​Here comes the bride. Queen for a day. All eyes on you. It’s a very special privilege of course, though being a bride certainly brings about moments of overwhelm. We might briefly be the centre of attention on birthdays, graduations and other special occasions, but from saying ‘yes’ to the ‘I do’, the bride is the focus of conversation and the target of what can feel like an endless sea of questions.
 
It may come across as negative, to point out that being a bride isn’t a stress-free experience, but it’s important for us as females in the wedding world to highlight the pressures that we experience alongside the joy. The expectation that you’ll already have your dream wedding drawn up in the back of your mind sets the stage for those pressures; the bride is often expected to take on most of the planning duties and decisions. And why do we hold onto old fashioned wedding traditions that don’t reflect modern society? In 2024, we’re surprised that there are still connotations of women being possessions to give away.
 
Alongside the planning pressures, there is an expectation that brides should ‘look their best’ on their wedding day. Articles upon articles of suggested wedding skincare regimes, tanning schedules, teeth whitening. Should we not instead focus on brides ‘feeling their best’ on their wedding day? A woman that feels confident is a beautiful thing, and comfort boosts confidence. We said it earlier – it’s a very special privilege to be a bride and a constant buzz of excitement throughout; let’s recognise the pressures so that this special time can truly be cherished.

​Kingsettle Stud was chosen for it’s breathtaking outdoor space. Natural surroundings to highlight our natural bride, this Hampshire wedding venue boasts woodland with dappled sunlight, a walled garden humming with bees and insects and views across meadow grassland. Lots of Coco Jone’s Photography’s images are in and around beautiful flowers, or making the most of the shadows and shapes cast by fruit trees.

Sophie Rose’s wedding dresses are crafted from scratch with the bride in mind. Often completely bespoke with brides mixing and matching aspects from each dress, you’ll find no uncomfortable fastenings or ties and no heavy fabric to heave around. These dresses are made with stunning, light material perfect for swishing, swooshing and dancing. They inspire confidence, they feel like the dress you’ve always owned while simultaneously being the most beautiful thing you’ve ever put on. It’s quite a marvel really.

With names like Lupin, Rowan and Rosemary, the dresses are inspired by nature in both name and movement; Sophie’s brides are usually countryside or coast dwellers who love the outdoors, and her dresses emanate a natural feel through the gentle fabric, materials and soft silhouettes.
 
It’s not only the dresses that have the bride in mind, but the process from start to finish with Sophie inspires comfort and confidence. You’ll come out the other side of wedding planning with a new friend, and you’ll miss your dress fittings and meetings at her homely Hampshire studio.

​Helen enhances, she doesn’t mask. She was the obvious and only choice for our bridal editorial shoot – she gets it. Helen enhances the bride’s natural look with an effortless and bohemian feel, working with the bride’s unique features to inspire confidence. Our beautiful model Libby has the most stunning complexion with freckles that Helen didn’t want to take away from. Your wedding is a celebration of you, so let those things that make you *you* shine through.
 
A healthy and dewy glow was what The Boho Bride achieved for our editorial, with a touch of colour on the lips and enhanced length on the lashes. This let Libby’s features do the talking, and although the makeup look made her feel amazing, she still felt like herself. That’s so important, isn’t it?

You should do whatever you want on your wedding day, and if that’s trying something completely new with your hair, then fine! But you’ve been doing your own hair for your entire life and know what works for you, so why not let your wedding hair stylist enhance a look you know you’re comfortable with? We went for three hairstyles for our editorial shoot; a simple hair down, a bohemian half up, and a loose bun with some of Sophie’s dress material as a relaxed ribbon. Hair that has you constantly checking for loose grips or curls out of place is a ‘no thank you’ from us – an effortless style that let you move freely and dance the night away, now that’s a big thumbs up.

​Inspired by nature, the epitome of feminine, soft and full of movement. That was what was on the menu for our bridal flowers. Daisy Grace Blooms gathers the most beautiful stems for her arrangements and our editorial was no exception. Daisy’s arrangements sing from your hymn sheet and are designed to work seamlessly with your venue and surroundings. Currently planning her own wedding, she completely understands the pressure and stresses of being a bride, and will provide a relaxed and fuss-free approach to choosing your wedding flowers.
 
