Everybody kiss the vicar! A gorgeous, contemporary wedding in Chichester

FEATURED

I love vicars. They’re characters, eccentrics and often some of the friendliest and most entertaining people you could meet. I’m as yet undecided whether I’m a pagan or an atheist… but in this context, it doesn’t matter. Today’s wedding in Chichester has a brilliant vicar photo you really mustn’t miss! (He looks so happy… as he should! You’ll see…)

Of course, there are lovely ideas and images of a beautiful bride and gorgeous groom for you to enjoy as well.

Steven and Rachel’s wedding was in West Hampnett, with a reception at Fontwell House. The happy couple have very kindly shared a wedding report with us today, which you’ll find about halfway down the page as always.

Thank you to lovely Laura from Cherry Red Photography for sharing today’s images. There are some fabulous moments here as well as gorgeous details and ideas. I hope you love this – if you do, please leave a comment or share the link on facebook! Enjoy! Claire xxx
See more...

All the lavender in the world, and a bride! Lavender wedding ideas and pictures

FEATURED

Did anyone watch Derren Brown’s “Fear and Faith” and remember the part where – as if by magic – some of us could smell mint at home? If you were one of the lucky ones who picked up on the minty fragrance, you’ll be delighted to hear English Wedding Blog is doing the same trick today, with lavender wedding ideas.

Kind of… 😉

I’ve been looking forward to sharing today’s Cotswold Beauty lavender wedding ideas shoot with you. The images are by my wedding photographer friend Jonathon at Photoglow photography in Gloucestershire, who teamed up with Jane from Planned for Perfection and some other fab wedding suppliers to visit Snowshill Lavender Fields last year. The photos are so amazing you can practically smell the lavender, I swear!

I love lavender – it helps me sleep and reminds me of my Nana and my Grandma – it’s just one of those fragrances which is timeless and comforting too. What could be more perfect for a wedding day scent? If you’re considering incorporating lavender into your wedding day, you’re going to LOVE this!

See more...

A secret wedding in Cornwall – intimate and beautiful

FEATURED

I’ve always loved hearing stories of elopements and intimate weddings. There’s something magical about a secret wedding, don’t you think? Do you remember Jason and Trudie’s surprise wedding from last year? I loved it – and I’ve found another I love equally as much, with the help of the lovely Andrew from Cornwall wedding photographers Travers & Brown. Enjoy! Claire xxx

The most intimate of weddings, Marianne and Will from Nottingham decided to escape to the dramatic North Cornish coast for their stunningly secluded marriage at Fentafriddle Farm. A wedding party consisting of four, the couple were joined by their two sons and have shared with us their truly touching images from the day captured by Travers & Brown.

A secret affair, only their respective parents knew they were heading to Cornwall to get married and their boys weren’t in on the secret until the day before – they thought they were just on holiday. Following the ceremony, the family headed to the beach for photographs followed by an intimate dinner back at the farm cooked by a private chef. See more...

I’m taking no responsibility for this… but are men’s brains “wired differently” to forget special dates?

FEATURED

Of all the press releases which come flooding into my inbox every week, there’s only one I’ll always read and enjoy. The boys from Socked write some genuinely funny blog posts I’m very pleased to be able to share with you. And today’s raises a little chuckle… it’s not necessarily true (feel free to argue by commenting below!) but you might just, possibly, know a guy who fits today’s guest blog. Sit back and enjoy! Here’s the question:

Are men genetically predisposed to miss those important anniversaries?

Men are more likely to miss significant dates such as Valentine’s Day, anniversaries and birthdays thanks to the way that they store memories, according to research.

Instead, they are more likely to know the names of World Cup winners, the make and registration number of their first car, and the kind of useless information that wins pub quizzes.

According to researchers, men use different genes to women when they come to make connections needed to store long-term memories, making men better at what they term “tactical” memories such as travel directions; while women tend to have “emotional” memories, such as special dates and anniversaries. See more...

