Gorgeous spring wedding in an ancient English castle

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Hazlewood Castle is in the Domesday book, no less, and dates from as far back as 1086! It was the perfect wedding venue for Natsumi and Pete, who got married earlier in the spring. There are some really stunning images here, courtesy of Tierney Photography. I love the imagination of these first two images especially: the shadows are fab!

Pete and Natsumi’s wedding day at Hazlewood Castle in Yorkshire has so many stunning elements to it I know you’ll love this post. The baby girl is grinning as though she’s already got the wedding bug! I love the check floor with the little bridesmaid dancing across, and the lighting in the images of the castle itself…. I hope you love this wedding as much as I do. Enjoy!

Most of all Natsumi – her smile, the way she wears her gorgeous wedding dress and her confidence posing for the photos – she’s a real star and a beautiful bride.

Pete gets ready – with the instruction manual to get his tie just right! See more...

The Monday Makerie

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diy wedding bunting for a marquee from a wedding in wellies

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I’m splitting today’s Monday Makerie into two parts. Find gorgeous things handmade for you, from Etsy and further afield. And for those of you feeling crafty out there, I’ve also listed my favourite things from the web this week where you can get your fingers gluey and cover yourself in paper and paint and glitter and suchlike. Go play!

Handmade wedding inspiration

It doesn’t get much cuter than these wedding cake topper penguins. From Kikuike on Etsy
Loads of ideas from NOTHS (notonthehighstreet.com) via Rock My Wedding blog – love these personalised jewellery pieces best of all

Make your own wedding projects

Custom wedding stamps from Etsy – this Save the Date self inking stamp is gorgeous, I love the font.
How to make wedding mini-flags – for anything and everthing: buffet tables, place settings, decorations, or just for fun. And you don’t have to be a craft genius! From Offbeat Bride.
Best wedding diy project of the week has to go to Ruffled blog. Make your own chocolate hazelnut spread, put it in cute little jars and use as alternative chocolate wedding favours. YUM!

Real wedding at Great Fosters luxury hotel

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Talk about a gorgeous wedding venue… Great Fosters is a grade I listed building in Surrey, an elegantly sprawling mansion house with a history of royal and prestigious guests and residents.

William and Joanne were married in spring, just as the early blossom was beginning to come out. It was the perfect complement for their pink wedding theme.

Sugar & Spice Photography is the ‘dream job’ of photographer Juliet McKee. She’s a UK wedding bloggers’ favourite and I love how she captures the romance of a wedding day from moment to sparkling moment.

Joanne’s dress was a Maggie Sottero, and her accessories were from Accessorize. I love these images – they capture the essence of the countryside wedding venue as well as the luxury of Joanne and William’s day.

Joanne’s bridesmaids wore bright and colourful fuchsia pink, with lovely calla lily and lily of the valley bouquets to match.

Joanne looking gorgeous and glamorous with her three lovely bridesmaids.

Outdoor wedding inspiration and photoshoot

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As our summers seem to be getting warmer outdoor weddings are finding their way onto the list of ‘must-haves’ for many UK brides and grooms; though the laws are still outdated and you can’t legally sign the register outside it doesn’t stop you from holding your wedding ceremony wherever you want it, indoors or out!

To celebrate all that is outdoor weddings Laurra from One Life Ceremonies, a Yorkshire based business specialising in personal wedding ceremonies that can be held absolutely anywhere, organised a photoshoot at Goldsborough Hall near Harrogate.

Laurra says, “I organised this photoshoot as I wanted to show that you can hold your wedding ceremony wherever you like, it doesn’t have to be in the room of a hotel or a stuffy Register Office, couples are only limited by their imagination and we have conducted weddings in woodlands, fields, by rivers and in Papakata tents.

“I chose Goldsborough Hall as it is a pretty amazing wedding venue and it has the most beautiful grounds and landscaped gardens so I knew would provide a stunning backdrop to the shoot.” See more...

A French English Welsh wedding celebration

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This wedding appeals to my love of nature and the countryside – there’s such a lovely relaxed feel to all the images, and when I first saw the wedding slideshow by photographer Fiona Campbell the farm animals were a wonderful surprise!

Stephane and Bianca were married in the Brecon Beacons, at Gliffaes Country House Hotel. Fiona told me, “It had an absolutely sublime atmosphere and the staff were so helpful and friendly”.

“It was a very special wedding because Stephane and Bianca rented out a hotel in the sublime Brecon Beacons so that all their friends could be together for a long weekend. They filled the country house hotel with flowers and little bowls of chocolates to make the guests feel at home.

Bianca is beautiful. I think there’s a certain look you get on your wedding day… Bianca’s glowing with happiness and confidence, and looks so very elegant and composed.

No. 16: My 8th Wonder

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Days to go: 22

Nothing wedding-related had made me cry before today.

I’d been very nervous about my bracelet that was being made for me to wear on my wedding day. I was very confident Emma knew what I wanted, but I was anxious about whether she could actually make it, as my design was very different to anything else I’d seen on her website. I even dreamt last night that it was made of plastic!

This morning I nervously made my way to Chester to pick up the bracelet.

Upon arrival I was greeted with this box.

So far, so good I thought. But what was inside BLEW MY MIND and brought tears to my eyes. I was in shock! How ON EARTH did Emma make this with her own beautiful bare hands?!

It was even better than anything I could have imagined and I, like a big baby, started crying and wouldn’t stop telling Emma how much I loved it and how sorry I was that I ever doubted her! See more...

