Blog: spring wedding
Charlie Charlie

Pastel iced doughnuts decorated with edible crystallised primroses, cowslips and violas for a spring wedding treat

Charlie

pastel_crystallised_flower_doughnuts

Pastel iced doughnuts decorated with crystallised edible flowers and mini chocolate eggs? Could these be any more pretty and totally perfect for a spring wedding.

Made by TNWC Recommended Supplier Eat My Flowers, inspired by Martha Stewart, these doughnuts are made using bought doughnuts, a simple icing, and crystallised flowers. I would love to try this out with mini ring doughnuts (if such a thing exists!) – packaged in individual brown craft boxes wouldn’t they make lovely wedding favours? In fact I don’t think they’d make it home!

pastel_crystallised_flower_doughnuts2

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Charlie Charlie

Seasonal spring bouquets of British grown daffodils, narcissi and purple-pink blushed tulips

Charlie

Seasonal spring bouquets of British grown daffodils, narcissi and purple-pink blushed tulips - flowers from Little Strode Flower Farm www.littlestrodeflowerfarm.co.uk

One of my favourite parts of my job is browsing the websites of the wedding suppliers we list in the directory to see what new things they’ve been busy creating, making, or planning. There are always some hidden gems to discover, and then I get to share them with you!

Recently I came across these beautiful seasonal spring bouquets for a daffodil inspired wedding – now what could be more appropriate to share at this time of year, as all around us daffodil buds are plumping up ready to burst open and cheer us all up with their sunny yellow faces?

Spring bridal bouquet of daffodils, narcissi and tulips - flowers from Little Strode Flower Farm www.littlestrodeflowerfarm.co.uk

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Charlie Charlie

TNWC Real Brides: Ellie’s trip to her florists garden to pick out her seasonal blooms for her late spring wedding

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TNWC Real Brides: Ellie's trip to her florists garden to pick out her seasonal blooms for her late spring wedding

How many other brides-to-be have visited their florists garden to pick out the flowers for their wedding? Well in today’s post from TNWC Real Bride Ellie she shares how she did exactly that over the summer, and she took along some of her family and bridesmaids. 

Ellie is a girl after my own heart with her love of countryside and seasonal flowers and foliage. Over to Ellie to tell you all about it…

TNWC Real Brides: Ellie's trip to her florists garden to pick out her seasonal blooms for her late spring wedding

For some brides, the most exciting part of wedding planning is finding the perfect dress. For some, it’s food and drink and, for others, it’s music or decoration. For me, however, the most exciting part of planning my big day has always and unequivocally been…flowers!

Since I was a little girl, I have walked along country lanes with my Mum and Granny and been filled up with the names of the flowers growing madly all along the verges.

TNWC Real Brides: Ellie's trip to her florists garden to pick out her seasonal blooms for her late spring wedding

I’ve also been lectured somewhat extensively on the folklore of flowers; from blackthorns being the preserve of evil faeries, to a horror of white lilies displayed on their own (exceptionally funereal), flowers have always been a part of my life – and, perhaps oddly, a huge part of how I’ve related to members of my family, and an important impetus for spending time together.

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Izzy Izzy

Emma and Matt’s pretty May wedding in a field with giant tipis, fete inspired games and a vegetarian feast

Izzy

Emma and Matt's pretty May wedding in a field with giant tipis, fete inspired games and a vegetarian feast – photography http://www.photography.hannahbeatrice.co.uk/

Pretty May wedding in a field

It might not yet be May, but by the end of the week it will be, and my favourite month of all (I am biased because it contains both mine and my Mr’s birthdays plus our wedding anniversary!).

So I want to kick-off May today with the beautiful laidback fete-esque spring wedding of Emma and Matt. It is full of understated soft floral colours with pops of brightness here and there – from the funky orange VW Campervan to the groom’s colourful leaf buttonholes. See what you think!

Over to Emma to tell you about their pretty May wedding with beautiful photography from TNWC recommended supplier Hannah Beatrice

Relaxed tipi farm wedding – photography http://www.photography.hannahbeatrice.co.uk/

Emma and Matt got married in May last year and chose a church ceremony at St Patrick’s Church in Earlswood where Emma was baptised. The reception was at Mousley House Farm, “We were keen to have an outdoors reception and found the perfect space at Mousley House Farm, where we were given use of their beautifully spacious field. We had a fantastic reception in kata tents that had been put up and tended to by the team at PapaKåta.”