A classic English wedding in Leicestershire

FEATURED

William and Jennifer’s wedding is one of those which simply takes your breath away… the perfect setting, a gorgeous bride and groom, and lovely wedding photography to capture special moments. Sometimes it’s the classic elegance of an English wedding which makes it magical – and for today’s bride and groom on the blog, there’s more than a sprinkle of magic to share.

There are so many things I love about this classic English wedding, from Jennifer’s Justin Alexander wedding dress to the delight on William’s face in some of my favourite wedding photos. The overall atmosphere of the day is enchanting and comes across beautifully in the wedding photographs, by Leicester wedding photographer Craigh Bennett.

This is a wedding to read slowly and really enjoy the images from. Please do read Jennifer’s wedding story as well – you’ll find it half way through the blog post. Let me know which is your favourite image – I’ve found it difficult to choose which I love best today! (Too many to decide!) See more...

Affordable wedding dress ideas for 2013 – Phase Eight

FEATURED

Have you discovered the wedding dress boutique at Phase Eight? If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to the classic wedding dress from a bridal boutique then Phase Eight could be the perfect solution for you. Today I’m happy to be able to introduce you to the 2013 wedding dress collection from Phase Eight. The dresses are available online, in Phase Eight stores in Brighton and Edinburgh, and at Harrods Oxford Street. I’d love to know your thoughts on these wedding dress ideas: which is your favourite? Claire xxx

Eliza Wedding Dress

Wedding dresses for 2013 from Phase Eight

This season, Phase Eight’s enchanting wedding collection twists romantic, whimsical detailing with a modern silhouette, perfect for every fairytale romance. We have made it even easier for Brides-to-be to find their dream dress. The wedding dresses are available in-store at House of Fraser Oxford Street and in our Brighton and Edinburgh stores.

Evelyn Beaded Lace Wedding Dress

Louisa Ribbon Tapework Wedding Dress

Saphia Tapework Wedding Dress See more...

Why Confetti Is Just as Important As the Dress!

FEATURED

Hi again! I’m guessing most of you will choose your wedding dress before you plan your confetti moment, but today’s guest blogger has news for you! OK so the title might be overstating things a tad… but every wedding album has “the confetti shot” – and in hindsight you’re going to see that photo a lot so it’s worth planning to get it right! With thanks to Emma for today’s guest blog. Enjoy! Claire xxx

A handful of real petal confetti – photo credit McAvoy Weddings

Why confetti is as important as your wedding dress!

The excitement of looking at your wedding day photos to remember your big day will never go away. One of the most spontaneous and natural pictures will be the moment your photographer captures delicate confetti floating down on the happy newlywed couple.

Throwing confetti over a newly married couple is a tradition that’s been present in British weddings for over two centuries as it symbolises the wish of a fertile marriage. When most people think about confetti they think of small coloured paper shapes which you could buy from a variety of convenience stores. See more...

An English wedding at Lympne Castle in Kent

FEATURED

This morning we have two very personal and traditional weddings in one – with Tamara and Joseph’s wedding at Lympne Castle. With two ceremonies – Church of England and Catholic – over two days, there is plenty here for you to enjoy. Tamara looks so beautiful in both of her wedding dresses and while her very handsome groom Joseph wears a traditional suit with red accessories.

This wedding is very special because it’s so personal to the bride and groom. Tamara’s mum made both of her wedding dresses, as well as her lace jacket and the red accessories for the men. Tamara made her wedding stationery, and favourite moments include the wedding readings and speeches – all in all, two days to remember for all the right reasons.

I’m delighted to be sharing images by the lovely Kent wedding photographer Aaron Tommasi with you today. Do have a look at Aaron’s own blog of this wedding – he mentions that Tamara and Joseph insisted he join them as a guest for the wedding buffet as well, which is such a lovely thing to do. Thank you to Aaron, and to such a fantastic bride and groom for sharing this wedding with us today! Enjoy! Claire xxx See more...

This year’s coolest wedding trend – Giant Colouring-in!

