It’s such a gorgeous wedding shot beautifully by  Sasha Felix. It’s full of so many pretty things, a wonderful collection of rustic outdoor decoration mixed with some beautiful vintage collectables. The setting is amazing but aren’t the couple Heather and Ryan so cute together, I am loving Ryan’s outfit and the utter joy when they are pronounced man and wife is just priceless!

The wedding is full of amazing DIY features and Vintage treats that Heather and her family worked hard on pulling together
Heather tells us a bit more about all the personal touches she added to the wedding

• Decoration: We mixed clear and blue Mason Jars that we bought at local yard sales. We then picked wild flowers. The vintage tins, vintage vases and vintage table runners all bought and collected locally and through family.
• Table numbers: We used little wood pieces painted black and wrote numbers on them with chalk. We tied the numbers using twine and old fashioned clothes pins.
• Photo Booth: We bought a fuji mini Polaroid camera and set up photo area for friends and family. We bought a wooden frame from a local flea market and strung it with twine for the photo booth backdrop and bought paper moustaches, lips and glasses from Etsy
• Photo Area: Using an old window we made a collage of old photo’s of us throughout the years, mainly high school and college. We then picked old frames and had family wedding photo’s also displayed
• Favours: we used local honey from West Shokan, used them for take home gifts and table assignments. The tags for the honey were stained with tea and handwritten

Supplier Shout Outs
Caterer:  New World Home Cooking
Invitation Designer: Wedding Paper Divas
Dress Designer:  Nicole Miller,The J. Crew Bridal Boutique
Other:  Betsi Ewing Studio
Tuxedo and Mens Attire:  J. Crew
Event Venue:  Ashokan Dreams B&B
Fore more information on Sasha’s work go to:
www.sashafelix.com
www.sashafelix.com/blog
sasha@sashafelix.com
FACEBOOK
TWITTER

It’s the wedding of Elizabeth and Jess who held their spring wedding in Maryville, Tennessee, jam-packed of homemade items with an English tea theme mixed with lots of lovely vintage touches. I’m sure you will agree that every bit fo this wedding is amazing….and another outdoor wedding ceremony! Yay!

Elizabeth and her mother, Leslie, planned a small intimate 2 o’clock afternoon wedding. English adornments included sixpence in Elizabeth’s shoe, personalized doilies under each plate with each guest’s name on them, lumps of sugar, and vintage decorative tea bags.

The bride’s veil was hand made by the groom’s mother, and there were antique hankerchiefs for “happy tears” during the wedding ceremony.
The guest seating cards were hand made on vintage paper and hung on twine across antique wooden screen doors.

The reception catering included scones, marmalade, delectable tea sandwiches, and hot tea provided in vintage tea pots.The bride and groom’s teapot was hand painted by the bride’s grandmother.
An assortment of blueberry, blackberry, and raspberry jams were favors for the guests – the berries were hand picked by the bride’s mother and father months before the wedding, canned in their home, and personalized for Elizabeth’s wedding day!

Elizabeth and Jess met in college playing the game of foursquare, so it was only fitting that they ended the wedding reception with a game of foursquare!

Supplier Shout Outs                  

• Caterer: Holly’s Eventful Dining
• Photography: Jo Photo
• Floral Designer: Lisa Foster Floral Design Studio
• Dress Store: White Lace & Promises
• Linens and Coverings: White Table
• Event Venue: Smithview Pavilion & Event Center
• Other: The Bride Link

For more information on Jo Photo go to
www.jophotoonline.com
http://jophotoonline.com/blog
kathleen@jophotoonline.com
TWITTER

The Beach hut allows the couple to legally get married outside (as it has a solid roof) you will then be to host up to 400 guests in a beautiful marquee that can be set up next to the beach hut, making your day unique and one of the first of it’s kind!

I actually saw this first announced on Daybreak a couple of months ago when they launched a competition to find a couple who would win their complete wedding.  They have now picked 3 finalists and the viewers of Daybreak are able to choose from the 3 couples and vote one of them the winner. The lucky couple will become the first couple get married in the wedding beach hut and they will do it LIVE on 27^th April.
The couple will win the whole wedding day including 28 guests, Wedding breakfast for 30 people, cake, dress & photographer.

From there on Beach Weddings will then be available for weddings for six months from April to October every year, from 10am to 6pm everyday 7 days a week.
There are already over 25 bookings in 2012 diary.

“This is an absolutely amazing opportunity for prospective couples,” says Melanie Kiani, Director of Bellissimo Wedding Planners who are the operators of this new beach venue.
Never before has it been possible to conduct a legal, civil ceremony on the beach in this country, we think it will be phenomenally popular”

“Most couples like their wedding day to be different, the new beach hut is unique and we can provide every last detail – catering, flowers, styling and decor, music – you name it.  Couples can even arrive at the ceremony on a decorated land train chugging along the prom or sweep down to the beach in a beautifully decorated cliff lift.  The possibilities are endless!”

Packages for the 2012 season start at £999 which includes use of the licensed Wedding Hut, your own representative from Bellissimo Wedding Planners to help plan your day, beautiful white wooden seating, Cliff Lift arrival for the bridal party music for your ceremony arrival and drinks reception, plus contemporary seaside decor.  Couples can then add in a marquee and catering and all the other touches as they wish.

“There’s no doubt that many couples want to get married on the beach but until now have had to travel abroad, so we’re delighted to be able to offer superb weddings in the very ultimate beach setting,” says Mark Smith, director of Bournemouth Tourism.“We think this will be of huge appeal to couples who want to keep an eye on wedding budgets but dream of getting married on the beach and to those who want all their family and friends present – Bournemouth is easily accessible from London, the Midlands and home counties so everyone can be part of the big day.”

