TNWC behind the scenes Archives - The Natural Wedding Company

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Charlie

Celebrating and reflecting on five years of marriage

Charlie

In 2011 when we got married I did a lot of soul searching about what those wedding vows – what the act of getting married – really meant to me. When I stood at the altar, in front of Nick, and spoke my vows to him, what was I really saying? (It’s easy to get swept up in the pretty bits of wedding planning, especially when you run a wedding blog, and forget about the meaning).

Finally the phrase that kept rooting itself for me was “I promise that I will always work through things with you, no matter how tough it gets.” It was pretty scary realising that this was going to be my commitment to him, more so than the prescribed wedding vows, perhaps because I had settled on it myself. I felt like this promise came from somewhere deep inside of me and was bound to me in an inextricable way, and what it meant in real life terms was scary as hell.

This month we are celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary (back in Italy, the country where we got engaged). Twelve years together, five years married, and nearly three years now as parents. I think the last two and bit years as parents have tested my marriage commitment the most. They have been the most challenging years of our lives so far, both as individuals, parents, and as husband and wife. I have had times where I cursed myself for making – what seemed at those times – an insane commitment. I have had times where I’ve shouted and yelled and wished it undone, and I’m sure, in fact I know, they weren’t the last times I will behave like that.

Charlie

Join The Natural Wedding Company for our South West Roadtrip visiting some fab wedding businesses along the way

Charlie

The Natural Wedding Company – that’s me (Charlie) and my baby bump – are going on a roadtrip! Starting on Sunday 9th June I will be driving from my home in Cheshire, all the way down the country and into Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, finishing up in a little bit of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire about 10 days later.

Along my way I’m going to be stopping off at a number of the fantastic businesses that you can find listed on The Natural Wedding Company directory. There are many more fab wedding suppliers down in the South West than I am possibly able to see in 10 days, but I am doing my best to see as many as I can and report back to you, my lovely readers, about what I find.

Follow My South West Roadtrip

The whole aim of this roadtrip is not only for me to get to meet some of these businesses in person, but also to share pictures and details with you. I’m going to be taking my camera, my phone and my laptop, and each and every place I visit I’ll be capturing in pictures, words, and maybe even video (if I can figure that out!).

Each day I’ll be retreating to a B&B to write up my day’s visits, which you’ll then be able to read the following day on the blog.

As well as documenting my South West Roadtrip on the blog, I’ll be sharing photos on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. I’ll be tagging all my images on Instagram and Twitter with #TNWCRoadtrip so I hope you’ll follow along and join me on this epic roadtrip virtually.

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

My autumnal styled stall at the Eco Wedding Fair with seasonal flowers and ideas for wedding table centrepieces

Charlie

On Saturday I shared Jennie Hill’s lovely photos from the Eco Wedding Fair (you can see it all here), and today I’ve got my pictures of my stall and a few more details about how I decorated it. Perhaps you’ll find some inspiration for your wedding or just an autumn or winter celebration you might be planning.

We arrived at Riverstation in Bristol at about 9am and first we had to: unpack a number of boxes of what at first glance probably looked like a pile of junk, carry two heavy buckets of sand up a flight of stairs, and manoeuvre a bundle of 7ft long bamboo canes. I was so pleased that the other exhibitors had equally quirky bootfuls for their stalls!

My mom and I had two hours to set up before visitors started arriving, so here’s what I did with the mottley collection of items. I used a pair of curtains to cover my table – they are a rather fun botanical print style curtain with what looks like horse chestnut leaves on them, and they ended up working in perfectly with that autumn feel I was going for.

The two metal buckets of sand went either side of the table and they held some of my bamboo canes – apologies this is the best picture I have which shows the bamboo canes and bunting…

Charlie

Find out what’s going on at the Eco Wedding Fair in Bristol today and a sneak peek at what I’m popping in the goody bags

Charlie

If you’re reading this on Saturday 3rd November 2012 then I am busying myself on my stall at the Eco Wedding Fair in Bristol. I’ve been pretty excited about this day, not only because I love getting out and about in the world of weddings, but because this is the first ‘eco’ or ‘green’ wedding fair in quite a few years.

