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Elegant Eshott Hall Wedding

Elegant yet approachable, this sweet Eshott Hall totally made me fall head over heels in love with this adorable couple. Their wedding was a wonderfully timeless affair, but their personality still seemed to seep through each gorgeous image captured by Sarah-Jane Ethan. Her images paint the prettiest picture of their special day, and you can get lost in all the goodness here.

From The Bride…David being Irish and me being a northern lass it was meant to be that we met in a bar on a night out in Newcastle in 2004. I guess you could say our eyes met across a crowded dance floor! After a year of knowing each other David moved to Leeds, where I followed soon after. We then moved a little further with David’s work taking us to Romania and Norway!

After 11 years together we knew we wanted a magical day surrounded by our closest family and friends. The inspiration for the wedding came from the type of wedding we wanted – small and intimate! It was important to us that we got to spend time with all of our guests especially as we live in Norway and don’t see people as often as we would like. Being able to spend quality time with family and friends who had travelled to be with us was very important.

Inspiration for the theme of the wedding came once we chose the venue. The ballroom at Eshott Hall, where we had the wedding breakfast and reception is so full of natural light and has beautiful ornate gold mirrors and chandeliers. I chose the colour scheme, blush and gold, to compliment the elegance of the room and to be in keeping with the light and warm tones.

We chose our venue based on the size of wedding we wanted and because having accommodation at the wedding venue was a priority as many guests were traveling from overseas…including the bride and groom! Being from the North East looking at venues in Northumberland seemed like the way to go. Plus it’s a beautiful part of the country! We came across Eshott Hall whilst doing an Internet search of venues and then because we live abroad I sent my sister and niece to scout it out! With their approval we booked it without visiting it ourselves! Luckily we trusted their judgement. Not only was the hall, grounds and location perfect but the size too! This helped us keep the wedding to the numbers we had initially set.

I left choosing my dress a little last minute – 4 months before the wedding! This did limit my choices as most dresses take a least 6 months to make. But in my case, thankfully, it couldn’t have worked out any better! I chose my dress with some fabulous help at Y.A.P bridal boutique. From the moment I walked into the shop I was made to feel like the most important bride in the world! The dress I chose was an A-line style dress made of lace with an overlay of tulle and hand-beaded lace appliqué. I fell in love with the neckline and delicate capped sleeves on the dress. The lace edging at the bottom I thought was simply stunning! As soon as a stepped into the dress it had a real romantic feel! I knew it was the one!

There were so many elements of the day that we simply loved! We stayed at the venue the evening before the wedding along with most of our guests so this was a great way for everyone to get acquainted. Saying our vows during the ceremony was so special and magical. It was as if I had already said them years ago! We had some time between the wedding breakfast and the evening reception where we were all hanging out in the various rooms of the hall, relaxing on stately sofas! David and I loved this time where we were really able to chat with our guests and share lots of fun moments. We also loved the evening reception where we had a band and despite it being a small wedding the dance floor was never empty!

The first supplier we booked was our photographer, Sarah-Jane Ethan. We fell in love with her creative, fun and unique style of photography! When I viewed images on her website I loved that all of the couples she had captured seemed so relaxed! We simply couldn’t have asked for a better photographer! She captured the day as it naturally happened and she did this in a professional and friendly way. Her photography is so personal and her ability to capture all that happens, a laugh, a tear and kiss is something we are truly thankful for when we look back at our photographs!

Advice we would give to couples is to choose a venue that suits the wedding you want e.g. budget, theme and especially size. Discussing how we both imagined our day to be before looking a venues was really important in making sure it fit the bill.

I love being creative so it was really important for me to design and make our wedding invitations, order of ceremony cards and table plan and place cards. It saved money and those weekends when we were both cutting card and tying pieces of string was so worth it to see it laid out on the day. And because everything was handmade it was a lovely when guests complimented on the stationary and we could say we made it!!

The first supplier we booked was our photographer, Sarah-Jane Ethan. We fell in love with her creative, fun and unique style of photography! When I viewed images on her website I loved that all of the couples she had captured seemed so relaxed! We simply couldn’t have asked for a better photographer! She captured the day as it naturally happened and she did this in a professional and friendly way. Her photography is so personal and her ability to capture all that happens, a laugh, a tear and kiss is something we are truly thankful for when we look back at our photographs!

Photography: Sarah-Jane Ethan Photography | Floral Design: Fleur Couture | Wedding Dress: YAP Bridal | Cake: Cake Poppins | Bride's Shoes: LK Bennett | Jewelry: Oh No Rachio | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Debenhams | Makeup: Cordelia & Co. Inspired Makeup Artist | Hair: Lisa Cameron | Band: The Heist | Groom's Attire: Tiger Of Sweden | Venue: Eshott Hall | Chairs: The Finishing Touch Company | Photo Booth: Snaparazzi

Romantic English Garden Wedding

Considering a longer engagement? What if I told you that this wedding right here is what 19 months of planning gets you? Amazing, right?! It’s the ultimate Pinterest worthy celebration complete with a homemade cake, garden romance, and of course endless love. As far as we’re concerned Andy & Emma had the BEST wedding day. See it all captured by the majorly talented Sarah-Jane Ethan in The Vault!

From the Bride… Andy proposed on my 21st birthday. He left me hanging all morning and just before my birthday party that afternoon he approached me with our little girl, got down on one knee and proposed with the most beautiful ring, I was so shocked! Having Poppy there with us made it all the more special for me, together we shared another new chapter in our lives. Four days later Andy continued his romantic streak and we travelled first class to Paris, which was my birthday surprise. We had 4 magical days finishing of my 21st and celebrating our engagement. It was perfect.

Once we had discussed a wedding date there was no question about the venue. Before I had even met Andy I attended a small wedding at Newton Hall and just fell in love with the place. I remember saying to my dad that day ‘This is my dream venue if I get married’ Andy was so easy going he agreed to make an appointment with Newton. We didn’t want anything too formal and Like me Andy loved the unique vibe and felt it was perfect for us. SOLD, this was the beginning of planning my dream wedding.

I used Pinterest a lot when planning the wedding, you can find so many different ideas and styles on there. I created boards to collect things I liked and it helped me vision the look I wanted. The great thing about Newton Hall was that it already had so much character, we didn’t want to take away the unique interior. I made a few bits myself to add a little personal touch. Instead of wedding favours we made mini thank you bags for those who helped us throughout the planning and had personalised activity bags for the kids. Andy’s job was to create the cake, it was a complete surprise to me on the day and he done really well, I loved it and it fitted our theme perfect.

My dress was actually my second bought, oops! I finally found ‘The one’ 6 months before the wedding after doubting my original choice. I chose it from the very first shop I visited back in the early stage of planning. I loved the lace detail on my dress and the tiny buttons that ran right up the back. I also tied a small sequin belt to add a little extra sparkle.

After 19 months of planning our special day finally arrived. Andy was so nervous for the ceremony, it really meant a lot to him. The whole day was just magical, a highlight was our cocktail reception; the nervous part was over, everyone was now relaxed and we were introduced as Mr & Mrs for the first time to all our family and friends and that was a great feeling.

Sarah-Jane Ethan was our photographer. When I first browsed her website I loved the way she captured people’s weddings. Her images were bright and seemed to have that natural feel, which is what we were looking for. Talking to Sarah-Jane Ethan was always a pleasure, she was always so happy and friendly and on the day she made us feel so relaxed. We didn’t want a lot of formal pictures, we wanted our day to be captured naturally with life and laughter. I love the close up shots from around our venue and the finishing touches which make memories of our long planning. I love looking back at our photos they tell the story of our day and how everything fell into place so perfectly.

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More Wedding Day Looks Right Here! 

