Giles and Danielle's engagement shoot in Southwold

Map-makers - Giles and Danielle - have been friends for ages but 2 years ago they fell head over heels in love and are now planning a beautiful wedding next year with a vintage afternoon-tea feel.

Being outdoorsy types; the beach was a no-brainer for their engagement shoot! Southwold is somewhere that I personally love dearly as I spent so much time there as a child with my family so no amount of wind and drizzle was going to spoil our hour of seaside fun!

 

Di and Andy's woodland engagement shoot

Last month we ran a competition at the Norfolk Brides wedding fair at Drayton Old Lodge for two couples to win a free engagement shoot. Today I went on a lovely walk around Bacton Woods with Di and Andy, the first couple to have their name picked out of the hat.

Andy produced Di with her engagement ring just last month, so today was the perfect excuse to celebrate with a fun day taking a few pictures of them together.

Pippa - their springer spaniel lead us round a familiar set of paths at one of Di and Andy's favourite walking spots - Bacton Woods in Norfolk. The sun was out, the floor was strewn with burnt orange leaves and the air was fresh - it was a great way to spend my Sunday morning.

Me = Bridesmaid = Excited

The 80’s. Oh the 80’s. This was the last (and only) time I was a bridesmaid. Thrown into an outrageously floral dress with preposterously vast puffy sleeves, I spent most of the day drinking fizzy pop and playing in the couples back garden where they held their reception. I had a rather lovely time playing princess for the day.

Fast forward 20 years and I am thrilled to have been asked to be a bridesmaid - as an adult - at my friend’s wedding next year. I still intend to drink some fizzy (champagne) and I will be frolicking among the beautiful grounds of Southwood Hall in Norfolk - http://www.southwoodhall.com/ with all the guests and my friends.

Last month, my friend Poppy asked me to meet her in a café in London, along with 3 other friends. We ate, we drank, we chatted and then she pulled out 4 enchanting little parcels and gave one to each of us. Inside my decorated bag were some photos of us over the years, some home-made ginger and chocolates truffles, rhubarb jam, a wedding invite to her and Greg’s big day and a personalised invite to be her bridesmaid; it was an awesome surprise and a great way to be asked!

It’s going to be an entirely different experience being an adult Bridesmaid and I know it’s going to be a lot of fun helping Poppy make plans for her big day – time to start looking at dresses!

Vegetable table pieces anyone? Sneak peek at a zoo keepers wedding

Halloween is nearly hear, so zoo keepers Donna and Tom thought it would be fitting to incorporate some of the popular themes of all hallows eve into their autumn wedding. Skilfully carved pumpkins, rustic bouquets, home-made straw buttonholes and an orange and brown colour theme. The aroma of scented candles filled the air and fairy lights draped the venue – ElmsBarn in Norfolk. We picked out some of our favourite images from their big day to show you – we especially liked their vegetable table pieces!

Gemma and Robs rustic, DIY, farm wedding

Rob and Gemma met at UEA in 2001 when they were both first- year students, so they had been together for ten years before getting engaged. After so long together Gemma thought they would never get married, so it was the greatest surprise of her life when Rob went down on one knee in September 2012. The spot Rob chose was a secluded bay on the shore of lake Bohinj in Slovenia, nestled at the foot of grassy hills and snow-capped mountains in a beautiful nature reserve. Gemma was rummaging in her bag for her swim suit when Rob caught her unawares and simply said ‘Gemma, will you marry me?’ Gemma had never been truly shocked before; in fact she was in such a state of disbelief and in such floods of tears that she failed to notice he had a beautiful hand-made diamond and sapphire ring for her too! It was perfect.

They held the Reception at the farm where they live in a picturesque meadow by a lake, surrounded by oak trees and wild flowers. Gemma wanted to bring the elements of the meadow from the outside in, so this became their wedding theme. It started at the ceremony where they gave everyone a sunflower to hold, dimmed the lights and had a glitter ball to create the effect of a starlit meadow. 

They grew the flowers for their floral displays, used recycled card for their invites, incorporated hessian, raffia and natural rustic colours into their décor  and decided that a tipi would be more fitting than a traditional white marquee! They also got creative, making as many things themselves as they could, all from reclaimed wood found on and around the farm. Rob made the bar, the top table, many of the decorations and even created a unique ‘tree of cake’ to display their wedding cakes on! 

Making things themselves saved money, and was great fun, but most importantly it meant that they got to spend lots of time together literally creating their own hand-made wedding. The only thing that didn't fit with the theme was the food – they wanted curry as it is their favourite thing to eat, so they chose dishes from Malaysia, Cambodia and India – the countries they are visiting for their honeymoon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The couples favourite moments were “being greeted by two donkeys from Redwings Horse Sanctuary when we arrived at the Reception (it was a wonderful surprise as I had no idea!)” – Gemma and - “Kissing on the jetty by the lake in the pouring rain” - Gemma and Rob.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gemma and Rob didn't have a first dance as they both have two left feet, so instead they chose some of their favourite songs for the band to play – including ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ by Nirvana – they had the whole tipi moshing, including their parents!