Good afternoon!  If, like me, you just can’t get enough of today’s gorgeous real wedding, the wait is over! {If you missed Part 1 click here}. Chantal & Chris’ wedding reception held in the grounds of Strattons Hotel is surely one of the prettiest we’ve seen!  Chantal and her sister made practically everything for her big day, with literally no detail spared.  I am so in love with the hessian & lace covered jam jar glasses, they look super cute with stripy straws for summer drinks!  The hessian and lace theme continues onto the gorgeous reception tables, with fresh summery flowers and candlelight adding a romantic touch to their rustic-boho look.  The cake? Just one word, incredible!  Made with love by a friend of Chantal’s {available by appointment ladies, get in quick!}.  And finally, exquisite photography by Katherine Ashdown.  Dreamy wedding portraits with a pop of sunshine yellow, and a beautifully captured first dance on the lawn.  And I’m super proud that Chantal found lots of her inspiration on b.loved, oh I do love our stylish brides!

We made EVERYTHING!  From lavender filled hanging hearts, sweet chilli jam, drinking glasses out of jam-jars with hessian, lace and even buttons, vases were given a new spruce of life with more hessian and lace, we made lawn games such as bean-bag toss, we made signs, bunting you name it – we did it!  Since the wedding my sister & I are joining forces to start a business

I found lots of inspiration on b.loved, obviously!!! A fave of mine! Also from photographers blogs such as Katherine Ashdown and Marianne Taylor.  “Brides” magazine is a must but they soon add up at £5 a pop.  So my advice is definitely blogs such as b.loved, and Pinterest!

Our florist teamed gorgeous fat blousy David Austin roses with beautiful full peonies both in dusty pink.  Gypsophelia was used in the church to keep the budget down (and was wonderfully effective for the rustic theme!).  We also had trailing ivy and pink hydrangeas which complimented everything wonderfully and helped keep the costs manageable.  There is so much you can do with foliage if you have the right florist and our florist worked incredibly hard to make it personal for us and the end result blew us away.  

We spent months choosing the photographer and then I found details of Katherine Ashdown, who lives in Swaffham.  With her eye for detail, beautiful portfolio and local connections, it was just perfect to get her on board.  Very glad we did as the end result was brilliant.  She was assisted by another great local photographer, Tatum Reid.  

favourite moment

Walking down the aisle towards Chris and seeing all our closest friends and family there to support us.  I will never ever forget it.

first dance

It was supposed to be Love Song by 311 sung in a reggae vibe (trust me – it would have worked!) but our singer was a local busker and he is so laid back he is horizontal! He had been busking in Asia for months leading up to the wedding and didn’t have time to learn the new song.  So we kind of had two impromptu first dance songs.  The first was Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” – which was sang by the first band we had and we danced on the lawn.  The second was a reggae salsa number by the Miserable Man.

advice

I would have stuck to a more rigid timescale in the morning in terms of hair-makeup etc.  Whilst we all got done, I would have liked to have time being “finished” before we had to leave as I wanted photos before I got married with my dad and things.  That’s the only thing.

I did take previous advice of standing back and taking it all in – and it was magical! Also, we had “couple shots” away from everyone in a rapeseed field down the road, at the time I thought, “oh will we miss our wedding?” but actually the time there was lovely, Chris and I had a few words of such love shared at that moment, and it was nice to be away on our own if only for 20 minutes.  When we arrived back at the reception the band were playing, drinks were being guzzled and everyone was in the swing of it.  It was perfect.

Perfect indeed!

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Suppliers (please include the website if possible) Photographer:   Katherine Ashdown // Dress:   “Sharon”  by Sottero & Midgley from Pure Brides // Dress Alterations:  Sisters with Scissors //  Vintage earrings: borrowed // Bracelet: Lisa Angel // Shoes: Next  // Bridesmaids dress: Dessy // Flower girls dress: Jacka Gowns //  Groomswear: Topman //  Groomsmen:  Greenwoods // Florist: Sarah Martin of Amitys – 07807060524 // Cake: Stephanie Walmsley {available by appointment} // Save the Dates:  DIY cards from Paperchase & stamps from Not on the Highstreet //  Invites:  Commissioned by Aimee Paints // Hair:   Gemma Holiday // Makeup: Melissa Abel // Venue & Catering:  Strattons // Music: The Vagaband and Miserable Man // Planned & Coordinated by:   The Bride – Chantal Beck of Angels by the Sea