Old Hollywood Gowns | Lace Gowns | Beaded Gowns | Classic Gowns

Photography: Sarah-Jane Ethan Photography | Floral Design: The Finishing Touch Company | Wedding Dress: AJ Bridal | Bride's Shoes: Irregular Choice | Makeup: Tara Makeup Artist | Hair: Luxe Mobile | Groom's Attire: Ted Baker | Wedding Venue: Newton Hall | Decorations: The Finishing Touch Company | Photobooth: Snaparazzi

Classic English Garden Cotswolds Wedding

Go ahead and pour yourself a cup of proper tea, because this afternoon we’re headed to The Cotswolds. Think that quintessential English charm and a garden setting straight from the storybooks. We’re escaping via The Vault filled with moments captured by Depict Photography, plus a must-watch clip from Mark Brown Films below. I mean – flower crowns, ribbon tied bouquets and ‘maids in shades of pink? This wedding is a total dream.

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From Jessie Thomson Wedding Planning… Roman and Freda hosted an intimate summer celebration in the Cotswolds with their nearest and dearest – a bride with impeccable taste and the sweetest nature, Freda had a vision for her wedding day that was soft and pretty, perfect for the beautiful Manor House and garden setting. When creating the design plan I used scent as inspiration for many details – from wild berries in the florals, to fresh rosemary, lavender and rose petal confetti – even the bridesmaids crowns featured fresh herbs, all created by the super talented Georgia from Westwood Design.

We almost didn’t have the outdoor ceremony thanks to good old British weather and spells of rain all morning, but at the last minute it cleared in time and we put the brollies aside for a candle lit affair in the gorgeous grounds. Roman & Freda followed with a reception where guests were treated to sweet treats, refreshing drinks and canapés, before inviting them to watch a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony in the late afternoon setting sun.

After the most delicious dinner served by the team at Barnsley House on long tables set with hundreds of rosemary & bay scented candles and flowers, the happy couple led their family and friends back into the gardens for signature cocktails, and cutting of the cake surrounded by sparklers. The cake was created by Faye at The Natural Cake Co who uses all organic natural ingredients – I styled this rose flavoured tower with Westwood Design using fresh figs, flowers and herbs.

The Bride wore the most gorgeous sparkling evening dress for the first dance a little later on, before The Wedding Smashers kicked off a great night of dancing and entertainment for the newlyweds until the early hours of the morning.

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Photography: Kate From Depict | Cinematography: Mark Brown Films | Wedding Dress: Temperley London | Cake: The Natural Cake Company | Stationery: Gemma Milly | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Donna Morgan | Hair: Kasia Fortuna Hair Designer | DJ: Wedding Smashers Limited | Celebrant: Grace the Day | String Quartet: Arioso | Transportation: Alex Cars | Venue: Barnsley House | Desserts: Contemporary Cake Designs | Event Planning, Design + Styling: Jessie Thomson Weddings & Events | Floral Design + Styling: Westwood Design

Elegant Brinkburn Northumberland Wedding

There is just something so incredibly special, so incredibly timeless about an English wedding. And it’s made all that much more darling when the couple infuses their personalities among the traditions, which is just what happened with this beauty captured by Sarah-Jane Ethan. Complete with gorgeous English gardens, beautifully classic gown and tweed a plenty, this gallery is English wedding gold.

From The Bride…Warren & I met in a bar in Tynemouth, our local village, at Christmas time but I was only home for a week as I was going back to uni in Leeds so we ended up chatting and swapping numbers but once I was back in Leeds nothing happened – I was a student and warren was working full time in Newcastle. It wasn’t until the following October where we bumped into each other again at a party when I was home for the weekend and we got back in touch and Warren came to visit me in Leeds for a weekend a few weeks later and that was that!

We were engaged over scrambled eggs! I was stood in our kitchen in my pajamas on a Saturday morning making us scrambled eggs for breakfast and Warren started following me round the kitchen looking a bit nervous and I told him (repeatedly) to get out of my way and I would shout when the eggs were ready. He then blurted out that I made the best scrambled eggs in the world…my response was thanks but seriously get out of my way and then he said “what I’m trying to say is I would like you to make these scrambled eggs for the rest of my life” whilst looking at me right in the eye and then it dawned on me…and I said “are you trying to ask me what I think you are trying to ask me as that’s the worst proposal ever and where’s the ring?!” Well yes he was asking me what I thought he was asking and there was no ring as apparently it just occurred to him at that moment when I was making him scrambled eggs! But I did get to choose my own very beautiful and unique engagement ring! Our friends and family still debate whether it’s the least romantic or most romantic proposal but we all agree it was very “us”.

We were engaged for 3 years before setting a date or doing any planning. We weren’t really in a hurry to get married but one day we were driving to Rothbury and decided to try and visit Brinkburn Priory, the English Heritage site on the way – my family had a caravan in Rothbury for a few years when I was younger and I spent lots of time there and I had told Warren about this interesting old Priory and we had tried to visit it twice before to get there and find it was closed so we thought third time lucky. It’s a beautiful venue in a lovely area of the Northumberland countryside 40 minutes drive from our home at the coast and we’ve always loved walking up there. Third time lucky in one sense as it was closed but there was a sign with an arrow giving directions to a wedding. When we got home I looked up Brinkburn Priory as a wedding venue remembering how lovely it was when I went as a child. We decided to go to their next open day and instantly knew it was perfect for us. It was November 2014 and a crisp autumn day and the colours of the trees and the river and beautiful forest seemed magical combined with the tipi and the lovely cottage. It had a really relaxed, fun, quirky and unique vibe which was just what we were looking for. We wanted to do something a little different but that matched our love of the outdoors and of Northumberland. We asked about dates and every weekend in 2015 was already booked apart from one Saturday…which was the day before Warren’s 40th birthday. This seemed perfect as many of our friends and family were beginning to ask after over 3 years of being engaged, were we ever going to get married and warren would always respond that he would definitely have to get married before he was 40…it seemed too funny to end up doing it the day before so we set about planning a weekend of celebrations rather than just one day. I decided I wanted to get married in the huge beautiful old Priory which is steeped in history and have the reception in the fun and very unique giant hat tipi which was adorned with fairy lights, comfy leather sofas with animal print throws and quirky barrel tables. The accommodation on site was also beautiful and sleeps 17 people so we thought it would be perfect to have close friends and family stay with us for the full weekend. 

I chose the very first dress I tried on! I made a few appointments in Newcastle after an internet search, having no real idea where to start. I went to the first shop and the girls were amazing. One of them did a consultation with me asking what I was looking for. The only thing I knew I would like was a lot of lace and long sleeves. Danni picked a dress from the rail and I tried it on and loved it and said I will go for this one – I’m pretty good at making decisions and I knew I’m not the type of girl who would enjoy trying on 50 dresses in hot cramped changing rooms. My mom and Danni had to make me try on a couple more styles to make sure but I kept thinking about the first one. Danni wouldn’t let us buy it before going away and thinking about it as I think she wanted me to be really sure and was worried I had made a snap decision. We went for lunch and a cocktail and went back and bought the dress. As easy as that. My shoes were also pretty easy – I waited until about a month before the wedding and thought oh god I best buy some shoes! I spent way longer mulling over bridesmaid shoes than my own! I knew my shoes wouldn’t be visible under my dress so I went for comfort and a relatively cheap pair from debenhams which I’m really pleased about as I’ve never worn them since and they couldn’t be seen on the day. I didn’t go for any accessories other than a floor length veil which really complimented the dress. I wanted the dress to do all the talking. 

Flowers were strangely harder than the dress for me as I just didn’t know where to start with colours and styles etc but the venue recommended a local florist who was amazing. I went to her house with my mom only 2 months before the wedding and I described the colour scheme and theme of the wedding – we were going nautical! And she instantly said burnt orange would look great with the midnight blue bridesmaid dresses. Not something I would have thought of but she was so right. I went for beautiful bright bouquets for the bridesmaids with lots of orange colour to compliment their dark dresses and a mixed bouquet of colour and ivory for mine. We didn’t go for any flowers in the Priory as we felt it didn’t need any as it’s such a grand building. I went for a wild and natural look for the flowers to compliment the countryside and autumnal feel and the men’s buttonholes had herbs and birch included in them. 

