Vow Magazine - issue 8

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VOW SE A O F LOV E AU G U S T & S EP T E M B ER 2 0 16

M AG A ZINE IT STARTS WITH A QUESTION…

Sea of love

AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2016 / BATH, BRISTOL & the west / NO.8

C A R I NA B AV E R S TO C K C O U T U R E w w w. c a r i n a b c o u t u r e . c o m

THE PROPOSAL EDITOR'S LETTER

HAPPINESS IS THE TRUTH What makes us happy? All sorts of stuff, it turns out. Liking your job – or however you fill your days – certainly helps. So, most research suggests, does following a religion – it gives community and structure. Having a pet is good.

So’s living in a small town, not a big city. Drinking moderately works (I’m serious here). As does taking some control over your life. (A Harvard professor of the ’70s discovered that the more low-level powers nursing home patients had – letting them water their own plants, say – the longer they tended to live.)

And your basic brain chemistry is obviously a pretty big thing, too.

Turn out, being clever doesn’t make you more happy, but being good looking does – though only by a bit. Once basic needs are sorted, money gives you diddly-squat – indeed, the ‘hedonistic treadmill’ some superrich find themselves on does more harm than good. (Actually, the superrich are villains in every way – just having them around makes the rest of us jealous, and so unhappier.) Women have more ups and downs, but average out about as happy as the guys. And, strangely, the old are actually happier than the young – they have fewer dark days, and more good ones.

Yes, some stuff can do our happiness serious damage – long term unemployment’s one, as is losing loved ones – but, more often than not, our general happiness level is pretty static; if you’re a buoyant type, even life-altering injury won’t change things too much, especially if you’ve supportive folk around.

One more thing. Finding your soulmate – which is what Vow Magazine is ultimately all about, of course – definitely helps; certainly, the married consistently report themselves as happier than the unmarried do.

If you’re reading this magazine, though, I figure you’ve already worked that one out…

Matt Bielby, editor

CONTENTS

12Flowers in your hair

14Where have all

27Every beat of my heart

57

Happy when it rains

the flowers gone…?

76Paint it black

Order of service 9 Invitations

We marvel at vintage lace, coo over sparkly hairdresses, risk hayfever in a flower shop, and make a vaguely rude joke about an innocent little caravan

27 the bride

This issue the ladies are looking moodily out to sea, splashing through puddles, and getting waist-deep in freezing cold

lakes. What’s with this water obsession?

Don’t they know it’s summertime? (Oh, turns out the do. It’s just that they know what country they live in, too…)

57 Just Married

How do you snag a good man? Well, here’s a top tip from one of our brides this week: you slip over in front of him, break your wrist, get him to nurse you through the night, then take you to A&E in the morning. Yes, it’ll sting – but yes, he’ll be yours. It’s a risky strategy, you may think, but hey, true love hurts…

67 The Venue

We’ve one classic hotel this issue (and a rather fine one too), plus two rather more unusual potential wedding venues.

Luckily, we ain’t afraid of no ghosts…

12Silver lady, take my word, I won’t 4 | VOW

run out on you again, believe me

76 Let’s Party

Sometimes the best bit about a wedding day is right at the end, when the hardcore are drunk, happy, and just lolling around. That’s the atmosphere we’re going for with our decadent decor tips this time around, anyway. Plus!

Amazing pizzas – and they’re cheap as chips too. (Or, at least, they’re getting on that way.)

82 Traditions We Love

Queen Victoria had one in a particular, then unusual colour, and afterwards it became quite the rage. (We even name the sticky stuff all over it ‘royal’ in her honour.) What can it be…?

Pictures by Laura Power, Amy Fanton, The Barefoot Brunettes, Alistair Campbell, Brad Wakefield, Joanna Ritchie

34Stay with me

Vo w M ag a zine August & september 2016 / BATH, BRISTOL & the west / NO.8

Matt Bielby

Editor matt.bielby@mediaclash.co.uk Matt Williams Art Director Writers et al: Wendy Lyne, Paul Marland, Clarissa Picot Advertising Manager kyle phillips kyle.phillips@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Advertising Manager helen kembery helen.kembery@mediaclash.co.uk Production and Distribution Manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Production Manager Christina West christina.west@mediaclash.co.uk Marketing

kate authers @KAuthers

Managing Director

Jane Ingham

jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive

Greg Ingham

greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk

Vow Magazine, MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk

Printed on paper from a well-managed source.

Ink are vegetable based; printer is certified to ISO 14001 environmental management

on the cover: Dress by Shehurina; flowers by Forbesfield; pics by The Barefoot Brunettes

Invitation s PICTURE BY MATT WATSON

HELPING YOU WIN YOUR RACE TO THE ALTAR

SWEET FAIRY Got a sweet tooth? Want to recapture your inner child? Then THE SWEET TRICYLE is a wedding reception must-have…

“I bought the tricycle frame from eBay in August 2015,” says Helen Sworder-Penman, owner/operator of this darling little confectionary carriage. “It was a dull baby blue colour, and not in the best of condition, but with the help of local welder Rusty I gave it some love, then got it to the paint shop and the blue was gone. My husband and I hand-crafted the box – the biggest test of our marriage so far – and then I set to work decorating it. I’ve put silk flowers all around the parasol, along with fairy lights, so it looks cool in daylight – and magical at night.”

Helen’s The Sweet Tricycle business kicked off at the start of this year, and the response has been amazing – “it’s the adults who get most excited, not the kids,” she says – although she tries

to be as flexible as possible, occasionally offering a crisp, hot chocolate or Pimms tricycle, as requested. “Love Hearts and Cola Bottles go down well, as do Liquorice Laces,” Helen says, “but I can do most things. I was asked whether I could offer a strawberries-and-cream tricycle the other day.”

Helen got Matt Watson to take these pics of her trike at Wick Farm near Bath, where she herself got married in 2014. “I’d planned my whole wedding, and wanted people to remember the little details that brought it all together,” she says, “and that’s what I’m trying to offer through the tricycle. I hope to add something equally special to someone else’s day.” thesweettricycle.co.uk VOW | 9

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The marriage memo j u s t s ay i n g

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PICTURE: MCKENZIE BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY

Some breaking news: married folk aren’t always HAPPY about the amount of SEX they’re getting (though they’re PROBABLY getting more than most singles). Your PARENTS’ romanc lives don’t have to determine your own, but they MAY. NOBODY’S quite sure which side of the BED you’re ‘meant’ to sleep on. And guys sometimes forget to put the SEAT down. All slightly worrying. On the upside, however, he thinks enough of you to WRITE your name on the inside of a MUSSEL. Just sayin’…

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New and notable

UP IN THE HAIR Whether your look is minimalist or maximalist, HERMIONE HARBUTT has a beautifully intricate, occasiontopping headdress to suit Clifton’s Hermione Harbutt – dramatic headpiece-maker extraordinaire – always produces some spectacular photoshoots of her latest designs, but with this one, shot at Westonbirt and featuring a host of local suppliers, we think she’s rather outdone herself. Hermione’s a 12 | VOW

big believer in a great dress – “my only non-negotiable, when getting married, would be to have an outfit that genuinely made me feel fabulous,” she tells us – and believes in breaking, or perhaps just ignoring, the rules. “Actually, I firmly believe there are no rules. Pick and choose the traditions that are important to you, but feel free to go your own way – and ignore them all completely if you fancy a red dress or something.”

This year’s collection has all her normal timeless femininity and attention to detail, and doesn’t just comprise headpieces – there are necklaces, bracelets, earrings, combs and pins too. And they hit all price points, from a simple pair of earrings at £30 to £1,295 for the

Pictures by amy fanton

mighty Aphrodite bridal crown, wherein delicate mother of pearl flowers and pearl tendrils cluster together in a shape that manages to be both classic and organic at the same time. Details grow from the back and sweep around the side of the head, so you’re got a pathway of jewels trailing through your hair.

Or, for something a little simpler, perhaps go for the Violette Garland at £365 on gold or silver wire. This is a highly versatile hair vine that features dainty mother of pearl flowers nestled along delicate branches of Swarovski crystals and pearl; wear it across the forehead, over the hair, woven into a plait, or however you fancy. hermioneharbutt.com

jewels in the crown Helping make Hermione’s accessories sing…

Accessories: Hermione Harbutt; hermioneharbutt.com Photography: Amy Fanton; fantonphotography.com Hair: Becks Simpson Hair Styling; thairapy-freelance.co.uk Make-up: Amy Elizabeth Make Up; amy-elizabeth.com Shoes: Harriet Wilde Shoes; harrietwilde.com Gowns: Katya Katya Shehurina Gowns; shehurina.com Venue: Westonbirt; westonbirtweddings.com/app/ Flowers: Lily Violet May; lilyvioletmay.co.uk

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Flower power

TOUCH OF PINK A regional finalist at The Wedding Industry Awards two years running, Laura Connelly of THE PINK PEONY offers rustic, relaxed, natural blooms – and plenty of cake, when you visit her workshop. (Not too much, mind; you’ve got a dress to get into!)

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We often run glorious pictures of amazing floral creations here in Vow Magazine, but rarely such lovely ones of the behind-the-scenes action needed to create them. Yet here’s Laura Connelly of Bristol’s The Pink Peony – she’s based right by Paintworks near Bath Road – as captured by wedding photographer Joanna Ritchie. Laura doesn’t run a shop, just a studio, which allows her to devote plenty of time and attention to each and every client.

“I’ve loved doing crafty things for as long as I can remember,” Laura says, “and always found myself looking at things and thinking, ‘Hmm, what can I make with that?’ Then, walking around a garden centre one day,

FLOWER POWER

and feeling particularly strongly that something was missing from my office job, I realised flowers would be an exciting medium to work with. It was but a short step from there to retraining as a florist, and thus I fell right down the rabbit hole.”

So, what makes wedding flowers so much fun for you?

Cheesy as it sounds, I just love how flowers seem to make people happy.

Delivering flowers on the morning of the wedding, and seeing the bride’s reaction, makes all the long hours and early mornings worthwhile.

Recently I had a bride burst into tears when she saw them. She said

she’d managed not to get emotional for the whole wedding preparations, but then she saw the flowers and they just set her off, as she loved them so much. It really does mean a lot to know I’ve made someone happy, and to have contributed towards what’s surely one of the biggest days of their lives.

and can then enjoy the run up to their day knowing everything is in hand. I love that each couple’s ideas are unique, too. I always aim to be super-flexible and bespoke in the way that I work, tailoring not just the flowers, but also my way of working, to exactly what each customer would like.

Is putting wedding flowers together stressful?

I always hope my customers see organising their flowers as a really enjoyable part of their preparations, and I love hearing about their plans and sharing in their excitement. I actually aim to take any stress out of it, so my couples feel that “I’ve got this!”,

Are some flowers, arrangements, or colours particularly on trend at the moment?

We’re still seeing lots of blowsy blooms in blush pink and nude tones at the moment, which are so gorgeous and timeless. Blush definitely seems a nonmover for weddings for the foreseeable future, and seems to have replaced the VOW | 1 5

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peach colours, so popular last year. I wonder, though, if next year we’ll see more wild and natural bouquets, and not such specific colour schemes at all?

