Returning to the office today after my own wedding last Thursday, I can now reflect on my favourite parts of the day and share what I learnt with other brides-to-be…
The details
As Details Editor, there was added pressure for everything to be perfect and I spent a lot of time fretting over every aspect! I chose soft pastel shades of pink and apricot to complement the rustic feel of our tithe barn venue. Our bespoke stationery was designed by the fabulous Lucy Ledger Designs and tied the whole look together perfectly.
Our wedding flowers were arranged by Sabine Darrall of Glily, and I couldn’t believe how she transformed the room with gorgeous roses and, my favourite, gypsophila. She also decorated our cake, which was made by the very talented Lisa Notley.
For any brides out there who are as stressed out about the big-day details as I was, all I can say is that it was massively worth it! Your guests really will appreciate the time and effort you and your suppliers have put in to making your celebration just right.
Keeping guests happy
Entertainment is an important part of any wedding day. We chose The Bristol String Quartet to play for guests before, during and after the ceremony and they set the tone perfectly for our day. For the evening we opted for a Groovy booth, which went down a storm with guests of every age. A live band, the Sidekicks, played two sets during the evening reception and got every one on the dance floor. These were definitely three of my best buys!
The venue
For us, choosing the wedding venue was one of the most difficult decisions we had to make. Getting it right is so important and there are a lot of different factors to consider. Capacity and cost were two of the key factors for us, and Haselbury Mill fitted the bill perfectly. With over 20 rooms for our family and friends to stay in, and a large barn in which we could hold both the ceremony and reception, it was idyllic.
Nearest and dearest
Your family and friends are the key to a happy and memorable big day, so make sure everyone you love is there if they can be. Walking down the aisle surrounded by our closest family and friends really was the most amazing moment of the day and made us feel so at ease while saying our vows. I would definitely recommend making the ceremony as personal as possible. I decided to do a reading called The Future by Emma Salmon, which really sums up our life together. Everyone commented how moving it was and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!
Capture it
I cannot stress enough how important it is to choose a good photographer and videographer! Our photographer Albert Palmer was fantastic, and even set up a pre-wedding shoot so we got to know him a bit better. Our videographers Ido Wedding Films were also great, and we completely forgot we were even being filmed. We cannot wait to get the professional snaps and video back, and plan to have a family viewing session when they arrive.
Finally, don’t get stressed! Whether it’s the weather, family issues, or the details that are giving you sleepless nights, by the time the big day comes all that will melt away, and your day will be as perfect as you’ve always dreamed it will be.
To chat to other real brides for advice and tips join our fab Wedding Ideas forum today!
