WEDDINGS Stunning local weddings at Deene Park and Normanton.

Rustic Elegance for your Rustic Elegance for your WEDDING WEDDING

This month, local wedding photographer Sarah Vivienne and a number of This month, local wedding photographer Sarah Vivienne and a number of other local wedding professionals have collaborated on a styled wedding shoot at other local wedding professionals have collaborated on a styled wedding shoot at Deene Park to show off how to achieve a rustic elegant look for your special day... Deene Park to show off how to achieve a rustic elegant look for your special day...

Photography: Sarah Vivienne Photography, 01604 372543, www.sarahvivienne.co.uk. Photography: Sarah Vivienne Photography, 01604 372543, www.sarahvivienne.co.uk.

Country Elegance Country Elegance was a hallmark of this month’s styled wedding shoot created by local suppliers including photographer Sarah Vivienne.

The images are designed to show what happens when couples work with dedicated wedding professionals to create a stylish reception, whether you’ve an elegant setting like Deene Park in mind or a fun rustic event with teepees or marquee.

Deene Park, the ancestral home of the Brudenell Family since 1514, is a 500-acre private estate with the historic manor house at its heart.

Today the family home forms the breath-taking backdrop for garden civil ceremonies, luxury outdoor marquee weddings, or bespoke teepee weddings by the lakeside – offering couples ultimate flexibility to create the wedding of their dreams within the exclusivity of a private estate.

Teepees & Tents, who provided these rustic Nordic teepees, ensured the comfort of the guests with solid oak benches, seating, planters, and magical fairy lights everywhere.

Elsewhere, stationery and styling helps to create a luxurious feel, with a large fabric table plan and white & olive table settings which coordinated with elegant table flowers and macarons.

Catering for luxurious tastes within a rustic style, there’s a limoncello bar, a selection of breads & charcuterie at the Crostini Station, and Sael Bar created the ultimate evening bar experience in its own teepee.

Our couple Adele & Jamie were styled by Courtyard Bridal Boutique and Leicester-based Scotneys of London Road with hair and makeup by Love Laura and Courtney Jane.

“We had a great time working with one another to show just how good a Rutland or Stamford-based wedding can look when you seek out the creativity and flair of local suppliers,” says Sarah.

“We’ve some super talented people in the area who are dedicated to making sure their couples’ day is everything they’ve ever dreamed of, and when we all work together, we can achieve great things!” n

Teepees & Tents: Our Local Suppliers...

Venue: Deene Park, 01780 450278, www.deeneparkweddings.com. Tipi: Teepees and Tent, 07732 315011, www.teepeesandtents.com. Event Styling: Nerissa Eve Weddings, 07732 315011, www.nerissaeveweddings.com. Props: More Production, 01455 615746, www.moreproduction.co.uk. Photography: Sarah Vivienne Photography, 01604 372543, www.sarahvivienne.co.uk. Videography: Zade Film Co., 07545 270496, www.zadefilm.co.uk. Florals: Julia Dilworth Flowers, 07754 007122, www.juliasflowers.co.uk. Stationery: Jenna Claire Stationery, www.jennaclairestationery.co.uk. Food: Portfolio Events, 01604 215606, www.portfolioevents.com. Cake: The Greenhouse Cakerie, 07759 775537, www.thegreenhousecakerie.com. Macarons: Maison Des Macarons, 07855 417931, www.maisondesmacarons.com. Wedding Suit: Scotneys of London Road, 0116 255 1222, www.scotneysoflondonroad.com. Wedding Dress: Courtyard Bridal Boutique, 01858 288020, courtyardbridalboutique.com. Accessories: Vivi Embellish, 07825 037787, www.viviembellish.com. Bridal Hair: Love Laura, 07903 604729. Makeup Artist: Features by Courtney Jayne, 07398 859030. Lighting/SFX: Strobe Disco Roadshow, 07751 093427, strobediscoroadshow.co.uk. Management: Hannah Rose (professional wedding planner), hannahroseweddings.co.uk. Our Couple: Adele & Jamie via Mustard Models, www.bigmustard.co.uk. n

Fourth Time Lucky

It took four wedding dates before Rebecca and Tom Herring could finally marry in Rutland, but the best things come to those who wait. Glorious weather and the late spring bluebells made it all worth while for the couple when they eventually married at Normanton Church...

Wedding Photographer: Lee Daniels Photography, 07738 255683, www.leedanielsphotography.com.