Her bouquets for our editorial were a true reflection of the hard work and detail that goes into her bridal bouquets. Taking great care from sourcing to arranging, Daisy met with the amazing Kim from Marlston Farmgirl (another female-led wedding business!) to see what British blooms were growing at her farm in Berkshire. The most unique cosmos found their way into the bouquet from Kim’s farm – as well as soft and flouncy roses.

​It didn’t feel as though we had a photographer with us on our editorial – Corin was just a friend capturing moments. No harsh direction here, just gentle coaxing into natural positions or encouragement to move freely. Corin’s style of photography encourages the bride and groom to feel completely at ease, you’ll find you look beyond the lens.
 
Our focus for the editorial was movement and lighting; Corin played with light in various ways, using it to frame her images bouncing off of the greens of the leaves, or waiting for a peep of sun to create a dappled look over the wedding dresses. A soft blur in some of her moving images gives a romantic twist to movement.

We've been waiting for this moment for way too long... the moment we're able to share with you our Jasmine's day in Cornwall. An intimate Cornwall wedding in the beautiful countryside of Bude, with just 50 guests, Cornish cider and so much laughter.

The hunt for a wedding venue started in lockdown, and as a wedding planner there weren't many venues locally that I hadn't been a part of behind the scenes. Not that local venues aren't stunning, but there's something about having your special day somewhere you've not been before. So, why not drag friends and family four hours away to Cornwall?

We met with Lara virtually on Zoom, and within an hour of chatting we were sold on Launcells Barton. A selection of Cornish farm buildings, renovated to a high standard to become a charming venue in forest near the Bude coast. We made a weekend of it and hired some cottages nearby for friends and family, while the bridal party stayed in the beautiful Manor House.

Working in the wedding industry, it's hard to choose a 'theme'. Although your usual bridesmaid palettes are beautiful, there's an overwhelming desire to try and do something a little different. Jasmine chose a colour palette of sage, dusky pink, sea blue and navy, then let her bridesmaids find the dress for them! All finished off with gorgeous nude shoes from Monsoon and silk ribbons on their bouquets, each bridesmaid looked truly unique, and most importantly - felt comfortable in what they had chosen. 

Giving the boys free reign with a colour scheme didn't sound like the brightest idea ever. Jasmine and Josh knew they didn't want a traditional wedding suit hire feel, but something a little more modern. They visited Moss Bros and fell in love with their tweed sage suit. Their suits were teamed with navy knitted ties and polka dot pocket squares from TM Lewin... And socks with Bertie's face on, because groomsman gifts are a thing too! To make the groom stand out, Josh chose a knitted bow tie.

Choosing Jasmine's dress was such a special experience. She visited a small independent designer near Basingstoke called Sophie Rose and instantly fell in love with Cosmos, the most flattering bohemian wedding dress. With fun dotty tulle, flutter sleeves and a plunging neck line, it really was the perfect dress for a relaxed wedding in the countryside. The back came down in a deep V, with adorable buttons punctuating the start of the top.

Our whole time with Sophie was magical, and we'd highly recommend if you're looking for a personal experience and a beautiful bohemian dress to get in touch with her.

Mum hunted high and low for her dream Mother of The Bride Dress, but eventually hit the jackpot with a stylish and fun grey beaded dress from Sistaglam. Teamed with metallic shoes and matching clutch bag, she brought oodles of glam to the coast. We loved how her flutter sleeved echoed Jasmine's and the grey fit perfectly with the tones of the bridesmaid dresses.

Not the easiest month for someone who's picky about flowers to choose their bouquet, but Alicia at Wessex Flower Co was the perfect hand-holder to help Jasmine make the decisions! Over a coffee, they looked at all the beautiful fluffy white and soft pink blooms that would be available in March, and crafted the most beautiful bouquets.

Poppies and anemonies took centre stage, but striking hyacinths from Marlston Farm Girl made an appearance too, alongside elegant hellebores and white alliums. Jasmine's bouquet was tied with a trailing white ribbon from CFleurs Design, and for the bridesmaid's smaller bouquets they chose an array of coloured ribbons from Etsy to add a unique twist.