There are some amazing florists doing wonderful things with this loose and natural look, such as Tinge Floral in the USA and The Garden Gate Flower Company down in Cornwall, both which I was lucky enough to meet when I did a course run by them back in April.

What do you tell brides who are against certain flowers?

The nice thing about flowers is that there are so many options; the world really is your oyster! We are lucky to have a really wonderful cut flower supplier here in Bristol, who can provide pretty much anything – aside from a few that are very seasonal. And if a bride is a big fan of a certain bloom, but it’s not in season, there are always similar options out there. For example, imagine a bride loves peonies – which are only in season from late April to early July – but she’s getting married in September. For her, we could perhaps look at gorgeous, ruffly David Austin roses instead.

Do you avoid certain blooms for weddings? And, if so, why?

Not really. I do make sure I point out if a particular flower a couple loves has an especially strong scent, though, as it might not be to everyone’s taste! Things like alliums can have quite a strong smell, for instance. They’re part of the onion family, so you can guess what they’re like…

There are also some flowers that aren’t typically seen much at weddings, such as carnations – but I’ve actually used even those occasionally, when they’ve been specifically requested. Some of the softer tones of carnations are actually quite beautiful and ruffly, and can look almost peony-like when used with other flowers.

I built a giant floral chandelier recently, with trailing carnation garlands in blush tones, and it looked really effective.

How can you ensure arrangements will photograph well?

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for instance, can almost appear as a black hole in photographs. There are so many talented photographers around, though, who are really clued up about how to capture flowers in their best light – Jo, who took these photos in my studio, being one. It’s always so nice to receive the professional images of my flowers after a wedding – almost as nice as seeing the bride in her dress, in fact!

A bit on the practicalities: what sort of costs are we talking here?

How much notice do you need?

Costs vary hugely, and I always aim to be flexible, and to make suggestions to maximise whatever the couple’s budget is. When I first started floristry, couples

FLOWER POWER

Pictures by joanna ritchie

were booking up six months before the wedding, but the movement now seems to be towards booking a year or more in advance. I actually took my first 2018 booking a few months ago, so people are really planning ahead to ensure they get the suppliers they’d like. It’s horrible to have to turn people away when I’m fully booked for a weekend, so I always try to help as much as possible.

terrible beating. That said, these have to be made incredibly secure even if the weather is fine, with no wind.

(Nobody wants it falling on the couple as they leave church!) Though, weirdly, the majority of floral archways I’ve built recently have been put together in the most atrocious weather, and I’m always surprised at how flowers are actually a lot more robust than they look!

And how do you make sure your arrangements aren’t too vulnerable to the weather?

The most vulnerable, obviously, would be anything outside, and so directly subjected to the elements – things like floral archways can take a

Tell us about an impressive wedding you’ve been involved with lately, and why it worked so well.

One that really stood out to me this year was the lovely Hannah’s marriage to her rugby star boyfriend Adam, back in early June. From the moment I met

Hannah over a cup of tea and heard their incredible plans, I knew I really wanted to work on their wedding, so I was over the moon when they confirmed the booking. We went all out with it: giant balls of flowers for the table centres, a 12ft top table runner, archways of blooms, floral chandeliers, and even floating flowers in a swimming pool! I’m just sad that one is over. thepinkpeony.co.uk

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Children’s Hour

LACE WINGS The first decades of the 20th century saw some amazing lace created, and it’d be a shame to waste it, right? Enter BE BY LITTLE WINGS, and their collection of vintage flower girl dresses

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Anthony Lewis Churchill worked in retail since 1981 – think top department stores like Harvey Nichols and Harrods, as well as high street chains like Top Shop – before going into training, motivational speaking and life coaching, with a sideline in fashion design. To be specific, ‘slow fashion’ – clothing that’s sustainable, ethical, and rewarding to make – and Be by Little Wings is very much part of this.

“I’ve been developing these flower girl outfits for a couple of years now,” he says, “inspired by a children’s book I wrote called Little Wings; it’s about small boats that ‘fly through the sky catching stars that light the pathways to your dreams…’

I started wondering, once you’ve caught

your dreams, where do you keep them?

And the first collection grew from the idea that you’d have to have hidden pockets in your clothing, of course. I teamed that with the idea of making the dresses from recycled fabrics.”

Why flower girl dresses, though?

“I always carry my sketch book with me, and I was in a Los Angeles coffee shop doodling away when an American lady came over and told me she loved what I was doing. I tore my sketch of this little boat flying through the air out of the book and gave it to her, and she gave me $20 for it – she insisted! – and it started from there. Each time I sold a picture, I gave the money to a local charity. The clothing was just another idea that grew from this initial concept – a way to push the inspiring, uplifting, thought-provoking message I want to get across. It’s all about teaching kids – and adults! – to believe in themselves, and promoting love for self, for others, and for the planet.”

The Flower Girl collection comprises a series of lace and cotton dresses, aimed at 4-9 year-olds, with a vintage theme, made entirely from re-cycled Christening gowns and archived fabrics.

“The big trick,” says Anthony, “is to only pick the best quality material – there are a lot of tatty pieces out there! The great stuff comes from 1900-1920.”

Most pieces cost £48, though some unique and elaborate items are nearer £200 and take up to a week to make; they generally have a dozen or so in stock, however. “We also offer the option of using a favourite modern fabric – these are often off-cuts from the bride’s dress – to create the tops of our flower girl dresses,” Anthony says, “but the bottom halves will always use our signature vintage Christening robe material. From every sale we give 20% to children’s charities, so we’re helping children get a start in life too.” littlewings.org.uk

ROMANCE & SPLENDOUR of a fairytale Victorian mansion...

Nestled in idyllic private gardens and surrounded by the picturesque Gloucestershire countryside Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel seems like it must have been created for weddings!

Choose from an array of exquisite settings for your special day. From old-world character to contemporary elegance, your happy ever after starts at Tortworth Court.

There are a number of rooms within this 4-star, grade 2 listed hotel that can host civil ceremonies, wedding breakfasts and evening receptions, from smaller more intimate weddings to larger lavish occasions with luxurious accommodation for you and your guests to enjoy.

THE ORANGERY adorned with natural light from the extensive glass panels.

ROOM AT THE TOP with panoramic views across the Gloucestershire hills.

THE ATRIUM situated in the heart of the hotel with its 60 foot-high ceiling.

WESTMINSTER SUITE provides a classic elegance on any wedding day.

Alternatively, if you’re planning a summer wedding and want a light, airy feel, you can celebrate in our ROMANTIC MARQUEE, which is set in scenic gardens Guests will love the peaceful gardens, which provide an exquisite backdrop as they enjoy a glass or two of Pimms on the lawns

For further details call our team on 01454 263000 or email tortworth.weddings@four-pillars.co.uk

WWW.TORTWORTHCOURTHOTEL.CO.UK TORTWORTH, WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE, SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL12 8HH

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All that sparkles

TRUE FAITH Erin Monczak, here holding one of her own rose quartz and Swarovski floral hair vines; the model above is also wearing it, along with Swarovski Pearl pink floral earrings. Opposite are freshwater pearl drop earrings and, overleaf, and Art Deco vintage embroidered double hair comb

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Bristol-based online jewellery shop JEWELS & FAITH offers great offthe-peg pieces, plus amazing bespoke creations by some of the UK’s best bridal jewellery designers, including founder Erin Monczak

Once of Brighton, now out of Bristol, jewellery designer Erin Monczak of local online shop Jewels & Faith was always fascinated by fashion, and used to love to wander the Laines in Brighton checking out all the designer boutiques.

Eventually she learned jewellery design – first at the Bead Shop on North Laine; most recently at Bath College – and has turned making individual pieces for friends and family into a thriving business. Following her own wedding last year – when she designed and made all the accessories for her bridal party – she decided to take the plunge, and pursue jewellery design professionally.

Hence Jewels & Faith Wedding Jewellery Boutique, which sells both

Erin’s own designs and those by other UK designers – some established and award-winning, others up-and-comers – with a similar approach; think the likes of Donna Crain and Sally Crawford.

So, Erin, what’s so special about what you do?

I strongly believe in offering a seamless, personalised service, and when you come to us you’ll be dealing directly with me, the owner and chief designer. As an on-line boutique, I like to pass on the savings we can make to our customers, and believe in keeping prices fair and reasonable. I’ll always aim to answer any questions within 24 working hours, and believe that communication is key.

All our designers dispatch their handcrafted designs from the UK within four weeks of receiving an order, and we all love to create jewellery that’s as individual as our brides are.

We also stock a range of ready to wear jewellery and accessories, however, so brides have a selection to choose from that will go with any bespoke designer accessories they may choose. Many brides won’t want, or need, all their jewellery to be bespoke or handmade, and may commission us to design a hair accessory, say, then buy a pair of ready to wear earrings to go with it.

What sort of price range are we talking here?

Oh, it runs from £26 for a pair of handcrafted Swarovski Crystal earrings to £320 for a hand-crafted Donna Crain vintage head-band. The Proposal Tiara, designed by Sally Crawford, is one of our best-sellers; this is a gorgeous traditional front-facing tiara, which features a wealth of rich pearls and diamanté. It normally retails at £155, but is currently a steal in our mid-season sale at £120.

My Bohemian crystal hair chain is another of our most popular items this season, and is currently available via our Facebook page. This crystal hair chain is hand-crafted and finished with Swarovski Crystals, and retails at £100.

What else? Well, the Claudia head-dress

by Donna Crain is another very popular design, and a real show-stopper with its large opal stones, rhinestones and seed

beads. It’s made by Donna at her studio in Surrey, retails at £280, and is sure to turn heads.

How do you source everything you sell, then?

By picking UK bridal designers who share our values, and our belief in using only the best materials available.

Meanwhile, our ready to wear jewellery is hand-picked from sources worldwide, to give our brides a stunning selection to choose from.

As for my work, I use a range of materials to make hand-crafted designs and bespoke commissioned jewellery, and I love to work with natural materials, including fresh water pearls, semi-

precious stones, Swarovski Crystals and Swarovski Pearls. Over 30 percent of the designs featured on our website are designed in-house by me at my studio in Bristol, and the rest are either made by our other designers, or are ready to wear.

I tend to develop my designs in response to changing industry and fashion trends, and regularly update the website with new ones, all while working in parallel on commissions for brides.

Any current trends in bridal jewellery, then?

This year, it’s all been about complementing popular bohemian and floral wedding dress styles. Flower crowns, draped hair chains and hair VOW | 2 1

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PICTURE BY KIMBERLY ROWLANDS, EYEBOX STUDIO

vines are on bang on trend this summer, but we’re also seeing more delicate floral wedding jewellery, and styles incorporating leaves and feathers are very popular. It looks like florals will be in next season too, but we’ll also see a return to more traditional, simple and classically elegant bridal jewellery to go with more timeless wedding dresses too.

How would you describe your style as a designer?

