Inspired Brides - Spring 2016 by Inspired Brides

S p r i n g 2016

£2

Special thanks to... Photographer

Kayleigh Pope Kayleigh is a wedding photographer and blogger from Warwickshire. She loves pizza and Paris and is amazed she gets to call her hobby her job. www.kayleighpope.co.uk

Hairdresser

Carla McKeever Carla has attained a vast knowledge and experience of wedding hairdressing and enjoys helping people feel extra special on their wedding day. www.cmhair.co.uk

MUA

Joanne Boffin, owner of Beauty Treats Beauty Treats offers professional bridal make-up for your wedding day. It is owned by Joanne who is a MAC trained make-up artist. beautytreatscoventry@outlook.com Photography by Lesley Bee

The Editor

Well here it is, our first edition of Inspired Brides magazine! If you’re newly engaged I’d like to say a big congratulations from us and welcome you to the wonderful world of wedding planning! We’ve had tremendous fun putting this edition together for you. We loved being involved in the collaborative bohemian pink and gold luxe styled shoot we did at the beautiful Oldberrow House. Thanks also to the wedding specialists who contributed to this first edition, and the advertisers for their support. I’m sure you will find all the inspiration you need for your wedding day amongst these pages and an abundance of ideas and beautiful images that will make your heart sing. Wedding planning should be fun. If you’re looking for something that’s uniquely you, you’ve come to the right place!

Stationery

Spotty Dog Stationery At Spotty Dog Stationery, helping to design quirky and spectacular stationery for your event is their passion. Whether you are after wedding stationery, or memorable table names and place cards, we can help. www.spottydogstationery.com

Floristry

New Wave Flowers New Wave Flowers is a Rugby based florist offering bespoke wedding flowers and floristry workshops. www.newwaveflowers.com

Design and production

Script and Serif Bespoke publishing for any occasion. www.scriptandserif.co.uk

Love from, Sarah

CONTENTS

Inspired Brides photoshoot

Pre-wedding photoshoots

Real Wedding

Wedding stationary

Dance Lessons

Inspired Brides | Spring 2016

All that glitters is gold (and pink)

Photography by Kayleigh Pope Words by Sarah Humphreys

ldberrow House is situated on the peaceful outskirts of Henley in Arden in Warwickshire. I can see why the owners, Anthony and Joanne Carr, fell in love with this beautiful house at first sight. It inspired me to create a romantic bohemian bridal photoshoot with gold accessories. Hints of pink in the natural flower arrangements from New Wave Flowers looked stunning alongside Lilly Dilly’s gold-tipped feathers and a floral crown and hair accessory provided a unique, freespirited and timeless sophisticated style. All of these elements, together with the beautiful backdrop of Oldberrow House, made for a breathtaking bridal photoshoot. Joanne and Anthony Carr bought Oldberrow House in 2012. “It had always been my dream to own and run a chic boutique hotel with the potential to host weddings and celebrations,” said Joanne. “We had been searching for a property for over two years, wanting a quiet but easily accessible location within beautiful grounds. Oldberrow House had it all – it was sat within five acres with a further 32 acres of pasture land surrounding it.” This unique site has been lovingly restored to its former glory and is an ideal wedding venue. The house itself can be used for smaller wedding parties within four reception rooms. Alternatively, the croquet lawn is the perfect site for a marquee or tipi and can easily accommodate up to 200 guests for a larger wedding celebration, with Oldberrow House as the backdrop, beautifully lit by night. The four individually-designed ensuite bedrooms, with luxury touches including antique kingsize beds and roll top baths, are perfect for the bride, groom and bridal party. There is also the opportunity to arrange additional guest accommodation to sleep in bell tents and yurts in the adjourning fields. “We strive to offer a unique wedding venue, completely working around your dreams for your special day,” Joanne said. “We want you to treat Oldberrow House as your home for your weekend of celebration,” she added. For more information and to arrange a viewing, please give Anthony and Joanne a call on 01564 794407 or 07503 939098.

Inspired Brides | Spring 2016

The photoshoot wouldn’t have been possible without… Photography:

Kayleigh Pope www.kayleighpope.co.uk

Hairdresser:

Carla Mckeever www.cmhair.co.uk

Makeup artist:

Joanne Boffin, Beauty Treats Coventry Call 07870 515484 or email beautytreatscoventry@outlook.com

Stationery:

Spotty Dog Stationery www.spottydogstationery.com

Styling and hair accessories: Lilly Dillys www.lillydillys.co.uk

Floristry:

New Wave Flowers www.newwaveflowers.com

Cakes:

Clairey’s Cakes www.claireyscakes.com

Wedding dresses:

Dress Me Pretty Bridal Room www.dressmepretty.co.uk

Jewellery:

Workshop Jewellery www.workshopjewellery.co.uk

Model:

Laurie May

Inspired Brides | Spring 2016

Are prewedding shoots a good idea?

