Susan and Grant certainly did, they brought a whole bunch of sunshine, love, colour and laughter to the Hotel Du Vin in Winchester with their informal but super pretty W-day.
Photographer Pen at Mckinley-Rodgers said it was one of the loveliest affairs she had ever attended and my can’t you tell – every single image is filled with an abundance of pure unadulterated joy.
As well as the nude chiffon maids dresses, strawberry-filled cake and Susan’s Stella McCartney heels (all of which are amazing) the florals really are something else – an assortment of seasonal spring blooms in every shade of the rainbow and then some.
And there is some seriously beautiful kissing-in-a-car action going on. Those moments should be blown up HUGE and go on the wall…in every single room of Susan and Grant’s home.
Stella Shoes
I loved my shoes! Far more than the dress in fact! they were a present from Grant (although he didn’t actually see them till the day!) Stella McCartney mid heals with mock croc ankle strap and neon/gold soles.
The Perfect Mix
I got my dress in the Jenny Packham sample sale, its a design that didn’t make it into production but is a mix of 2 that are in this seasons range. Strangely I didn’t love dress shopping so was very relieved to have found one so fast in a sample sale, and although it was a quick decision I was very happy in the end!
Less IS More
I did buy a Jenny Packham head piece but decided on the day that it was too much for our informal day so just used some extra flowers our brilliant florist had thought to bring on the day!
My something borrowed was a beautiful crystal necklace from my bridesmaid Ruth and my something old was from my god mother, which was her grandmothers embroidered hanky (which she has used on her wedding day) and I was terrified of losing it!
More Luck Than Judgement
The suits and the bridesmaids dresses were all from Paul Smith, as I work for the company it couldn’t have been anything else really! There was no official colour scheme Grant picked the blue suits and the bridesmaids selected the nude pink dresses, it all worked perfectly together though, but more luck than judgement!
Polished
Annabel Hornsby and her assistant Bernie did hair and make up for my mum, bridesmaids and myself. They were great and very patient with all of us and about 7 children in the room to!
Mr Smith
Grant looked great, his entire outfit (even the underpants!) were from Paul Smith, a Londonline Suit, Mainline Shirt, British Collection tie and traditional tan brogues. He’s never looked better! But actually he did wear Tom Ford aftershave! just to break it up a bit!
Recommended
A friend of mine recommended Pen and Cam to us and we are so glad she did. Not only are they fantastic photographers they are the most lovely people. it was a pleasure to have them at our big day! in fact I think my Granny would have happily ran off with Cam!
It was great to see some images a day or two after the wedding while we were still on honeymoon! The best bit thought is that they have been able to captured the feel and the atmosphere of the day, I can’t look at the photos without grinning!
The Flower Genius
Charlotte at the Flower Orchard did the flowers and was absolutely brilliant, she knew exactly what I wanted from a few cuttings from magazines I gave her and i basically left her to it. The theme was rustic/ spring/ colourful and she did the rest!
I think all I did was collect some jam jars (which was easy as Grant LOVES jam) and gave her some vintage ribbon and lace to tie them with. She is a true genius!
Al That Glitters
We had a Jazz duo (Paul Riley) for the arrival drinks to set a relaxed mood then we had a full on wedding disco in the evening complete with glitter ball! The disco was great and everyone danced right till the end!
Pom Poms and Pinwheels
Hotel Du Vin very kindly put up wire from us to hand paper pom poms up which I made and my friends helped hang. We mixed the pom poms with pin wheels and lanterns. And also had lanterns in the trees outside and fairy lights in the garden. Later in the evening we had candle bags around the garden too.
Bring Me Sunshine
We found it hard to select a song and left it to the very last minute, moments before the dance, but in the end felt an up beat number matched the feel of the day – Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher by Jackie Wilson.
We also walked out of the church to Bring Me Sunshine, which the organist very kindly learnt just for us!
Imperfect Perfect
The cake was created by Sarah from Romsey not far from Winchester. Grant and I love cake, especially sponge cake and we really liked the messy/not perfect look!
Irish Treats
As Grant is from Belfast we had Belfast Lollies and Belfast Fudge from Auntie Sandra’s (its an institution in Belfast apparently!) the lollies were very large pink discs with Belfast written on and we tied Liberty fabric ribbon around each one.
Enjoy It!
My advice would be just enjoy it! Grant and I really let our hair down and had fun, we have some awful pictures of us on the dance floor (neither of us can dance) and we probably drank too much but we had a great time and I think everyone else did to!
I’m really glad we had ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ for our recessional as it really set the tone for the day, it was very relaxed and a lot of fun. If i did it all again I honestly wouldn’t change a thing!
Brides Gown – Jenny Packham
Brides Shoes – Stella McCartney
Grooms Outfit – Paul Smith
Maids Dresses – Paul Smith
Venue – Hotel Du Vin Winchester
Cake – Sarah at Romsey
Blooms – Charlotte at the Flower Orchard
Jazz Duo – Paul Riley
So then lovelies, can you feel the sunshine yet?
And does anyone else now fancy a great big huge victoria sponge with jam even more than a pair of Stella McCartney shoes? no? just me then….
Big Bringing You Sunshine Every Single Day Love
Charlotte xxx
Great wedding!
It really does look like this wedding was so fun. Love it. Very sweet flowers, the dresses, the cake {love the mass booklets!} and just all the details beautifully captured. Lovely post to see first thing in the mornins!