Classic, I suppose, but with a modern twist. I love to work with great materials, especially pearls, but I also love to make hair accessories, and have particularly enjoyed creating my gorgeous Bohemian crystal hair chains this season, as well 2 2 | VOW

as vintage-inspired embroidered hair accessories with an Art Deco feel.

Last up, how much of your time do you spend designing and making jewellery, and how much dealing with other aspects of the business?

Oh, I do everything – from consulting with brides, and designing and making, to editing photographs, updating the website, attending photo shoots. But, luckily, I love what I do. And each day is certainly varied and interesting.

Recently I’ve been spending a lot of time on the website, and have been asked to contribute to other people’s blogs too – a well-established Canadian bridal brand, called Best For Bride, wants me to do

something for them on a quarterly basis, and I’ve also been asked to guest blog for a Suffolk wedding planner. But, now that my site’s gone live, I can spend more time working on my portfolio too. Right now I’m back to spending about half my time designing and making. jewelsandfaith.com

CREDITS MODELS: Ashleigh Claire VENUE: Kings Weston House, Bristol PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kimberley

Rowlands, Eyebox Studio; Robert Monczak Photography

MAKE YOUR HEN PARTY A MEMORABLE ONE. Stylish accommodation in the heart of Bath, with relaxing spa packages and award winning restaurants and bars to sample. A perfect city for a perfect party.

bathboutiquestays.co.uk

YOU’RE WELCOME

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The wedding planner PICTURE BY PAUL WILLITTS

THE MOAT THAT ROCKED Handily, they have a drawbridge here and everything

EIGHTEEN AND OVER Proving beauty comes in every size…

PICTURE BY TESSA CHAPMAN

Perfect Princess Bridal of Bath, which only opened last September, has been shortlisted for the Best Plus Size Bridal Range at the British Plus Size Awards 2016.

Owner Lynn Charrington has been pushing plus size bridal for the last year, and ran a special catwalk show at Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel which showcased over 50 dresses and used models size 18 and above; her Upper Bristol Road shop stocks over 65 dresses in sizes 16 to 34, from designers including Allure Bridals, Sacha James and Callista. perfectprincessbridal.com

Birtsmorton Court near Malvern in Worcestershire is not only a cool, moated wedding venue – well worth checking out anyway – but it’s holding its annual Wedding Fete on Sunday, 18 September. There’s free entry, free parking, plenty to do, and you can take a tour of the venue too. birtsmortoncourt.com

SHEPHERD’S DELIGHT If this hut’s rocking’…

ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLACK I want to ride my bicycle…

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Fancy making a cool getaway? Then you’d look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle made for two – to be specific, one of these supercool Electra Swing Tandem 7i Cruisers. Now, who’s going to steer – and who’s going to do all the work at the back? electrabike.com

Whether you use it as a dressing room, a chill out space, a photo booth, a simple visual prop or – yes! – a cosy honeymoon suite down by some pretty lake or deep in the woods, these shepherd’s huts are bang on trend. Think from £500 a day, plus VAT and delivery charge. blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk

FLORAL DESIGN FULL OF ROMANCE & CHARM – BRISTOL, BATH & THE COTSWOLDS

W W W.T H E R O S E S H E D.CO.U K

Introducing Ashton Court Mansion’s Hayloft and Saddlery. A rustic barn setting ideal for smaller wedding receptions. Set above the former stables, these bright rooms with exposed stonework and original beams, offer a more relaxed setting compared to the grandeur of the mansion.

0117 9634 438 acm.events@bristol.gov.uk www.ashtoncourtmansion.co.uk

Bickleigh

Castle

Beautiful, historic, intimate and truly romantic… the perfect exclusive and secluded venue for your wedding, birthday party or any other celebration or occasion.

A stunning 14th Century Castle where dreams come true…

• Licensed for Civil Ceremonies • Self Arranged or use our experienced team • Blessing Services and Re-Newel of Vows in the 6th Century Chapel • Wonderful landscaped gardens and riverside setting • Bed and Breakfast Accommodation

Bickleigh, Near Tiverton, Devon EX16 8RP • Tel: 01884 855363 • Email: info@bickleighcastle.com

www.bickleighcastle.com

THE BR IDE i do, i do, i do

s t y l i n g b y the weddi n g b a z a a r p h o t o g r a p h y b y the b a re f oot br u n ette s

to the lighthouse On the blustery, beautiful Welsh coasts stands a cliff and a lighthouse – and, by them, a bride.

“Don’t jump, lady,” we say, as she gazes out to sea. “You’re far too pretty to get dashed against the rocks.” In fact, we like to think she’s just taking a moment to consider life and love, before wandering back to her man, her reception, and the new journey she’s about to embark upon…

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THE BRIDE

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DRESSES: (Previous page) pearle (LEFT) cora (THIS PAGE) asscher

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DRESSES: LEFT) vanderbilt

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THE BRIDE

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here’s something restlessly, relentlessly romantic about waves crashing on a wild, windswept shore, and a woman staring out to sea – think Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant’s Woman at the end of the Cobb at Lyme Regis, most famously – and our bride here combines elements of Brontë heroine and MarianneDashwood-caught-in-a-shower as she stares down, Canute-like, the crashing waves. She’s the star of a rather beautiful photoshoot put together by Helen Howells of The Wedding Bazaar and photographers The Barefoot Brunettes, and co-starring the rather rugged Welsh coast.

“We wanted to create a shoot where the wild and untamed met with wonderful luxe elements,” says Helen, “and, particularly, with copper and marble. I recently holidayed in Rome, and was in total awe of all the beautiful, centuries-old marble statues they have there, and I’ve always been a keen lover of copper hues too. In fact, it’s been brilliant watching a revival of both these gorgeous materials in interior design of late. As the stylist, I wanted to translate these natural and organic textures into a wedding shoot.”

Looking for a suitably windswept and romantic location, they ended up at the rather gorgeous Nash Point, on the coast at the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales.

“The lighthouse is perched precariously on huge granite cliffs, with winding paths that lead to crashing waves,” says Helen. “I fell in love with the venue, and with the landscape surrounding it, many years ago, and knew immediately that it would make the perfect backdrop for this shoot.”

They got a good little crew together for this one, not least photographers Tamryn and Abby of The Barefoot Brunettes, fine art photographers who specialise in weddings, boudoir and feminine portraiture. “I adore the dreamy images they’ve captured,” Helen says, “and how they’ve juxtaposed the hard and the soft in these images so beautifully.”

Taking it indoors for a moment, and the intimate ceremony and reception room you also here were actually created inside Nash Point Lighthouse itself, the only working lighthouse in the British Isles currently licensed for weddings and civil partnerships. “Here the marble and copper themes really came into their own,” says Helen.

“Beth from Cardiff’s Forbesfield Flowers is a bit of a floristry legend in these parts, and she created an asymmetrical display to be the focal point of the table. Marble-printed linens provided a solid base, and from there the table overflowed with ferns, blush roses, catkins and protea, while metallic succulents added structure.”

Chairs, meanwhile, were decorated with silk ribbons from Kate Cullen in hues of blush and peach, while each place setting was lovingly decorated in hand-scripted calligraphy from Laura Patrick, and intricately designed paper leaves from A Petal Unfolds. “The lovely folk at Oliver Bonas were on board the moment I mentioned the words ‘copper’ and ‘marble’ too,” says Helen, “and provided us with a plethora of intricate crystal glasses and crockery.”

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What else? Well, copper pipes were twisted into industrial luxe candelabras, designed and created by Carolyn of The Owl and Pussy Cat, and Sara from Cake Expectations also embraced the theme.

“She created both an amazing three-tier beauty for us,” Helen says, “as well as plenty of delicate, heart-shaped cookies, perfect for guests to nibble on.”

A

h, but what about our bride? The two playful, whimsical gowns in the shoot were supplied by the talented Katya Katya Shehurina – the Latvian (though London-based), vintage-inspired gown designer so good they named her twice – and, says Helen, “the movement they created when we were shooting on and around the beach was simply dreamy.”

The guys paired the gowns with Freya Rose shoes that had the most marvellous mother of pearl heels, intricate copper hair accessories from Tilly Thomas Luxe, and delicate stacking rings from Dowe and Hall.

“Finally,” says Helen, “Hannah Edwards tamed the model’s tresses – knowing just how changeable the British weather can be, we opted for an undone look which would be easy for brides to re-create themselves – and, to complete the whole theme, make-up artist Natalie Jane opted for a neutral eye palette, with a slightly bolder lip to interact beautifully with the jewellery we used.”

All very gorgeous, then. Now hurry on inside, love, before you catch your death. You know what happened to Marianne…

song of the sea Risking splashes from the crashing waves were…

Styling and concept: Helen Howells,

The Wedding Bazaar; the-wedding-bazaar Photography: The Barefoot Brunettes;

thebarefootbrunettes.com Dresses: Katya Katya Shehurina; shehurina.com Accessories: Tilly Thomas Lux; tillythomaslux.com Shoes: Freya Rose; freyarose.com Flowers: Forbesfield; forbesfield.co.uk Crockery: Oliver Bonas; oliverbonas.com Candlesticks: The Owl and the Pussy Cat;

facebook.com/owlandcatglasgow Stationery: Laura Elizabeth Patrick;

lauraelizabethpatrick.com Cake: Cake Expectations, Cardiff; cakexpectationscardiff.co.uk Jewellery: Dower & Hall; dowerandhall.com Paper Palms: A Petal Unfolds; apetalunfolds.com Silk Ribbons: Kate Cullen; katecullen.co.uk Hair: Hannah Mlatem; @JannahMlatem Make-up: Natalie Jane; bathmakeupartist.com; facebook.com/nataliejanemua

w e d d i nTgHbEaBzRaI a Dr E

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Her Melodious Lay C o - c r e at o r s L a u r a P o w e r & M a r i a W i l l c o x ph oto g r a ph y by l au r a p ow e r

Referencing everything from Tim Burton films to Shakespeare’s most tragic heroine – yes, even more tragic than you, Juliet – comes a Gothic photoshoot that finds something dark and exciting in very bride

THE BRIDE: alex andr a king

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emember those famous ‘I am the spirit of dark and lonely water’ ads that terrified kids of the ’70s, wherein the grim reaper tempted flare-wearing junior school kids to show off by remote lakes, with potentially fatal consequences? Well, dismiss them from your mind instantly – and instead consider poor Ophelia, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood’s favourite tragic heroine, as she floated, not quite dead or alive, through paintings by Sir John Everett Millais or John William Waterhouse. That’s more what we’re going for here.

Whatever thoughts the troubled, and occasionally glamorously bedraggled, heroines on these pages conjure in your mind, though, you’d have say this isn’t your standard wedding shoot, but something altogether darker and more Gothic, reminiscent of everything from Victorian fantasies to Natalie Portman’s broken ballerina Nina Sayers in Black Swan. The whole feel was inspired by the setting – Elmore Court in Gloucestershire, which has been owned by the Guise family since 1274, though the current house is somewhat more recent – and by the determination of shoot co-arrangers Laura Power and Maria Willcox to do something a little different.