FEATURED

Hello again! It’s turning into a bumper bonanza kind of week on English Wedding Blog… with so much to share with you I’m blogging more often than ever – and loving it. Today it’s all about weddings and creativity with something really original and different – I absolutely LOVE this! It’s been months since I first discovered Fancy Features and I’m over the moon to be sharing their giant colouring-in with you on the blog today! Enjoy. Claire xxx

Unique wedding entertainment – giant colouring-in!

There are so many wonderful wedding ideas out there but it can be difficult to find something truly unique. If you’re looking for the ultimate original treat, then Fancy Features is the business for you.

Fancy Features specialises in personalised ‘Giant Colouring-in’ murals and artwork. This is a service where a professional artist paints a black and white outline based around your stories, inspirations and interests. This artwork is then finished or ‘coloured-in’ by your guests to create a vibrant, unique and personalised picture that captures everyone’s creativity. See more...

A handmade wedding in the English countryside

FEATURED

Good morning everyone! Today’s wedding on the blog is so much fun – and it’s full of creative touches as gorgeous bride Louise made so many of the wedding details herself. As well as the fabulous sunflower theme and homemade Scottish tablet wedding favours, there are Irregular Choice wedding shoes (LOVE these!), an Amanda Wyatt dress and a ride on the back of a tractor trailer for you to see today!

Louise has written a brilliant wedding story which you’ll find about halfway down the page. All of the images are by Jenna Carpenter, a wedding photographer from Broughton in Furness, Cumbria. This is a wonderfully creative wedding in a village hall – inspiring for couples on a budget and very personal and special.

Enjoy! Claire xxx

The wedding venue

We got married at St John the Evangelist church at Woodland (Near Broughton In Furness) then we had our reception at the Woodland Village Hall where we had a hog roast. There was no bar but my old friend from primary school, Martin, who runs a local pub, ran a bar for us and did a great job See more...

An English country wedding film and a very cinematic peacock!

FEATURED

This is a special wedding film and I have been looking forward to sharing it with you for a little while now! It’s not just the “very cinematic peacock” – although he’s certainly an attention-grabber 🙂 but Debbie and Aaron’s gorgeous wedding film is full of loving looks, captivating and fabulous ideas for a rustic, English country wedding. Oh! And if you like buttons, you’ll LOVE this!

Aaron and Debbie | Preston Court, Kent from Memory Lane Films on Vimeo.

Tom from Memory Lane Films told me, “Aaron and Debbie’s big day in the countryside was a filmmaker’s dream. Everyone was very chilled out, the sun was shining, and there was a very cinematic peacock strutting around in the background.

“A Christian ceremony set in a renovated English barn was something new, but along with the gypsy caravan, pagoda and hay bales, provided a stunningly cinematic, rustic setting for a lovely couple.

“Despite hearing some very odd comments from our wireless microphones (don’t worry Debbie – they’re not included!) we kept our composure and present the teaser trailer for your viewing pleasure!” See more...

Focus on… friendship and your wedding day

FEATURED

Hello again! Today’s blog feature aims to take a little stress out of wedding planning by shifting the focus of English Wedding Blog away from details for a while – and by looking at the memories you’ll treasure for the rest of your lives.

Focus on… Friendship in wedding photography. Photo Credit Simon Hudspeth. I love this image of the bride reaching out to all of her friends after the wedding – it makes me smile every time!

This is another episode in my ‘Focus on‘ series of wedding blogs. I was inspired by Kristin Mitchell to consider weddings from a photographer’s perspective. Your wedding will last for one day. Your wedding photographs will keep the day alive in your memories forever.

Think about your wedding for a moment. In the run up to the big day it’s so easy to get wrapped up in details: planning colour schemes, buying accessories and stretching the wedding budget to its limit. But in a year’s time when you look back on your big day you’ll barely remember all the ‘bits’. You’ll remember special moments instead: the ceremony, seeing your family and friends in church, a chat with a favourite auntie and the precious minutes you can spend together as a married couple. See more...