Inspiration

This unique and bespoke wedding took place at the stunning Larmer Tree Gardens in Wiltshire. Complete with epic DIY projects throughout, Holly & James took things to another level, taking inspiration from their travels and love for one another. The pavilion in which they were married featured beautiful white paper umbrellas from a recent trip to Thailand, handmade essential oil candles burnt throughout the day, their dried flower arch was constructed by Holly’s grandfather, and the copper stands were built by the groom! Phew! We love a project… This couples DIY mentality and organisation skills ensured their day was the perfect example of what they love, and how much they love each other. Also, please check out the handmade flower-girl cape – adorable! Does it come in our size…

What Made Your Day Unique

From the outset it was our hope to have a very personal and inclusive wedding, not just on the day but the whole weekend. We created a wedding that was totally unique and true to us and our love. We had a limited budget for our big ideas. This really pushed us to get creative, designing and assembling all our decorations. From the little things, the homemade candle favors, to the big things, my granddads flower arch with dried flowers. My husband built all the copper stands and I did all the styling, decorations and stationary. We have been very lucky to travel a lot as a couple, so we wanted an eclectic mix of styles and cultures throughout the day. For instance, we had both just completed a trip to Morocco before we met each other and this is the reason we both got talking, due to a mutual love for the country, we then had a Moroccan feast for our wedding breakfast.

Holly & James

Larmer Tree Gardens

Set in the heart of Cranborne Chase, this 11-acre spread of gardens is a unique, and magical, natural beauty. Holly & James first spotted their future wedding venue when Hollys friend, (and photographer) Josh Gooding, photographed a wedding at the irresistible space. Instantly falling in love, Holly & James returned from their engagement in Florence and immediately booked their venue of dreams. So, if you’re looking for all those Secret Garden vibes, we think you’ve found it… As Thomas Hardy said of the gardens in 1895: “quite the prettiest sight I ever saw in my life” – we’d have to agree.

Inspiration & Styling

We wanted it to feel a bit eclectic, taking inspiration from our travels, with rich colours and fruits. The pavilion, where we got married, had a high ceiling so we collected these beautiful white paper umbrellas from a recent trip to Thailand. This room was really light and airy, full of greens, so we mirrored that with the decoration, the rest of the styling was very indulgent. We used fruits as the table names, this worked really well. We wanted to create a fragrance for the day also, so we made our own essential oil candles and had them burning all through the day. These also became our favours and seat names. Our confetti cones were made out of my grandparent’s old bird and flower Penguin books. The small ornate buildings at the venue were great for creating activities areas for the guests, the flower crown bar was a massive success and required little prep.

Holly & James

If you’re looking to save a little money, then DIY could be the way to go! It also allows you to put a truly personalised stamp on your day. Check out this beautifully rustic Warwickshire wedding, and our DIY Wedding Ideas to ensure you get those creative juices flowing…

Lorna Shaw

Written by Lorna Shaw

Featured suppliers

Venue: Larmer Tree Gardens | Videographer:  White Balance Weddings | Bride Dress Designer:  Essense of Australia | Bridal Boutique: Angelica Bridal | Bridesmaid Dresses: Oasis | Grooms Suit: Suit Supply | Bridal Jewellery: Swarovski & Monica Vinader | Bride Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | Grooms Shoes: Loake | Catering: Forkingout | Flowers: The Wilde Bunch | Hair Stylist: Jeni Worsfold | Makeup Artist: Tara Sanger | Stationery: By The Bride | Entertainment: The Street Dixie Band & Le Freak Band | Transport: Take a Tuk Tuk | Celebrant: Martin Brown | Welcome Sign: Rachel Joy Price | Bridal Robe: One Hundred Stars | Invitation Printing: The Foil Invite Company | Wedding Party Accommodation: King Johns House

Inspirational articles you may also find useful