I struggled with bridesmaid dresses more than anything! I had 6 bridesmaids plus my 4 year old niece as a flower girl and I basically left it too late to order any from most bridal shops or online suppliers – I was far too relaxed in the beginning! But i also knew I wanted navy or midnight blue and floor length and when I got my dress in March, all of the bridesmaid dresses were short and in summer colours which wouldn’t work for an October nautical themed wedding. I hedged my bets and waited until August when I knew high street retailers would be getting their autumn/winter stock in and my mom found the perfect dresses on monsoon’s website and I ordered one for my sister to try and she loved it and the other bridesmaids loved them too. The flower girl dress and jacket were also from monsoon. One of my bridesmaids works in fashion so I asked her to help me with the bridesmaid shoes and she found amazing and really unique silver shoes with a jeweled heel on asos which were comfortable too. I only wish I had ordered a pair for myself now as they still love wearing them. 

The groom wanted to wear tweed – he loves tweed and we wanted to go a little different. We thought blue tweed look great in the countryside setting and keep the men warm and tie in with the nautical theme. Warren’s tweed 3 piece suit was bespoke, made by a tailor in Northumberland who is now in his 70s and has been making suits his whole life – John Blade. The groomsmen suits were also blue tweed and were from a very quirky shop called Most Suitable in Newcastle. We said on the invites that tweed for gents was encouraged but in no way mandatory and so many of our guests turned up in tweed which was amazing. 

I chose Sarah-Jane Ethan as our photographer after a recommendation from one of my bridesmaids who had been at a wedding as a guest where you were photographer. She said SJ had been brilliant and got some amazing quirky and unique shots but just blended into the background but were really good fun too. She knew that warren and I were kind of dreading the photo side of things as we both hate having our photo taken! So SJ’s relaxed vibe sounded perfect. I checked out her website and immediately got in touch! The images are amazing, she captured every one of my favourite moments of the day – from the sublime to the ridiculous moments!The colours are captured so well – the colours of the trees etc and she caught some great natural, in the moment pictures of all of us just looking like we were having a really great fun time – which was my aim of the day :-) 

Well I was very relaxed and was adamant I didn’t want the planning of the wedding to take over our lives or become a bridezilla! Although I probably did have my moments at times..mainly because we booked the venue with just under 11 months to go but I really didn’t do any planning until about 5 months before the big day – which sounded like more than enough time to me but it turned out it wasn’t really – not with both of us working busy jobs and having busy lives – it turns out planning a wedding is kind of like another full time job! But my advice would be to have as much fun as you can along the way as it should be a really happy time in your life and your relationship, not a stressful one. But be more organized than I was and don’t leave things till the last minute. Accept help from friends and family when they offer it and use the wedding planner book you were given as an engagement gift. Oh and stick to the budget you agreed on – sticking to a budget has never been a forte of mine but costs can quickly spiral out of control! And on the day, enjoy every minute of it, it will fly by but relax and know that after all the planning, the day will be just how you wanted it. I genuinely never stopped laughing all day! I would also recommend a photo booth – it made the evening! 

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Photography: Sarah-Jane Ethan | Wedding Dress: YAP Bridal | Cake: Marks And Spencer | Catering: Wilkins Fine Dining | Band: Grooveallstars | Venue: Brinkburn | Photo Booth: Snaparazzi

Romantic English Garden Spring Wedding

What American girl doesn’t dream of falling madly in love with a dapper Englishman? That’s this Bride’s reality and they toasted their union with one uber romantic English garden celebrationCJK Visuals captured this fairytale come to life and with Planned for Perfection and Paula Rooney at the helm, it was a bash filled with beauty. Grace the Day said the magic words and with that, these two were husband and wife and the party continued, as seen throughout our Vault – start your week right here!

From CJK Visuals… Last August, I had the amazing opportunity to work with Jane Riddell of Planned for Perfection on a full day long styled shoot in the incredibly gorgeous Cotswolds in England! I had so much fun shooting with her and the rest of the talented, inspiring English vendors that I had to do everything I could to get back over there and shoot with them again! Well, fast forward a few months and I received an email from Jane about an American girl and Englishman getting married in Hampshire and they wanted me as their photographer! I couldn’t believe it! So just about one year after first meeting Jane, I was back in England and photographing this incredible wedding for Ryan and Michael!

I’m so happy to have met these two for their engagement session in London this past winter, and their summery English garden wedding couldn’t have been more perfect! We were all so happy that the infamous English rain skipped over this dreamy outdoor ceremony. I am forever thankful that they trusted me as a photographer flying across an entire ocean to shoot for them and will always remember this beautiful celebration!

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Get inspired with more destination weddings here!

Photography: CJK Visuals | Event Planning: Planned for Perfection | Floral Design: Paula Rooney Weddings & Events | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Invitations: Lamplighter London | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Hair + Makeup: Gina Conway Prive | Groom's Attire: Lipman & Sons | Celebrant: Grace the Day | String Quartet: Niche Quartet | Venue: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Chair Rentals: Ballonique | Photo Booth: Say Fromage | Wedding Day Stationery: Judy Broad Calligraphy

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Rustic Chic Pastel Yorkshire Country Wedding

You know what we love most about this wedding (that is, other than love between these two)? The fact that Sarah and Adam’s venue was none other than the Groom’s parents garden. I mean, how amazing is that?! An immaculate curation of beautiful blooming flowers, these two celebrated their beginning in the sweetest way possible and thanks to Samantha Ward Photography we’ve got it all in The Vault!

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From Samantha Ward PhotographySarah & Adam’s wedding was on a glorious summers day, the kind of summers day in England which you can hope for but definitely not expect. This was perfect as Sarah & Adam had chosen a country garden reception which wouldn’t have been so accommodating with summer showers.

The day was filled with laughter, family, friends and especially love. From the formal, yet personal ceremony in the beautiful church at Pickering to the informal, beautiful reception in Adam’s parents garden. The traditional canvas and pole marquee looked stunning and I was blown away by the styling inside, so simple yet so effective.

There were so many elements of this wedding which were delightful, the mismatched bridesmaid dresses in tones of pinks, Sarah’s stunning gown and Adam’s stylish suit, the bridesmaids walking the short distance to church whilst trying to stop the confetti flying away, the garden fete games on the lawn, the festooned lighting through the trees (which looked so magical at dusk) the long trestle tables in the marquee (harking back to tradition), the sharing platters of food and the overall relaxed atmosphere of fun and love.

Sarah and Adam had created a day with beautiful details, wonderful food, drinks and entertainment. They had thought of their guests at every point and yet hadn’t lost the importance of their union, their marriage and their love for each other.

From the Bride… Adam & I were married in Adam’s home town of Pickering in North Yorkshire on July 25th 2016. The ceremony was held in Pickering Church, the church which Adam grew up around (and was altar boy at when he was a young chap). It is an absolutely stunning old church with beautiful medieval paintings along the internal walls. We had two readings in the church; the first was Romans 12 9-18 read by two of Adam’s university friends Dan and Nige; the second a poem by Bee Rawlinson “I Take You” which was specially selected and read by two of my close school friends Ania and Andrea.

We were extremely fortunate that Adam’s parents allowed us to have the reception in their gorgeous English country garden. The garden is immaculately cared for by Adam’s dad who put in a huge amount of work in months leading up to the wedding to ensure that there were beautiful flowers blooming in July. We hired an incredible marquee from Will’s Marquees which really was something else!

