garden
as for drinks
“Outdoor weddings typically mean summer and sunshine,” says Mark Niemierko (niemierko. com). “Make sure you have something refreshing and long to drink for your reception and ideally nonalcoholic such as a elderflower fizz or strawberry punch for colour.”
In Bloom
When it comes to flowers, it’s all about bringing the outdoors in to your marquee or tent. Palmbrokers (palmbrokers.com) are experts at dressing all manner of plants including these stunning white wisteria trees. “Floral decorations that look ‘just picked’, informal and relaxed work well,” says Mary-Jane Vaughan (maryjanevaughan. co.uk). “Jam jars of single stems, sprigs of foliage and herbs and blossom boughs in the spring bring in the garden to surround you.”
On the
menu
“Fun and easy to eat food is the order of the day,” says John Hearn, executive chef at Tapenade (tapenade.co.uk) . “Much loved British favourites such as mini portions of burger and chips, fish and chip cones and cheese cakes are ideal. Mini pies are also popular and can be served on platters could be served to each table, or buffet style, with a selection of side dishes such as tasty mash and seasonal vegetables. A quintessentially English picnic or afternoon tea can make a lovely alternative to a traditional wedding breakfast. Tasty hampers, brimming with succulent game pies or a selection of cheeses that are served to each table, or with sprawling rugs laid out on the grass.” “Barbecues are a treat in the summer,” says Tim Brennan from Caper and Berry (caperandberry.co.uk). “Cook over hot coals, serve from fantastic food stations and finish with our pudding shots and pots.”
Rustic Romance
Immerse yourself in bohemian romance by celebrating in a fabulous tipi or yurt. Wedding Yurts (weddingyurts.co.uk) might seem rustic but come complete with solid oak floors, wooden furniture, strings of golden fairy lights and crystal chandeliers. Embrace a little decadence with a Champagne Yurt Bar and enjoy a magical first night under the stars in a Honeymoon Yurt complete with wood burner and sheepskin rugs. For more tipis, take a look at World Inspired Tents (worldinspiredtents.co.uk). Cosy in the winter and airy in the summer, their Giant Hat tipis make a wonderful space for your celebration while smaller camping tipis create an overnight camp for your guests. 80 | apr / may / jun 14
w e d d i n g v e n u e s . c o . u k
photography: alexa-loy.com, sarahlaurenphotography.com
An indoor
If you’d love to have an outdoor wedding but don’t trust the weather or have the space, Emma Zamani-Hawke from Hawke & Hughes (hawkeandhughes.com) recommends bringing the outdoors inside. “Recreate your own garden, using fairy lights, lanterns, moss and branches to create an enchanted garden,” she says.