Not only did Lydia and Andrew chose the most gorgeous fashion, flowers and venue but they also filled their Big Day with a whole heap of personal touches, divine decor and what might be the prettiest cupcakes I have ever seen.
I guess being the editor of Wedding magazine Save The Date helps on the inspiration front – Lydia is surrounded by daily delicious!
Enjoy part 3 lovelies, film highlights coming right up later this afternoon ( ’tis well worth the wait. Promise)
Second Time Lucky
We had initially booked another photographer and decided to cancel him, lose our deposit and book Rachael Connerton instead . We just couldn’t not have Rachael having seen some of her work. She and her husband Ian do an incredible job and I really cannot give them enough credit. They were amazing on the day, managing to capture all the most important bits without me even realizing they were there and, when it came to deciding which pictures went into the album, we were totally spoilt for choice.
We were 100% pleased we decided to go with our instinct and cancel our original photographer, even though it did mean losing our deposit as, although the old photographer seemed great, Rachael was just what we’d been looking for. Contemporary, cool and a really lovely person. With hindsight, we probably should have done a bit more research before confirming our original photographer but there you go.
Cotton And Crumbs
To be honest, I left this job with my mum as I’m not really a big ‘cake’ person. My only request was cupcakes. So, my mum organized for a range of different flavour cupcakes, in a variation of cute cases to be put together, along with a small sponge cake on top. A fantastic baker, my mum was going to make them herself but decided against it as was worried about it being too much on the lead up to the big day and so Cotton and Crumbs did it for us and were brilliant.
We had a lot of people comment on how fabulous the cupcakes looked and tasted.
All Day Music
During the drinks reception, we had Paul Hollis, a saxophonist to entertain guests. He was fabulous and went down really well outside in the sunshine whilst everyone enjoyed their pimms and canapés.
Roy de Wired is quite well known on the entertainment scene here in Nottingham and I had seen him play several times before. A very sweet guy (and not at all fazed by his local celebrity status!) he plays some brilliant songs, from Rod Stewart to Kings of Leon – he had everyone on the dancefloor and was a real good sport when guests decided to help him sing along towards the end! His brother is actually a DJ so Terry came along too and played in between Roy’s live sets.
The dancing part was actually one of my favourite times of the entire day – so much fun with amazing entertainment and, for the last song, all the men lifted me right up in the air – a bit scary but oh what a great way to finish the night, on a real high!
A Sweet Tooth
I ummed and aahed over favours for quite some time as most weddings I’ve been to, I’ve ended up leaving my favour behind, however I wanted to do something. So, I ended up buying pink and white striped sweet bags and filling them with an assortment of mine and Andrew’s favourite sweets. They were then tied with raffia and each guest had a bag placed at their table setting. It looked so effective in the marquee and really set the room off, something I hadn’t really expected them to do. My uncle wore a shirt which was the exact same stripe as the sweet bags – hilarious!….Needless to say, he tried to keep his jacket on most of the time!
Stay With You
Something which wasn’t really that important to us turned out to be one of both of our loveliest points of the day. Our first dance was to ‘Stay with you’ by John Legend, purely because the lyrics were very fitting for the two of us (we’d been together for 10 years and 10 days when we married!) We danced on our own for the first verse and then I gave my sister the nod and she and her boyfriend joined then so did everyone else! It was really lovely.
We then had a second ‘first dance’ which the DJ announced and he asked for everyone to get on the dancefloor. He then played ‘I gotta feeling’ by Black Eyed Peas – perhaps a bit of a cheesy thing to do but I’ve never seen so many people pile on a dancefloor at one time. It was brilliant and was a sign of how the night was going to be – everyone just letting their hair down and having a good boogey!
Making It About YOU
Without too much extra effort and with inspiration from other people’s weddings, you can really bring your wedding to life and make it stand out. Little bits that we did like the hearts hanging on the back of the chairs with the name of the person written on and the date as an alternative place card was just a small thing but everyone loved them and took them home to remind them of the day.
Other touches such as the beer label we had with a picture of us and ‘BURROWS BREW’, was again a small thing but another talking point of the day and with Andrew being very much into his beers, injected his personality into it. The red London bus we hired to transfer guests from the church to the venue went down so well – you have to remember that us brides on here perhaps think this is something that is quite ‘common’ now but your guests, who aren’t involved with weddings day in, day out, see it as something totally unique.