The groomsmen's button holes had to survive the trip to Cornwall, so Alicia chose carefully, but that did not make any difference to their beauty! They featured thistles and wax flowers, with dried lunaria for texture. Tied with ribbons to match the bridesmaids.

This could be the world's quickest ceremony - featuring a beautiful reading that Jasmine wrote for her late Grandpa read by a special friend, a smidge of 'I do' and a Celtic wedding poem from the registrar. There were floods of tears and echoes of laughter when Jasmine couldn't say her own name. The pressure was clearly a little too much!

Cornish cider, refreshing cocktails, the most delicious canapés from Wild Fork, and garden games (that had to be inside because it was obviously March in Cornwall...). There isn't much more to say about the drinks reception: a chance to hug everyone, cry a bit more and soak up the buzz.

Into the main barn, and the DIY touches flourished! We styled the barn ourselves of course, starting with the most beautiful rustic white tables from Stargazey Hire. The vision was to take the coastal theme to another level, with an earthy and relaxed feel, nothing too polished, and heaps of spot lighting.

Jasmine created the illustrations and stationery herself, and had so much fun thinking up sea characters for the table names. Nautical rope table number holders and oyster shell salt and peppers brought the ocean theme to life without being over the top. Then, to sing with the season, Jasmine grew an array of spring bulbs and flowers in rustic pots covered with moss for an English Garden twist.

The most amazing DJ booth from Veo Events became the focal point, with a custom Neon Sign for J & J dead centre, lighting the way. Up above, we hung branches adorned with ribbons, dried flowers and starfish to bring the ceiling down, alongside Veo's traditional festoons.

With beautiful blue stone plates and a menu starting with the most delicious crab and avocado dish from Wild Fork West, even the wedding breakfast nodded to the setting. After very relaxed speeches in front of the neon DJ booth, guests tucked into a 3 course meal, finished with a choice of salted caramel tart or mango parfait!

Along the way in the wedding world, Jasmine met the amazing Tom Oliver Sax, who really did blow everyone away. Not only did he serenade guests during the drinks reception in a sophisticated white ensemble, but in the evening he came out all guns blazing in full party attire. He brought so much passion to his performance alongside the Veo Events DJ, and got completely involved with our questionable dancing.

It may have been a little while since we shared some real wedding gorgeousness with you all, but we think you'll forgive us once you take a peek at Charlotte and Harry's beautiful Hedsor House wedding below.

We had the pleasure of working with Charlotte in the run up to the special day, creating our bespoke metallic animal place cards in luxurious gold to adorn the round tables. Charlotte also wanted to add her own creative flair to their wedding décor and so we also supplied gold animal busts for Charlotte to add to the table plan - it looked fantastic! Charlotte was an absolute pleasure to work with and when we saw these gorgeous photos from Emma Jane Photography we were so desperate to share them with you! 

We hope you enjoy looking through Charlotte & Harry's wedding photos as much as we did. This blog post is oozing with inspiration from wedding table decorations to unique entertainment. Enjoy!

Despite what you might think, Champagne and elderflower cordial aren't all you're allowed to offer at your arrival drinks (unless that's what you'd like to serve, of course)! The bar is your oyster, think outside the Champagne bottle, with the obvious place to begin - what is your favourite drink?

For a relaxed summer soiree, guests will feel right at home if they can grab a beer when they fancy one without flagging down your waiting staff. Benjamin Stuart Photography snapped this image of the ultimate-chill drinks reception with The Wild Fork: simply fill your wheelbarrow with your favourite beers and ciders, smother in ice and tie on a rustic bottle opener. Your waiting team will keep the ice topped up for a refreshing slurp. Usually, you can expect around 30% of your guests to have a couple of beers each.

We love a cocktail, everyone loves a cocktail, but with a selection of delicious food on offer it's wise to choose a cocktail designed to prepare your guests for the feast ahead! An aperitif or 'before-dinner drink' gets your guests taste buds tingling and ready for the array of tastes a three-course wedding breakfast provides.