Words and photography by Michelle Hardy

o, you’ve booked your venue and the big day is nearly organised. Your photographer mentions a pre-wedding shoot. Should you arrange one? A resounding ‘yes’ would be my answer and here’s why. For some people, the prospect of having their photograph taken worries them. I know this because I am one of those people. I get it. Knowing that you will be photographed for the most important day of your life can be a daunting prospect. Booking a pre-wedding shoot allows couples to relax in front of the camera, to get used to their chosen photographer and, most importantly, it helps them to enjoy their wedding day (which is what it’s all about when you think about it). Importantly, if you’re relaxed on the day, then this will show in the photographs. For me, one of the most important aspects of my work is to capture natural magical moments. This can only happen when the subjects are relaxed, at ease and not worrying about the photographs. Many of my couples have used their favourite photograph from the pre-wedding shoot to create a signing frame for all the guests to sign on their wedding day. This gives them a wonderful memory from their day to cherish forever.

Inspired Brides | Spring 2016

Michelle Hardy Photography is currently offering a complimentary pre-wedding shoot worth ÂŁ250 to all couples who book their wedding photography with her. Please email Michelle at portraits@ michellehardyphotography.com or call 07779666472 for an informal chat about your wedding.

Serenity Kate Couture

Handmade Bespoke Bridal Accessories www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ SerenityKateCouture Serenity Kate Couture 12

Inspired Brides | Spring 2016

B R I D A L

L I N G E R I E

AVA I L A B L E AT Y O U R S C LO T H I N G U P TO A S I Z E 5 0 F

Y O U R S C LO T H I N G . C O . U K

Inspired Brides | Spring 2016

“Every love story is beautiful, but ours is my favourite…”

Photography by Esme Fletcher areth and Becky married at St Giles Church in Haughton, with the reception taking place at Somerford Hall. “We didn’t need a great deal of decoration for Somerford Hall as it’s so beautiful anyway,” said Becky. “I asked for a few handmade and personal things in each room (there are so many rooms!) including vintage glass bowls filled with sweets, Jane Austenthemed bunting on the bar and little wooden hearts on loops of ribbon. I made little framed paper-crafted items, such as a list of all of our important dates including when we first met and when we moved in together.” “We’re both a bit arty and creative,” she added, “so we made as much as we could ourselves. My sister also updated some pretty horseshoes with ribbon and pages from old books – those horseshoes had been at my grandparents’ wedding! I also tied ribbon and a handwritten label to 70 classic books as favours. It was very time-consuming, but it was really fun choosing particular books for particular people. I know a lot of them have been read and enjoyed too!” The couple were really keen to design the cake themselves. “We did spend a lot of money on our beautiful cake, but we felt it was worth it as I was able to design it myself,” she said. “I chose a pile of our favourite books as the design, with our cat Ruby on top! The Cake Shop in Banbury made this for us, replicating the typeface of the books perfectly, in the shades of blue and purple I’d selected. It tied the literary theme together perfectly, and it was so tasty. Each layer was a different flavour – the chocolate and cherry was particularly delicious!” The bride chose her dress because she fell in love with the lace and the sweep of the train. Her headpiece was made by her florist, who put flowers onto pins ready for the hairdresser to arrange.

Inspired Brides | Spring 2016

For the bridesmaids the bride chose mismatching dresses. “I was eager to prioritise each bridesmaid feeling comfortable in a dress that suited them, rather than having them all the same.” The couple were so excited to see their wedding photos. “Esme was actually the only photographer we met in person – we knew straight away she was the one for us!” said Becky. “We bonded with her over our mutual love of cats, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. She was friendly, enthusiastic and a bit quirky – we knew we’d feel comfortable with her being a part of our wedding day. Esme noted all the little details of our literary-themed wedding breakfast, from the handmade centrepieces, to the Harry Potter themed sweets! She managed to capture all the nerves and fun of the speeches – possibly my favourite moment of the day. Who knew that my very quiet husband could speak so well in front of a crowd?”