We wanted an English country garden look to our wedding. We chose very natural colours such as blush pinks and greens. Whilst we didn’t want everything to ‘match’ we wanted all the aspects to complement each other and fit in with the look, something that we tried to achieve all the way through the wedding, from the initial ‘Save the dates’ to the table decorations. The decoration of the garden really bought everything together; Rachel at Simply Vintage was so much fun and really understood what we were looking for. She had so many brilliant ideas which I would never have thought of; from the foliage around the poles in the marquee, the festoon lights in the orchard and the fire pits for the evening. Rachel arrived the day before the wedding in her truck of wonders which had so many props to play with. Lynne (from Stem Designs) worked alongside Rachel which meant that the theme was consistent across all parts of the decoration. Whilst we had initial discussions of some of my favourite flower choices, I gave her a relatively free rein as to the end result. I was like a child in a sweetie shop when she turned up with more peonies that I’d ever seen. The bouquets were just lovely; I went for a natural trailing style whilst the bridesmaids had more traditional bunches. We had long tables for the reception so instead of centrepieces we had flowers and foliage in small vintage bottles and jars dotted around the tables. We had additional flowers dotted around the garden and hanging from the trees.

I had six bridesmaids and wanted them to be in different but similar dresses. I asked them all to find a blush pinky knee length dress with a vintage / garden feel. Allowing them all to pick their own dresses not only meant that they ended up with dresses that they liked but removed the stress of trying to find a dress style which suited everybody’s shape. I bought them all individual vintage earrings which I selected over the course of the year leading up to the wedding.

After the evening meal we had the White Keys play. It took a while to find a band that we liked, so we were delighted when we found that the White Keys were available to play and happy to travel up to Yorkshire from London. We went to one of their gigs before the wedding and I knew that they would be just perfect; upbeat, fantastic singers AND performers who got everybody dancing. I am so glad that we were able to have such an incredible band. It made a huge difference to the evening and the dance floor was constantly packed.

Finding a photographer was one of the hardest parts of planning the wedding. It was very important to me to not only have a photographer who took amazing photos, but somebody who would also be lovely to be around on the day of the wedding. We had a Skype meeting with Sam before booking and Adam and I instantly felt comfortable with her. She is so lovely and easy to talk to. Her photos of the day are so beautiful and she has managed to capture so many special moments without me even noticing she was there.

My overall best piece of advice for future brides & grooms is to work with suppliers that are nice, fun people who you trust…… and enjoy it. We would not have been able to achieve our perfect day without our wonderful friends and family who were happy to get involved; including my mum drying rose petals for six months, collecting endless jam jars and being there for constant guidance, my bridesmaids cutting, glueing and sticking invites for 180 people, Adam’s dad working tirelessly on the garden, Adam’s brother fixing a last minute electrical crisis and the whole wedding party helping out a huge amount before and on the day. To everybody that helped, Adam and I will be forever grateful. I loved planning our wedding and would not have changed anything about it.

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Photography: Samantha Ward | Photography: Samantha Ward | Floral Design: Stems Design | Wedding Dress: Elizabeth Stuart | Ceremony Venue: Parish Church Of St Peter & St Paul | Church: Parish Church Of St Peter & St Paul | Reception Venue: Private Residence | Bride's Shoes: Rachel Simpson | Catering: Home Grown Hog Roast | Catering: Home Grown Hog Roast | Hair Stylist: Emily Hawkes | Groom's Attire: Ben Sherman | Groom's Attire: Ben Sherman | Bridal Boutique: Luella's Boudoir | Bridal Preps: The White Swan | Bride's Hair Accessory: Britten | Decor + Styling: Simply Vintage Events | Entertainment Day: Evelyn Iris | Entertainment Evening: The White Keys | Groom's Shoes: Jones Bootmaker | Makeup Arist: Louise Lunn | Marquee: Will's Marquee

Elegant Pastel English Country Barn Wedding

Above all, remember that the secret to a fabulous wedding is to have FUN – which is exactly what this Almonry Barn celebration is all about. A perfect pastel pairing that’ll have you pinning the day away, Kerry Bartlett captured it all to share and you can get witness all the pretty in THE VAULT!

From The Bride…I always envisioned our day to be pretty florals, pastel pinks and a small, personal relaxed wedding! With good food and music!My favourite moment of the day was when I stood at the beginning of the isle with my dad arm in arm and saw my husband to be look round and seeing his face! Then to walk down the isle in front of all our close friends and family there! Was the best! I think my favourite crafted detail would be the flower adorned swing because how beautiful our amazing photographer captured it in the photos!

We’d always said we would get married abroad, we loved the idea of being away with all our close friends and family and also the uniqueness that no one had probably been there before! Then we found Almonry Barn and it was the best of both worlds we was still in the UK so our grandparents could make it but we travelled and had the uniqueness that no one had been there before! Almonry Barn is amazing we loved it so much on the website that we booked it before we even went to see it! And when we did its even better than the photos! The barn would look amazing for a wedding even if you didn’t add any extras it’s a stunning venue! Louise the Owner is lovely and so helpful! Always at the other end of an email she helped so much with me planning from afar! Almonry barn is beautiful inside and out!

When we started planning the wedding the owner of Almonry Barn, Louise put us in touch with an amazing Florist Amber Persia, as I knew what colour palette I was thinking for the flowers and had a few pictures on pinterest of the cake etc, Amber asked me to send her my Pinterest board and she was amazing! she had so many great additional ideas and sent me pictures of what my bouquet could look like, the men’s buttonholes, the corsages etc! She sent me a detailed email of all the flowers she was looking to use in my bouquet, on the tables, table plan and on the cake! She could not have made them any more perfect; They were even better than I could imagine! The flowers looked great against the bridesmaid’s pastel blue dresses and the groomsmen’s suits. Of course made the venue even more beautiful with blush flowers everywhere!

 I’d seen Kerry’s beautiful, natural images I knew I would love her to photograph our wedding! Kerry was great; we spoke a lot over email, due to the vast distance between us and she was always so helpful! She made me feel very comfortable straight away! When we met at our engagement shoot it was lovely to get to know each other and have a good discussion about the wedding. I found it really nice that when we received our engagement photos, not only were they really beautiful, Kerry also wanted to discuss these photographs in order to tailor our wedding photography personally to us. We felt this was a great personal touch and as you can see from the wedding photographs, it worked! We are massively pleased with our photos; Kerry captured some amazing moments that we will treasure forever!

My advice to brides-to-be would be to enjoy the planning, Pinterest will become your best friend! Our wedding day was the best day of my life, it may seem like an obvious observation but it really was, it was so personal, loving and joyful, I would do it all again tomorrow if I could!

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Photography: Kerry Bartlett Photography | Floral Design: Amber Persia | Wedding Dress: Wellbet Bridal | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Chi Chi London | Catering: Strawberry Fields | Hair: Bridal Hair By Roseanne | Groomsmen Attire: Slaters | Venue: Almonry Barn Wedding Venue

Classic Black Tie Countryside Wedding at Botleys Mansion

Just knowing that Rebecca and Stephen are childhood sweethearts makes us love their black tie wedding all the more. A day overflowing with sentiment, sweet moments, and some seriously chic details, Weddings By Nicola And Glen captured every single second to share. We’re deeming it the ultimate happy ending love story and it’s all waiting in THE VAULT!

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From Weddings By Nicola And GlenChildhood sweethearts Rebecca and Stephen’s wedding at Botleys Mansion over the summer was heartfelt to the core. There were so many touching moments right throughout the day that we were privileged to witness and capture. The morning started with our Bride and Groom getting ready at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel.

We’ll never forget when our Bride opened two gifts from Stephen while she was busy getting her hair and make-up done. The first, a stunning pair of earrings that she would wear for her wedding. The second, a hand made book of all their memories together as a couple and as a family. Stephen had arranged for their son Leo to deliver these gifts to her. Rebecca tried her best not to cry but it was only with plenty of encouragement from her mum and girlfriends that the tears of happiness were kept at bay.

Before our Bride stepped into her dress, she spent a few moments with her gorgeous little girl Ava. It was the sweetest thing when Rebecca encourage Ava to step into her Jimmy Choo heels! Rebecca and Ava were not the only ones to melt our hearts. Stephen and their son Leo spent their morning together too. With a tuxedos to match his dad’s, Leo look simply adorable by his father’s side.

