News & fave weddings and advice from the Hampshire Wedding Club!

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Happy Sunday my lovelies. It’s been a whirlwind of a week here at English Wedding HQ, and I’m quietly looking forward to a normal, unexciting, basic Monday full of admin and gentle blogging. How about you? Today I wanted to take a moment to share some of my favourite posts from our lovely friends and blog sponsors the Hampshire Wedding Club. If you’re getting hitched in or near Hampshire, then please do check them out – they’re a wonderful bunch of talented wedding creatives who’ve joined forces to inspire your best day ever.

I’ve been reading Frances Moore‘s tips about hiring a make up artist for your wedding. Some of us do, some don’t… and if you’re undecided, here are some thoughts which might sway you. It’s a lovely read and really got me thinking! Should you Hire a Makeup Artist for your Wedding?

This pic and header image by Real Simple Photography. See the full feature on the Hampshire Wedding Club blog post See more...

Rocking Wedding Bands For Retro Weddings

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One style of wedding music we’re seeing explode in popularity is the authentic rock ‘n’ roll wedding band. We’re not talking Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, or The Killers here, we’re talking about the original pioneers of the genre – the Elvis Presleys, the Buddy Hollys, the Little Richards – the legends who blew away the stuffiness of the post-war era with their tumbling piano runs, slicked-back quiffs and jaunty, jangly guitar riffs.

Arriving on the back of the vintage wedding trend, rock ‘n’ roll wedding bands are simply perfect for pretty much any wedding scenario: their smart retro attire and quirky style fits in beautifully at historic venues and boho, festival weddings alike; they’re a hit with every generation (often throwing in a few more modern tracks for the youngsters) and their music is just perfect for dancing to!

There’s a surprising diversity of old-school rock ‘n’ roll wedding bands out there: from purists who only perform the originals to those who relax the rules and throw in “modern” stuff by the Beatles, the Kinks and the Rolling Stones, not to mention bands who stray into related genres like blues, rockabilly and swing. See more...

A wow factor wedding in Wiltshire – Laura & Josh at The Lost Orangery, with photos by Casey Avenue

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Whoever knew this place existed?! The Lost Orangery - gorgeous wedding with pics by Casey Avenue (12)

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FRIDAY!!! Lovelies, I have to confess I wrote this yesterday because I’m at A WEDDING!! My lovely sister in law is about to get a HUSBAND – in about two hours time – so I’m all bridesmaided-up and heading to the church as this is published!! There’ll maybe be real life wedding stuff on my Insta later (or possibly real life tipsy stuff, which might be equally entertaining!) so if you’re not already following @englishwedding on Instagram, today’s probably a good day to start!

I wouldn’t leave the blog empty for you though, oh no – and happily I have an absolutely stunning wedding to share with you, submitted by lovely Hannah at Casey Avenue. Laura and Josh were married at The Lost Orangery, a stunning venue tucked away in rural Wiltshire. I love how this place is almost hidden from the mainstream wedding industry – it’s a self-catering, super luxurious, exclusive use wedding venue with a beautiful cloister, archway, portico, boat house, orangery and ballroom to call your own. You’ll find it on www.uniquehomestays.com where it’s described as an “exclusive manor house in Wiltshire is a spectacular wedding venue certain to impress wedding guests by exuding a special blend of grandeur, heart and soul” – which sleeps 4, with room for 250 wedding guests and carriages at midnight! See more...

Wedding calligraphy workshop – brides, grooms, best girls – come and learn with me!

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wedding calligraphy workshop uk claire gould

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Hey lovelies! I have something special for all of you crafty brides and grooms – I’ve launched a nice chunky handful of NEW modern calligraphy workshops for 2019, and one of them will be ESPECIALLY for wedding calligraphy. This is the first workshop of its kind in the UK (or anywhere, as far as I know!) and will focus on helping you create beautifully lettered items for your wedding.

If you’re tying the knot in 2019, have crafty tendencies and love lettering, then this is going to be the perfect workshop for you! Why not bring along your bridesmaids, or your mum or your other half – and I’ll introduce you to beautiful modern calligraphy so you can design gorgeous goodies for your wedding day!

We’ll learn how to write a simple calligraphy alphabet and chat about wedding styling ideas with your beautiful lettering skills! See more...

On the day we’ll write –

Alphabet sample sheets
Place cards for you and your other half!
A personal wedding monogram (with my help!)

