Brad-date

Our first date as husband and wife. A last minute trip to Bradgate Park with a fish and chip supper.

Perfect.

The Day We Wed - The Ceremony

We shared our wedding day with our closest family and friends at our favourite place, Calke Abbey. It was so personal, especially as it is where Dan proposed.

As the bridesmaids and I were getting ready, the boys arrived at Calke early to greet all of our guests in the stunning Calke Abbey Riding School that Sophie (of Honeysuckle and Castle) and I had worked so hard to make perfect.

The bridesmaids wore beautiful gowns by H&M (yes really...!) and the flower girls wore ivory dresses from Monsoon. Each carried a hand tied bouquet of lavender crafted by myself. The boys all wore morning suits hired from Greenwoods, including top hats and boutonnaires of wheat and lavender, again, crafted by myself.

My bridesmaids and I entered the ceremony to an acoustic version of Deadmau5's Arguru. A song that always reminds Dan and I of our first date to Fleetwood almost 6 years ago. My bridesmaid's brother Sam Hunt, did a fantastic job mixing the track for me so that it was more bridal than drum and bass... The perfect surprise for my husband to be.

It was a small and intimate gathering of only 34 guests in total. The drapes through the Riding School worked perfectly to make the open space intimate.

Louie did a fantastic job of looking after the rings and giving them to the registrar carefully. Our rings were specially made by Allen Brown Jewellers of Lichfield. Due to my engagement ring being such an unusual shape, we knew that we were going to need an expert jeweller to craft a wedding band to fit. Allen did a fantastic job of both of our unique wedding bands.

All images copywrite Ezekiel Taylor Photography

Part One - The Day we Wed

Part Two - The Ceremony

Part Three - The Gardens

With thanks to;

Honeysuckle and Castle - Wedding Planning Services
Ezekiel Taylor Photography - Wedding Photographer for the East Midlands
Phase Eight Bridal
The National Trust

Allen Brown Jewellers - Bespoke Jewellers to the West Midlands

Instagram Week

I'm sorry I have been a little absent recently. Things have been busy what with the World Cup (COME ON GERMANY!), work, Louie and some other surprises that are in the pipeline, that blogging has taken a severe back seat!
But of course you can keep in touch with instagram, with everything we have been up to lately.
See you there!!

The Day We Wed, Part One

At the end of May this year, I married my love, Dan. It was the perfect day we had dreamt of for so, so long. Here begins the story of our day...

After a full day of preparation, bridesmaid Becka, my Mom and I stayed in the most beautiful little cottage on the Calke estate for a night of watching tv, eating pizza and drinking bubbly in anticipation for the big day ahead of us. Becka and I, who shared a bed, stayed up in to the wee hours, gossiping and trying desparately to sleep. Of course we were up at the crack of dawn (literally) watching the sun come up through the tiny window in our room. 

The morning of the wedding was so relaxed. We made preparations for getting ready, sat down to an enormous continental breakfast and ended up watching Rosemary and Thyme whilst waiting for Anna and Zeke (our amazing photographer) to arrive. Then it was operation bride!

After all the important people arrived, we got down to the business of hair and make up. I decided to do everything myself and I am so pleased with the outcome. Becka and I did a fantastic job with my vintage style up do which was the perfect solution for my all day hairstyle. It gave the 1920's feel that Dan and I had been dreaming of for all of the years we have been together.

Then I slipped on my wedding gown. I chose my gown after seeing it on Pinterest a very long time ago. When we decided that we were actually going to get married, I hunted it down, had it ordered to our local Phase Eight boutique and we bought it then and there. Due to my size, we did have to make a few alterations  and we ended up adding 50 hand sewn buttons to the back and also some pearls to the waistline. I am still so in love with the Mariette gown, it was the perfect dress.

Then it was time for a few bridal shots before rushing down to Calke!

All images copywrite Ezekiel Taylor Photography

To follow; Part Two - The Ceremony



With thanks to;

Honeysuckle and Castle - Wedding Planning Services
Ezekiel Taylor Photography - Wedding Photographer for the East Midlands
Phase Eight Bridal
The National Trust