Soon after our beautiful couple were wed in a tear filled ceremony at their family church in the heart of London. The rest of the celebrations continued with a fabulous black tie wedding reception in the English countryside. All the guests were transported on a double decker red London bus to the reception location. On arrival at Botleys Mansion they were greeted with vintage cocktails and ice creams and the sweet sounds of a live string band. The atmosphere was laid-back yet glamorous. As the day continued the sense excitement and emotion simply intensified. Our Groom and all their guests were surprised as incognito singing waiters burst into their musical performance before serving desserts. Then after their first dance Stephen surprised everyone with a fireworks display!

The whole day was filled with timeless style and elegant monochrome detailing. From white floral decor, platinum Bridesmaids dresses and ivory invitations every touch was classic and feminine. With such an unsurpassable combination of heart and style Rebecca and Stephen’s wedding day really had it all!

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Photography: Weddings by Nicola & Glen | Cinematography: White Dress Films | Dress: Sassi Holford | Cake: Ann's Designer Cakes | Church: Our Lady Of Dolours RC | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Two Birds | Makeup Artist: Nikki Makeup | Suit: Hugo Boss | Getting Ready Venue: The Millennium Gloucester Hotel | Hair Artist: Kasia Fortuna Hair Designer | Wedding Reception Venue: Bespoke By Bijou

Romantic English Garden Wedding with a Dream Naeem Khan Wedding Dress

I’m convinced this Bride had a fairy godmother because her Naeem Khan wedding dress is way too beautiful to be real. And, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a little magic sprinkled everywhere at this fête. From the dress and Manolo Blahnik heels to the chapel ceremony and garden reception, every inch of this wedding from Bianco Photography deserves to be pinned. See it all in THE VAULT!

From Bianco PhotographyThere are places in which I feel immediately enraptured by the atmosphere, the taste for details and all the history that those houses treasure. That’s why I was immediately enthusiastic when Lynn and Joe asked me to take pictures at their wedding at Sibton Park, one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever had the chance to work in. More, Lynn was wearing a stunning gown by Naeem Khan, one of my favorite bridal fashion designers ever and the most loved Manolo Blahnik (you might remember them in blue from Sex & The City’s wedding? I know you do). What on earth could I desire more than this? A special thanks to Sarah of Softley Events as well, for the beautiful planning!

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Photography: Bianco Photography | Event Planning: Softley Events | Event Planning: Merren Events | Floral Design: Jamjar Flowers | Wedding Dress: Naeem Khan | Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Venue: Sibton Park

Romantic Candlelit Cotswold Manor House Autumn Wedding

This gorgeous bride looks like a classic Hollywood starlet straight out of the golden age of glam. Then again, so does every detail of this elegant English wedding planned by the Groom! From the stately manor to the rich autumn color palette to the couple’s adorable sons, this wedding is as lovely as they come. See all the beauty captured by Weddings By Nicola And Glen in THE VAULT!

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From Weddings By Nicola And GlenJoanna and Richard’s Cotswold wedding embraced the romance of the autumn season. Their November nuptials took place in the gorgeous English countryside setting of Lower Slaughter Manor. Our Groom had the most amazing vision for their wedding day and basically planned the whole event which made a lovely change! Above all Richard wanted his wife to be, two sons and all their family and friends to have an amazing day in fabulous surroundings that captured the magic of the setting and time of year.

The Manor house with its old stone fireplaces and comfortable lounges was simply perfect for a relaxed yet luxurious ambience. The equestrian details dotted throughout the venue subtly paid homage to how our couple met and fell and love through their shared interest in horses. The main surprise for all the guests would be when they entered the reception space for dinner. Hundreds of twinkling candles wrapped in bark and berries and softly dimmed chandeliers illuminated the room to create a magical atmosphere. Tall clear vases fill with dried harvest fruits held orbs of fiery coloured florals, berries and foliage creating elegant centre pieces for each table.

Richard and the two boys dressed to impress with the children in blue three piece suits to match their father’s Alexander McQueen attire. Joanna undoubtedly stole the show in a stunning British designed Alan Hannah off the shoulder dress. Her classic chignon and paired back details highlighted our gorgeous Bride’s natural grace. The most beautiful aspect of the entire day (and my goodness there were many!) was how the Joanna and Richard and their two boys celebrated our couple’s marriage as a family…

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Photography: Weddings by Nicola & Glen | Cinematography: Mr And Mrs Productions | Floral Design: Broadway Florist | Wedding Dress: Sorrento By Alan Hannah | Cake: Contemporary Cake Designs | Invitations: Letterpress Of Cirencester | Rings: Michael Rose Jewels | Hair: Muse Creative Hair | Band: The Hijackers | Groom's Attire: Alexander McQueen | Venue: Lower Slaughter Manor | Magician: Gloucestershire Magician

Elegant Destination Wedding At The Oyster Shed

I’m not going to lie to you, this wedding is perfect. That’s right, the ideal celebration captured by the one and only Kathryn Hopkins Photography. For any party that is punctuated with the Bride wearing Stella York is one we’re bound to take note of, and we’ve got it all waiting for you to see in THE VAULT!

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From The Bride…Andy and I met when we were both working for the charity Age UK. We were both part of the charity softball team and met at the first practice of the season. After a couple months of knowing each other Andy moved to Brixton where I was also living at the time and the rest, as they say, is history.

Andy proposed in India when we were on a two week trip last year. Apparently he thought proposing at sunset on a beach in Goa was too cliché, so instead decided to propose in Munnar in our hotel room, as the mist descended and monsoon rains appeared! He didn’t have the ring with him (travel insurance woes) so a temporary ring had to suffice. He even went to the effort to film a congratulations video from my family and friends to show me after the proposal. However, we had some technical difficulties and the hotel’s wifi was really weak so we had to hop in a rickshaw to the town nearby where I say in an internet café with Indian music blaring, headphones on, listening to my nearest and dearest wishing us all the best. And I wouldn’t have had the proposal any other way.

My dress was the second one I tried on. My maid of honor was living in Crystal Palace at the time and had occasionally walked past a bridal shop (Love Bridal) so we gave that a go. They are absolutely lovely, there’s no pressured whatsoever and they really listen to what you want. I didn’t have much thought about what I wanted my dress to look like so Julie (MOH) and I decided the first three I was going to try on by the names of the dresses. Julie has close links with Australia and one of the dresses was called ‘Kylie’ so it made the top three. It turned out to be the one.

I wanted something simple yet stylish that suited my frame. I loved the back of my dress, for us girls that don’t have a size able chest it’s nice being able to make a statement at the back! I wasn’t going to have a veil but it made me feel so ‘bride like’ it was a must.

Jewelry was kept to a minimum because of the style of the dress but I had a ring that was my great grandmother’s (something old) a bracelet from Andy’s mum (something borrowed) and Andy surprised me with pearl earrings from Tiffany and Co for my wedding gift!

We knew from the start that we wanted a London wedding. We both live in London and love it, so couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else. We struggled at first to find somewhere that really suited what we wanted. At first we were looking for an all in one but everything we found was a bit too formal.

The Oyster Shed where we had our reception is just amazing. The location is ideal – right on the river with a brilliant view of the Shard. It’s normally closed on a weekend because it’s in the city so there aren’t a lot of people about at the weekends so they only open for private hire. It’s very London but with a nautical twist!

The great thing about the Oyster Shed is that it already has so much character. There’s lots of different colours and knick knacks that we didn’t really need to add much else as it would take away from the charm of the venue. What we loved as well were the rustic tables with mismatched chairs – we’re not formal people so the set-up really suited us. In the end we added a little bit of bunting, some photos of our grandparents on their wedding days (as they have all sadly passed away) and that was really it! I did have to have my US mailbox for our cards as a nod to my US heritage.

Ultimately, we wanted a relaxed day and the Oyster Shed really helps with that. Everything is in one room, but with enough space for people to spread out – people could be dancing the night away or relaxing on one of the leather sofas while all the while having a truly spectacular London backdrop behind them.