Affordable afternoon tea wedding inspiration from Twickenham’s Secret River Garden

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Happy Wednesday my lovelies!! Would you like to join me in reminiscing over the stunningly sunny summer we had this year? Today I’m sharing a beautiful styled shoot that local suppliers to The Secret River Garden in Twickenham created in the summer months. The shoot is based on a DIY location (and the Secret River Garden is just perfect for this!) to show what a bride and groom who are looking to create an outdoor wedding in a stunning garden setting can do!

This is affordable, pretty and eclectic wedding inspiration for everyone. By using a couple of statement pieces (the cakes from Naomi’s bakehouse and Johanna Pedrick Flowers bouquet are just STUNNING!!) it’s easy to create a wonderfully pretty wedding display – and do get your guests to help out with a little baking if you’d love to create a dessert table like this!! Stylists Gemma from Mrs Jones Tea and China Hire and Jenny from Mrs Myrtle Events used vintage china in soft pastel colours with some bold props and natural elements to create a pretty English picnic wedding suitable for those long summer days by the river or in a garden. See more...

Brand new sponsor packages bringing you more visibility on English Wedding!

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Sunflowers and tipi wedding style at the Henry Moore Foundation Hertfordshire with Becky Harley Photography (27)

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Hey there wedding industry folks and friends 🙂 This post is especially for you… and I hope it will give you a nice few minutes’ respite from your editing caves and pre-Christmas creating frenzy!

Last week I took a long, hard look at the sponsor packages for English Wedding, and added a ‘middle’ option to give you more than a simple Directory listing; without paying the full price for annual sponsorship. It kind of seemed silly to have a £50 option and a £550 option with nothing in-between! So we now have a £15 per month advertiser package to help smaller creative wedding businesses become a part of English Wedding.

We already had Tier 1 – the basic listing

A visual listing in the English Wedding Directory, where clicks on your banner go straight to your website. This comes with 1 insta share + 1 facebook share when you join, and a mention (with backlink) on the blog, in my regular roundup of new members. See more...

Mikey & Emily’s relaxed Cott Farm Barn wedding, with Heather Birnie Photography

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Relaxed outdoor wedding at Cott Farm Barn with images by Heather Birnie Photography on the English Wedding Blog (44)

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Hey lovely! I hope your Monday is sailing by happily – mine definitely is, as I have a gorgeous week of weddings, inspiration and ideas for you lined up this week. I’m also busy writing lovely calligraphy bits and pieces for my sister-in-law and her fiancé’s wedding this FRIDAY – eeeeek!!! It’s all VERY exciting at English Wedding HQ this week!

Let’s begin with something absolutely beautiful, shall we? Mikey and Emily, and a gloriously happy summer wedding from The Barn at Cott Farm. These two gorgeous people married outdoors – because this is one of Somerset’s lovely outdoor spaces where you can tie the knot. The steps of the barn are just perfect for the occasion, and the inside is surprisingly lovely: a blank canvas for you to decorate in your very own style, which Mikey and Emily did BEAUTIFULLY!! The barn had been beautifully decorated by the couple the day before using fabrics, foliage and candles; simple yet so perfect.

Images are by our lovely friend Heather Birnie Photography, who kindly told us a little about the wedding day. See more...

Rustic Wedding Ideas for Autumn: From the Dress to the Decor

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Bold florals, textures and accents from nature - autumn wedding styling ideas with Oobaloos Photography (36)

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A guest article from Henryka

As one of the most colourful and vibrant seasons, it’s hardly surprising that autumn is a popular time to get married. With mild temperatures, beautiful scenery and enchanting nights, it’s easy to understand why. If you have your heart set on a cosy autumn wedding, we’ve compiled a collection of practical tips and style inspirations, drawing on autumn’s vibrant natural beauty to help you create the ultimate rustic wedding.

Bold florals, textures and accents from nature - autumn wedding styling ideas with Oobaloos Photography (33)

All images: Oobaloos Photography

The location

Scenery is a fundamental feature of any rustic wedding, with barn venues being perhaps the most effective location for that snug, rustic autumn feel – often pairing beautifully with the season’s natural hues.

If a barn location isn’t quite what you’re searching for, try thinking a little outside the box by considering a giant marquee or tipi. Add a personalised touch by embracing the season’s natural colour palette throughout the day, before turning to lanterns, candles and tea lights as the daylight begins to fade, creating the ideal warm and romantic atmosphere. See more...

How to plan the perfect first dance in 5 easy steps

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Genius documentary photography telling the story of a Yorkshire wedding - York Place Studios on the English Wedding Blog (33)

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A guest article by Jon Beck at RedLine DJs and Entertainment

Photo credit: York Place Studios

You’ve said your vows, the wine’s flowing and the speeches have been a success… step up the all-important first dance. At Redline DJs and Entertainment I spend a lot of time talking to couples about their first dance, and have seen everything from choreographed three-song extravaganzas to no first dance at all. Neither are right or wrong – a wedding is a highly personal thing, no part more so than your first dance as husband and wife.
Some couples have a song that they consider ‘theirs’ but a lot don’t –and that’s OK! Either way, this isn’t something you should be nervous about. The below steps will help you plan the perfect first dance… one that you genuinely enjoy.

