Inspiration
Elmley Nature Reserve Wedding With Drink Canoe
Photography by
Rebecca Carpenter Photography
Photography by
Rebecca Carpenter Photography
We're starting 2022 off as we mean to go on with this incredible Elmley Nature Reserve wedding. Captured by Recommended photographer Rebecca Carpenter Photography, it features a delicious orange colour scheme, and a beautiful barn reception decorated with a drinks canoe, confetti wall and pampas grass installation. There is nothing Sam and Dan didn't think of! And there is nothing we haven't pinned to our rustic wedding Pinterest board. Happy New Year everyone.
Elmley Nature Reserve wedding with incredible DIY decor including a confetti wall and plant pot favours
Our wedding was an epic project for the whole family. Sam made all the stationery including the, save the dates, invites, place names, menus and the reserved tags. Plus, the favours (little succulents in pots), the place name beeswax pine cone candles, the napkins, the signs and the bridesmaid gifts (crochet clutch bags!). The bride's Mum did most of the flowers including a huge pampas installation. And, the bride's father fixed up a canoe which we filled with drinks (we got engaged in a canoe), made a confetti and guest book stand, the card box, and the limbo and corn hole!
We both wrote our own vows. Reading them was such a magical moment, in the sun, with pampas grass fluff flying everywhere! This is probably the part I put the least amount of effort into. I finished writing them the morning before, but it was one of the most memorable parts of our day! We also both did speeches. Dan's featured a poem he wrote called "September". It was a great opportunity to share our love for each other in front of all our friends and family.
Planning
I listed potential suppliers for each category on a spreadsheet. Along with their availability and a few other columns including if I thought they matched our vibe. I read a lot of Rock My Wedding blogs and searched Instagram, using them for supplier inspiration, cross-checking them on the Rock My Wedding Recommended supplier list. Our photographer Rebecca was AMAZING, she knew exactly what would / wouldn't work, documenting the full day minute by minute. She even delivered 50 previews before we even left the venue! We're so happy with our final album.
Elmley Nature Reserve
We decided to get married in September, as it's our favourite month. We got engaged in Canada on 19th Sept 2019 and thought it would be a great temperature (not too hot not too cold). September influenced the boho, autumnal, natural, relaxed and fun vibes of our Elmley Nature Reserve wedding. I fell in love with burnt orange satin bridesmaid dresses quite early on and the rest of the styling flowed from there. I wanted something unique and bold, but still with softer colours as a contrast e.g. softer pinks/peaches. We also both love the outdoors so wanted some natural elements throughout!
Sam and Dan had garden games and shuffleboards in the evening which were a massive hit!
Start planning early and plan in phases rather than tackling too much at once. Don't take on too many last-minute stressful DIY projects. Don't over-think tiny elements of the day, focus on the overall flow as you have to rely on your suppliers to guide everyone through. You won't regret hiring a great photographer and videographer!
We disappeared after the ceremony for 5 minutes while the guests were getting organised into a confetti line. We sat in two wooden reclining chairs in the sunshine drinking and elderflower Tom Collin's and eating some canapés! It was amazing just to sit back and take it all in, catch up about our mornings, the ceremony and revel in the excitement of being married! We then re-appeared, walked through the confetti line and greeted our guests at the reception drinks avoiding that awkward moment in-between!
Did you see the cookie jars suspended from the beams at Elmley Nature Reserve? Such a genius idea. Let's face it this rustic wedding was full of them! Make sure you sign up for our free wedding planning account so you can favourite this article and be reminded of these ideas again and again.
Written by Lorna Shaw
Featured suppliers
Photographer:
Rebecca Carpenter Photography | Wedding Venue:
Elmley Nature Reserve | Videographer:
Rix Weddings | Band:
Festival Folk | Shuffleboards:
SHUFL | Flowers:
Jackie Brooks Florist | Food:
Kitchen of Kent, Pleesecakes | Drink:
Chapel Down, Laithwaites | Cake:
Cobi & Coco | Hair & Makeup:
BEYOU Weddings | Wedding Dress:
Rue de Seine - Reno | Dress Alterations & Veil:
Miss Kay Seamstress | Bridal Boutique:
Lovely Bride | Bridesmaid Dresses:
Show Me Your Mumu | Hairpiece:
ViviEmbellishBridal | Earrings:
Pijouletta | Grooms Suit:
Burton | Shoes:
New Look | Planner/Stylist:
Locate To Create | Loop Back Ceremony/Wedding Breakfast Chairs:
Coordination Event hire | Plates:
Event Crockery Hire | Seating Areas, Table Plan, Styling:
Locate To Create | Charger Plates, Glasses, Cutlery:
Options Greathire