 

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Photography: Kathryn Hopkins Photography | Floral Design: The Flower Bird | Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia | Cake: French Made | Ceremony Venue: Islington Town Hall | Reception Venue: The Oyster Shed | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monsoon | Bridesmaids' Dresses: House of Fraser | Catering: The Oyster Shed | Hair: Amanda Tironi | Band: The Copper Roads | Groomsmen Attire: Next | Transportation: Timebus Travel | Bridal Boutique - Bridesmaids' Dresses: House of Fraser | Earrings: Tiffany & Co. | Getting Ready Venue: Russell Hotel | Hair Accessories & Veil: Love Bridal

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Wes Anderson Inspired Scottish Wedding Film

Take an adorable duo with a love of all things Wes Anderson and pair them up with the uber-talented CineMate Films (and by uber-talented, I mean cinematic geniuses) and the results are pure magic.  Think a stunning Scottish affair meets crazy cool tunes meets one moment after another of tear-inducing happiness.  Push play to start your week off in the best way possible. (Hint: it’s awesome.)

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From CineMate FilmsWhen we heard that Rosie and Will had a keen interest in cinematography, particularly filmmaker extraordinaire Wes Anderson- we knew the pressure was on to make a great film. When we then heard of Rosie’s rugby playing prowess, it’s safe to say that anything short of spectacular wouldn’t suffice- this is one couple which we wouldn’t want to be caught up in a scrum with!

Thankfully the couple were absolutely lovely, and their Crear wedding on Scotland’s west coast was a big hit with the guests. Their young son Freddie really seemed to have a ball, and sportingly donned a kilt for the occasion (once a gingerbread biscuit was in the equation!).

We’d like to say a big thanks to Rosie and Will for having us along, and wish them the very best for their future together.

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Photography: Crear | Cinematography: CineMate Films | Wedding Dress: Suzanne Neville | Band: Whisky Kiss | Venue: Crear | Humanist: Annie Loughlin | Piper: Iain Campbell

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Elegant Winter Wedding in London

David Jenkins and Reel Love Films have officially delivered winter wedding goodness. For this London celebration is truly a gem and one that we honest-to-goodness treasure. A classic, intimate ceremony that took place next to Buckingham palace, this celebration could easily pass for royalty. From the Contemporary Art setting to the Bride’s something blue Manolo’s, we’ve got it all waiting in THE VAULT!

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From David JenkinsA beautiful classic intimate wedding taking place next to Buckingham palace at the Institute of Contemporary Art on Londons’ stunning Mall. The portraits took place on Horse-guards parade. Zoe opted for a wonderful Pronovias dress with eye catching blue Manolo Blahnik shoes. Both Nathan and Zoe design fashion for the UK, for leading designer Paul Smith and Nathan even designed his own shoes, so the outfits were of paramount importance. The overall feel was intimate, elegant and full of emotion. Nathan walked to the art gallery venue in the morning via Trafalgar square where his hotel was situated. Zoe arrived in a classic London black cab. The white walled venue offered them an intimate, contemporary space with the understated pastel floral design and atmospheric lighting really coming to the fore and allowing them and their family and friends to fully relax and immerse in the occasion.

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Photography: David Jenkins Photography | Cinematography: Reel Love Films | Floral Design: Gail Smith Flowers | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Abigail Bloom | Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Makeup: Kristina Gasperas | Calligraphy: Lamplighter London | Groom's Attire: Paul Smith | Venue: The ICA

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Romantic Wedding Film at Culzean Castle in Scotland

“No matter if you’re in your wedding dress or your granny pajamas on our lazy Sunday, you will always be beautiful to me.” And with that statement, the tears flowed freely and I fell in love with these two. Combining cultures and traditions, they said “I do” in the Bride’s dream-come-true of a wedding at a Scottish castle, with Lula Wedding Films capturing every second. A fairytale ending if I do say so myself.

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From Lula Wedding Films… Athena and Sam are bankers based in Singapore. Athena is originally from the Philippines and Sam is from London (born in Scotland). The two were in the same team of the same company but were based elsewhere before they decided to move in together in Singapore.

Athena has always wanted a fairytale themed wedding and it seemed too good to be true that Sam has roots in Scotland. Months of castle searching led them to a beautiful seaside castle in Maybole where Sam visited when he was young.

Sarah of Sarah Creative Occasions is a resident wedding planner and stylist of Culzean Castle so she knew the details that would complement the castle. From beautiful preparation rooms to a breathtaking cliff view for their ceremony to a medieval themed kitchen for their after party, this wedding is a truly a dream destination to get married at!

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Photography: Paul Walker | Cinematography: Lula Films | Event Planning: Sarah Creative Occasions | Wedding Dress: Jazel Sy Midel | Venue: Culzean Castle

Fashionable English Garden Wedding at Barnsley House

When your twin sister just so happens to be an amazing fashion designer, dressing the likes of Kate Moss and Florence Welch, choosing a custom wedding dress is kind of a no-brainer. Taking cues from this year’s hottest two-piece trend, the sisters opted for a chic, boho-inspired design fit for an English Garden bride. Barnsley House played backdrop to the day, and M&J Photography didn’t miss a beat. More in THE VAULT.

From Sophie, the Bride.. When Ed proposed, I was sat outside in the garden of Babbington House, my eyes closed, embracing the warmth of the autumn sun that peaked from the clouds. I had no idea what was about to happen, but I suddenly became aware of a silence and stillness. The sounds of the trees blowing in the wind and the birds singing. I opened my eyes, to find Ed on one knee. I knew from that moment we met, as 20 year old students, that I had loved him since forever!

From when I said yes, I knew I wanted to get married outside, beneath a tree. I love being amongst nature (I am a bit of a hippy at heart), trees represent strength, growth and grounding – all of which have a meaning to me, within marriage. Our wedding venue was an obvious choice; we first went to Barnsley house for my 30th birthday celebrations in June 2013 and the gardens were in full bloom. There’s an enchanting beauty about the grounds in the early summer and you can’t help but feel you’re in a very special place. It was everything we wanted from our venue and to share with our loved ones.

When it came to finding my dress, there was only one person in my heart who I knew, was supposed to design it – my twin sister, Amie. I trust her with my life and her talents are undeniable, designing for the likes of Kate Moss and Florence Welch. How could I not have her do it?! She understands me on a totally different level to anyone else – her knowing that I wanted something unique, with a relaxed bohemian vibe and a modern feel, was a match made in heaven. I went for a two-piece design, with a hand appliquéd lace top, slightly cropped with a scallop hem and a simple heavy silk crepe skirt. The attention to detail within the lace top was incredible. Amie incorporated tiny seed pearls (my birth stone) hand stitched, down the centre front braiding of the top- adding a modern twist. Stitched inside the top was a tiny antique sapphire heart, as my something old and blue – a beautiful addition to personalize my dress.

With the venue confirmed and dress designing underway, we then set about sourcing a florist. I wanted flowers to play a huge part in the day, especially roses. A single rose was given to my Nan every year, by her father, to reflect the love he had for her. This has been passed down through the generations and I wanted to incorporate this in our day, to reflect the love we have for one another and for our loved ones. Our florist Helen at BluBelle Creative went above and beyond, to create my romantic bohemian vision, which captured all that I love; using crystals that I collected, as table decorations, adding tags with meaningful quotes onto old glass bottles, holding single stem roses – floating candles and rose heads in the pond, foliage cascading down candelabra, as we sat drinking cocktails in the twilight, completed the magic Helen and her team created.

Being a professional makeup artist in the fashion industry, it was only natural for me to do my own makeup on the day, along with my bridesmaids and mother. I wanted my makeup to feel like me and be fresh and radiant, with the focus being on my eyes. I went for a subtle smoky eye with a hint of blush on the cheeks and a stain on the lips. My makeup muses are the Olsen twins, they make it look so effortless and chic and that was important for me on the day.