1. Brainstorm (without each other)

When people ask me for first dance recommendations I can always give them a list of suggested songs, but first I recommend that they have a think about it, away from each other. It sounds silly, as this is something so personal to you as a couple, but if you have an independent sit down, it will trigger songs that perhaps you hadn’t previously considered. See more...

Laura and Rick’s beautiful relaxed seaside wedding, with Michelle Cordner Photography

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East Quay Whitstable wedding blog with Michelle Cordner Photography (24)

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My top tip for you today, lovelies, is to find a place you love and get married there. It can be that simple… and you don’t have to go out of your way to find a place you love, if there’s already a place! You might have a favourite country pub, or a local beach with amazing views, or a city centre restaurant. Beautiful bride Laura & her gorgeous husband Rick found their perfect venue at the East Quay in Whitstable – with sea views and glorious natural decor inside (plus all the sparkly wonderfulness) it’s sooo perfect for a modern wedding! Images are by lovely English Wedding Directory member Michelle Cordner Photography.

Claire xx

Our wedding was happy, fun, relaxed, the most marvellous day of our lives, set by the sea with a very relaxed style. The venue is unique with its own style with fantastic views of the sea. We added additional lighting with lanterns on the dance floor and the eating area. See more...

Heirloom and heritage wedding style inspiration – grace and beauty from Doxford Hall

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Jane Austen wedding style inspiration from Oxford Hall, with Katy Melling Photography (27)

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Two words I’ve been hearing quite often as we approach 2019 are ‘heirloom’ and ‘heritage’ – brides and grooms are looking more to our culture and history than ever before, for inspiration for wedding styling. ‘Vintage’ as a source of wedding ideas is still hugely popular, with couples now looking for venues with their own character and unique history. So this inspirational feature from Doxford Hall has to be one of my favourite shoots of ALL TIME! It’s a perfect fit for English Wedding too of course, with a nod to Jane Austen and such delightful styling touches! The calligraphy is mine – I’m so proud to have been a part of such a beautiful photoshoot (and my paper goodies get to visit such wonderful places!)

Claire xx

Crafted from mellow stone, with its formal gardens and manicured lawns, featuring Europe’s largest yew tree maze, Doxford Hall is a dreamy, romantic and photogenic venue, and Northumbria’s only four red star wedding venue. To celebrate its bicentenary, a creative team channelled their love of beautiful things and shared passion for the finer things in life, to create a Jane Austen-inspired styled bridal shoot to capture the elegance and romance of this beautiful country wedding venue. See more...

Milly & Nick’s traditional English springtime wedding, with Ayshea Goldberg Photography

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Lovely Essex wedding photographer Ayshea Goldberg on the English Wedding Blog (37)

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I am totally in denial of any gales blowing a hoolie outside my window right now!! Come and join me because it’s SPRING here on English Wedding and we’re filling our eyes with sunshine and flowers… and the stunning wedding of Milly and Nick. They married at Little Glemham Church in Suffolk, and celebrated with a beautiful reception at Glemham Hall in May. Their day was traditional and relaxed, with wild white English flowers and luscious greenery in keeping with the Suffolk hedgerows and pebble greys as they were so close to the sea!

I very nearly went for a wedding dress that was entirely different, the first dress had pockets so instantly I loved it but when I went to try it on a second time with a view to putting down the deposit it was 30 degrees outside and I was so uncomfortable, all I wanted to do was get out of it! See more...

Claire & Jake’s gorgeous Wellington Barn wedding, with Martin Dabek Photography

Deep greens and red berries for Kayleigh and Alex’s winter wedding, with Katrina Matthews Photography

7 simple clues to finding the wedding venue of your dreams!

Rebecca and John’s natural, fun and family-focused wedding at Appletreewick Craven Arms, with York Place Studios

Katie & Paul’s beautiful summer wedding with vibrant florals, photos by Nicola Norton Photography

New sponsor welcome! Howell Jones photography

Rugged and beautiful tipi wedding inspiration from Cornwall

News & fave weddings and advice from the Hampshire Wedding Club!

Rocking Wedding Bands For Retro Weddings

A wow factor wedding in Wiltshire – Laura & Josh at The Lost Orangery, with photos by Casey Avenue