The Bride
Laure de Sagazan creates the most stunning bohemian inspired wedding gowns. They feel elegant, beautiful and simple to wear. The small details of lace and pearl buttons give subtle beauty and the natural cotton and silk fabrics she uses feel gorgeous against the skin and flow beautifully. She stood out to me against all the other designers. I loved the Robe Beaumarchias, particularly the drop waist, lace front panel and the low back with a bow. I wore my mothers diamond necklace as my something borrowed and diamond and pearl earrings as my something new. My something old was a bracelet my fiancé (now husband) bought me at Lake Atitlan Guatemala during our central America travel trip. I have always loved the natural flower baby's breath head garland and was thrilled when mine included the extra touch of ivy. I kept the shoes simple with a block heel to ensure I wasn't stuck in the grass!
The Groom & Groomsmen
The grooms suits were linen suit trousers & waistcoats from
Marks & Spencer. They each wore a navy tie and white shirt. The page boys also wore a linen suit trousers & waistcoats from Marks & Spencer, but wore a red silk bow tie bought for them by the bride as a treat.
The Venue
The location was a family (on Grooms side) field in Dorset with beautiful views across the countryside and down to a local vineyard. We used two fields adjacent to each other - one for camping and parking and the other for the wedding. From one field to the other, in a gap in the hedge, the groom built a wooden structure and covered it with flowers and ivy to create an entrance tunnel for the bride.
LPM Bohemia provided the ceremony tent with botanical wall lining and reception tent had fern roof lining and mogul windows.
The Decor
The bride, groom, bridesmaids, ushers and families all helped to decorate the entire wedding. We bought paper lanterns and handmade bamboo arches for the ceremony and outside areas. The groom made wooden candle holders and wooden blocks for the flower vases in the reception. The groom also made wooden signs for parking, camping, water, bar and photo booth. The groom and best man made the wooden bar. Bunting was homemade by the brides mother and some was also borrowed from family friends. The white flags and photo booth yurt were borrowed from local family friends.
The main colour scheme was red, white and green. We wanted the wedding to use natural colour tones as it was a woodland theme. All the tent wooden poles were decorated with ivy and each reception table was an animal. The animal illustrations for each table, by
Kimberley Sander (bridesmaid), were all hand painted. Kimberley also painted the design for the order of ceremony booklet.
The Flowers
The flower colour scheme was just colourful flowers for the reception, white for the brides bouquet and red/orange for the bridesmaids bouquet. The ushers wore navy ties which matched well with the other primary colours.
The Wedding Party
Page boys (nephews 6 years and 4 years) picked their outfits and the groomsmen outfits to match theirs. Flower girl (god daughter to the bride) flew all the way from New York with her mother (bridesmaid) and father. She wore a red hand band and bow to match the bridesmaids and wore white cotton dress to match the bride.
The Ceremony
Home made rose petal confetti was thrown by the page boy (nephew - Oscar) as the bride walked down the aisle, which he took very seriously and walked very slowly! Readings were read by the brides brother, and a special poem by a close friend Olive King, prayer by grooms brother and reading by brides mother. Grooms sister sang a medley unaccompanied which was incredible and had everyone crying. The bride and groom wrote their own vows. Bride walked down the aisle to - you're so cool by Hanz Zimmer, her favourite song.
The Entertainment
Fireworks and paper lanterns which spelt A&GF (heart) 4 ever, also made by a friend. Lots of ceilidh dancing followed by late night revelry and dancing to the amazing DJ Tom Hunt.
There was a photo booth with polaroid camera and fancy dress that turned a bit wild and naked. There was also a fire pit and marsh mallows for some chatting under the stars.
The Food
Wedding cake homemade and decorated with garden flowers by the mother of the bride. Canopies - Yorkies with roast beef and horseradish, Tiny veggie tarts with sable pastry, Humous and crudités, Minty Lamb meatballs with a Tzatziki dip, Spicey chicken bites. Mains - Hot ham, Leek crumble, new potatoes,roasted vegetables,spinach and tomato salad and Vegetarian lasagne. Desserts - homemade by family and mother of the bride
The Photography
Maureen Du Preez was beyond brilliant. Her style is rustic, natural and beautiful. She captured the feeling and emotion of the day perfectly and was a pleasure to have with us on the day. She was so natural to be with and most guests thought she was a guest as she fitted in so well. We both felt so relaxed around her and are forever thankful for her incredible images of our special day. We put so much effort into homemaking so much of the wedding and Maureen captured this.
Special Details
The head table name setting was a painting of a unicorn by the Bridesmaid Kimberley Sander. Bride and groom collected pebbles from Chesil beach in Dorset and hand wrote all the guests names on them to make table name settings. Home grown rosemary and lavender were tied to each napkins. Home made rose petal confetti was thrown by the page boy (nephew - Oscar) as the bride walked down the aisle, which he took very seriously!