New sponsor welcome: Martin Hill Photography

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It’s quite an honour to welcome today’s new sponsor Martin Hill Photography to English Wedding Blog, and of course I have some inspiring and beautiful wedding images to share with you too. Martin Hill is a top UK photographer whose work I’ve followed since my blog began years ago.

Let’s just say he’s pretty special, and his award winning wedding photography will blow your mind.

Top UK wedding photography by Martin Hill

A wedding photographer based in the Southwest of England, Martin travels to photograph weddings throughout the UK and also he covers destination weddings, boasting such locations as India, France, Monaco, Spain, Italy, Ireland and South Africa.

As with all of the top wedding photographers, Martin is one of the good guys: he’s genuine and cares about your wedding photography: you’ll love the warm and friendly nature of Martin and his team and you’ll be well cared for at their beautiful studio in Taunton.

Something rather exceptional… coming soon!

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This preview photograph from the new 2013 Chanticleer Collection appeared online a day or two ago to a chorus of “Wow!” so I had to share it here. Breathtakingly beautiful, isn’t it?

Chanticleer are going to be sharing one of the most inspiring and exciting bridal collections for next year, and this is no more than a taster of what’s to come.

Dare I say they’re bound to be making waves in the wedding industry?!

The inspiring photography is by Chris Hanley Photography (of course!) and there will be more to see on the Chanticleer Brides facebook page.

Don’t miss any updates as the new collection is revealed … https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chanticleer-Brides/152631161435909 it’s going to be out of this world, I just know!

A chic English garden wedding at home

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If life was a rainbow… I think Rebecca and Matt’s wedding would be the pot of gold at the end. I love this wedding for the bright and wonderfully happy colours, the beautiful bride and groom and the atmosphere of celebration and love in every picture.

There’s an unusual story to introduce this real wedding with – Matt had discovered wedding photographer Jonny Draper at Rebecca’s brother’s wedding last year, and the whole thing began with a phone call even before the proposal… Jonny himself picks up the story:

“What a wedding. It was just perfect. The amazing weather smack bang in the middle of a run of rain, thunder, fire and brimstone (it felt like it a few times!) and the most perfect couple. Bex and Matt.

I’ve known Bex & Matt for a couple of years now. Last year I photographed Bex’s brother’s wedding – Ben & Jordana. Bex was one of Jordy’s gorgeous bridesmaids. I also photographed Catherine & Richard’s wedding last year. Bex was one of Catherine’s gorgeous bridesmaids. Matt was starting to feel the pressure…!!! See more...

Wedding calligraphy, quotes and signs

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Brand new from Calligraphy for Weddings – a collection of wedding signs inspired by the ever-popular English country garden wedding theme. I hope you like these – the samples were a real labour of love and they’re brand new on my website this week.

Wedding table name sign in handwritten calligraphy: romantic and gothic styles. www.Calligraphy-for-Weddings.com

Personalised calligraphy wedding signs you can use anywhere!

Quotes from Shakespeare as wedding decor: Romeo & Juliet, and Sonnet 18 in calligraphy

Handwritten wedding menus for an English country garden wedding theme on luxury watercolour paper

Beautiful little escort cards in calligraphy scripts old and new!

Calligraphy place names for an elegant English country garden wedding

Please take a look around: www.Calligraphy-for-Weddings.com

Claire x

Me. And why life is beautiful and not all about weddings!

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This is a rare blog post about me – Claire – the owner of the mind and typing fingers behind English Wedding Blog! Written in November 2011 with some edits November 2013. Hello!

As the blog is growing so quickly at the moment I thought I’d introduce myself to new readers, and update all my old friends on how my life has been turned upside down and plonked firmly back on its feet over the last year.

The incredible photos telling my story are by my good friend and source of endless creative inspiration – Chris Hanley Photography. Before we start… both Chris and I believe wedding bloggers shouldn’t take themselves too seriously. Ahem…

I’m a part-time wedding blogger, and part-time wedding calligrapher, as you may know. I started English Wedding Blog back in November 2009 at 6am on a quiet calligraphy day! The blog has grown massively (37,000 of you read it each month) with the support of the great friends I’ve made along the way – I’ve been privileged to meet with some inspiring and wonderful brides and grooms, as well as wedding suppliers and other bloggers, along the way. See more...

November weddings and a fresh start!

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Hello everyone and a big hug from me to you all – I hope whatever you’re up to today you’re wrapped up warm and looking forward to winter sunshine, kicking leaves and eventually a little snow…

Click to see Linzi and Freddie’s beautiful Isle of Wight wedding on the blog. Photo credit Mandy Meadows

This is a very quick post from me to say two things: first of all I’m looking for new weddings to share on English Wedding Blog – from couples, photographers, wedding film makers (Charlene, Denis and Sarah are you reading this?) – please send me submission ideas and all of your gorgeous weddings to share with everyone! Oh – and the more stationery details you can share, the better!

Also… today I’m sharing a bit of my story from the last year on the blog, it’s coming up at 11. The last twelve months have been painful for me, but November is a fresh start so I’m sharing some inspiring photos of my new home and also sharing a little about my life this year. Be gentle with me if you comment… I didn’t sleep much last night – nerves. See more...