An aperitif is usually zingy, refreshing and a little dryer than your usual sugar-filled tipples. Spice up a negroni with ginger syrup and a tonic topping or for the later months, an Autumn spiced gin and tonic will go down swimmingly.

Whether you're a non-drinker or need a little break from a day filled with booze, elderflower and sparkling water in a Champagne glass isn't really going to hit the mark. We were delighted to try Soho Juice Co's award-winning range of refreshing still juices which boast no CO2, no preservatives and they're vegan! Cucumber, mint, lemon and lime was a winner for us: all the flavours of a mojito transporting us to a sandy beach.

Need some help with styling your drinks table? Get in touch with us.

We are looking forward to 2021 when events are (hopefully!) back in full swing. Please visit our website and get in touch today to start your journey.

Your style or theme shouldn't be the only criteria for choosing the shape of your wedding tables. Although rustic wooden tables are the perfect backdrop for plentiful sharing banquet dishes, small nooks of your venue might be overlooked, wasting precious dining space! Why not opt for a contrast of beautiful bare wood banquet tables down the centre of your barn venue, with rounds  or squares providing an intimate space for ten guests to natter in each alcove. Being clever with your space will not only leave you with a neat, spacious dining area but also will allow you to have more options with your table plans.

 The politics of the seating arrangement can often take over dining plans. Of course, it's important to ensure your guests will be comfortable with their position, but the table layout itself is equally as important! Putting time and planning into your table layout early on will ensure no surprises on the wedding day itself.

Usually, your venue team or wedding coordinator can guide you with layouts which have previously worked well. If, however, you have an idea which hasn't been carried out at the venue before, such as a 'U' shape banquet set up in a barn which usually uses round tables, always ask for measurements and draw out the plan allowing plenty of extra space for your catering team and guests to move around the tables and chairs.

Sometimes, your dining space will transform under the spell of your catering team to provide space for a dance floor and evening entertainment. The layout for this part of the night can often be overlooked, however, it's always a good idea to chat with your catering team to plan a spacious and sociable furniture layout that promotes a lively dance floor whilst allowing quieter spots for conversation. Silchester Farm's hen house, above provides the perfect break-out from the hustle and bustle of the night.

Long gone are the days of white or ivory being your only linen choice. Linen can be a way to add intrigue to your wedding tables through colour, texture and shape.

Forget swans and fans, loose organic knots and napkins draped down the edge of the table allow a wider surface area of colour. Drawing on a colour within your floral arrangements can bring your table look together, and choosing a slightly different shade of this colour will enhance this further.

For table cloths, pattern and texture can surprise your guests on entrance to your dining room like Lucy and Chris' Sail Tent Company wedding above captured by Guy Hearn Photography where patterned rounds with a coastal feel contrasted with white-wash long tables.

If you want to let the bare wood of long tables sing, opt for an organic runner, like this one from Wedding Shed that we used with Crystal Hire's gorgeous oyster plates for an autumnal look.

With more and more crockery options flooding the scene, it can be hard not to get carried away with stacking up all sorts of plates and chargers for a beautiful textured table look. We understand that crockery can be an excellent way to inject your theme into your table set up, and we love the way our food pops against dark natural stoneware.

Black cutlery can add edge to a feminine colour palette while dramatically dark plates add a mysterious feel to a table set up later in the year. Textured stone plates feel more earthy, and work well with foraged, wild food that sings with the season.

Classic glassware lets the centrepiece, crockery and linen sing, whereas a coloured or etched glass adds a pop of something different and adds heigh to your look. We love adding hints of green glassware to a classical, clean white and green look.
​
Whilst choosing your set up, it's always advisable to keep space in mind. Think about your table size as well as other items on the table, such as table decorations and any sharing dish elements which might sit in the centre. Although six foot rounds can comfortably seat ten guests for a three course meal, adding further courses and wine flights will significantly reduce this. There is nothing more frustrating than spending money on beautiful charger plates to find out on the morning that they won't fit on your tables. For glassware, although it's a nice touch to offer your guests multiple wine glasses, if you're opting for just one or two courses you can save space for your centrepieces by placing one wine glass alongside a stemmed water glass. Your caterer will also be able to advise on this, and will usually provide the crockery options for you to see at a tasting session prior to the big day.

