All weddings can be fun. Today’s wedding looks like it was a lot of fun.
David and Charlotte’s outdoor festival wedding was an unforgettable event. James and Lianne captured their wedding perfectly. It was elegant and charming, with lots of banter.
The couple was stunning, David in a preppy bowtie and braces paired with an herb-infused dress and Charlotte, a gorgeous vintage bride with a Claire Pettibone dress, dramatic veil, and set curls.
We are officially OBSESSED with the idea of bunting as a guestbook. This wedding is filled with dancing, music, and fun.
The Attire
I wanted something quirky, original, and with a touch of the 20s/30s.
I wanted something a little more grown-up and not so traditional. After months of looking at Claire Pettibone and Jenny Packham dresses, when I got to try them on, I knew they were the ones for me!
Since the wedding was outside, I wanted the groomsmen to have a more casual look but still match my dress.
We chose pastels and light colors to complement the bridesmaids. However, we made sure that all outfits were mismatched so they didn’t look uniform. Also, so that everyone could choose something they felt comfortable in!
I wanted everyone to feel comfortable in their clothes. I needed to find something for all four bridesmaids that would suit them, was affordable, and not too trendy, so they clashed with my dress and came in four different colors!
I had also left the search until the last minute, so ordering anything from the Internet was a little too risky.
My mum and grandmother volunteered to sew the dresses, and they did an incredible job! The dresses looked professional and fit beautifully. They were all very happy with them.
David didn’t know what I was wearing, and neither did I. We found some pictures on the internet that gave us some ideas, and then he took his groomsman shopping.
It was nerve-wracking not knowing, but I thought they did an amazing job. They all got to choose something for themselves.
The Ceremony
I didn’t really want to attend a long, sappy ceremony.
OneLife ceremonies did a great job of tailoring our message into a script that lasted 20 minutes and had just the right amount of lovey-dovey stuff.
David’s sister Christina, two cousins, and David read a few of the poems we had chosen. They sounded incredible!
As I walked up the aisle, I heard Home by Crystal Fighters. It put everyone in an upbeat, happy mood.
We took a 10-minute trip around the village in the vintage Rolls Royce car that my parents had hired for a surprise. We enjoyed some quiet time.
The Photographer
Although we had five wedding photographers at our wedding, we wanted them to be able to enjoy themselves as guests and not have the burden of taking photos.
After searching the Internet, we narrowed down our search to two local photographers. Both photographers were equally good, and they captured weddings more naturally than in the traditional formal style.
Looking through James and Lianne’s portfolio, we felt that the vibrancy of their photographs more accurately reflected our personalities. We also liked how their photos told the story of our wedding.
The Colour Palette
I couldn’t decide on a single color for my bridesmaids or the overall color scheme, so I chose several!
I was looking for a colorful wedding, but I also wanted a vintage/English garden feel. I ended up using pastel colors inspired by Cadbury’s Mini Eggs.
The bunting was made by a group of women, including friends and family members. Three of my closest friends also made extra.
The Music
Although I knew the song I wanted to dance to, I didn’t really want to dance my first dance. I was afraid it would ruin the party.
Two of the groomsmen surprised me by playing guitar and singing a song that I would have selected (The Girl by City and Colour). David came over to me and began dancing with me. It was wonderful. We were able to dance for the first time without worrying about anyone watching. I was so happy that I didn’t even care if everyone was watching.
Halfway through the song, David’s brother gave him his guitar. He joined in with his brother on ukuleles and the remaining groomsmen. It was great to have my mum, mother-in-law, and all of my bridesmaids join me in dancing.
The weather was perfect, and everyone enjoyed the lawn games.
We had a friend’s band play for us in the evening. They were great; everyone danced, and David did crowd surfing for the first time. The band played both their original songs and covers that they chose themselves, which fit in perfectly with the night.
David DJ’d for a few minutes, which was something he really wanted to do. Later, our friend Alex, who was in the band, took over. Later on in the evening, a limbo contest got underway.
Decor & Details
We wanted to have an outdoor wedding, but with so many guests, we needed a venue that allowed us to use our suppliers and keep costs down.
Also, we wanted to have tipis! The tips were warm and relaxed, but the smell was also amazing. It reminded us of our trip to Peru several years ago.
We found The Hideaway online, and it met all our criteria. It was affordable, had great facilities, and ample space for campers.
We were looking for a place to stay that was affordable because people from Lancashire had to travel quite a distance to attend the event. The surrounding area had plenty of options for those who didn’t want to camp.
