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Charlie

TNWC Real Brides: introducing Emma and Chris’ outdoor festival wedding

Charlie

Today is a very exciting day – I get to introduce you to a fantastic new feature to my blog called TNWC Real Brides. It has been so long since my own wedding that I decided I needed some new brides-to-be to share their wedding details, so before Christmas I invited applications.

Starting today, I have the first of my TNWC Real Brides who are going to be sharing their wedding planning experiences here on my blog – I am so thrilled to be opening up the blog to brides-to-be and I can’t wait to follow their wedding journeys with you.

I’m also super excited because for each couple I have had a fab illustrated picture of them created by my sister Izzy Burton – these illustrations of each couple will be used at the top of each real brides blog post so hopefully you’ll get to know them all by these cute images!

Our first TNWC Real Bride that you get to meet is Emma – I’ll hand you over to her so she can tell you all about her and her fiancée and the wedding they are planning…

Emma + Chris: 13th July 2013, Cornwall

Hello, I’m Emma (currently aged 29 and ¾) and I am going to be marrying the best Chris ever (also on the brink of ‘thirtydom’) on the 13th July 2013. Thirteen is my lucky number. We are planning an eco-friendly, DIY, windswept and romantic wedding at Mount Pleasant Eco Park in Porthtowan, Cornwall.

Chris and I met nearly 5 years ago through mutual friends on many occasions, most of which involved beer and back garden barbecues. Over time I had developed a bit of an embarrassing crush on him and therefore avoided talking to him for around six months, as whenever I got near him I would blush profusely. He happened to be just as shy and it took us well over five ‘dates’ before I made the move with a now or never awkward kiss. The kissing got a little less awkward after that first one.

Chris proposed on New Year’s Day, at the top of a snowy mountain in Bulgaria. He had chosen the most beautiful emerald and diamond ring, I couldn’t stop giggling and slightly hyperventilating as he knelt in the snow with clear blues skies all around us. It was massively unexpected as Chris is THE worst at keeping a secret – and he had been planning it for three months!

Charlie

Ticket giveaway for the White Memoirs Vintage Wedding Fair in Manchester on Sunday 24th February 2013

Charlie

Please note the ticket giveaway is now closed 05/02/13

In four weeks time the White Memoirs Vintage Wedding Fair will be once again gracing the beautiful town hall in Stockport. Held on Sunday 24th February 2013, the fair will run from 11am – 4pm and be stocked full of local, hand-picked suppliers to inspire unique brides across the North.

Exclusive to The Natural Wedding Company I have 20 free tickets to the fair and 10 free ‘Bridal Boot’ tables to give away – so read on if you fancy winning either (or both!) of those!

White Memoirs is an independent vintage wedding fair seeking out their suppliers by searching every corner, back alley, road, street and website there is. And, of course, White Memoirs wouldn’t be the same without fantastic live entertainment from the amazing Miss Kiki deVille as well as special performances from numerous vintage acts!

Like they did at the October wedding fair, White Memoirs will be hosting an exclusive bridal catwalk show featuring their favourite bridal boutiques and accessory designers.

Charlie

Eco-chic packaging from Rebecca Douglas Photography and a couple of announcements

Charlie

This morning I thought it would be really nice to share the beautiful new wedding packaging from one of our TNWC recommended photographers, Rebecca Douglas. First though I have a couple of announcements:

Wedding fair ticket giveaway – on Tuesday morning I have 20 tickets up for grabs for the White Memoirs Vintage Wedding Fair and full details about this year’s fair. PLUS I also have 10 ‘Bridal Boot’ tables to giveaway, so do check back tomorrow for full details.

TNWC Real Brides – you might remember before Christmas I was on the hunt for brides-to-be who wanted to blog about their wedding, well this week on Tuesday afternoon and Thursday I’ll be introducing you to the first two lovely ladies. I am so excited about this new feature!

New features on the website – over the coming month I will be unveiling a few small changes to the website and blog, including some that will hopefully make it easier to find what you are looking for. Keep an eye out for these fab improvements!

But back to today. It’s always nice to hear what my TNWC wedding businesses are up to, and when I spied the new eco-chic handmade packaging from Rebecca Douglas Photography I thought you’d all want to have a look too. Not only is it a real treat for those booking Rebecca as their wedding photography, but it’s also full of inspiration for handmade wedding details.

Rebecca’s new packaging was inspired by her eco-friendly and sustainably sourced Luxe Album: “I love capturing love and once the big day is over my labour of love does not stop there. I get excited about getting home and editing the images. I get even more excited when I post out the images to the wonderful newlyweds and I want the unpacking of the DVDs to feel exciting too. When I introduced my beautiful Luxe Album, I loved unpacking it and pealing back the layers to get to the album. I loved that it was completely eco-friendly and sustainably sourced and these feel good moments have inspired my new packaging.”

Charlie

Sneaky peek of my upcoming photoshoot inspired by the bleak mid-winter countryside

Charlie

I wanted to give you a little heads up about a very exciting Saturday I have ahead of me – I am going to be working with the lovely Jennie Hill on my very first style wedding photoshoot – eek! We have been plotting together ever since we met up at the Eco Wedding Fair in Bristol and dreaming up a mid-winter shoot that features a number of small British businesses.