“With a strikingly monochromatic grey-and-blue colour palette, and a theme that loosely combined the likes of Black Swan – the 2011 Natalie Portman movie – and the dark fantasy films of Tim Burton, this was far from your usual wedding shoot,” says Laura Power, the highly-creative wedding photographer based in Yate and Chipping Sodbury, southwest of the Cotswold Hills. “It was shot over two days in the spring, using the Elmore Lake and the haunting beauty of the historic grounds for the first day, and the insides of the grand house for the second. All the suppliers we used work in the wedding industry, but here they got to try a rather different, creativitystretching approach.”

The whole thing was designed, in part, to show off the unique, alternative wedding gowns of Somerset-based designer Alexandra King, who uses a lot of tulle and lace in – says Laura – “a very edgy way. We wanted to take advantage of natural reflections in the outdoor shots, and aim for a fashion feel, not traditional bridal.”

Alexandra’s dresses are one-of-a-kind pieces, mostly vintage inspired, and hand-crafted for each bride. “Laura’s dream-like vision for the lake shoot, and the beautiful interior locations, led me towards designing some very romantic gowns using volumes of sheer smokey tulle to give a soft focus,” she says. “I wanted the ballgown to float as our model moved, and blend in with the foggy atmosphere Laura’d created. The delicate blue lace dress used for the lake shots reminded of the various Pre-Raphaelite paintings of The Lady of Shallot – although our model must have felt far less elegant in the water-filled waders she was wearing under the dress! We styled her hair and make-up to be somewhat natural and current, though, and to sit within – rather than distract from – the stunning surroundings and light that Laura had captured.”

Yeah, poor old model Lauren; turns out she was quite the trooper, never complaining despite the freezing cold she had to endure in the lake, clad only in her dress, waders and, so Alexandra tell us, no underwear.

And what of the other looks?

“Well, the custom dove grey tulle gown with its sheer overlay reminds me of the historic ghost known as The Grey Lady, reputed 3 6 | VOW

DRESSES: (LEFT

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THE BRIDE: alex andr a king

to haunt various castles and schools,” reckons Laura. “It’s all very Helena Bonham Carter! And I thought that, especially, of the shots of model Lauren walking away in the big tulle gown, surrounded by smoke. We really wanted these shots to be atmospheric, beautiful and haunting, with a definite Tim Burton feel. Luckily the weather was actually quite overcast in the afternoon, so the light was perfect for these eerie shots!”

Shoot co-designer Maria, meanwhile, takes us back to William Shakespeare’s character of Ophelia, from Hamlet, the ‘lucky’ owner of one of the most poetic death scenes in all literature: “her garments, heavy with their drink, pull’d the poor wretch from her melodious lay to muddy death” and all that. Maria provided the flowers, styled the shoot, and even created a mirrored sculpture, surrounded by blossom flowers, to symbolise a swan and her lake. It was quite spectacular, and made a unique event of the wedding reception room.

“Oh, the main inspiration for our model in the lake definitely came from Hamlet,” Maria says, remembering. “Our Ophelia was surrounded by reflections in a lagoon-like setting. We kept the look very basic, but incorporated a gorgeous twiggy head-dress from Curious Fair, which was mirrored in the branches and natural landscape. The sun was actually beaming down while we shot the morning lake sequence, so we took advantage of it by shooting through some of Alex’s vintage fabric pieces. It created beautiful lace shadows on Lauren’s face, and I especially love how those shots turned out.”

dead and gone Putting Ophelia to rest, in most beautiful fashion Photographer & shoot co-designer:

Laura Power; laurapower.co.uk Florist & shoot co-designer:

Maria Wilcox, Sorori Design; sororidesign.co.uk Bridal designer & fashion stylist: Alexandra King; alexandra-king.co.uk Venue styling: Lauren Grey Stylist; laurengreystylist.co.uk Cake: Curtis & Co Cakes; curtisandcocakes.co.uk LIGHTING: Every Event Hire; every-event-hire.co.uk Make-up: Jessica Mills MUA; jessicamillsmakeup.co.uk Swan hair: Fordham Hair Design; fhdmobile.co.uk TWIG HEADDRESS: Curious Fair; curiousfair.co.uk DRAPING AND MIRROR PIECES:

Oasis Events; oasisevents.co.uk Videography: Vogue Wedding Films; vogueweddingfilms.co.uk Models: Laura Stephens, May Moore, Felicity Jowett Venue: Elmore Court; elmorecourt.com

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R i m e arodak y

dresses

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BRISTOL BRIDAL BOUTIQUE Sample & preloved designer wedding dresses We take beautiful sample and preloved wedding dresses from the best designers in the business and offer them to you at up to 50% off. Maybe the dress of your dreams could be a reality‌ www.bristolbridalboutique.co.uk 07939 598 489

Exclusive use 600 year old Castle set in 200 acres of Deer Park | Licensed for Marriages and Civil Partnerships | Seating up to 170 within the Castle | Marquees available for larger parties | Affordable and flexible packages | Accommodation for wedding party For more information, please contact Virginia Bowman Tel: 01626 890243 Email: ginny@powderham.co.uk Powderham Castle, Exeter, Devon EX6 8JQ

www.powderham.co.uk

THE BRIDE

Ph oto g r a ph y by j o b r a d b u ry w e d d i n g w o r k s h o p b y a b e a u t i f u l w ay

LOVE LETTERS Like the best pro athletes – stay with us here – wedding photographers need to train and polish their skills. Here snapper JO BRADBURY channels Anglo-Italian romance at a wedding workshop run by NAOMI KENTON and HOLLY RATTRAY

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pictures by jo bradbury

suzanne neville (opening spread); suzanne laure neville de sagazan (opening (opposite) spread); laure de sagazan (opposite)

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pictures by jo bradbury

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th e B r i d e : a l m o n ry ba r n

E

very heard of a ‘wedding workshop’? It’s perhaps unlikely that you would have, unless you’re a wedding photographer yourself, but they’re all the rage – sort of like a writer’s retreat, but for snappers, where they get to practice their skills, and learn new ones, in a relaxed, creative environment. Naomi Kenton and Holly Rattray run a series called A Beautiful Way – they’re both internationally-known wedding photographers themselves, you understand – and the shots you see here were taken by Jo Bradbury, herself quite a dab hand at the wedding snapping game, on one of their retreats.

“The story we were trying to tell through this shoot revolved around a girl from a rural Italian village, who meets an English boy and falls in love,” Jo says. “Olivia and Anthony have been away from each other for a month, but Anthony has posted Olivia a love letter every day – he wants to let her know he adores her, and can’t wait to marry her. The day begins with Olivia getting ready, sitting quietly on an antique chair in the shade of a tree in the orchard, having a bit of time to herself. There’s soft fabric, tulle, a handmade lace robe, and all is calm; pretty details are everywhere. She’s looking at an extra-special wedding day love letter Anthony had sent her to read just before the ceremony.”

You’re either thinking ‘aww’ right now, or what a sap that Anthony is, right? But bear with!

“Basically, the whole look of the shoot was rustic Italian, revolving around a certain simple elegance and a colour palette of soft greys, olive greens and fresh whites. We began by photographing our ‘Olivia' – actually model Rachel Hayton – in the orchard, with her beautiful shoes and jewellery, then moved on to some couple shots, with the bride wearing her stunning Lady Evelyn wedding gown. Italy wasn’t in the budget, so we shot it all in the photogenic grounds of Almonry Barn, a beautiful Somerset wedding venue that’s in the middle of the triangle between Taunton, Yeovil and Glastonbury. The ultimate goal of this wedding photography workshop was to learn how to shoot weddings in a more fine art style, something I’ve taken with me to every wedding I’ve photographed since.”

Sounds good! So tell us about the workshop.

“Everything was organised by the Holly and Naomi, who arranged the suppliers, the models and so on. Workshops are a big thing in the wedding photography world at the moment, and give you the chance to learn from your favourite photographers in a relaxed atmosphere. You have so much more time than at an actual wedding to try out more experimental techniques, and don’t have all the pressure of a wedding atmosphere. Retreats have had a huge impact on wedding photography, and Holly and Naomi’s insight and inspiring mentoring have definitely made me a better photographer.”

I

f you think it all sounds a bit American, you’d be right – the whole workshop idea seems to have been imported by the likes of Elizabeth Messina and Jose Villa, two of the big names in American wedding photography – who, says Jo, “are really rocking the fine art wedding style.”

And these workshops aren’t just for beginners, either – Jo’s been shooting weddings for over 20 years now, so she knows all 4 6 | VOW

about lighting, composition et al – but should rather be seen as a way for established professionals to stay fresh, try out new ideas and generally hone their style. “The great thing about it is that it gives you an opportunity to see how the people you really admire work. What I loved about this shoot is that the shots are all very much in my style, and each image is mine, seen through my eyes – but that I’ve learned new things too, particularly some technical skills and editing techniques.”

The Italian Job Blowing the doors off this wedding shoot were…

Photography: Jo Bradbury; jobradbury.co.uk Venue: Almonry Barn; almonrybarn.co.uk dress and accessories:

Lady Evelyn; ladyevelyn.co.uk Flowers: The Rose Shed; theroseshed.co.uk Stationery: Gemma Milly; gemmamilly.com Ribbon: Lancaster and Cornish; lancasterandcornish.com Shoes: Harriet Wilde; harrietwilde.com Make-up: The Barn; thebarnsomerset.co.uk Hair: Louise Alway; louisealway.com Model: Rachel Hayton

Shoot taken at A Beautiful Way wedding workshop; fineartweddingworkshops.com Mentors:

Holly Rattray at Belle and Beau Fine Art Photography; bellandbeaublog.com Naomi Kenton at Naomi Kenton Photography; naomikenton.com

Award-winning authentic wood-fired pizza for your wedding party

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UK Pizza Chef of the Year 2014 “Best Margherita” & Gold Award UK Independent Pizza Delivery Store

Winner Bath Good Food Awards 2015 ‘Best Pizza’

66 Walcot Street, Bath, Ba1 5BD • ellen@yammo.co.uk 01225 938328 • www.yammo.co.uk

Something BOLD

Something BLUE

Bespoke jewellery designs to have as a wedding piece or give as a gift

To find out more visit www.bristol-glass.co.uk or call 0117

972 0818

www.thesweettricycle.co.uk

#thesweettricycle

THE BRIDE

P h o t o g r a p h y b y m at t r e v e l l

a walk in the woods Deep in the woods, our brides rock upcycled dresses in the richest of fabrics, as tailored by Linda Thomas, Bristol ‘eco designer’ and champion of sustainable fashion

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LINDA THOM A S

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or those of us with a love of vintage, and a commitment to the environment, an upcycled wedding dress is a very attractive proposition; more individual, certainly, than many a modern gown. Linda Thomas – part medical professional, part luxury upcycled garment goddess, and utterly committed, she says, “to both people and planet” – is an expert at making individual pieces by reworking beautiful old materials such as cashmere, silk and linen.