Orange VW Campervan – photography http://www.photography.hannahbeatrice.co.uk/

Tiered Victoria Sponge wedding cake – photography http://www.photography.hannahbeatrice.co.uk/

Emma and Matt's pretty May wedding in a field with giant tipis, fete inspired games and a vegetarian feast – photography http://www.photography.hannahbeatrice.co.uk/

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Charlie Charlie

Claire and James’ rustic Easter wedding in the Cotswolds with an egg hunt for the kids and lots of homemade details

Charlie

Claire and James' rustic Easter wedding – photography http://www.nealejames.com/

Rustic Easter wedding

What could be more appropriate for this week than a pretty homemade wedding held on Easter Sunday complete with spring flowers and an Easter egg hunt? I hope you agree, so I am delighted to be able to share Claire and James’ beautiful wedding which has all those elements.

Over to Claire…

Claire and James' rustic Easter wedding – photography http://www.nealejames.com/

“As we’d chosen to have a spring Easter wedding in a barn in the beautiful Cotswolds, we decided that a rustic Easter country themed wedding was for us – nice and relaxed with lots of fun.

April has always been a favourite month of ours and Easter a family favourite time growing up.  As all our family and friends would have to travel, we decided to give them the opportunity to have a mini break to the Cotswolds and an Easter egg hunt sealed the deal!”

Claire and James' rustic Easter wedding – photography http://www.nealejames.com/

“I’m slightly embarrassed to admit this – but I started planning my wedding day (probably like others) years and years ago!  James (Jim) and I had been together 12 years when we got married so he gave me plenty of time to start a scrapbook (no Pinterest back then!). Some of the thoughts I’d had never changed and made it to being part of the day – particularly the theme.”

Claire and James' rustic Easter wedding – photography http://www.nealejames.com/

“Our day was rustic country and Easter themed, bursting with creative touches, many of which we’d made ourselves. There were handmade clay birds, beautiful flowers, tree slices, bales of hay, milk churns, birch tealight holders, homemade chutney, chalkboard signposts, handmade stationery and printed linen, planted wellies, rusty letters, old French crates, Easter photo props, a lucky dip and chocolate eggs galore!”

Claire and James' rustic Easter wedding – photography http://www.nealejames.com/

“There is so much inspiration out there, but mostly we felt inspired to create a day that reflected our love for nature and relaxed natural style.”

Claire and James' rustic Easter wedding – photography http://www.nealejames.com/

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Charlie Charlie

Caroline and Gareth’s spring wedding on their farm with a rustic barn reception and pretty homemade details (part two)

Charlie

Caroline and Gareth’s homemade farm wedding – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

Spring farm wedding (part two)

Yesterday I featured the first part of Caroline and Gareth’s beautiful spring wedding on their farm in Nottinghamshire. If you missed it – oh no! Make yourself a cup of tea and go click on the link to read part one. If you’re back to see the final part of their wedding, enjoy!

As well as all the gorgeous pictures from their rustic and homemade wedding reception you’ll also find their wedding film at the bottom of the post, to bring their whole wedding a little more to life.

Oh, and don’t miss the part where Caroline cuts up her wedding dress…mid-wedding…yes, really.

>> View Caroline and Gareth’s spring farm wedding (part one) here <<

Rustic barn wedding – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

Mismatched bridesmaids dresses – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

Dairy cow table name flags – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

Caroline and Gareth’s homemade farm wedding – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

Country wedding flowers – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

Finally, I want to say a huge thank you to Caroline for sharing all of her wedding plans as TNWC Real Bride, to her wedding photographer Milestones Photography, and to all you wonderful readers who come visit the blog to read about these fab weddings.

Over to Caroline…

Vintage hankie table plan – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

Lace backed wedding dress – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

White wedding vintage post box – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

Caroline and Gareth’s homemade farm wedding – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

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Charlie Charlie

Caroline and Gareth’s spring wedding on their farm with a rustic barn reception and pretty homemade details (part one)

Charlie

Caroline and Gareth’s homemade farm wedding – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

Spring farm wedding (part one)

I have a super special real wedding to share with you today. For regular readers or those who’ve been following last year’s TNWC Real Brides you probably remember the lovely Caroline who was planning her wedding with a real focus on homemade details and supporting local businesses.

Back in May last year she tied the knot with her Mr-to-be Gareth, on their farm in Nottinghamshire, and today I have the delight of sharing all their official photographs from their beautiful day. Caroline has also shared so much of what went into their day and how it went, I’m sure that many brides-to-be out there will find not only creative inspiration but reassurance ahead of their wedding day.