Suppliers Photography:

Esme Fletcher www.esmefletcher.co.uk

Confetti:

Shropshire Petals www.shropshirepetals.com

Wedding cake:

The Cake Shop www.the-cakeshop.co.uk

Inspired Brides | Spring 2016

Be a beautiful bespoke bride

Words by Heather Howard

’m a firm believer that if there’s one day of your life when you can be a bit of a diva, it’s your wedding day. I’m not talking about making rash decisions and crazy demands; more about indulging your fantasies and desires to make your special day uniquely yours. If you want 12 bridesmaids, go ahead. If you prefer pizza to fine dining – that’s your menu sorted. If you and your fiancé share a love of dogs then include your four-legged friends on the guest list! Similarly, if the idea of having a ‘theme’ for your wedding makes you quake in your bridal shoes (or Converse pumps!) then don’t pick one. Bridal magazines, websites and Pinterest all focus so heavily on statement weddings that it can all be a bit overwhelming for a newly engaged couple to take in. If you’re not ‘shabby chic’ and your groom-to-be isn’t ‘countryside glam’ then never fear! Focus on the parts of your day that mean the most to you and get those right first. You might share a love of music, so a top notch band is top of the list, or perhaps there’s a location that means a lot to you. Once you’ve sorted the big things, the rest should fall into place and your wedding day will seem so much more

natural and completely bespoke. Your wedding stationery will be one of the first glimpses into your day that your guests will see, so pick something that reflects your personalities and taste. Lots of frills might not work for you if you’re hoping for an informal wedding day, while you might be planning a day full of glitz and glamour. If you’re sending save the dates before you have any idea of your plans keep it simple and just go for something you love. You needn’t spend a fortune on a fancy invitation suite in order to get the look you’re after but you really don’t have to compromise and use someone else’s vision of your day – use your own imagination and be a diva! I would love to help you come up with something beautifully bespoke that suits you and your hubby-to-be to a tee. My portfolio is full of other couples’ ideas so please take a look but more importantly get in touch if you want to take control of your big day and create your own theme: YOU! Visit www.featherandflourish.com for further information.

Inspired Brides | Spring 2016

Let’s face the music and dance

hinking about your first dance as a newly married couple can be a very daunting task, especially if one or both of you think you have two left feet! It tends to be swept under the carpet in the hope that no-one will be looking at you both as you shuffle around, praying for your guests to join in and take away that focus. However, it is likely to be the only other time (after taking your vows) when all eyes will be fixed on you both and is therefore an ideal opportunity to amaze, surprise and

Words by Laurie-May Pratt entertain your guests! You might want to simply dance as a couple, or include several others in your dance – the choice is yours. Whatever you decide, I can promise it will be worth the time and effort and will add to your special day rather than become something you would rather forget.

Your first dance choreography

First of all, it is important for you to ask yourselves what it is you want to achieve from your first dance, that will be tailored to suit you. Do you want to learn to dance a routine? Are

you looking to impress your guests with a show-stopping number? Do you want your dance to give off a lighthearted feel or is it a romantic, traditional dance you envision? These are all important factors that you must consider and tell me about before we commence the classes as it will help me to structure your sessions according to your expectations. I am completely aware that dancing is something you may have no experience of and that you may find it a very scary prospect. Your dance will be created to suit your individual needs, it will complement your musical choice and be fitting with your ability.

Your lessons

I recommend starting dance lessons three to six months in advance of the big day. This can, of course, alter depending on your experience, how detailed you want your dance to be and how organised (or not!) you are. I feel the more time you give yourself, the less pressure and the more fun the experience will be as a whole. At each session I will do my best to ensure that each of you know exactly what you’re doing and are completely satisfied with what we have created together. I am more than happy for you to contribute your own ideas to the session and will incorporate them into the choreography. This is your day and your chance to enhance it and maybe even surprise a few of your guests!

Each session lasts one hour and costs £40 *subject to venue hire*. For more information visit www.inclusivedance-works.co.uk or email me at dancer241092@ hotmail.co.uk

Inspired Brides | Spring 2016

The Little Gin Company would love to be part of your wedding day!

Enjoy your first drink as a married couple in style with our boutique gin bar offering. Operating from a lovingly converted horse trailer, The Little Gin Company promises to bring the unique twist you were looking for. Whether you are looking for reception drinks or a full evening bar service, we will create a tailored package to suit your requirements. Please email info@thelittlegincompany.com to discuss how we could be part of your wedding day and we will get back to you with a bespoke proposal, or visit www.thelittlegincompany.com.