Bijou Woo and Lucy Ledger did me so proud when it came to my stationery, table plan, table names and beer labels (!) – they understood totally where I was coming from and ensured that they produced something which was totally unique to me and Andrew.
Advice from The Bride ( and W-day magazine editor) …
Don’t worry too much about the little hiccups you have along the way – we had a few dramas such as canceling the photographer and losing our deposit, Andrew ordering a tailored suit online and him not liking it when it arrived and therefore having to buy another and my nana (not the one who made the bunting!) fainting during the wedding breakfast. Don’t worry, she was fine (turns out she didn’t realize pimms and lemonade was alcoholic and therefore had 3 before eating!) All things you have to take in your stride and believe me, everything will turn out fine and you will have the most amazing day.
And finally, have a relaxing night before your wedding (me, mum, dad and Grace watched my favourite film, Father of the Bride!) try to get plenty of sleep the night before and relax and chill out on the morning and enjoy being pampered. It’s not every day you have someone there to do your hair, make up and pour you glasses of champagne! The morning of my big day, getting ready with my favourite girls (plus my dad) was so lovely and something to treasure so don’t get flustered and make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to get ready (and this is coming from someone who is NEVER on time and always in a fluster getting ready!)
I would do anything to have my day all over again so cherish every second.
I am actually a little sad this is nearly over…..
But not quite yet lovelies!
And if you are concerned about a marquee not looking as spectacular as a country house/chic city restaurant/boutique hotel then you really have got to see the fantastic job Lydia and her suppliers made of hers.
Father Of The Bride? Lydia – you knocked the socks off their efforts Pet.
Really.
Big I love weddings on film Love
Charlotte xxx
WOW!! What a totally stunning day!! I love so many of the pictures and so many of the details. What a beautiful, beautiful wedding. Really can’t wait to see the film! Conratulations to Lydia and Andrew
That last shot is totally wondrous….how totally and utterly stunning is that dress.
Every part of this wedding is so perfect. Stylish, elegant and relaxed. I love it. Am already preparing to cry over the film later…
Love the beer labels – very cool! Looks like a fabulous wedding.
Love love love that dress, I keep saying it, but LOVE.
As a father of the bride devotee since the age of four (when I started my scrapbook infact) I have wanted to be Annie Banks-Mackenzie. My Dad is of similar ilk to George Banks also (but thats another story). Hence my marquee in my garden fantasy.
I love the small touches, like beer labels – very cool.
Were the hearts on the back of the chair wood or card?
Are those small children available for hire?
Very cool, but effortlessly pretty and feminine too. I love all the little details which tie together so well.
Bless your nan though! I work as a wedding coordinator and have lost count of the amount of elderly guests who end up HAMMERED because they don’t realise Pimm’s is alcoholic!
Can’t wait for the video….
Beautiful x x
Eeeek! It’s like the last pic is always the one that turns me into a smiling loon at my desk. I look like a crazy person. But even more exciting than that: video this afternoon. Whoop whoop! xx
It really was an amazing day and Lydia did look absolutely beautiful in her dress. All the hard work Lydia put in paid off!
I really am a very lucky and proud hubby!
Thanks again to all the family and friends for everything they did for us.
Hope you all enjoy the video later!
*sigh* Just pure wedding perfection x
Fantastic wedding!
Glorious pictures, the Connerton’s photographed another recent wedding I attended and seem to capture everything just perfectly – great wife and husband team.
You both looked stunning !!!
those cupcakse are giving me serious food for thought (no pun intended), they look so amazingly chic and yet delicious at the same time! am now wondering if four types of cake is too much?
is there such a thing as too much cake?
i am loving this wedding, its one of those that really shows what it can look like when the details are really pulled together with care.
r.now x x x
rnow, there is NEVER such thing as too much cake. We had carrot, lemon drizzle and chocolate cupcakes (110 for 65 guests…) and then topped with an amaretto cheesecake! Slightly ridiculous perhaps but people were still eating them on the no.8 on the way home!
Lydia looks so graceful and elegant in her dress, and competing for Favourite Thing are: Nana and Pimms, Uncle and Shirt and that Stunner of a final picture!
We were also a very lucky couple to have the Connertons photograph our recent wedding abroad. These pictures are amazing as are ours- they really capture the atmosphere and happiness- such a lovely couple too! It makes all the difference on the big day to have someone make you feel so relaxed- you forget you are being photographed!!! Highly recommended!!
Congratulations to this couple- a beautiful wedding!
