One of my lovely readers, Eulyn, got in touch to share her wedding invitations with me after being inspired by the wedding stationery we made for our wedding.  I can’t tell you how lovely it is to get emails and pictures like this, knowing that something you did inspired someone else – and a photo of another couples hard work.

If you’ve been inspired by the ‘save the dates’ or stationery that we created for our wedding, do send me an email – I’d love to hear from you and attach a couple of pictures so I can see (and maybe even share on the blog) what you’ve created – it would make my day.  It can get very lonely blogging away, sharing ideas and inspiration, so hearing that you were inspired by something you found here really makes me happy.

Get in touch with my by emailing charlie@thenaturalweddingcompany.co.uk.

This might be one of my favourite winter wedding cakes – I’m not sure I’ve seen that many really wintery sweet wedding cakes, with fruit pies and pork pies (remember last weeks!) seem to be a good wintery alternative to wedding cake.  But this one, with it’s three layers from dark to white chocolate, sat a top of pies of branches, and decorated with ivy, red berries, lichen covered twigs and pines cones, just captures the whole spirit of winter.

If you’re looking for wedding cake inspiration, and what something a bit different or more natural looking, don’t forget out all the Cake Love posts for my favourite finds.

Image: Rebecca Hollis Photography via Ruffled

A wedding on a stunning organic farm complete with a beautifully restored red and yellow gypsy wagon…if only such a place existed.  It does, and to showcase this beautiful wedding venue deep in the heart of Wales, a group of local suppliers got together to produce a beautiful autumn inspired wedding shoot.

The shoot was held at Welsh Green Weddings and was brought together by Sue Fyfe-Williams of Aunties Vintage China, and Venetia Norrington of Firetop Photography, taking seasonal inspiration from the autumnal hedgerows.  Sue told me, “The venue has huge versatility and we wanted to portray the breadth of options in the photoshoot.”

Welsh Green Weddings is a unique and magical wedding venue offering picturesque views, a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and lots of romance.  In 2011 the Old Dairy was licensed for wedding ceremonies, making it ideal for couples wanting to have their marriage and reception all in one place.

Along with a variety of local Welsh suppliers, the wedding gowns were provided by Julie Dutton, a dressmaker and member of The Natural Wedding Company directory, who specialises in eco couture.  The gowns are made from bamboo silk, organic silk and recycled lace.

Other details included Welsh lovespoons: “We wanted to weave in traditional Welsh touches, such as the lovespoons, which are traditionally handcrafted by the groom for his bride, and make beautiful wedding favours.”  We have a lovespoon hanging above our bed, carved with our initials given to us by my granny – they are such beautiful keepsakes.

It is lovely to see a wedding photoshoot inspired by a seasonal landscape and featuring so many wonderful local suppliers.  It’s also lovely to see one featuring two of the businesses listed on The Natural Wedding Company directory - Welsh Green Weddings and Julie Dutton – do check them out.  Finally, a huge thanks to Sue and Venetia, who also work collaboratively, for allowing me to share this photoshoot with you all.

{ Suppliers }

Images: Firetop Photography
Styling: Aunties Vintage China
Wedding Venue: Welsh Green Weddings
Wedding Dresses: Julie Dutton
Welsh Lovespoons: Cadwyn Gifts
Flowers: Country Bouquet
Cake: Maureen’s Cakes

There are some truly wonderful and, in my opinion, sheer genius, ideas out there – these candles that have been shaped to look like a variety of old bottles and jars are one of those genius ideas.  Made from beeswax to give that golden yellow honey colour (and an equally beautiful smell when lit), I think they would be a beautiful alternative to floral table centrepieces, especially on long tables where you could arrange them with their varying heights.

The downside?  They don’t seem to be available to buy anymore!  They are created by Anthropologie (creators of many a beautiful, and expensive, item) but I they don’t appear on the website any longer.  It is a travesty.  I hope someone else starts making and selling something similar, preferably in the UK please!

Image: Anthropologie via Pinterest

Loveducks Photography

WIN a wedding photography package worth £2,500!  To enter the competition click here and tell Loveducks Photography your engagement story – the sweetest engagement story will be announced as the winner on Valentine’s Day 2012.  Get your entry in by 12th February 2012.