We had amazing help and support from family and friends in the lead up to the big day. Our friend Simon- a ceramist, made our porcelain candle favors, which were embossed with a vintage rose wax seal stamp. He also made our candleholders for the tables, customizing them with our wedding date and initials. It was a lovely personal touch.

We really couldn’t have done it all without one special lady – Rachel Nelson, the wedding planner at Barnsley House. She was incredibly professional, and an absolute dream to work with. Rachel and her team made everyone of our guests feel welcomed and totally at home on our wonderful wedding day at Barnsley House. We could not be more thankful to them for our beautiful day!

Photography: M & J Photography | Floral + Event Design: BluBelle Creative | Wedding Dress: Fleetwood Of London | Cake: Bees Bakery | Invitations: Strawberry Sorbet | Bride's Shoes: Zara | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Fleetwood Of London | Catering: Barnsley House | Makeup: Sophie Higginson | Hair: Herman Ho | Groom's Attire: Spencer Hart | Venue: Barnsley House | Bride's Necklace: Annina Vogel | Bridesmaid's Necklace: Designed By Sophie Made By Sampson Coles Ltd | Candles: Simon Stamatiou Ceramics | Confetti: The Confetti Cone Company | Groom's Shirt: Reiss | Groom's Shoes: Barker | Signs, Table Numbers And Name Cards: Oywah

Elegant Cliff Top Ceremony in Scotland

I have the lucky job of looking at photos every day that make my heart beat a bit faster. But these images right here from Laura Gordon? They did even more than that; they left me utterly speechless. Overlooking the fields of Scotland, atop a cliff, vows were recited in front of friends and family, the castles in the background no match for the newlyweds’ love for one another. A picture is worth a thousand words, so without further ado, let’s head to the VAULT to see all this breathtaking beauty.

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From the Bride… Mark and I were introduced on a whim in the most fantastically absurd message. At the time I was living in Virginia and was moving to San Diego the next week. Mark was living in Australia but was on a six month holiday, traveling throughout Europe and playing cricket in the UK. It was a completely random and chance introduction but as soon we knew each other, we knew that we had found “the one” in each other. After an international romance that involved a few transatlantic flights, many late night and early morning Skype dates (we despise time zones), and endless Whatsapp messages, Mark decided it was time to ask for my hand. I flew to Australia and he proposed on the shores of the Indian Ocean in the secluded wine region of the Margaret River, Western Australia. The proposal was as perfect, spontaneous, and intimate as our relationship had been and I couldn’t get “Of course!” out soon enough.

As plans for our wedding began, we quickly realized that an intimate wedding was something very important to us. Since our relationship had been international, as were our families and friends, we decided only to invite immediate family so that we would all have a week together to get to know one another better. Our mutual Scottish heritage (along with an unrivaled love for the history, landscape and culture of Scotland) made the scenic county an easy choice. Crumbling Dunnottar Castle sits on a mountainous peninsula on the East Coast surrounded by black sand beaches, wild fields and sheer cliffs… and as soon as we saw it, we knew this was the perfect place for our ceremony.

Mark wore his Clan Kilt, the Grant Hunting Tartan, and I had a shawl made as well so that I could wear it after the ceremony. Good thing, too, as the cliffside where we married was quite windy and cold! I wore a Matthew Christopher gown with a long sleeve cover perfectly created by Harriette Gordon. My “something blue” was an antique aquamarine ring that my grandmother had given to my mother, and her to me.

The details of the day were so important to us as we had such a small wedding. A favorite moment of the wedding was the local bagpipers who piped me down the aisle to Canon in D… the sound of the pipes echoing over the wind and the Scottish countryside was undeniably beautiful. Another favorite aspect was the gorgeous silk ribbon conceptualized by Sara Russell and calligraphed by Written Word that was used for the traditional hand fastening ceremony. It was calligraphed with our favorite song lyrics, “so please put your sweet hand in mine and float in space and drift in time,” in gorgeous gold ink and was fastened over our hands by my sister to traditional celtic vows.

There were so many other special moments and pieces of our day, I can’t even name them all. Luckily, we had a brilliant photographer and videographer who were able to catch every part of it and eternalize it for us. I am so grateful for the beauty we now have forever thanks to Laura Gordon and Paul Moody.

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Photography: Laura Gordon Photography | Cinematography: Before Your Eyes Cinema | Floral Design: Forage & Fleur | Wedding Dress: Matthew Christopher | Cake: Francie Buns | Invitations: Written Word Calligraphy | Ceremony Venue: Dunnottar Castle | Reception Venue: Banchory Lodge | Calligraphy: Written Word Calligraphy | Vintage Car: Eagle Cars | Bagpipers: Thistle Piping | Event Planning + Styling: Wedding Sparrow | Kilts: Houston Kiltmakers | Paper Goods: Written Word Calligraphy | Plates: Restoration Hardware | Robes: Gossamer | Vow Book: Wedding Story Writer

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Lavish London Wedding Full of Glamour at The Dorchester Hotel

Let’s count a few of the reasons London is fabulous. First, Kate Middleton and her precious children (I mean, Prince George’s cheeks). Second, the accents (enough said). Third? This drop-dead-gorgeous dream wedding. The stunning Bride and Groom, the beautiful flowers, the over-the-top glam Dorchester Hotel reception and photos from Jacob And Pauline Photography combine to create the ultimate fairytale day. See all the magic in THE VAULT!

From Jacob And Pauline PhotographyLondon is peppered with iconic hotels, but none quite so opulent as the Dorchester. Ijay and Tolu chose the London landmark to host their friends and family for an unforgettable day spilling over with lavish touches and relaxed elegance. Ijay looked exquisite in a dress reminiscent of silver-screen sirens of yesteryear, with an effervescent veil and gorgeous hairpiece. She arrived at the church in a snowy-white Rolls Royce, just one of the many luxurious additions to this wedding!

The ceremony itself was held in a local church, which as you can see, provided a perfectly simple backdrop for our photos with its bright ambience and soaring stained glass windows – offset by the warm hints of pink in the traditional dresses worn by the female guests, which we loved! The ceremony was two hours of incredible singing and energy, everyone there was just swelling with happiness for Ijay and Tolu, and they could not have looked more thrilled.

As wedding photographers, we often feel guilty stealing the couple away for photos, but Ijay and Tolu were so laid back and true naturals in front of the camera – we took them to one of our favourite spots in Knightsbridge and were blown away by how comfortable they were in the light of our lens – it was as if we were shooting two models!

Our next stop was the Dorchester’s sumptuous ballroom, which looked absolutely stunning with décor by Planned2Perfection and decadent floral arrangements by NB Flowers giving a breath-taking finish. It was without a doubt one of the most beautifully arranged rooms we have seen yet, with a towering, intricate cake as the centerpiece.

There was so much love at this wedding – from the emotional speeches which even got the groom wiping away a tear – to the spine-tingling moment when the bride danced with her father under a canopy of falling confetti, fluttering through the spotlights – such a magical moment!

We borrowed Ijay and Tolu to photograph them on the terrace with its sweeping views across the London skyline. Again, we were struck by how natural they were – we didn’t have to direct them at all, just capture the love that they so obviously hold for each other.

It was a long 12 hour day for us, but Ijay and Tolu were such a pleasure to work with that that the time flew by. Their kind and positive natures warmed up the cloudy London sky that day!

Photography: Jacob & Pauline Photography & Films | Event Planning: Planned2perfection | Floral Design: Nbflowers | Cake: Sweet Hollywood | Stationery: HipTwist | Makeup: Joy Adenuga | Band: Segun Gilbert | Venue: Hotel Bel-Air | Desserts: Sweet Hollywood | Event Decor: Planned2perfection

Casual Chic London Engagement Session

It’s no surprise to anyone who knows me that I have a soft spot in my heart for London, so when these engagement photos came across my desk, you could easily say my day was made. Join me as we take a transatlantic tour of this city I love so much through the lens of Shadi Boulos and if you need me anytime soon, stop by our VAULT and there’s a pretty good chance you’ll find me settled in right there.