As well as being a wedding photographer, Jennie also works on a farm with her very cute sidekick Pip the sheepdog (here’s a video of him in action!), and as such she wanted to create a styled shoot based around sheep and shepherding. We have been inspired by the bleak English countryside in January (although it looks like it might snow on Saturday!) and all things wool related.

I am super excited for Saturday, not only for getting to put together something magical, but also to be able to work with and feature a number of TNWC businesses – even the venue we are using for the location is a brand new TNWC wedding venue. Above are some of the things we’ve been inspired by – woollen blankets, smoky wood fires, tweed suits, rustic pies, and twiggy bouquets.

Charlie

Jessica and Paul’s natural countryside wedding with a Georgian mansion ceremony and magical woodland evening party

Charlie

Natural countryside wedding

This week I’m going to spoil you all with another gorgeous real wedding – one in which the groom actually built a beautiful timber framed tent for their wedding reception in a woodland. It really looks as magical as it sounds! Wow, wow, wow.

Jessica and Paul were married in Kent in September 2012 and celebrated their wedding with a ceremony and reception in a Georgian manor followed by a magical woodland after party.

Charlie

Posh Frocks & Wellies Open Weekend in Cheshire on 19th and 20th January 2013

Charlie

This weekend Posh Frocks & Wellies are holding an open weekend so that you can see their beautiful canvas marquees decorated with their selection of interiors and to talk to the team about your wedding day.

Whether you’re after a rustic country chic look or a festival feel, Posh Frocks & Wellies have the finishing touches to help bring your wedding dreams to life. I’ve been told that they are going to have set up their ‘Rose Garden’ theme and their new ‘Bohemian Dream’ theme plus a luxury bell tent to view.

As well as the canvas marquees and interiors, you will also be able to see examples of different furniture styles for your wedding breakfast, there will be lots of inspirations for table dressings with jugs of seasonal flowers and handmade place settings, plus vintage china and a vintage inspired sweetie table.

Charlie

Silver Sixpence In Her Shoe’s vintage inspired bridal accessories are now available from Not On The High Street

Charlie

Living in Cheshire on the outskirts of Manchester I am lucky enough to be close to a number of lovely independent wedding businesses, one of which is Silver Sixpence In Her Shoe who have featured before on the blog.

Run by the talented Nicola, Silver Sixpence is a range of beautiful vintage inspired bridal accessories, including headpieces, garters, and these pretty new lucky horseshoes I recently showcased.

I am excited to share with you that Nicola’s designs are now available from her new Not On The High Street shop www.notonthehighstreet.com/silversixpenceinhershoe that launched today. Silver Sixpence is now one of over 3,000 small independent UK businesses on Not On The High Street, each which has been carefully chosen for their innovative and well made products.

Charlie

A pretty pink and green spring flower wreath from Fletcher and Foley

Charlie

It snowed here last night – not very much, but still a sprinkling! Despite that, this morning I wanted to share a little glimpse of spring with this pretty pink and green floral wreath from Fletcher and Foley. When I spotted it I was instantly dreaming up all kinds of wedding uses for it.

It would make a gorgeous table decoration, just as it is, sitting on a table with a pale church candle at its centre. Hung from a door it would be a beautiful way to welcome your guests to your wedding ceremony or reception venue. And a slimmer version would make a glorious flower crown for a bride or bridesmaid don’t you think?

I got in touch with Joanne from Fletcher and Foley to find out what the different flowers and foliage are that she used to create this beauty. Joanne told me, “the flowers in it are pink and white striped tulips, cerise ranunculus, ‘Amnesia’ roses, pink anemones, hyacinth pips, astrantia, waxflower buds with ming fern foliage and grape vine twine.”

If you love the current trend for flower crowns and floral hair wreaths, then do check out my flower crown Pinterest board where you’ll find a huge collection of my favourites.

Image: Fletcher and Foley

Charlie

Free engagement shoot worth £250 when you book your wedding photography with Bohemian Weddings

Charlie

Yesterday I featured Charlotte and George’s informal English country wedding which was captured by TNWC wedding photographers Bohemian Weddings. As mentioned in yesterday’s post, Michael and Andrea from Bohemian Weddings have a fantastic offer for TNWC readers.

Until the 28th February 2013 Bohemian Weddings are offering a free engagement shoot worth £250 for anyone booking their wedding with them before that date.

Charlie

Charlotte and George’s informal English country wedding with handmade decorations and a village hall reception

Charlie

Informal English country wedding

What could be a nicer way to start the New Year than with a beautiful real wedding to provide you with lots of inspiration and ideas for your own ‘big day’. Today’s wedding is particularly special to me because it’s the wedding of one of my TNWC businesses – the lovely Charlotte who runs The Crafty Baker.

It’s also pretty special because a number of TNWC businesses were involved in this wedding, including the photographers Bohemian Weddings who are a recent addition to the directory AND Charlotte was inspired by my own wedding stationery.

Plus, tomorrow on the blog I have an exclusive wedding photography offer from Bohemian Weddings so don’t forget to check back! If you fall in love with any of the suppliers from their Charlotte and George’s wedding you’ll find all the details and links at the bottom of the post.

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