Just some of the post that’s been arriving from TNWC businesses…

I’m really hopeful that I’ll get to meet a couple of TNWC readers (so if you’re going please do come and say hi) and some new brides-to-be who haven’t yet been to the website. With regards to what my stall looks like, as I write this I’m still not sure! I’m pretty certain that other wedding fair exhibitors have planned theirs out weeks in advance…me on the other hand, well, my stall is currently a jumble of of ideas in my head and a car that looks like I’m going to a carboot sale not a wedding fair.

Charlie

A visit to the Event in a Tent open day and sampling utterly delicious canapés from Greengages

Charlie

On Saturday I headed south, further into Cheshire to Delamere Forest where the team from Event in a Tent were holding their open weekend. I get to work with some lovely businesses, but all too often I can get stuck behind the laptop, so I’m always delighted when an opportunity comes along to go and meet and see what the TNWC businesses get up to.

Event in a Tent hire out those stunning giant tipis that are becoming increasingly popular as alternative wedding venue spaces. Having been inside the giant tipis once before, it was a treat to go back, and I was disappointed. These structures are truly spectacular. As I walked inside there was a log fire going and the tents give off this soft, warm golden colour.

Charlie

Quality time: a little update on where I’ve been

Charlie

I don’t often add too many personal posts on here, but I wanted to share a quick update on what I’ve been up to over the past 10 days. Mr Rigg and I have been away on the most lovely holiday to a part of Greece called the Peloponnese, it’s been blissfully warm (about 25°C most days) and we’ve been spoilt with excellent food.

Most of all we’ve had a chance to unwind from our respective jobs and spend some quality time together – don’t you find yourself realising on holiday how much you’ve not had that time together? Not really at any rate, you might eat dinner together every night, cuddle up on the sofa, even chatter in bed with each other. But more than ever this holiday I’ve realised those times aren’t quite the same as having 10 days completely to yourselves.

Charlie

An autumn visit to The Real Cut Flower Garden and a beautiful seasonal bouquet

Charlie

I feel like I’ve known Charlie Ryrie who runs The Real Cut Flower Garden for almost as long as I’ve run The Natural Wedding Company, and that’s quite a few years now. Undoubtedly one of my favourite parts of running this business is the people I get to meet and talk to, and the friends I make – both couples planning their wedding and the lovely people behind the businesses I work with.

The best treat is getting to meet up with these wonderful people and spend a little bit of time getting to know them, and in the case of businesses, seeing behind-the-scenes and how they work. These are fabulous, real, small businesses, and it’s partly why I’ve started my new blog series A Day in the Life.

Last week I was on the road for a couple of days and it was in deepest Herefordshire that I had elevenses with the lovely Charlie Ryrie. It’s not the first time I’ve visited Charlie, the first time was back in 2010, then I went to see her about our wedding flowers, and finally I’ve been back again. We had a catch up over a cup of tea before wandering around her flower field in the drizzle.

Charlie

My favourite finds at the Designer Vintage Bridal Show 2012 – from heirloom veils to illustrated wedding stationery

Charlie

On Saturday I headed off with my friend Faye (a bride-to-be herself) to explore the delights at this years Designer Vintage Bridal Show. Held at a beautiful old house called Hagley Hall, the show was stuffed full of exhibitors, a vintage tearoom, catwalk shows and the ever-beautiful presence of Wedding Yurts’ giant yurt set up in the grounds.

Having spent the whole journey down from Manchester nattering about weddings, both Faye and I were psyched up for a lovely day – and if you’re after a wedding fair/show that offers something a bit more personal and unique, then the Designer Vintage Bridal Show is the place to go.

So here are my favourite finds from the day…

Lucy Hayes Bespoke Bridal Veils

The first exhibitor and stall that we both fell in love with, was a riot of exquisite lace veils and headpieces. This was my idea of wedding heaven, lots of beautiful antique lace that had been lovingly crafted into some of the most breathtaking veils I’ve seen. The veils are handmade by Lucy Hayes (no website, but can be contacted at lucy@lucyhayedbridalveils.co.uk or on 01935 389 400) at her home in Dorset using French and English lace.

Charlie

Sneak peek of our photoshoot with And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon

Charlie

What a way to spend an afternoon – cakes, pretty plates, desserts, rustic crates and an old milk churn, lovely flowers, and a gorgeous back garden. My little sister and I have just come back from a fab photoshoot organised by Anna from And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon, along with Sharon from For The Love of Vintage, flowers from Laura Coleman Flowers, and Jonny Draper capturing it all.

Here’s a little sneak peek, with more to come shortly…

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