Beautiful! Love that dress so much.
Amazing flowers! they look perfect with the nude BM’s dresses…hmmm may have to steal
DEFINITELY my favourite wedding for donkeys’ years… Tremendous. I want THOSE flowers please!
This wedding made me smile.
The bride and groom look so very happy and it looks like it was a laugh a minute!
IN LOVE with the flowers.
I come from Winchester so it is wonderful to see a wedding there! Everything about this wedding is beautiful, bride, flowers and smiles!
And the Hotel Du Vin – what a venue…
What a gorgeous wedding!
I layer necklaces all the time and it wouldn’t have occured to me to do it on W Day. But it looks fab!
Oh my this is one beautiful sunshiney wedding to brighten up a grey Wednesday morning! Just one question to Susan and Grant, do you have any idea of the type of wire that was used, in our recent practice the wire we used didn’t hold the weight of our pompoms and lanterns. I was a little worried we wouldn’t find anything until I just saw yours and what pom poms! They look so lovely and your wedding so happy and love filled!
Such a beautiful wedding, you look absolutely amazing and everyone looks so very happy. Congratulations!
I’ll pass on the cake, and the Stella McCartney’s (even though both are beautiful in their own way) and instead take the vintage green Jaguar please. What a super cool choice of Wedding transport.
And the couple shots amongst the antique furniture are really cute.
Adam x
Gorgeous – I love the flowers and the pom poms, Loving it!!
xox
Love those shoes! And SUCH beautiful flowers!!
A tremendously lovely treat for such a rainy morning in the studio. The flowers are so lovely. Looks like a very happy day.
Congratulations!
x
WANT those flowers, absolutely beautiful! Looks the loveliest of days!
What a beautiful wedding! Congratulations to the bride and groom for making it such a happy, smiley, joyful day!
Everyone’s said it, but those flowers were fab! Also, the Hotel du Vin shots are going straight in my wedding inspiration folder.
@Charlotte? We have to choose between cake and shoes? UNACCEPTABLE!
But you’re right about the kiss in the car – best shot ever.
This is a beautiful wedding! What a lovely lunch time treat for me.
I used to live in Winchester (still wish I did sometimes, Southampton is just not the same!) and I’ve always thought it would make a beautiful setting for a wedding.
Congratulations!
@Peridot…I know, that was a pretty tough call.
Maybe we could just all sit around wearing Stella McCartney shoes whilst stuffing our faces with cake?
Charlotte xxx
@Charlotte – now, that makes sense. I’ll bring the cake, you bring the shoes
PS Hope you got the email I sent you week before last
Hey, loving this wedding! Could the bride possibly enlighten us as to where the hanging fans are from please? I have been looking all over but can only find them in either one size or wrong colours or too expensive! Many thanks and congrats
xxx
I may just have to skip down to the local florist and get her to make me a super bright bunch of flowers like these.
@Peridot & Charlotte – where is the cake and shoes party happening? I’m on my way …
@Kirst – I used paper honeycomb balls but got them from the USA as they were too expensive here. Even with shipping it would have been cheaper to buy them there, so maybe look on US sites for balls/fans/pom poms etc?
Wow! Amazing photos! What a happy and fun looking wedding!
I got married in this very Church in September – loved seeing it again but dressed as your venue! (infact i cried a bit!)
Congratulations – looks like a beautiful day, xxx
Stunning Wedding. What a beautiful dress and location. You both look so happy. Congratulations!
hi
just wanted to say all your comments have made me cry!
thank you!!xx
re: the wire for the pom poms its just from Paper Chase, called craft wire. (Pom poms v. easy to make)
re: the fans these were from the BHLDN website in US but beware you have to pay import charge when it arrives in UK so worked out quite pricey.
Also if anyone is interested i’m selling the dress!
Susan (the bride x)
Wow, what a beautiful wedding! I’m getting married in Winchester myself in 2 months *squeal*, so am ever so curious as to where those outdoor ‘green’ shots were taken?
Thank you Charlotte and Adam! It’s always such a pleasure to have a wedding featured on RMW – there is such a lovely community here
@Emmy Lou, the “green” shots were taken in the Church yard at Old Alresford (whilst Cam was busy arranging everyone for the confetti shot!)
Those flower, and that cake… Ah-mazing!
Hi Susan,
Sorry this is a very late question/comment so not sure if you’ll see it…
I was recommended the same disco/DJ service that you used and just wondered which DJ you had and what you thought of them? Would you recommend them?
Thank you!
Kitty (RMW Real Bride)
xxx
Oh dear – having bouquet wobbles!! *dials florist’s number*
Gorgeous, gorgeous wedding
Hi Kitty
Yes we really liked the DJ (Mark Parker). We gave him a list of the songs we wanted but to be honest it wasn’t really necessary, he really knows what he’s doing and kept the dance floor packed right to the end. The only thing i was concerned about was when he first arrived and set up the amount of lights looked a bit scary! (not a very vintage look!) but actually once the party got going it didn’t bother me at all. So yes i would recommend him, classic wedding DJ!
x
Hi Susan,
Sorry for all the questions but did he do the classic DJ talking a lot about the songs thing?
Thank you!
xxx
hi Kitty, no there was definitely no MCing! he just played the tracks and mixed them together – all in all very good!
good luck with your wedding
xx