Inspiration

Day one was an intimate affair at Fort Henry with only immediate family and friends, plus the couples adorable dog Alfie, and day two was party day in a local village hall, prepped and preened by family and friends with lots of DIY decor and details. The afternoon kicked off with Gin cocktails, craft beers, fish and chips and ice cream cones, and culminated with a ceilidh band. Capturing all the laid back vibes and fun were photographer friends The George's.

What Made Our Day Unique

A wedding weekend! We both wanted an intimate wedding ceremony and we fell in love with a secluded fort which we discovered on a dog walk in the County where we live, Rutland. As such, we had a small ceremony on Friday with our close family and friends, concluding the evening with an exquisite meal at a nearby gastropub. The next day, hand in hand, we repeated our wedding vows in front of a packed church of friends; we then walked to the village hall next door, enjoyed drinks on the lawn in the sunshine, and partied into the night.

Shaza & Simon

Village Hall Wedding

Firstly Shaza & Simon are absolutely amazing, completely marching to the beat of their own drum and pros at having their day, their way. Or should I say, two days their way, because when you can have double the celebration, why wouldn't you? Their second celebration took place in the local village hall where they asked a local fish and chip van to supply the food, mum to make the naked wedding cake, plus a budding florist friend to arrange the wildflower centrepieces. There was also a lot of input from Groom Simon. His connections in the drink and hospitality business gave them the courage to organise things themselves, even building the bar in the village hall and cutting and sanding old Two Bird’s spirit bottles to make flower vases. It's an amazing DIY effort all round and looks wonderful.

Inspiration & Styling

Simon’s connections in the drink and hospitality business made it an easy decision to organise the wedding ourselves, from helping to build the bar in the village hall, to cutting and sanding old Two Bird’s spirit bottles to make flower vases. Our invitations and large poster at the back of the hall were designed by Simon’s friend who is also part of the Two Bird’s family. The design was based on the Glastonbury Festival logo; we went to the festival soon after we got engaged and we are excited to be going again in a few weeks!

Shaza & Simon
One of the elements that really stands out at this DIY village hall wedding is the epic large poster framing the top table. It was designed by Simon’s friend (who is also part of the Two Bird’s family) and is based on the Glastonbury Festival logo which holds special meaning to the couple. There are lots of fun ways you can add your personality to your wedding and ensure you are doing things for you. Listen to our DIY Wedding Ideas and Self Worth podcasts to find out.
Lorna Shaw

Written by Lorna Shaw

Inspirational articles you may also find useful