>> View Caroline and Gareth’s spring farm wedding (part two) here <<

Caroline and Gareth’s homemade farm wedding – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

Seasonal pastel coloured May flowers – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/ - flowers http://www.catkinflowers.co.uk/

Caroline and Gareth’s homemade farm wedding – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

Vintage button hair comb – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

Before I hand over, I want to start with this wonderful quote from Caroline, that I think is so beautifully worded about what your wedding day is really all about:

“At times it was hard work and with the weather not on our side we were really tested (big puddles all over the barn floor after a torrential downpour 2 days before the wedding worried us a little!) but on the day, none of it really matters. You’ll always have the best day ever, surrounded by all the people you love the most and at the end of it all you’ll be Mr and Mrs, and at the beginning of an amazing adventure through life together – and that’s really what its all about.”

Seasonal spring bridesmaids bouquets – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/ - flowers http://www.catkinflowers.co.uk/

Over to Caroline to tell you all about her wedding day…

“We knew what we definitely didn’t want was a traditional, formal, wedding day feel to the day and the style was most definitely a handmade, relaxed, informal country wedding and just a jolly good knees up really! We were both bought up in the country, for our second date Gareth bought me a pair of wellies and we took his dogs for a long walk around the farm which I think was pretty much the moment I knew he was ‘the one’, so it seemed quite fitting to have a wedding that gave us a chance to get our wellies on!”

Happily Ever After wedding sign – photography http://www.milestones-photography.co.uk/

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Izzy Izzy

Alison and Rama’s back garden Bedouin tent wedding with a dash of English country charm and a bohemian bride

Izzy

Bohemian English country garden wedding

Back garden bedouin tent wedding

What a treat we have for you today with another beautiful real wedding – this time with a bit of twist.  Usually weddings are submitted to us by the bride or her wedding photographer, but today’s pretty Somerset wedding was sent to us by wedding stylist Kirsten who runs The Little Wedding Helper.

The bride and groom – Alison and Rama – had a down-to-earth wedding held in their garden full of bohemian styling, Moroccan lanterns, and a dash of English country charm.  The couple decided not to have a wedding photographer, but lucky for us they allowed Kirsten to bring along her own photographer to capture some of their day and gorgeous details.

Bedouin tent wedding ceremony

One of my favourite parts of Alison and Rama’s wedding is that guests were invited to bring flowers rather than gifts, which were then used to create the table decorations – what a lovely idea and one that created a vibrant palette of colour that really complements the Bohemian feel of their wedding.

So it’s over to Kirsten to tell you about Alison and Rama’s wedding and how she helped style it…

Black board menu & Bedouin tent

Romantic pale pink flower crown

Back garden wedding with Bedouin tent

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Izzy Izzy

Jaime and Dave’s relaxed spring wedding with lawn games, a seasonal bouquet and Scottish kilts

Izzy

this and that photography

Relaxed spring wedding

Today we are sharing Jaime and Dave’s gorgeous spring wedding in Hampshire.  Fans of the outdoors, Jaime and Dave wanted their wedding to reflect the natural beauty of the gardens at Taplins Place in Hartley Wintney where they held their ceremony and reception.

Guests were entertained with giant lawn games, a coconut shy, a ‘hook-a-duck’ stall and homemade ‘Fruits of the Forest’ gin.  With a wedding cake made of cheese and the relaxed ‘fete’ feel to the wedding, Jaime and Dave were able to make their wedding truly about them – nature and garden lovers.

– Izzy x

Now over to Jaime to share their beautiful wedding day with you…

Wedding union jack bunting

this and that photography

Forget-me-not, bluebell and wheat bridal boquet

Jaime and Dave got married in May this year, I love the reason why Jaime and Dave chose May for their wedding and honeymoon, “As we grow our own veg, we knew that we didn’t want to leave too much work to Dave’s Dad and his wife, who were looking after the house, our dogs and our garden.  So I guess you can say that our vegetable dictated when we got married!”

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Charlie Charlie

Exquisite ‘Springtime’ and ‘Vintage Dream’ wedding cakes with handcrafted sugar flowers from Amy Swann Cakes

Charlie

'Vintage Dream' wedding cake from Amy Swann Cakes

I have a lovely bit of wedding cake inspiration for you today.  These stunning cake designs were created by Amy who runs Amy Swann Cakes, and who is also one of our fab recommended suppliers on the directory.

Amy is incredibly talented at creating some of the most realistic and beautiful sugar flowers I’ve ever seen.  You might recall this incredible wildflower wedding cake design of Amy’s I featured last autumn, and despite recently welcoming twin baby girls into her family, she has still been busy dreaming up these lovely designs for her clients.

'Vintage Dream' wedding cake with sugarpaste flowers

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