Your catering team have seen it all - life-sized trees cut into the centre of the table, enormous martini glasses with cascading lilies or delicate little trinkets sat on wood stumps. Your centrepieces can completely transform your venue and are an extremely important part of your look and so plenty of planning and consideration should take place to choose the right arrangement for you.

When considering tall arrangements, think about your guests' comfort and how they will interact with the other guests on the table. Your arrangement should allow conversation to flow, and not inhibit guests from talking across the table, or passing feasting bowls to each other. The arrangement above from Miss Mollies Flowers is a perfect example!

Nestled in the depths of Winter, February isn't a particularly colourful month... There may be the odd bulb popping up here and there but Spring is yet to arrive. Earlier this year Lottie & Scott took matters into their own hands and brought their very own rainbow of colour to beautiful, countryside venue - Ufton Court. Emma Bettes captured their day perfectly and has kindly shared her gorgeous photos with us and our readers.

We've become very fond of Ufton Court over the years and the rustic timber beams of the Tithe Barn offer such a familiar and cosy space. The large farmhouse doors open out onto a perfectly kept courtyard, ideal for milling about chatting to loved ones with a glass of fizz in hand.

Lottie & Scott also made use of Ufton's Tudor manor house which has a big open fire for the colder months. Beyond the venue walls span extensive grounds with woodland, a sunken garden, fruit trees and so many photo opportunities.

I don't think we've seen a wedding cake as colourful as this one! Sitting proudly at the entrance of the barn, this impressive rainbow cake welcomed guests as they sat for their wedding breakfast. We wonder how many of those Haribo made it through to the cake-cutting!

With pops of pink and delicately stitched foliage, Lottie's veil made a unique and personal touch to her outfit. You can find similar accessories here on Crown & Glory where they've collaborated with the wonderful team at Rock n Roll bride.

Hopefully we've helped brighten up your Monday evening with Lottie & Scott's wedding in the Berkshire countryside. We'd like to say a big thank you to Emma for kindly sharing these stunning photos with us! If you have any questions or would like a helping hand with your own wedding plans, please don't hesitate to get in touch via the details below.

Weddings are unique, couples are unique, and so are all their loved ones. So why would you give a gift to your bridesmaids, best friends or happy couple that thousands have shared?

Now, you might call us biased because this talented lady is actually our lovely mum, however, we wouldn't share her beautiful products with you if we didn't believe they were wonderful. Paint Me New remasters tired and unloved vintage items into something unique, bespoke and personalised. Using Annie Sloan's famous chalk paint, a range of stunning fabrics or decoupage and personal touches, Paint Me New transforms these items into reflections of the recipient or ready-made items produced with her creative eye.

We love the idea of creating a bespoke jewellery box for each of your bridesmaids. Not only can you choose the colour and fabric to sing your friend's style, but a little shabby chic heart can be adorned with their initials. Or, if you think this little blue beauty is perfect for your pal, you can buy it here.

A range of intricate stencils can also be applied, like this little copper bee above, adding a little shimmering modern touch to something vintage.

Everyone's seen the traditional miniature postbox, or repurposed Fortnum's hamper... Knowing your wedding decor has been lovingly crafted and not produced for the masses adds another dimension to the day. This card display box is perfect for a barn wedding, with a dainty little heart sign. This can also be personalised to suit your theme or feel and the reverse of the heart can feature the couple's initials and special day.

On the hunt for the perfect bespoke gift? Browse the website for inspiration.

When we first walked into Siobhan Davies Dance Studio in South London earlier this year, we knew was a setting fit for a gorgeous editorial, shot by Megan Elle.

The incredible architecture of the main studio - a vaulted, curving and fanned ceiling - celebrated light, movement and dance, which is something we set out to capture with our shoot design. 

Our choice of design was delicate with a touch of edginess - a modern ballet. Feminine and masculine coming together with pastel blue and pink, soft grey and white. With modern touches such as the lucite chairs, bold paint swipes on the cake or use of dried, arty foliage as an alternative to fresh flowers. The look was pared back and simple, but with subtle layers of texture.

