Earlier in the week you might have seen the beautiful illustrated wedding map created for our competition winner Myfanwy and Tom (I loved the mini Daschshunds!) – well today I have our other winners map to share.  Alexandra from Pigeon & Quill, was moved by Shelia and Bruce’s story and wanted to offer them a wedding map as a gift.

Shelia and Bruce are getting married next May in Somerset – 10 years to the day after their first date!  Shelia told me, “We were very touched and grateful that Alex decided to make us a map – she asked for so much information so that she could really create a map personal to us including key elements to give a ‘feel’ of what the day was about.”  

“We didn’t think we had a theme as such until we saw the finished map and then realised that the overall feel was ‘living in the country’, so our wedding will just be an expression of our way of life – nothing fancy, just  down to earth. Alex captured all that from a few emails!  My favourite bit is the illustration of the reception, with straw bales, deer, jam, bunting, cider and buzzard”

Here’s the final map Alexandra created based on Shelia’s description of their wedding:

Shelia described their wedding plans when entering the competition:

“Having six children between us and, consequently, a huge mortgage, we have put off getting married as “we can’t afford it”.  Last month my fiancé was diagnosed with cancer.  Suddenly, our priorities changed and we set a date – 10 years to the day after our first date.  

It will be a very emotional day and it is important to us that all six children will be closely involved; my son will be giving me away (I lost my father to cancer), one daughter is ring-bearer/best man, two daughters are bridesmaids and two sons are pageboys.  Our tiny Yorkshire Terrier, Fifi, will also walk up the aisle with us all.

I am determined that it will be a very special day, regardless of our thousand pound budget.  I have made the ‘save the date’ cards and am working on invitations and order of service booklets, taking inspiration from The Natural Wedding Company, and all for just a few pounds.”

Shelia and Bruce’s six kids, plus their eldest daughters boyfriend and Fifi the Yorkshire Terrier

“I am making my dress and probably those for the bridesmaids too.  On the morning of the wedding we will go into the fields behind our house and pick cow parsley as bouquets and cornflowers for my hair.  We will walk to our local church to get married, the pathway lined with homemade bunting, and then walk the short distance back to our village hall for the reception.

My mother is making blackberry jam as favours for our guests, which we will decorate with homemade labels and fabric lid covers tied with string.  Friends are doing a hog roast for us later on.  We have cut out all the ‘extras’ in order to pay for a ‘thank you’ to everyone who will have made the day possible – this takes the form of an Abba tribute band to which everyone can enjoy dancing the night away.”

I asked Shelia to share her thoughts on the beautiful map Alexandra has made for them: “The final map is just perfect for us – as a statement about our life together as much as a celebration of our wedding day.  The map will be mounted and framed, then displayed next to our wedding cake for all to admire!  Copies will either be sent out with invitations or as ‘thank you’ cards – I’m not sure yet.  I am making the invitations (as per your own!), so I am leaning towards sending them as ‘thank you’ cards.”

I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing Shelia and Bruce all the happiness in the world on their wedding day next year, and that Bruce will make a full recovery following his treatment.  A huge thank you to Alexandra from Pigeon & Quill for creating this extra special map and to Oldacre Printers who are printing copies of Shelia and Bruce’s map free of charge.

This beautiful illustrated wedding map is made by Pigeon & Quill – do get in touch with Alexandra to discuss your own wedding and make sure you tell her you heard about her on The Natural Wedding Company.