‘s instagram. Hannah’s one of our English Wedding photographer members, and we’re head over heels in love with this crazy creative wedding scene! Hannah’s artistry shines in these images – I’m absolutely blown away by how beautiful they are. Photography in low light venues is tricky; in caves it’s super challenging – so if you’re looking for a low light wedding photographer I highly recommend Hannah Timm!
The venue Carnglaze Caverns is an old Cornish slate mine. As I type, I realise I’ve been there… one of my favourite bands had played an acoustic set there. (You’re going to have to email me if you want to find out who!) This fascinating space is now a wedding venue, concert venue and tourist attraction!
Hannah worked with Sara from Peony & Lace who gathered together a fantastic team of local suppliers to create this ethereal shoot with an edge. I’m in love with the slates and slate-inspired calligraphy by my insta-friend Lorraine at The Whole Caboodle – she is just soooo good! The dried flowers work eerily well with the cavern wedding setting; the bride’s alternative style just shines with accessories by Bunny Loves Evie and biker jacket by Inanna Bespoke Shoes. The ‘Melly’ dress by Rara Avis, from Evolved Bridal, is so incredibly beautiful and magically contrasting with the setting.
Claire’s Sweet Temptations came up with a slate coloured cake styled with dried flowers in an autumnal colour palette which I absolutely adore – the grasses are oh so pretty.
Photographer: www.hannahtimmphotography.co.uk
Venue: www.carnglaze.com
Planner & Stylist: www.peonyandlaceweddings.com
Cake: www.clairessweettemptations.com
Flowers on the cake: www.thecornishflowercompany.com
Hair: www.tonigogola.co.uk
Makeup: Nicola Redman Makeup
Stationery: www.caboodle.wedding/
Florist: www.cornishmoorweddingflorist.co.uk
Videographer: www.mavenvisualsweddingfilms.com
Dress: The ‘Melly’ dress by Rara Avis www.evolvedbridal.co.uk
Rings: https://moltenweddingringcompany.com
Shoes & Biker Jacket: www.inannabespokeshoes.com
Jewellery & Hair Accessories: www.bunnylovesevie.com
Flower Crown: www.lunaandwild.com
Models: @poppysflowers3 and @shanemaddock22
