This pretty vintage style wedding is proof that you can get married in London, and still have a countryside, shabby-chic feel to your big day. It's absolutely stunning, and I think I've fallen slightly in love with lovely couple, Lottie and Jake. Just take a look at Lottie's fabulous 1940s-style wedding dress and cute bolero, plus her bouquet of UK-grown flowers. I adore sweat peas and cornflowers, and the floral bunting sets off the traditional English feel to perfection. Any brides worrying about a registry office wedding not fitting with their wedding style, should take a look at Lottie's answers to the Before the Big Day Bride's Questionnaire. Lottie came up with an ingenious marquee-shaped compromise - more details and pictures to follow in Part 2 later this afternoon. Beautiful pictures published with thanks to Fiona Kelly from Fiona's Wedding Photography and FO Photography, with a helping hand from Lisa at County Marquees.
I bought my wedding dress, bolero and sash from Zoe Lem. The dress is a customised copy of a vintage 1940's dress. It was literally the first and only dress I looked at – I didn’t step into a traditional wedding dress shop once! My hair clip was also from Zoe Lem, the earrings were a present from my mum. My shoes were from Pronovias, bought in a rush about three weeks before the wedding!
One of my very talented bridesmaids handmade all of the bridesmaids’ dresses and let them choose their own necklines according to their own sense of style. Amazing!
Our florist was Charlie Ryrie of The Real Cut Flower Garden. I wanted UK grown flowers and a relaxed, wildflowery look. I emailed Charlie pictures of my dress, the bridesmaids’ dresses and the bunting, and she made the decisions from there!
My husband, his best man and our officiant all hired suits from Moss Bros. Jake had a navy suit with a champagne waistcoat and tie to match my wedding dress. His best man had the same suit, but blue accessories, and our officiant was in grey and burgundy so that he stood out!
We got married in my grandmother’s garden in Highgate on the 6th August 2011, officiated by one of our close friends. The ceremony included rings, vows, readings: everything a 'proper' ceremony should. Afterwards, our legal ceremony took place at the Highgate Literary and Scientific Society. It took all of 5 minutes and after a few photos we returned to a confetti shower and our marquee reception.
We didn't really have a theme our wedding. We knew that we wanted it to be relaxed and fun and joyous, and a reflection of us, and we went from there.
Music was an incredibly important part of our day. My whole family are musicians and I work as a secondary school music teacher. Most people in my family play string and/or brass instruments so the 'family ensemble' has become a tradition. They play at birthdays and anniversaries, so it was essential they play at our wedding!
When we came back from our 'legal' ceremony the family brass ensemble played my Dad's version of Just the Way You Look Tonight, complete with opening fanfare (!), and after we had dinner the string ensemble played my Dad's version of the Glee's 'Don't Stop Believing'!
♥ Want more shabby-chic themed weddings? ♥ Or how about marquee wedding ideas? ♥
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