NOT SO MUCH a case of third time lucky, as fourth time lucky. Rebecca and Tom struggled to pin down a date for their nuptials and were even considering eloping to Gretna Green to tie the knot. But happily, the last date would prove the best of all. “All of the other dates came and went, and we remarked to each other that ‘we should have been walking down the aisle today,’” recalls Rebecca. “But each of those days were pretty bleak weather wise. When our wedding finally took place, there was glorious sunshine and we had the best day, even with a cut down guest list.” The couple now live near Peterborough. Rebecca works in distribution for a large retailer and Tom as a genetic toxicologist. The two managed to move home in June 2019 just before lockdown but pinning down a date on which to marry would prove a little more frustrating. “We got together properly in October 2014 and we really enjoy each other’s company. We talked online but actually only met up in person at the funeral of a mutual friend. Tom gave a really lovely speech, and when I told him so, the conversation went from there. Funerals aren’t nice, but something lovely did at least happen out of the loss of our friend.”

A double surprise occurred in summer 2017 when the couple, along with Tom’s parents, attended a wedding in Florida. Rebecca is a Disney devotee, and had always wanted to visit Disneyworld so Tom surprised her with a trip to see Mickey and his all friends. Tom’s parents caught on camera the moment when, whilst watching the parade, Rebecca turned around to find Tom on one knee, proposing marriage. “It was a little busier than I’d expected but naturally there was whooping, and cheers and lots of clapping and congratulations!” says Tom. The couple originally planned their day for June 2020, and managed to go through three different dates, each one scuppered by Covid, before marrying in the bright Rutland sunshine in April this year. “We visit Rutland often and we always admired Normanton Church. We’d said before how lovely it would be to have our wedding there, and we sort of fell in love with the place. We were planning a reception in a marquee at Grange Farm near Wittering, but with the guest list having to be cut down we had a rethink and instead opted for a garden party with afternoon tea at my parents’ house.” “The next decision we made was our photographer. We’d seen Lee Daniels working at our friends’ weddings and we loved his style. We had a meeting with him and looked through some albums to discuss the style of pictures we wanted. By the time we’d finished both of us felt so comfortable and relaxed around him.”

“My wedding dress was next. I only visited one place – Wed2Be – and I tried on about eight dresses, but I knew straight away when I’d found ‘the one.’”

Rebecca chose a fit and flare dress created by the designer Anna Serano with bridesmaids’ dresses in grey/blue and blue tailored suits by Slaters of Nottingham. “We were really lucky with our florist, finding Lisa of Keepsakes. I really didn’t know what flowers we wanted but we gave her free reign, just specifying pink, green and white.” >>

WEDDING SUPPLIERS

REBECCA & TOM HERRING

Wedding Ceremony: Normanton Church, www.normantonchurch.wedding. Wedding Dress: Wed2Be, Hinckley, 0145 5247416, www.wed2b.com. Groomsmen’s Suits: Slaters, Nottingham, 0115 9502633, www.slaters.co.uk. Flowers: Keepsakes Florist, Yaxley, 01733 242107, keepsakesofyaxley.com. Wedding Cookies: Elegant Rose, P’Boro 07837 708521, www.theelegant rosecakestudio.co.uk. Wedding Video: Ryan Moore, P’Boro 07565 400145, www.moore-video.co.uk. Bridal Hair: Sophie Lou’s Hair Design, P’Boro. Makeup Artist: Sharpe Faces, www.sharpefaces.co.uk. n

“It was a lovely day, from the spring bluebells into the photos to the weather. We couldn’t have asked for a better day...!”

>> “We were thrilled with the results, they looked beautiful! Likewise we also had to have a rethink with our wedding cake.” “We didn’t feel we could justify a wedding cake for just 16 guests so instead Elegant Rose, who would have been our cake studio, created bride and groom cookies for our absent friends.”

“With fewer guests than we were anticipating, we wanted a videographer, and we’re so glad we chose Ryan Moore. He live-streamed the ceremony – apparently our workmates were watching us live in our boardroom – and the recording was a great keepsake for us too, because the day went so quickly. Being able to watch it in years to come and show it to our children really appeals to us!” “Everyone was so understanding over the fact that the date kept changing. We weren’t sure if I’d be able to see our makeup artist Jess in person, so she sent me lots of makeup and helped me with a Zoom call session before the day. As it happens we could see each other face to face, but it was just an example of how good all of our suppliers were!” “It was a lovely day, from the late spring bluebells into the photos to the weather. We couldn’t have asked for a better day, or better people to share it with!” n

Wedding Photographer: Lee Daniels Photography, 07738 255683, www.leedanielsphotography.com.