“The seeds of this shoot were first planted in the spring,” says Linda, “when our photographer, Matt Revell, contacted me after seeing one of my dresses on Facebook. Matt enjoys coming up with images that are a little bit different, so recreating a wedding in the woods was not going to be a problem. A creative collaboration soon formed, which took everything into account – apart from two important issues: dogs, and the freezing weather.”

Ah-ha! More on those later.

The guys wanted a location that would feel in tune with the environment, so chose Blaise Castle Estate, the 650-acre, Grade II*listed castle and parkland in north Bristol. “Matt had photographed here before,” Linda says, “so he already had some favourite trees, water and – it turned out – mud to take us to. The team was an eclectic mix of old friends and new, and our inspiration was ‘nature’ in a wide sense, and ‘all things eco’, if you want to get more specific.

For me, being sustainable is less about ‘where possible’, and more about what ‘is possible’. I wanted to show how beautiful and easy a thoroughly environmentally friendly wedding can be, as a lot of people think it can’t be done, don’t know where to start, or imagine it would involve a lot of compromise. Which, it turns out, it doesn’t.”

Let’s start with Linda’s dresses, then. She makes luxury upcycled clothing from her Bristol studio, including unique wedding gowns.

“A lot of people are surprised when they find out my gowns are all made from upcycled silk, and other pre-loved luxury fabrics,” she says. “There’s still a general perception that ‘eco’ means something a little shabby, dull and boring, which couldn’t be further from what my work is all about. I love colour, and I love unique, wild designs, with a particular passion for hand-felting details out of merino wool.”

This said, Linda herself is, she confesses, “obsessively eco” – even her thread is either vintage or certified organic cotton – and feels it’s her mission to show that it’s possible to be kind to the planet without compromising on style. “No two designs I do are ever the same,” she says, “and each one is made to flatter the unique qualities of one individual woman.”

Next up, the flowers, and Organic Blooms were contacted to contribute as they’re local to Bristol, and have an ethos which fitted well with the shoot. “As well as growing their own flowers, using organic farming methods,” Linda says, “they’re involved with various projects supporting the environment and people. They’ve recently taken on rescue chickens to roam around their flowers from the British Hen Welfare Trust, for instance, and have been working for years helping people with learning difficulties.”

Movement Boutique, meanwhile, is a new store in Clifton, Bristol offering many sustainable items, including lovely ethical jewellery by April Doubleday, made from either recycled or Fair Trade silver and gold. Some of their pieces were teamed with hair and make-up by Rebecca Rose Robinson.

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LINDA THOM A S

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THE BRIDE

“I’d met Rebecca during the Hobbs Show earlier in the year,” Linda says, “and she’s such a fun person to work with, as well as totally flexible. She can turning her hand to anything, from unicorn horns to bridal make-up, and here we used only natural make-up and hair products, such as Lavera and Benecos. We added details using scraps of silk and felted flowers, as well as a lovely crown that Jo of Organic Blooms had created, just in case.”

The models were chosen to reflect diversity, too.

“More and more of us want to see a wide range of people represented in fashion,” says Linda, “and our choice of models reflected that. We deliberately went for very different ages, sizes and complexions. I met Ella at the Love the Future of Fashion show at the Colston Hall – it was part of Bristol 2015 European Green Capital – and I met Jess when she modelled an upcycled black bin bag dress as part of the Hobbs Show 2016. And Jessica? She’s my yoga teacher!”

Luckily, all three of them came equipped with a can-do attitude and good humour, necessary as the day involved a variety of challenges, from crossing water on stepping stones in long trailing dresses to clambering up wooded banks in high heels. Between shots, the three huddled in a pop-up tent to ward off the worst of the cold.

“The funniest thing, though, was that we hadn’t realised Blaise Woods would be quite so full of people walking their dogs. We turned a few eyes as we arrived, with our models taking off wool coats and scarves to reveal fancy hair and wedding dresses underneath. Not infrequently, dogs would run up to take a sniff. The look of ‘Please, no!’ on my face as their wet paws got nearer and nearer to the cream silk dresses must have been a sight to behold!”

Happily, the kind owners took notice and pulled their dogs away.

“But,” says Helen, “the strangest addition to the day was when a friendly elderly man stopped on a bench nearby, and stayed watching until the action was over,” Linda says. Now, if only the shoot had had a role for a father of the bride…

wooded bliss Skipping merrily through the puddles for this shoot were…

Dresses, cape, veil and styling: Linda Thomas Eco Design; lindathomasecodesign.co.uk Photography: Matt Revell; revdesign.co.uk Jewellery: April Doubleday at Movement Boutique; movementboutique.co.uk; aprildoubleday.com Flowers: Organic Blooms; organicblooms.co.uk Hair and make-up: Rebecca Rose Robinson; rebeccaroserobinson.com Shoes: Heartfelt Vintage; heartfeltvintage.co.uk Models: Ella Riggs, Jessica Wallwork, Jess Zollman Thomas

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ALISON MILES co u t u r e

Contemporary and Traditional Wedding Gowns individually designed and made to measure in the most beautiful silks Bespoke Vintage Brooch Bouquets Enquiries/appointments 01225 336805 Email: alison@alisonmiles.co.uk www.alisonmiles.com

THE BRIDE

w o r d s b y pa u l m a r l a n d P h o t o g r a p h y b y A l w ay s Y o u P h o t o g r a p h y

ROCK THE BOAT For Bristol bridal accessory gurus BRIDEZILLAS, only one wedding location has the necessary glamour: Brunel’s incredible ss Great Britain, one of the world’s great ships, and an icon of period romance…

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veryone loves a bit of period glamour, and what location shouts about the glories of early transatlantic travel as loudly as Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s mighty ss Great Britain, the longest passenger ship in the world from 1845 to 1854, and the first iron steamer to cross the Atlantic in 14 days?

Rocking up there with shoot organisers Bridezillas – the wedding accessories people, with a shop in Brislington and a thriving online business – were models Rachel Harvey, Jess Sage and Toria Morgan, along with photographers Matt and Joe from Always You Photography, the well-known Bristol outfit who adore shooting in a sort of washed-out vintage style. As well as via the dresses – more on those in a mo – the shoot’s dramatic Gatsby-era look was created

by hairdressers Zara Perry and Nicola Clancy, and make-up artists Kathryn Braunton, of Powder and Paint, and Sally Bracey. Sally says she went for, “flawless skin, dark lips, and lovely long lashes.”

And in the centre? A new line of gowns from designer Gill Harvey of Eliza Jane Howell – Gill started out in knitwear, but soon moved to bridal, naming her vintage-inspired fashion label after her grandmother – along with a selection of the the cool accessories that Bridezillas stock.

“As Gill’s dresses are overflowing with 1920s glamour, we decided to just go with that look,” says Amanda Davis-Harrison, managing director of Bridezillas. “And where better to do this than on a ship that not only shouts ‘Bristol’, but that also has that decadent vintage aura about it? ss Great Britain is now a popular VOW | 5 3

the Bride: bridezill as

pictures by always you photography

wedding venue, and very different to the usual hotel function room. The saloons and decks are expansive and uniquely shaped, and the Promenade Deck is the picture-perfect location for your ceremony. This intimate space transforms into a romantic aisle, lined with honey-toned timber panels and beautiful mirrors. Vows can be exchanged below a glass skylight, which floods the space with soft light, then you can enjoy a Champagne reception either on the Promenade Deck or the Weather Deck, which boasts the most striking views. And, inside, there are marble pillars, Rococo mirrors and candle lamps everywhere – plus a bar and dance floor.”

Sounds just the job! (And, since the ship no longer moves, there’s no danger of seasickness either.)

Elsewhere, Adele, from local eco-aware florist Tin Can Floral, provided the flowers, with their delicate crystals, feathers and draping pearls. “They were such a burst of colour,” she says, “especially against our ivory dresses, with feather shrugs. They helped add warmth to some of the photos, as there was so much white in the place. And one of the bouquets matched the model’s lip colour perfectly.”

Finally, rounding everything off, were props from new Bristolbased vintage event styling experts Frankie Loves Ava, where founder Sharon has trawled charity shops and vintage fairs for her amazing stock. These props are available to hire, as are her styling skills; if you’re after everything from vintage crockery to ’60s drinks cabinets or a VW Camper, this is a good place to look.

The big prop here, however, she can’t loan out. Turns out, if you want to use the ss GB as backdrop to your wedding, you’re just going to have to head to where it lives instead…

A transatlantic voyage, hurrah!

Setting out to sea in style were…

Bridal accessories, styling et al:

Bridezillas; bridezillas.biz Dresses: Gill Harvey for Eliza Jane Howell at Bridezillas;

elizajanehowell.com Location: ss Great Britain, Bristol; ssgreatbritain.org Photography: Always You Photography; alwaysyouphotography.com Hairdressers: Zara Perry (zphairdressing.co.uk); Nicola Clancy (bristolbridalhairandmakeup.com) Make-up: Kathryn Braunton of Powder and

Paint (powderandpaint.co.uk); Sally Bracey (sallysmakeup.co.uk) Flowers: Adele Brown of Tin Can Floral;

tincanfloral.co.uk Models: Rachel Harvey, Jess Sage, Toria Morgan Props: Frankie Loves Ava; frankielovesava.co.uk

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The South West’s Premier Wedding Exhibition

Sunday 11th September 2016 11am to 3pm at The Edge, University of Bath, Claverton Down Professionally choreographed fashion shows – 12pm & 2pm A variety of wedding Suppliers, Services & Experts / Live Entertainment For free tickets visit: www.weddingworldexhibitions.co.uk

J UST M AR R IED REAL-LIFE WEST COUNTRY WEDDINGS

Love and sax Aimee Sheppard & Joshua Picton

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hen Josh first met Aimee, it was in their first month at university – Dartington College of Arts, tucked away in the depths of Devon, since you’re asking – and she was romping around in fleecy sheep PJs at a pyjama party. “How could I resist?” he says. It was actually her 19th birthday, the pair spent the following week watching films as they lounged around the hall of residence, and within a week he was taking her home to meet the family. “That,” he says, “was probably our first proper date.”

That was back in 2007, and it wasn’t until 2015 that Josh proposed – by hanging four spray-painted white double bed sheets with the words ‘Will You Marry Me?’ over their local promenade wall in Clevedon one afternoon. “He hadn’t realised there was a big event on that day,” Aimee says, “so his romantic proposal on the usually sleepy pier turned into quite a show.”

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JUST M ARRIED

So, what was the easiest bit about sorting the wedding?

“Are there any easy bits? I would have to say that booking the honeymoon was okay – the white beaches of Thailand looked very appealing at that stressful time – but all the personal touches we wanted took an age. We made a lot of our decorations ourselves, so made life difficult for ourselves – but it was worth it in the end.”

Still, at least choosing Clevedon Hall for the reception and ceremony was easy – “we knew we wanted to get married in our new hometown, having moved here nearly two years ago” – and the old library there was perfect, highly atmospheric with elegant candelabra centre pieces. “We all then moved into the main hall for the party” says Aimee, “giving plenty of space to bust some moves.”