Wedding in a Teacup

15% off all orders up until 31st January 2012, simply enter the code SPARKLE15 at checkout.  Visit www.weddinginateacup.co.uk to view their range of lovely wedding favours and DIY resources.

Natural Design

Don’t miss an exclusive 10% discount for all orders placed by The Natural Wedding Company readers, simply enter the code NWC discount in the further information box when checking out.  Visit www.naturaldesign.co.uk to view the pretty range of favours, decorations, gifts and stationery.

Rosie Weisencrantz Jewellery

Get 20% off all jewellery up until 23rd February 2012, simply enter the code LOVE at checkout.  Visit www.rosieweisencrantz.com to view the beautiful collections of handcrafted heirloom jewellery.

Green Photographic

For a limited-time only, book your 2012 wedding photography package with Green Photographic and get a FREEengagement shoot.  It’s on a first-come-first-served basis so don’t hang about!  You must become a Green Photographic Facebook fan, your engagement shoot must take place in Cornwall before 31st August 2012, and Green Photographic will be permitted to use the images for publicity. Visit www.greenphotographic.com.

Following up from my post about using grasses in wedding arrangements and bouquets, I wanted to share some pictures of from Susanne at The Blue Carrot in Cornwall, one of the businesses listed in the flower section of the directory.  She got in touch with me after the original blog post to say that she loves using grasses in her arrangements and to share a couple of pictures.

Thought you’d all like to see some on a dreary January afternoon!  Any favourites?

I love these deep wine colours with the silvery green grasses and foliage, and the spray of blackberries too.

A white and green flower arrangement with dill flowers, furry grasses, white dahlias and a single white foxglove – gorgeous.

I love the yellow-orange nasturtium’s in this arrangement, especially alongside those big showy pink dahlias.  More of those gorgeous silvery green grasses and poppy seedheads.

Another pretty yellow and white combination with silvery green foliage – aren’t those yellow poppies so delicate.

The added touches of peach and lilac in this one completely transform this pretty arrangement – it really does look like you’ve wandered through a beautiful country garden (I wish mine looked like this!) picked a little bit from here and there.

If you are getting married in Cornwall and love this natural style, why not get in touch with Susanne and see if The Blue Carrot could do your wedding flowers.  Visit The Blue Carrot for more details or contact Susanne at susanne@thebluecarrot.co.uk.

If you missed part one of Mariette and Benjamin’s natural French countryside wedding yesterday, get over there now and immerse yourself in an utterly gorgeous wedding.  Today it’s the second part with some gorgeous photos in woodland and around the stone villa, and their fun reception and rustic decorations.

What a happy looking couple – and those gorgeous lace sleeves and floral headband.  Everything is just so fitting about this wedding, nothing seems out of place or contrived – just simple, natural and beautiful.

It always helps to have a beautiful rustic backdrop to create romantic wedding photographs, like an old French villa with mint green shutters and a rambling rose (oh France how I miss you!)…

After a quiet moment, just the two of them, Mariette and Benjamin headed back for their wedding reception which was held at the villa.

The garden had been simply decorated with weathered metal buckets brimming with deep purple berries, that look very similar to elderberries…

And others with purple thistles and golden coloured teasel heads…

For me, this wedding really captures, reflects and becomes part of it surroundings – the season, the countryside, the place. Just look at this beautiful combination of countryside flowers and berries combined with a few striking flowers that matched Mariette’s bouquet…

Many of the decorations had been handmade, like these origami cranes hung inside from ceiling…

And jam jars filled with sand and candles, and tied with ribbons…

The blackboard menus were written in chalk in that kind of handwriting that looks so effortless you know you could never recreate it yourself…

In the evening guests enjoyed a South African barbeque (Mariette is South African) and French wine, cheese and breads…

Afterwards, the tent was filled with fun, as David Blair said many of the guests had prepared songs, skits and speeches both to honour and humorously make fun of the couple.

I am just so thrilled to have been able to share this wedding with you, so a huge thank you to photographer David Blair for allowing me to.  Do have a read of his blog to see more details and photos from this beautiful wedding.  I wish Mariette and Benjamin every happiness in their life together.

If you are looking to have your own French countryside wedding why not take a look at Chateau de Fayolle in the Dordogne, or if it’s an outdoor wedding ceremony in the UK that you’d like take a look at our Ceremonies page.

Images: David Blair Photography