“We wanted relaxed images that captured the raw emotion of the day. No ‘cheese’ please! Jonny provided everything we wanted. He just fitted in, went with the flow and put us at ease throughout.”
HANNAH & SAM | FROM THE BEGINNING
Hannah & Sam both unintentionally ended up at a party at their local rowing club. Sam had missed his lift home after a gruelling training session. Hannah had popped in briefly to see some old school friends before heading off to a different soirée. She wouldn’t say it was love at first sight but they started chatting and began to realise they had a large number of mutual friends. It all spiralled from there!
Fast forward to the proposal. It was a quiet misty day in Lower Slaughter in the Cotswolds between Christmas and New year. Sam rarely does romantic or surprises. So looking back Hannah says he was acting a bit odd, yet at the time she was oblivious. Whilst out on a walk he asked to take a photo of her on a bridge. As she turned around he was on one knee and Hannah re-enacted the guy from the Vicar of Dibley- “no no no no no no no no……..YES!” Sam had not been prepared to hear a ‘no’ and apparently very nearly threw her off the bridge and into the river!
It was an absolute honour to be a part of their wedding. H&S from the bottom of my heart, thank you! x
HOME GROWN COUNTRY GARDEN MARQUEE WEDDING PHOTOS
We had always wanted something that embraced our countryside roots and was as laid back as we are. The photographer, band and food were really important for us! Sam was taken seriously ill in the lead up to the wedding so details were really not at the forefront of our minds. This said at very last minute we ordered some flip flops and almost every woman said they were a lifesaver! Most of the work we did ourselves with the help of fabulous suppliers and friends. Surrounded by the people we loved with beautiful weather. We couldn’t have asked for any more than that!
Hannah’s mum had always joked that the field next to their house was a ‘country garden marquee wedding field’ and it became just that! Having our wedding at home gave it a really relaxed feel. We had so much food and a free bar – many people commented on how perfectly chilled it was.
ELIZA JANE HOWELL WEDDING DRESS
The dress was Zenith by Eliza Jane Howell. I always said I’d like a simple dress, nothing too wide. Sam is over a foot taller than I am and I did not want to look like the doll of an old fashioned toilet roll cover! After trying on a number of different styles but never felt they were ‘the dress’. When I saw a similar dress by EJH on a blog and was desperate to seek out a stockist. My Mum, my Grandma and I went along and before I had tried it on my grandma exclaimed ‘that’s it’. We all loved it. In the end Marrime Bridalwear in Newcastle upon Tyne sourced the dress and veil. They couldn’t have been more helpful!
Sam had always dreamed of a tailor made suit and his wedding seemed the perfect opportunity. Sam’s suit was bespoke by King & Allen. Sam had his first measurements taken early January, by the end of February he had lost 3 stone! After some frantic emailing between myself and Karl and Daniel from King & Allen we got Sam back in at the end of April and re measured. They rebuilt the suit whilst still allowing Sam room to gain some of the much needed weight. By May, Sam had a perfectly fitting suit and shirt in time for the wedding.
My sister was my bridesmaid and her dress was from David’s Bridal, Birmingham and her shoes were from House of Fraser.
ADVICE TO THOSE PLANNING A WEDDING
Smile. Stop and look around you and take time to talk to your guests. Although we appreciated everyone’s concern, we found it exhausting trying to politely take on board everyone’s thoughts, advice and offers of help. A lot of people around you forget it’s just one day and it’s what happens after that truly counts. It’s cliche, but just do what makes you both happy and ignore everything else. Sam says in the build up get involved and help out. Be warned, your female relatives all start to go a bit crazy! Just savour every moment as it flies by.
The biggest surprise for us was that the sun shone . The forecast was heavy storms and a number of our guests arrived with wet weather gear having driven through torrential rain and flooding. It seemed we had the only pocket of good weather in the whole of the Midlands.
As a married couple we’re now most looking forward to hopefully having a puppy and spending the rest of our lives together. But mostly having a puppy!
SHOUT OUTS TO THE GARDEN MARQUEE WEDDING SUPPLIERS
Make up artists: Katrina Bate | Florists: The Flower Rooms Chaddesley | Rings: Brides – inherited from her Grandma and Groom’s – F.Hinds | Cake: A friend from work made it for us | Catering Company: Sticky Fig https://www.stickyfigcatering.co.uk | Entertainment: Apollo Soul https://www.apollosoul.co.uk | Transport: Sam’s Mini! | Marquee hire: Burgoynes Marquees
If you are thinking of having a relaxed country garden marquee wedding I’d love to hear from you.
Head to the contact page to book a call or to fill in my contact form and check my availability.