St Audries Park wedding

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Oh my… if this isn’t the perfect English Wedding then I’ll eat my top hat… I spotted Vicky and Chris’s wedding at St Audries Park on facebook on Monday (check out Somerset wedding photographer Simon Biffen’s facebook page).

st audries park wedding by Simon Biffen Photography

Photo credit Simon Biffen Photography

I emailed Simon immediately to ask permission to share it with all of you… and then realised he’d already emailed me and offered. Lovely guy. And that’ll teach me to play on facebook before I’ve checked my emails, won’t it…

But do go and read all about Vicky and Chris’s wedding. It’s beautiful – there’s everything from one of our very best wedding venues through to croquet and a lovely bulldog in the best man’s speech, a stunning bride, beautiful dress, delicious sunshine and an orangery wedding – quintessentially English. Beautiful, and recommended reading!

http://simonbiffenphotography.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/st-audries-park-wedding-vicky-and-chris.html

Real wedding: English country garden meets South African cape chic

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Linzi and Freddie’s Isle of Wight wedding is a dream – an English country garden-inspired day, with elegant details and beautiful flowers, table stationery and accessories. Bride Linzi is stunning and graceful in her wedding dress with delicate lace sleeves – just the photos of Linzi and Freddie’s hands together are so romantic – I love it.

They make a wonderful couple and this wedding is a real inspiration. When Linzi got in touch to share her day with us all I couldn’t resist – and I’m delighted to be able to share Linzi and Freddie’s wedding story with you today. Linzi has written an amazing wedding report for us all with details of everything from her wedding signs to the surprise flash mob!!… and the images of the wedding are by Mandy Meadows.

Enjoy!

Linzi and Freddie’s beautiful Isle of Wight wedding

New sponsor welcome – Kent wedding photographer Benjamin Toms

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I’m so pleased to be able to introduce you to Benjamin Toms today – he’s a wedding photographer from Kent whose business has grown from a lifelong passion for photography – from his darkroom at home as a child to a decade spent travelling the world with his camera.

Photo credit: Kent wedding photographer Benjamin Toms

£100 discount exclusive to English Wedding Blog!

Benjamin Toms Photography is offering a generous £100 discount to English Wedding Blog readers – just book one of Ben’s wedding photography packages before the end of this year! All you need to do is tell Ben you found him on English Wedding Blog and you’d LOVE to save £100 on your wedding photography!

Ben is a new sponsor of English Wedding Blog, and now has his own page on the Blog for you to find out all about him – he’s a wedding photojournalist and told me, “I capture the people, the atmosphere, the emotion, and the love. When seen collectively, they tell the entire story of the day. Your photos should make you travel back to your special day every time you look at them.” See more...

Beautiful scroll invitations for your wedding – be different!

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If there’s one thing I hear from brides and grooms more than anything else, it’s that they’re looking for something “just a bit different” for their wedding. Everyone likes to show a bit of personality or have something as a talking point – so how do you find something different which is still classy, elegant and won’t upset your Nan?

You don’t need to think outside the box. You need to think: box.

Specifically, think about boxed wedding invites or scroll invitations for your wedding – they’re gorgeous, and just different enough to get people talking about your big day.

All of these scroll invitations are timeless classics, elegant and beautifully made. They’d fit with an elegant vintage wedding theme and can be adapted to suit any colour theme.

Wedding invitation designer Julie from Carol Miller Designs near Chester has been creating these little beauties for years and sells hundreds every year. To find out more about the scroll invitation designs and options read Julie’s blog post Scroll Wedding Invitations.
See more...

Sticking to your guns: The art of prioritising when planning your wedding

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From castles, dinosaurs and dancing unicorns (step one) to a realistic and sensible way of creating the wedding you will love, and in budget (step three) – think you can do it? I’m sure you can, and it’s all about having a vision and knowing what you really want as a couple.

Wedding photography credit: Georgi Mabee. Click to see the rest of this gorgeous wedding on the blog!

Rachel has written today’s guest article for you, and it’s brilliant. Follow her advice and you’ll be well on the way to saving both money and stress as you plan your big day together.

Sticking to your guns: The art of prioritising when planning your wedding.

Every couple planning a wedding (unless they happen to be extremely rich with little or no family) will have to make compromises. This is a fact. But don’t panic! Here is a simple guide to working out your priorities early and then sticking to them with a steely determination in the face of dream venues, pushy mother-in-laws and dwindling funds. See more...

English garden bridal inspiration shoot!

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Do I need an excuse to share a gorgeous bridal shoot with you this morning? Or can I just jump in?! To be fair, this shoot needs little introduction. It’s for brides who are perhaps planning an autumn wedding, with a very English and chic style. I love it – and the images speak for themselves…

All photos are by Dotmoxee Photographers.

“Our English garden shoot is inspired by natural autumnal woodland and a modern vintage style. We aimed to inspire English brides, to show that they can still look elegant in the colder months and that even a woodland or garden can be perfect as a setting.”

Wedding dress supplied by the amazing Fable and Promise Wedding company from their stunning new collection at http://www.fableandpromise.co.uk

Amy of Dolly Millinery was able to show off her beautiful bridal range for which she took inspiration from the 1950s period. The collection includes a stunning feather headband perfect for autumn and winter weddings. http://www.dollymillinery.co.uk See more...