It’s all about the Experience

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Inside Timeless Bride - a glorious bridal experience

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I can’t stress this enough: if I have one Top Tip to share with brides and grooms, it’s this blog post. Every couple can afford the very best in this sense: luxury customer service costs nothing, special touches make all the difference and the Experience is what it’s all about…

Wedding suppliers also take note – are you selling a product or service, or is your wedding business providing an experience brides and grooms will truly love, remember and recommend?

Inside Timeless Bride - a glorious bridal experience

This blog post is inspired by:

Chris Hanley Photography – top UK wedding photographer, Laura from Green Earth Flowers and Michelle from Timeless Bride in Cheshire.

With special mentions for Katy Lunsford Photography and Suzanne Laughlin, designer at Tiararama

What you should really look for in a wedding supplier

The very best wedding suppliers I’ve met are those focusing on the experience you’ll have with them. From the first time you hear about them, visit their website, call for a chat or send an email enquiry – look for someone who is enthusiastic about your wedding and delighted to be involved, and for someone who genuinely cares. See more...

Bristol Marriott wedding with very naughty bridesmaids

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Bristol Marriott wedding photography by Joseph Yarrow (11)

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Described as “the Naughtiest. Bridesmaids. Ever.” there are two ladies in this wedding shoot who took to photobombing like ducks to water. Cheeky! So we have some very funny photos as well as the beautiful and artistic images you’d expect from wedding photographer Joseph Yarrow.

Bride Jen takes it all in her stride and the photos shine with her smile through the entire day. Dave and Jen are just so in love you can feel it through the screen, the way their eyes meet and the way Dave looks at Jen is a lovely, lovely thing.

Best friends and bridesmaids… I love this photo!

Dad gets started lacing up Jen’s wedding dress – with determination in his eyes!

Something so very touching about this photo as Dad helps Jen with her Jimmy Choos.

A gorgeous image, Jen looks incredible in her wedding dress – I love this style of skirt with so much structure and opulence. But who are the two shady figures in the background? 😉 See more...

Mad, exciting, colourful and painty engagement shoot

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There’s a thin line between being creative and ever so slightly mad, and David and Rachel are right on that line… in fact they’re dancing along the line, happily making the most amazing pre wedding shoot with photographer Lucy West. And I love them to bits – this is inspiring, hilarious, gorgeous and thrilling.

David and Rachel are all about romance and playfulness. This photo is really sweet – and I love Rachel’s cheeky smile too. Definitely a couple who have a lot of fun together!

If like my Star Bride Sally you’re wondering whether to have an engagement shoot, then look at these photos and imagine what a memorable and crazy day out you could have…

Heee! Love these cheeky photos…

Rachel’s nails hint at the colour explosion that’s about to hit…

Did I mention what a stunning couple they make? Model material, the pair of them!

They chose what photographer Lucy West describes as “a smelly, muddy old warehouse where the ceiling is pretty much collapsing on your head” for the shoot. See more...

Real wedding in Portmeirion (sounds Welsh, looks Italian…)

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Portmeirion is enchanting: a Welsh village, built to resemble an Italian one, with colourful little houses and too cute for words! So I couldn’t resist Simon and Rachael’s wedding – I think you’ll love it. It fits perfectly with the surroundings: quirky and lots of fun.

Rachael wore a gorgeous little vintage inspired wedding dress, very Audrey Hepburn I think! With a birdcage veil and the cutest shoes to go with it. And Simon is a super cool groom (I want his glasses!).

Their wedding photographer is Martin Lyons, who told me, “This wedding was very much an intimate affair with only 24 guests & the bride and groom.”

Martin said, “In some ways this wedding was very different to others, the ceremony was very intimate which was lovely! Fortunately we managed to escape a monster downpour which came just before the groups, I then spent 45 mins with the bride & groom before the meal. There were no speeches (1st time ever). That’s what I love about weddings they are all so different! All together it was a fun, intimate, relaxed day.” See more...

To E-Shoot or not to E-Shoot?

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I’m sure you’ve all seen Salma’s amazing engagement shoot. I absolutely loved her pictures, and it really got me thinking for the first time about an engagement shoot of our own; Richard’s and her pictures are so natural, in an interesting setting, and, most importantly (to me), weren’t corny or clichéd at all!

Looking at Salma and Richard’s, then afterwards browsing through a few other pre-wedding shoots on English-Wedding and other blogs it really made me realize that engagement shoots don’t have to be lovey-dovey, nauseatingly sweet shots of your fiancé ‘Hollywood kissing’ you in the local park. I’ve since discovered that you can make the shoot relaxed, unpretentious and a fabulous way to reflect yourselves as a couple.

(Part of english-wedding's engagement shoot competition back in February)

Here are some I especially love: See more...

Elsie and Jeremy’s “Comic Book Love”– I love how this on tells a story, and reminds me of a ‘story book’ I once made David for Valentines (The Story of Sal ‘n’ Dav.. and, no, you can’t see it!)

Royal wedding press release – the silliest yet

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It’s as if someone’s announced the official launch of royal wedding pap this morning. In my inbox, two press releases I’ve decided to share only the funniest bits from. Selected highlights follow…

Are you safe from post-wedding picture blues?

by LG Electronics

“With the Royal Wedding just around the corner, 2011 will definitely be a year to remember, especially for couples who are about to tie the knot. [fine so far, but after a paragraph or two this segues into…]

“If you’re now thinking about what effect losing pre-wedding records and, worse still, the post wedding photos stored on your home PC would have, it is worth considering that compact storage devices are now available on the high street. [Ooh the fear…]

“The special ‘RAID management’ contained within the LG Super Multi NAS, keeps important data safe from unexpected hard drive failure. NAS also enables high-resolution images and video to be stored and accessed from anywhere that an internet connection is available. [How did we get to this from the Royal Wedding?!] See more...