From the Bride-to-be… I’m Mira and my fiancé Daniel and I live in London. Our engagement session was shot in this city that we love so much and where we first met! We saw photographs of friends who had just had their engagement session in the States, and couldn’t believe how good they were. So we couldn’t resist persuading, Shadi B, a U.S. based photographer to fly over to the UK for our wedding!

Daniel and I met two and a half years ago, at our church in London, after he finally plucked up the courage to ask me out on our first date for my favourite sushi and to watch the Despicable Me 2 movie, claiming it to be market research as he designs toys for the movie. Turned out the sushi restaurant had closed down and the cinema was probably the most uncomfortable one in the country! He was embarrassed to say the least, however after that he quickly became my best friend, and we went on many more dates, until he proposed to me in a Romeo/Juliet fashion outside my balcony which overlooks the lovely English countryside where he was there down on one knee with a ring that he had personally designed and made into a project like one of his toys.

So off we went to meet Shadi at our favourite food market in London, Borough Market, which is full of the finest fresh foods. We then walked around the city, the River Thames along the Embankment, and even got traffic to stop for a photograph on the famous Tower Bridge. We finished off at my favourite building in the whole city at the beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral, and the walked over Millennium bridge at sunset.

Our photographer, Shadi B, has an incredible talent, we couldn’t believe how comfortable he made us feel, when we both aren’t naturals! He managed to get the best photographs we could have ever imagined, and felt like he was part of our family, even though we’d never met him before! This engagement shoot really gave us the opportunity to get to know Shadi just two days before our wedding, so come the big day, we knew each other and understood Shadi’s creative direction well enough to just enjoy every moment of the day.

From Shadi Boulos Photography… I’ve been traveling since I was a newborn, so it’s obvious it is a passion of mine. When I can combine photography and traveling, I can’t ask for anything better. When Mira first contacted me, I was so excited to work with her! After months of emails and traveling, I finally arrived to London excited to meet my new couple. Not only did we have an amazing time throughout the session, but a few days later I had the honor of photographing Daniel and Mira’s wedding. It was quite the destination wedding! The details of the dress, the groom and his custom tuxedo, the beautiful venue, it was very royal!

See more engagement inspiration here!

Photography: Shadi Boulos Photography | Event Planning: Penny & Lulu Studio Florist | Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Groom's Attire: Burberry | Venue: Borough Market | Venue: Tower Bridge | Venue: St. Paul's Cathedral | Bride's Attire: Karen Millen | Bride's Coral Shoes: Reiss | Bride's Flower Dress: Bourne Collection

Welsh Coastal Engagement Session

I studied abroad in London and while the city captivated my heart, it was the weekends away in the English and Welsh countryside that I still dream about. And so, these engagement pics by Christine Clark are warmly welcomed into my office today and won’t be leaving my desktop anytime soon. Head on over to our VAULT and I promise you, this is one wanderlust trip that’s worth every second.

From Christine Clark… Both film photography enthusiasts, Che dreamt up the most creative way to propose to Becky. On a Holiday to Three Cliffs Bay in Southern Wales, he asked her to take some photos using his old Pentax camera with a waist level viewfinder. As she looked down to start snapping away, there was the ring sitting in the viewfinder, staring back at her. Needless to say, she said yes!

For their engagement shoot we headed to the North of Wales and shot along the coast, ending at a small tidal island named after St. Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. The Welsh equivalent of St. Valentine, the ruins of her church still remain there, and was a popular place for lovers to make pilgrimage to in the Middle Ages. With the rugged coast, the emerald Irish Sea, and the ruins of St. Dwynwen’s chapel in the background, it was a hopelessly romantic place for an engagement shoot, and the most wonderful place to let your imagination run wild.

See more engagement inspiration here!

Photography: Christine Clark | Venue: Anglesey Wales | Film Processing: Goodman Film Lab

Rustic Scottish Seaside Summer Wedding

Well if these pics from Craig & Eva Sanders don’t make you ache to travel to the Scottish seaside pronto, I’m not sure what would. From the bright morning light as our lovely Bride got ready to the romance of the sunset over the hills, we’re whisked away to this magical space. Worldly Nomads filmed it all and with their beautiful footage, I’m in a wedding wonderland. See it all in our VAULT right here!

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From the Bride… When we were trying to choose a wedding venue we sat down and listed the things that were non negotiable; there had to be good food; there had to be room for dancing and a band; and it had to be by the sea. ‘By the sea’ quickly became ‘on the beach’ and we scouted out places which allowed ‘beach weddings’. It was New Year’s Eve when I contacted Crear and by the 2nd week in January we were heading out in the snow through the Scottish highlands to visit. And we fell in love. Everything about the place was perfect; laid back and comfortable, yet still luxurious, it was a home away from home. What sealed the deal was walking into the main function room which is entirely walled with glass from floor to ceiling on one side and looks over to the island of Jura: it was breathtaking. It perfectly combined the rustic with the comfortable; the Scottish west coast with the Scottish highlands; and elegance with originality.

Neil and I grew up in the same town and went to the same school. We’ve been together since we were 16 years old and this December it will have been 10 years since our first date. We got engaged about a year after we moved in together one November evening in 2013 at an event called the Enchanted Castle where a local Castle and its surrounding forest was illuminated; it was all very pretty and magical. We were married around 20 months later on 25th July 2015.

Other than our non-negotiable criteria that we had agreed on in the beginning there was no particular theme which we were necessarily going for. The biggest influence was the natural setting around Crear. We really wanted the space to be appreciated as it was so complemented by keeping things very relaxed and romantic. My beautiful Naomi Neoh Clementine dress really helped set the tone for everything else. It was a beautiful silk chiffon in blush that I knew would billow beautifully in the sea breeze. I absolutely adored it! The bridesmaids dresses reminded me of the colour of the water (or a stormy Scottish sky) and I really wanted the flowers to look like they’d been picked from a nearby field, which they did; I loved them! I had many ideas for the decoration which our two marvellous mums helped to make a reality. In the days before the wedding, we had a stamping production line!  One of our favourite features was the bespoke wooden signs with quotes from Winnie the Pooh which Neil’s parents very kindly made for us.

Neither Neil nor I have maintained religious practices consistently in our lives and so we felt that it would be insincere to have a religious ceremony. Instead we opted for a humanist ceremony; Scotland is one of the places where a humanitarian ceremony is recognized as legal and we felt our values and principles matched well with those of the humanist society. It was a very personal ceremony which we wrote ourselves and peppered with traditional Scottish customs. We had a Celtic hand fasting and, with our parents, shared a wee nip from a beautiful Quaich.

It is very hard to choose one specific favourite moment, we both tried to enjoy and absorb every single part of the day. The ceremony was perfectly imperfect and we giggled the whole way through which suited us down to a tee. After the ceremony, Craig, Eva and Barry, our (incredible) photographers and videographer, took us along the beach to an old ruin for some shots and actually, it was a perfect time for us to relax for a moment and take everything in together.

Unless we could add more hours to the day there is nothing I would change. There is never enough time to catch up with all of your guests but we tried to speak to everyone at least once.

Our advice would be do what makes you both happy. Don’t worry about what is expected or what is traditional: if it’s not for you, try something new! Also, don’t fret if things don’t go exactly to plan, there were several things on the day that were unexpected and impromptu; we just went with it and laughed the whole way through and I think that comes across brilliantly in Craig and Eva’s fantastic photography!

We have absolutely no regrets about any aspect of our day. There were some who queried the distance of the venue but once they were there they completely understood why we had chosen Crear; it is just out of this world and our wedding was the stuff of dreams!

Peruse more destination weddings here!

Photography: Craig & Eva Sanders Photography | Cinematography: Worldly Nomads | Floral Design: Crear | Wedding Dress: Naomi Neoh | Cake: Crear | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Hobbs | Hair: Toni Cook Hairdressing | Band: Whisky Kiss | Band: Dukes of Uke | Groom's Attire: ASOS | Venue: Crear | Wool Shawls: Monki

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