The dress, however, was not so easy.

“No, I had a disaster,” says Aimee. “My mum and I went to so many shops, because I had no idea what I was looking for – and liked every single one! So, feeling overwhelmed, I ended up settling on a very simple dress – but didn’t settle on it for very long! I suddenly felt like it’s my one day to wear something I would never get a chance to wear again, and it was only a couple of months before the wedding that I finally found one that felt right – elegant, but fun too.”

Aimee’s hair was done by Clevedon-based Hairoics – classic hairdresser name, that – where they happily styled seven fussy ladies, while make-up was handled by Aimee’s extremely talented bridesmaid, Kate Chalkley. “The first piece of jewellery Josh bought me when we were young was a Tiffany’s necklace, so for my ‘something new’ he thoughtfully got me the matching bracelet,” Aimee says. “He did well!”

Dress dramas surrounded the bridesmaids, too, as there was no colour theme and they all lived too far apart to go dress shopping together. “We just ordered lots of dresses online, and it was a case of trial and error,” Aimee says. “I dread to think how much we must have spent on postage. But, in the end, we settled on some simple dove grey sequinned dresses from BHS, which really twinkled and brought out the colours of the bouquets.”

Speaking of the flowers, Aimee’s were mostly ivory coloured, but broken up by pink astilbe and eucalyptus foliage, and made to a basic shape influenced by Kate Middleton’s tear drop bouquet; the bridesmaids, meanwhile, carried cool water and aqua avalanche roses with the pink astilbe and eucalyptus. “They were all made by the wonderful Susan Beese of Portishead Wedding Flowers,” Aimee says, “but we also had some small bud vases on the tables, which we actually did ourselves.”

Later on in the day, Aimee’s dad showed an amazing video of cuteyet-embarrassing clips of Aimee growing up – set to the song ‘BrownEyed Girl’ – while Josh sang part of his speech, a risky idea that went winningly wrong when he got lost mid-song. Afterwards, DJ Grant Reynolds, from Boutique Disco, and The Twerzels – yes, they’re a Wurzels tribute band – got the party started, while the first dance was a funky routine to Walk The Moon’s ‘Shut Up and Dance’.

Aimee is actually a saxophonist by profession, and though she’d wanted a night off was persuaded to join in when cheeky bridesmaid Jenny revealed she’d snuck her sax into the venue “just in case”.

“Seeing that my lovely grandad – who bought me my saxophone when I was nine – was still at the party so late, I wanted to make him 5 8 | VOW

and Josh proud,” Aimee says. “So I played the famous ‘Jubel’, and was surprised at how different it was playing to all my loved ones. I felt quite emotional!”

The guys found sitting at the top table and looking out over all their loved ones pretty special – “even friends and family from Spain, France, Scotland, Canada were there” – but there were awkward moments, too. “Making my big entrance, I felt so overwhelmed I did an awkward little ‘Hellooo’,” Aimee says, “and Josh had a little cry before he even got to the venue. Such a baby!”

Anything you wasted money on? “We wouldn’t change anything, but we did spend more than we’d ever intended – just out of naivety, I think! I suppose ending up with two dresses is pretty bad, but I have to say that Josh was worse than I was. He’s a bit of a groomzilla, and on the morning of the wedding was ringing my bridesmaids to get them to adjust the bunting, of all things, so that it was more symmetrical…!”

AIMEE & JOSH We like the idea of a wedding in a hall like this where you let the riff-raff into the cheap seats on the top level, so they can throw their hats in the air and cause a commotion PictureS by brad wakefield

Marriage Guidance Who? Aimee Jay Sheppard and Joshua Picton When? 24 March 2016 Where? Clevedon Hall, North Somerset; clevedonhall.co.uk DJ: Boutique Disco; boutiquedisco.co.uk Band: The Twerzels; twerzels.com Photography: Brad Wakefield, bradwakefield.com

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JUST M ARRIED

Secret garden Nicola Williamson and Peter Staines

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e’ve never been proposed to at the Taj Mahal – in India; a sort of love tomb; you may have heard of it – but it’s safe to say that, if it ever did happen, we’d just have to say yes. That’s what Nicola Williamson did when boyfriend Peter popped the question anyway, and c’mon, what choice did she have? The sun was just coming up and everything.

These guys met in London some six years ago through work, did a classic Stoke Newington pub crawl for their first date, and got married last summer at Railford Mill near Frome – actually the bride’s parents’ home, where Nicola grew up – after nine months of sorting things out. “The venue was both the easiest thing to find and the trickiest thing to arrange,” they now say, “as we did it all ourselves. And, what’s worse, it was pouring with rain for the entire week leading up to the ceremony.”

Nicola wanted an elegant, simple 1940s look, and ended up teaming a dress from Ghost with hair worn half up, and waves put into it. “There were flowers in there too,” she says, “all put together by my friend, who’s a hairdresser.”

She carried more flowers as well, a bouquet of white and cream lisianthus and ruscus – a classic bouquet combination – from Minty & Son, the florists in Frome. The other flower arrangements were made by the bride and groom themselves, combining homegrown ones from Peter’s parents with blooms from Brunel Flowers, the wholesalers at Bristol Flower Market.

And opposite her? Peter, in a light grey suit from Reiss, flanked by best man James, a childhood friend who lives in Bristol.

Bridesmaids Serena, Davina, Rebecca and Ranjana, meanwhile, all wore navy blues dresses they’d picked themselves.

In fact, it was all quite a low-key family affair: there was a big marquee; Nicola’s mum, Greta, made the cake; and her brother handled the actual wedding ceremony. Then, during the meal, guests were encouraged to – says Nicola – “dress up and add a little sparkle to their outfits with festival-inspired make-up.”

And, you know what? We can see a few unlikely candidates getting right into the swing of things in the pictures, too…

Marriage Guidance Who? Nicola Williamson and Peter Staines When? 29 August 2015 Where? Railford Mill, near Frome Dress: Ghost Groom’s outfit: Reiss Flowers: Minty & Son; Brunel Flowers; brunelflowers.co.uk Photographer: Martin Dabek; martindabek.com 6 0 | VOW

NICOL A & PETER If Vow had a wedding in our garden, the marquee would have to go by the bins, and the hay bales would be forced onto the gravel bit where we usually park the car (sighs) PictureS by martin dabek

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JUST M ARRIED

Magic in the water Kirsty Eke & Daniel Leigh

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ometimes love blooms is the most unlikely of places, and when Dan took Kirsty to A&E with a broken wrist one morning – they’d spent all night awake chatting, she in agony, after an unlucky slip in University of Worcester’s Student Union Bar – things just clicked. She even treated him to a cheeky Maccy D on the way home, as a thank you for looking after her. “We’ve been inseparable ever since,” Kirsty says – so perhaps it was a lucky slip after all.

Fast forward through seven patient years of waiting for ‘the’ question, and Kirsty suddenly became giddy with excitement – she had a manicure in preparation and everything! – when Dan 6 2 | VOW

unexpectedly invited her on a weekend in Iceland. “He’d had it all planned for weeks, and had earlier made the three-and-a-half hour journey to my dad’s naturist campsite in Devon to ask for my hand, completely unbeknownst to me. In Iceland, we were watching the Northern Lights outside our hotel when I went in to get a hot choc, and when I returned he’d flattened a patch of snow for me to sit on, and got down on one knee. He then shone his phone torch onto the snow beside us, where he’d written ‘Will you marry me?’”

That was Christmas 2014, and it took a little over a year to get everything together, with lots of it coming easily – not least photographer Brad, who Kirsty went to school with. (“I’d always said

K ir st y & dan

We’re big fans of the little handmade board highlighting the key dates on their timeline; less fond of a certain rogue apostrophe, however PictureS by Brad Wakefield

I wanted him to photograph my wedding one day,” she says.) After getting the basics, like venue and band sorted, they left it for a bit then crammed loads of DIY bits into the next Christmas period, creating their own save the dates, invites, table plan and so on.

As the guys have an extended modern family – both K’s parents have remarried and D’s dad is engaged – they found the head table the trickiest thing to plan, squeezing so many new partners onto it.

They’d always wanted a rustic do – “a manor house or a church just wasn’t us,” the say – and a barn conversion, near where Kirsty was brought up, seemed perfect. They viewed three venues in one day, and both fell in love with Priston Mill the moment they drove up to it. “The rules were relaxed, the price was good and the space was fab,” Kirsty says. “In fact, Brad was the one who recommended it.”

Kirsty was torn between two similar dresses. “One was delicate and covered in beautiful ivory lace,” she says, “but the other had more wow factor, and gave my boyish figure more shape.”

So that’s the one she went for, teaming it with red lips and nails, and a ’40s-esque curled side-swept hairdo, while a trip to VOW | 6 3

J UST M AR R IED: K ir st y & dan

PictureS by Brad Wakefield

Kirsty and Dan love a cute handmade detail, like these little Kilner jars full of homemade chutney

the National Wedding Show at the NEC in Birmingham – with her mum, amongst others, who’d suddenly announced that she was secretly planning her wedding too! – rendered a beautiful silver, pearl and diamanté head band, which went perfectly. Dan, meanwhile, was slightly wary of Kirsty’s love of a tweed suit – “he thought just farmers wear them” – but quickly came around to the idea.

Kirsty wanted blush-coloured bridesmaid dresses to complement the rose gold underlay of her dress, and eventually found some at Jane Norman – “one of my bridesmaids was slightly larger than the other Skinny Minnies, which made dress searching one of the more difficult tasks” – which she paired with a cream pashmina each, in case it was cold. (Not that, apart from during a brief walk through the rain, any of them were ever used.)

What else? Well, flowers were by the great Passion – “amazing from start to finish” – and included lots of foliage, with nothing too neat.

“Our anniversary of getting together is November 11 – Poppy Day – so we’d wanted to include these as a personal touch, but they’re not bouquet friendly, so Passion suggested white anemones instead. As Dan’s from Sheffield he wore a white rose, symbol of Yorkshire. The flowers were literally 100 times better than I could have imagined.”

There was another nod to Yorkshire in the wedding favours.

Kirsty is from Cheddar, and Dan has long liked Henderson’s Relish – an anchovy-free Sheffield version of Worcestershire sauce that happens to go perfectly with Cheddar cheese – so what better than a little Kilner jar filled with a homemade Henderson’s relish chutney?

A winter wedding is always risky, and though the snow Kirsty had worried about never showed, rain certainly did. A constant torrential downpour, in fact, which caused localised flooding.

“The quaint winding country roads soon became flooded, and only one of the two access roads to the venue was useable. My dad drove me in his vintage Jaguar, and if it had been a few hours later we probably wouldn’t have made it! (My step mum came in a Land Rover as back up.) And the band – I Love Amp, from Plymouth – were late due to the flood, too. Music-wise we also had Joe Merri, a student I found on a wedding blog, playing acoustic guitar and singing as people arrived.”

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Anything go wrong?

“What, apart from the rain? We got a little stressed-out prebooking taxis for our guests to get back to the hotel after the wedding, which I should have asked someone else to sort,” she says, “especially as a couple of people kept changing their minds, which rubbed me up the wrong way. But I don’t regret anything we did.”