Amazing florist Lara from Wild Renata styled a unique ceremony back drop of dried foliage in white, green and pink, and created this wild, organic structure on top of the stacked dance benches, almost enveloping the bride and groom. She matched the design on the table top, to bring some texture and edge to the other minimalist and clean-edged elements.

Lauren from Oh Wonder Calligraphy designed the layered stationery in all their pastel glory, as well as the minimalistic welcome sign.

The Duo from MonAnnie Cakes designed a stacked, asymmetric cake to mirror the design of the studio ceiling, with flecks and brush strokes in grey, black and gold to further draw in the artistic inspiration behind the day. They provided beautiful pastries and desserts to go on the table, with more organic and delicate details.

The bride wore two new designs from Sienna Von Hildemar; delicate, elegant dresses with perfect shapes for movement and dance. The groom wore a gorgeous blue suit with black velvet by Keye London - bringing classic elegance to the look.

The ladies from Mel Kinsman Makeup and Sharon Roberts Hair styled two looks for the bridal outfits. The first, a glowy and natural face with a loose and flirty chignon. The second, a tighter and more 'stage' look for the bride's dance performance - a flower-adorned ballet bun and darker, moodier eyes and lips.

Dream Team
Design & Planning | Revelry Events
Venue | Siobhan Davies Studios
Photographer | Megan Elle
Florist | Wild Renata
Cake & Dessert | Mon Annie
Hair | Sharon Roberts
Make Up | Mel Kinsman
Stationery | Oh Wonder Calligraphy
Furniture | Options Hire
Dresses | Sienna Von Hildemar
Acessories | Eden B Studio
Suit | Keye London

Sometimes, it can be hard not to take your barn decorating a little too literal. Although dainty bunting and hay bales certainly have their place, you don't have to automatically adopt the décor because your big day is being held at a beautiful barn. Décor can be about contrast, it can be about wowing your guests with arrangements they aren't expecting in a country setting or sprinkling your personality all over the place. You can add shine, sparkle, texture, height and all the personal details in the world.

We've put together some of our favourite alternative barn venue looks to hopefully inspire you for your barn wedding.

There is no need to get caught up in a theme. The word theme is thrown about in the wedding world to help those who want to steer their wedding decor and feel in a particular direction. It doesn't mean everyone needs a theme, treasures you have collected along the way, florals from your grandma's garden or photo frames from your home can all be brought to your barn venue for decoration. Don't faff over whether it goes with the colour scheme, it tells your story and that's that!

Fancy a touch of shine? Gold isn't just reserved for dining in glamorous manor houses, sparkle has it's place in every venue. In fact, the way that metallics contrast with rustic wooden beams can add another dimension to your look. Whether a detail on the table or woven into displays, a glimmer of gold or silver is always welcome. Above, we added our gold woodland animals to a dreamy display set up at Silchester Farm with Victoria Shute Calligraphy's fresh pink place cards and wild, abundant florals from The Wessex Flower Company. The result? A modern spring-time take on a regal banquet style table.

Warehouse venues don't own the rights to neon signs! Nothing catches your eye quite like an industrial neon sign framing the entrance of a barn venue. An industrial object nestled amongst soft countryside flowers and traditional red brick will add a little edge to your venue to become a talking point. Farnham Sound & Light have an array of neon signs to bring something different to your venue styling.

Barn venues are often adorned with ears of wheat, lavender, cottage-style roses and hops. We love when couples opt to look a little further 'afield' or, past the field and into the woodland or walled garden. Lush green pops so well against the browns of brick and beams. Paired with crisp white linens and modern stationery, green ferns and foliage are a simple and elegant touch. For weddings later in the year, whimsical and wild amber foliage brings something mysterious.

Squares, circles, grids and hexagons add intrigue to your wedding decor. An impressive floral moon gate for your guests to admire or adding a touch of metallic geometry to the table in the form of interesting candle vessels will oppose the soft surroundings. 

We said it earlier - you don't have to be mindful of colour schemes! An explosion of bold jewel tones, patterns and textures makes for a party of colours in the sunnier seasons. Inject colour into your photo album with smoke bombs, bohemian coloured glass vessels and bright and interesting tapered candles.

Looking for some further ideas for your barn venue decor?
email us