Can I just say that the uncle in the strips and matching the favours is absolutely one of my favourite shots!
Lydia, I salut you. yYour wedding is so pretty and so elegant, massive congratulations! hx
I love it all! the dress, flowers, men suits, labels, sweets….
So beautiful! Does anyone have any top tips on choosing cupcakes. I definitely want them but some (like these) are so pretty you could cry and some look like you’ve let the kids have a go.
Love this so much I keep checking back every half an hour just in case my computer is lying to me and it really is the afternoon and video time! Yup, I’m that sad. Also loving the little details, both decorative and people, that I can imagine Lydia and Andrew laughing about for years to come (“remember how the sweet bags matched your uncle’s shirt??”). Fab.
Love it when a groom makes a comment. Especially one as sweet as that!
Well. Have just caught up on a few days missed RMW and am loving this wedding! Oh..tis totally how I want my day to be (minus marquee) and am happy to see several similar ideas to my plan…
But…ohhh…that dress is stupendous! Love it. Who would’ve thought lace could look so divine? That last shot is totally lacetastic and what a shirt… wooey
The details are all there. Love the seating plan! The sweetie bags..oh yes. And some great advice from the bride.
Bring on the video!!!!!
Beautiful. Stunning. Fabulous. Your poor nana going for it on the Pimms, bless!
I’ll be thrilled if my wedding (this Saturday – eeek) turns out half as good as this! x
You can never have too many flavous of cake!! We are having 6 flavours and I can’t wait!! We’ve also completely over ordered (108 for 73 guests) in the hope that there will be some left to take on our mini-moon with us
Orr wow! What a beautiful wedding! I’m totally in love with the details, the brides dress is stunning, I’m a sucker for a lace dress and think the sleeves and the button detail look amazing! Congratualtions on a fabulous day xxxx
Thanks once again for such fabulous comments, I’m so pleased the lace dress is getting a thumbs up, it was quite daunting going for something that bit different, esp with sleeves so I’m chuffed to bits with your kind words.
Rebecca – I thought my dad would be another George Banks but turns out, he was actually pretty laid back! Phew. Anyway, the hearts were wooden and we sanded them down and spray painted them. And as much as I wish I could say yes (because then I could steal them too!) but my lovely cousin’s gorgeous kids, Leila and Dylan are unfortunately not for hire – I know I am biased but they are seriously cute kids!
r.now – there is definitely no such thing as too much cake! go for it.
Kathryn – wishing you oodles and oodles of luck and love for this Saturday – how exciting
Alice – I completely know what you mean. I would highly recommend Cotton & Crumbs for cupcakes – they were fantastic, so reliable and like you say, managed to make them look great!
Thanks again lovely RMW girlies xx
Lydia I will also marry my boy on our 10 year and 10 day anniversary! I’m listening to the John Legend song as I am writing this and think it is quite beautiful!
Definite thumbs up to the lace dress and everything else on your beautiful day.
Congratulations x x
PS – have just ordered Father of the Bride… think I need to watch it again following this wedding. Gorgeous! xxx
Love this wedding soooo much – where can I get the “to have and to hold ribbon”?? xx
Becca F – I think it might be from Cox and Cox? http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/products/to-have-and-to-hold-ribbon xx
That’s it Laura, I am such a Cox and Cox fan .. loads of gorgeous bits and pieces on there. Our guests loved this ribbon, the smallest things really do go down a storm! Hope you get hold of it OK Becca F.
And Laura, enjoy Father of the Bride
Oh Laura, forgot to say – 10 years and 10 days, exact same! How coincidental and lovely is that!? Hope you have an amazing day xx
It was a very proud day for me and George!…. no really her dad’s called Barry! Fabulous day made extra special by all the effort Lydia went to with the planning and detail. They really are a wonderful couple, and I do have to agree she did look stunning in that dress! xxx
Lydia, honey what a fabulous wedding. One of the best I have ever seen, truly stylish beautiful and so many thoughtful details. The video is perfect!!!! You did an amazing job, nothing could have been better. Much respect Julie xxxx
I LOVE the ribbon tying the napkins together, anyone tell me where its from?????xxx
Hi Katie, glad you like it! It’s from Cox and Cox -http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/products/to-have-and-to-hold-ribbon xx
Oh my gosh, that last shot is breathtaking. I want to crawl inside this wedding and live in it!
But seriously, that last shot makes me want to cry. GORGE!