And what part of your wedding was most memorable?

“Oh, walking down the aisle with my dad and seeing Dan at the other end. No question. The emotion was something I’ll always remember, and I can’t imagine feeling again.”

Marriage Guidance Who? Kirsty Nicola Eke and Daniel Stephen Leigh When? 6 February 2016 Where? Tythe Barn, Priston Mill, near Bath; pristonmill.co.uk Flowers: Passion; flowersbypassion.com Band: I Love Amp; iloveamp.co.uk Singer: Joe Merri; @joemerrimusic Photography: Brad Wakefield, bradwakefield.com

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Dartington Hall combines medieval grandeur, natural beauty, exceptional food and comfortable accommodation, and our experienced team are committed to making your wedding the most special day of your lives.

Our award-winning venue can host weddings of all shapes and sizes and is one of the few Devon venues offering outdoor civil ceremonies, which overlook our Grade II* listed gardens. We also welcome and cater for civil weddings.

Contact our experienced Wedding Coordinator on 01803 847145 or email bookings@dartingtonhall.com COME AND SEE US:

WEDDING WORLD – 11 September 2016 The Edge, University of Bath

www.dartingtonhall.com

THE VENUE

Picture by MARK LEONARD

Swank hotels, sex y spaces & picturesque part y spots

Home and away Ashton Court Estate has a massive house,

two golf courts, deer roaming free, and views to die for. It’s the dream get-away-from-it-all venue, yet right in the heart of the city

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he problem with city centre hotels, of course, is they’re not very private – and the problem with many country houses is that they’re just a little too, well, countryish. As in, miles from anywhere. The best of both worlds is possible, however, and we might just have found it at Bristol’s Ashton Court Mansion.

What you’re getting here, you see, is a huge home in the middle of a genuine countryside estate – with all the history and gorgeous vistas you’d expect – but right on the edge of the city. Indeed, it’s just ten minutes drive from the centre of Bristol, on the western side of the River Avon not far from Clifton Suspension Bridge, so it’s as handy as you like. And what can you expect to find when you get there? Only some 800 acres of parkland, with deer grazing at the gate and the views across wildflower meadows. This place was once home to the wealthy Smyth family VOW | 67

A SHTON CO U RT

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THE VENUE

We love giant Jenga, and we love vast open spaces.

And who would have thought you could get both in the heart of the city? (Okay, we’ll confess. The Jenga is slightly easier to find.)

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– a mixed bag of MPs, knights and horse lovers who owned it for four centuries – and was frequented by the movers and shakers of Bristol. Today it’s an event venue owned by the city council, and the panelled lounges, landscaped gardens, acres of pasture and vaulted ceilings play host to lavish weddings, Balloon Fiestas, Kite Festivals and the like instead.

“Ask yourself,” says Jodi Gravener, events sales co-ordinator here, “how do you really want your day to look? Is outside space important? Is there easy parking for guests? And how much support will you get from the event co-ordinator? We can handle most requirement here, and will help your day run as seamlessly as possible.”

Well, okay. Not only does Ashton Court offer a comprehensive wedding planning service – including an opportunity to meet the chef and discuss your menu – but six weeks prior to the actual day you’ll spend time with your event manager, who’ll set up the venue for you and oversee everything.

“We run a tight ship at the mansion,” Jodi says, “and we know that it’s often the extra details that make a wedding memorable. In the lead-up, you might find yourself adrift in a sea of wedding favours, or ankle deep in decorative bows, but we’ll work with you to ensure everything stays on track. We want your day to go with a bang, though, so if you know you’d

nsurprisingly for a place that’s hosted everything from music festivals to agricultural shows, they love an outdoor event here. “Hire a tepee marquee for the lawn, book a hog roast, and don your sparkly wellies,” says Jodi.

“Or why not drape the Hayloft with chiffon and fairy lights? Ashton Court is perfect for anything like that.”

And is there anything you don’t like here?

“Chocolate fountains! It’s time to move on.”

The average wedding at Ashton Court costs around £7k, but obviously varies hugely, depending on taste and budget.

“We’d recommend really splashing the cash on food and drink,” Jodi says, “then trim down some of the other budgets if money’s tight. You can save on decorations, and even flowers, as less is often more – and a hunt on Pinterest can give great DIY ideas.”

Save on the flowers? You sure?

“Well, simple is often best,” says Jodi. “While celebrities might go the whole hog with fairytale extras, don’t forget that they’ve got a whole team behind them – and endless cash. You don’t have to go that far. After all, more often than not, your guests won’t even notice the tiny embroidered hearts you’ve spent hours sewing onto napkins. Focus on the key elements – dress, food, drink, and yes, okay, flowers – and don’t sweat the small stuff.”

As for good places to get your wedding photos taken, the Mansion itself obviously offers plenty of opportunities – think by the massive original fireplaces, or the glorious sweeping staircase in reception – though it’s the gardens and parkland that often see the best snaps. “Among the bluebells in spring is magical,” says Jodi, “or by the lake in the sunken garden. The traditional Victorian rose garden is an absolute must in the summer, too.”

So, young lady, if you were getting married here, what would you do to tailor the venue to you?

“This summer it’s all about the pom-poms,” Jodi says, “so we’d start the celebrations by parking Betty, the vintage Prosecco van, in the Courtyard to greet guests with a glass of fizz, before they head into the fairylight-covered Hayloft – decorated with frothy pom-poms garlands, of course! – for a delicious, locally-sourced meal. Then we’d open a cocktail bar, and let the dancing carry us through into the night.”

Now that sound like the kind of party were could get behind. And it wouldn’t take much money or effort to whisk everyone back home to their city centre hotels afterwards, either. ashtoncourtmansion.co.uk VOW | 69

Pictures by MARK LEONARD

like your guests to all sign a love heart – or you’d like a bonbon barrow after the dessert – we’re happy to help.

From fireworks on the lawn to a hot air balloon ride for the bride and groom, nothing is too much trouble.”

THE VENUE

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B at h p r i o r y

Secret Priory Some of the poshest of Bath society weddings take place at The Bath Priory, a beautiful hotel just a short walk from Vow HQ in the heart of the city, yet with a pleasing country-ish feel. Oh yeah, the food’s pretty good too

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stages, and can make sure their day is perfect. We obviously tend to appeal to foodie couples, who often move beyond the typical wedding breakfast and indulge in something more special instead. Depending on numbers, we’d highly recommend upgrading to our seven-course Tasting Menu, designed by Executive Head Chef Sam Moody, and allowing guests to sample a range of his signature dishes.”

Costs vary depending on number of guests.

“For a day wedding based on 70 guests, it might be around £8,000, to include use of the hotel for your wedding ceremony and the wedding breakfast – which is a three-course Michelin-starred affair with coffee and petits fours. Or, if you were looking for an evening reception too, we’d be delighted to offer you exclusive use of the hotel, giving you access to the whole house. Packages like this start from £22,000, based on 70 guests.”

What else is good here? Well, the gardens are perfect for photographs, with plenty of hidden areas – perhaps you could use the Breezehouse or Dovecot? – and the vast art collection in the drawing room makes that a great choice for a rainy day, too.

“I’d also suggest you think about using musicians to add to the atmosphere,” Louise says. “A harpist would be perfect prior to your ceremony, for instance, then maybe a live singer for the evening reception?” thebathpriory.co.uk Pictures by the bath priory

t The Bath Priory, you really do feel like you’re miles from the real world – despite the city centre rattling (in genteel Bath fashion, naturally) just a park and a few houses away. “This really is a unique venue,” says Louise Symonds, events co-ordinator there. “The food we offer is certainly unique to Bath, as we hold the city’s only Michelin star. Being located so close to the centre, yet having four beautiful acres of garden for our guests to play in, is also rather fantastic.”

This place was built in 1835 as a private home, on land once owned by The Priory of Bath Abbey, and sits in the middle of a handsome, tree-lined row of large 19th century detached houses in the quiet, residential western of the city. Fashioned from the traditional honey-coloured Bath stone, but in a Gothic rather than Georgian style, it’s discreetly situated behind high walls, and offers, says Louise, “the idyllic tranquillity only created by a country house hotel.”

This place was a school though once, wasn’t it?

“Well, yes. But first the house was used as a dormitory wing for The Park School – next door but one – before being converted into a boy’s prep school in its own right. It remained as such for five years before, in 1969, the house was converted into a sevenbedroom hotel. Ten years later, in 1979, it was sold to John Donnithorn, who introduced six new bedrooms designed by Hugh Clifford Wing. Then, in 1988, the hotel was sold and continued to prosper, before being purchased in September 1994 by a respected Bath businessman, Andrew Brownsword. His longterm plan was to upgrade and extend the existing accommodation and introduce an exclusive health facility, and work began in 1996. By October 1997 the refurbishment program was complete, resulting in nine new bedrooms and an indoor leisure complex with swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, steam room and solarium, all housed in a new wing. Now we can cater for up to 70 guests for a wedding ceremony and breakfast – and up to 120 for the evening reception.”

There is, of course, a dedicated wedding coordinator on hand as your contact throughout the day, there to ensure everything comes together as it should.

“Exclusive use weddings are very special here,” Louise says, “as they give our guests a chance to make the house their own. It also means we really get to know the bride and groom through the planning

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THE VENUE

Into the woods Yes, it’s a cemetery. But at the rather cool Arnos Vale you can get married out in the woods, just like Kevin Costner and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves…

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ow, a cemetery might not have been your first thought when you started to think about wedding venues, but hold your horses! Arnos Vale is actually an immensely romantic, yet extremely convenient, rural venue – and a unique Victorian site that links you, and the new stage in your life you’re about to embark upon, with the history of this city, and the people who made it. “But one of the best things about Arnos Vale is that it’s the only wedding venue in the centre of Bristol with a woodland venue for civil ceremonies,” says their Kat McConnell. “It provides an oasis of calm, intimacy and nature right in the city centre.”

And that’s not all it offers, of course. There are also two Grade-II listed buildings – the Spielman Centre and Anglican Chapel – that can be combined with the woodland spaces in winning fashion. “All three venues are unique,” Kat reckons, “and are adaptable for weddings of any feel or theme: relaxed and rustic, formal and elegant, or just plain quirky.”

Arnos Vale is a 45-acre Heritage site, and one of the country’s best and earliest examples of a Victorian ‘Arcadian’ garden cemetery. First opened in 1839, and now fully restored – it’s the only one of its type in such fine condition – it receives no government funding, and is instead managed by a Charitable Trust, relying heavily on the generosity of supporters. “We also generate income through the services we offer,” Kat says, “including weddings. We held our first one here in 2013, and we now host over 30 a year. We can cater for parties as small as 10, or as large as 100 for a seated reception, and evening celebrations are available for up to 150. Let us know your requirements, and we’ll do our best to accommodate them.”

So, what do you get if you book here?

“When I’m showing couples around,” Kat says, “I make sure they’re aware of what is and isn’t included on the day. For example, they get me!”

No, she’s not a wedding gift – John Lewis doesn’t deliver – but a dedicated wedding coordinator, to help

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a r n o s va l e

Pictures by lisa dawn, karl moriaty and Jessica Withey Photography

you plan your schedule in the build-up, and then make sure everything runs smoothly on the day.

“As the face of the venue,” Kat says, “I work with the couple to put together a schedule, and then liaise with all the suppliers to bring it together. We’re like ducks on water: it’s all happening in the background, but not everyone sees it! As a venue we have quite a laid-back approach, and we often find ourselves mingling with the guests on the day, and building up real relationships with them. The nice thing about it is that, if they do need anything, they won’t be afraid to ask – and will stay in touch with us afterwards! That’s really important to us here.”

So, Kat, what does a really special wedding at Arnos Vale feel like?

“The woodland weddings are such intimate and relaxed celebrations,” Kat says, “and the ceremonies are just beautiful. In fact, they give me goose bumps every time! It’s the combination of the rustic setting, dappled sunshine coming through the trees, and the sound of bird song echoing in the background as the vows are being read. It’s so natural, and I can’t imagine there’s anything more unique or personal.”

So, what can go wrong?

“Weather is the only thing we can’t control, but this year all our woodland weddings have managed to take place outside – despite having heavy rain just an hour before the ceremony on one weekend! – so we’re pretty lucky, too.”

Lucky, and non-traditional, it sounds like.

“Well, we’re definitely seeing a lot less of the more traditional parts of weddings, to the extent that we’ve occasionally had the day turned upside down.”

Eh? “That means we’ve held the ceremony after the reception, to really make the most of the twilight setting in the woodlands – which I just love. After all, why do it at the same time as everyone else?”

Of course, you don’t have to be quite so radical.

What else is new, Kat? VOW | 7 3

t h e v e n u e : a r n o s va l e

Pictures by Jessica Withey Photography

“Photo booths and sweet carts are still firm favourites, and we also love ‘unplugged’ weddings – where you ask the guests not to take photos on their phones for the main part of the wedding, or at least the ceremony. Best to leave the professional photographers to do what they do best, and just take in the moment.”

Weddings at Arnos Vale run at between £2,000 and £5,000 – you’ll get it cheaper mid-week, or between November and March, of course – depending on how many venues are used. “This said,” reckons Kat, “I’d recommend you try and use as much space as we have available – that way, you can move your guests around, so they’re not confined to one area, and can explore the history of the site between venues.”

Since you’ve invested in a top snapper – of course you have! – you might as well take advantage of all the great photo opportunities there are here too.

“I always recommend photographers do a site visit if they haven’t been here before,” Kat says.

“My favourite shots are always taken deep in the woodlands, where the branches and trees create a natural frame around the couple. That said, the steps on the Spielman Centre are stunning for group photos, making sure every guest is seen and no-one can hide in the background!” arnosvale.org.uk 74 | VOW

Vow M AGA ZINE is available to download. www.mediaclash.co.uk

LET’ S PART Y FOOD / MUSIC / CAKES / DRINKS / FUN

S t y l i n g b y H a n n a h T ay l o r P h oto g r a p h y b y A l i s ta i r C a m p b e l l

The Hellfire Club There’s something gloriously dark, decadent and moody about the best late night wedding day after parties, full of beautiful people – as F. Scott Fitzgerald might say – “driving on toward death through the cooling twilight.” All you need now is for Queen of Sin-era Diana Rigg to rock up with snake and a spiked collar…

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here do most weddings wind up? That’s right, around the bar. So, skipping all the middlemen – small stuff like the ceremony, and the wedding breakfast – that’s where we headed at the grand old Victorian gothic mansion Huntsham Court, a top-notch Devon wedding venue (it’s actually virtually on the Devon/Somerset border) with its 34 bedrooms and, they say, a unique “un-hotel” feel.

“Huntsham’s a stunningly beautiful building, with a wealth of period character,” says Hannah Taylor, the Devon-based wedding stylist and planner who always likes to bring the ‘wow factor’ – “and we went straight to the bar for this highly stylised shot. Huntsham’s bar area actually has much the same atmosphere as an old gentlemen’s club, and oozes style and character. It’s dark and mysterious anyway – with period green walls, solid dark wood furniture and heavy fabrics – but we just exaggerated things for this shoot, embracing the gothic setting. Most of my inspiration here came from the 1920s and the Victorian era, combining decadence with opulence.”

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L E T ' S PA R T Y

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L E T ’ S PA R T Y

Indeed, if this were a wine, we’d be getting a dry Oscar Wilde wit with an elegant, smoothly potent Dracula texture, and a distinct The Great Gatsby aroma – or some such combination. To be drunk to a soundtrack of Siouxsie and the Banshees and My Chemical Romance.

“What we were really aiming for here was to inspire eccentrically-themed wedding celebrations and dinner parties, with a wee-small-hours after party feel,” says Hannah. “I used rare original period clothing, collected and preserved by the inspiring and very passionate Linda – owner of heirloom gown store Days of Grace Vintage in Budleigh Salterton, near Exeter.

She has many surprises from all eras on display in her store, and even more kept hidden away behind the scenes. I was spoilt for choice when selecting clothes to compliment my luxurious fabrics, original period accessories, and a unique prop cake I’d made especially for the shoot.”

On the table in the centre of it all, Hannah set bespoke gothic stationery designed by Clair at Oh So Vintage Weddings, the handmaid stationery specialists. “Clair is a master at interpreting my vision,” says Hannah, “as is the fabulous Billie Edge, the lady responsible for creating the incredible hair and make-up you see here, which were all rather inspiring works of art in themselves.”

All well and good, then, but how could you apply these ideas to your wedding celebrations?

“This whole dark Victorian theme is eerie, yes, but romantic too,” says Hannah. “It’s perfect for fans of vampire films, for instance – as well as for those who embrace the darker side of the Jazz Age, and the whole Great Gatsby thing. The 1920s were, after all, one of the most liberating and fashionable eras we’ve ever seen.”

At our after party there are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired…

Shoot designer, stylist, decoration:

Hannah Taylor; hannahtaylorweddingstylist.co.uk Photographer: Alistair Campbell; alistaircampbellphotography.co.uk Location: Huntsham Court; huntshamcourt.co.uk Vintage clothing: Days of Grace; daysofgracevintage.co.uk Stationery: Oh So Vintage Weddings; ohsovintageweddings.co.uk Make-up artist and hair stylist:

Billie Edge; billieedge.com Models: Roxanne Ebrahimi, Shannon Thorne

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PictureS by alistair campbell

the end of the night

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L E T ’ S PA R T Y

Pictures by kirsty field photography

Let’s go!

Who doesn’t love pizza? And, especially, who doesn’t love the yummy traditional Neapolitan-style pizzas they do at Bath’s celebrated Yammo!, now available for your wedding…?

T

he west is awash with great pizza joints these days – just as this issue of Vow was going to press, the Casamia gang launched their eagerly-awaited Pi Shop in Bristol’s The General – but few have quite the well-deserved rep of Bath’s Yammo!, on Walcot Street at the edge of that city’s so-called ‘Artisan Quarter’, where they dish up perfectly realised Italian street food. “The name is actually Neapolitan dialect for ‘Andiamo!’ or ‘Let’s go!’,” says their Ellen Potter, “which seemed the perfect choice for the takeaway we started out as.”

It works, too, for their more recent offering, wedding catering. Yes, they can rock up and serve their hard-to-beat pizzas at your do, where they make the perfect laid-back, high-satisfaction food option, ideally suited to those of us keeping an eye on the purse strings, or who just want to chill.

Time, we thought, to find out more…

So, Ellen, how did you guys get started?

We opened on Walcot Street three years ago as a simple Neapolitan street food takeaway with a few seats, but we’ve been growing ever since.

First of all, our ‘few seats’ got filled up, and then we starting expanding into whichever areas we could – upstairs, into the courtyard, even moving the kitchen back to make more room.

We won ‘Best Newcomer’ at the Bath Good Food Awards in our first year, then started winning national awards for our pizzas, and even the Bath Life Awards ‘Best Restaurant’ last year. Then we were lucky enough to meet Jon Price from the beautiful Walled Garden at Mells – if you haven’t heard of it, you must go! – who wanted their mobile pizza oven to see some action, so now we use it to offer our award-winning pizzas to happy couples and their wedding guests.

Why do people like your pizzas so much?

We tend to concentrate on the food itself – everything is fresh, and we use the best quality

local ingredients and Italian imports – but, at the same time, we’re totally unpretentious. We’re really friendly, and are able to offer the best food at a great price. Customers tend to get the same experience you’d find at a real Neapolitan Trattoria – you know, the ones where the Italians eat, not some generic place that caters for tourists.

So what can people get?

We’re totally flexible. We can work with the couple to their budget, be it as little as £10 per guest for pizza, but we we can also offer canapés, antipasti, salad bars, barbecues, street food stalls, even a bar. Usually our clients prefer to provide their own crockery, but we can organise this too. I have years of events organising experience behind me, so nothing is too much or too little.

Done any groovy weddings lately, then?

We love that people are moving away from the fancy, white, highly-decorated feel and going for more rustic, intimate styles; in my experience, these definitely suit most couples more. We’ve done some lovely antipasti platters that look fabulous on tables with wild flowers the clients and their friends have collected, for example.

And you do stag and hen parties at Yammo! too, don’t you?

We offer a menu called the Neapolitan Sharing Feast, which is popular with hens and stags: it’s £23.95 a head for unlimited antipasti, fritto misto – that’s mixed fried street food – pizza and desserts. It’s a really sociable way for guests to enjoy their meal, and everyone can try everything.

We have a private room and a projector too, so we once had a stag party bring their old Nintendo 64 games to play, and we’re fortunate enough to have our very own (and very good looking!) breakdancing chef, who is always happy to give a show for the ladies at the end of the night! yammo.co.uk VOW | 8 1

WEDDING c ak e The whiter it is , the purer you are: fact

PICTURE BY wookie photography

Traditions we love

let them eat cake Why do we eat wedding cakes? Because they’re fun and show-offy, of course – and because cake was always a luxury item, so the bigger your cake the richer you seemed. We no longer kiss over the top of a pile of cakes, as was the English Medieval tradition, nor break cake over the bride’s head (thank ancient Rome for that one). The bride has stopped secreting a ring – symbolic of her acceptance of the guy – in the couple’s portion, and no longer does every guest, out of

politeness, have to taste “the bride’s pie” before the day is out. (And thank goodness for that, eh?) A glass ring hidden in the middle of dessert was meant to bring a swift marriage to the lucky lass who found it – well, that or a blood-spitting visit to A&E – while by the 17th century, two cakes were being made, his and hers, but his (smaller, darker and richer) withered away, while hers became bigger, whiter, and more and more sugary. Yum!

Next up: Look out for Vow #9, out 23 September. It’s got a horse in it!

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52 Southside St, The Barbican, Plymouth PL1 2LB | 01752 228 451 | www.samcoxbridalwear.co.uk

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