Personally I am really hoping this is the first of many beach wedding venues in the UK. Yes our weather isn’t completely reliable BUT with the right plan B in action and a marquee big enough to hold all of your guests then a beach wedding could be the perfect option for you alternative wedding day………..just think you could feel the sand beneath your toes and have a little a paddle in the sea while you’re at it!

For more information on this amazing opportunity go to
www.beachweddingsbournemouth.co.uk
www.beachweddingsbournemouth.co.uk/blog/
FACEBOOK

If I were to get married again and do it in the UK, I would do it in a very similar way (English weather permitting of course!) I love the natural and relaxed feel of this wedding, the wild flowers, the decoration, the white chairs, I LOVE the outdoor ceremony. The whole day feels and looks so chilled out and filled with so much love, just what a wedding is all about! Perfect!

It was sent into me by Susanna Tanner, who has been kind enough to tell me a bit more about the couple and the wedding itself.

Here is Susanna’s report on the wedding in her own words

They stood at the window on the second story of the barn. It was the room where they were getting ready (ironing out last-minute wrinkles in suits, trying to tie a tie with fumbling fingers). Through the screen they could see the guests arriving, and lovingly squeezed each other’s hands. It was all becoming so real now. It was something Clayton had always dreamed about. He never thought he would find the love of his life, let alone get married. But today- in a small, cozy nest of trees in the Catskills around the Delaware River- he and Jeffrey would celebrate their marriage to each other.

The two met in 2004 when they lived a few blocks away from each other in the East Village. At their first date in a favorite local restaurant, they talked for hours–a little about careers and histories, but mostly about Italy, wine and food. This was the first of many signs that their relationship would be a respite for both of them, a reminder of their loves, dreams and passions in life even as they might be swamped with the details and minutiae of it. Their wedding bore that out, as they wanted more than anything else for the day to be a respite for everyone in attendance; an opportunity to celebrate, to share memories, to dream big.

Every wedding has a high level of emotion about it. Some more than others. And many times I take on that emotion internally. It’s exhausting but also exhilarating at the same time. This wedding was no exception. I believe that when something doesn’t come easily to you, it means that much more when you’re finally able to make it yours. And what didn’t come easily to Clayton and Jeffrey, due to the laws of the state of New York, was the right to marry. Luckily for the two, all state agencies recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. Thus, the two made the trek a few weeks earlier to Connecticut to “legally” be joined. But in their hearts they wanted to bear witness to the commitment they were making to each other in front of family and friends. And in a special place at that.

Surrounded by friends and family from all over the globe, god, and nature, these two incredible guys joined their lives for better or for worse, until death do us part, forever and ever. There was not a dry eye. If love and emotion could take form, I swear it would have been ballooning up and floating out of that cozy spot in the Catskill Mountains. Between their personally written vows to each other and speeches later given by family and friends, I was having a hard time seeing through my tears into the viewfinder of the camera.

You may agree or disagree with this ceremony. Everyone is entitled to opinions expressed respectfully. But one thing I know for sure is that LOVE IS LOVE. And when you’re lucky enough to find it, you hold on to it. Clayton and Jeffrey, thank you for allowing me to document your love. It was an honor I will always carry with me.

P.S. Jeffrey, in case you’re reading this post, I received this the other day from Clayton.
“Jeffrey has added so much to the way that I see the world. His grace, patience, inquisitiveness and sensitivity have charmed me from the day we met. The greatest thing about our wedding day was simply having the chance to declare my commitment to him out loud in front of our loved ones, and for him to do the same to me. There was something transformative about it. The world hasn’t been the same since!”

Supplier Shout Outs

• Event Designer and Wedding Planner: Rachel Ehrlich
• Venue: The Barn at High Bridge Road; Milanville, PA
• Caterer: Amy Miller at Early Bird Cookery www.earlybirdcookery.com
• Flowers: Jill Weiner at Earth Girl Flowers www.earthgirlflowers.com
• Photo Booth: Boothomatic www.boothomatic.com
• Photographer: Susanna Tanner Photography (http://www.susannatanner.com)

For more information on Susanna’s work go to: 
www.susannatanner.com
www.susannatanner.com/blog
susannatanner@comcast.net
FACEBOOK
TWITTER

There are so many things I love about this wedding, the first being that the wedding is so personal to them as it is set at the family home! and if your family home was set on a lake like this then I’m sure you would want your wedding there as well! The outdoor ceremony is amazing, as well as the fact that they get to eat outside, something that is pretty rare in the UK! I love the colours, the accents of yellow with the bright pops of colour, as well as all the little DIY details. Jessie is a massive fan of Etsy so there are an assortment of lovely little details that all go together to make this wedding so special.
The wedding has a warm, relaxed, homely feel to it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Supplier Shout Outs:

• Photographer: LaceHanky Photography
• Dress: Watters and Watters from Ellynne Bridal
• Suits: Calvin Klein from Men’s Warehouse
• Bridesmaid dresses: Anthropologie
• Hair pieces: Twigs & Honey
• Cupcakes: Cocoa and Fig
• Catering: Chowgirls Killer Catering
• Invites & Programs: Scoop by Haskell Creative
• Music: Brian with Silver Sound Entertainment

For more information on Amanda and Lacey work go to:
www.lacehanky.com
info@lacehanky.com
FACEBOOK
TWITTER

It’s the wedding of Alyssa and Brian Fouch who were married on September 30th at Alyssa’s Parents House in Waynesville, Ohio. It really is a stunning day, and the fact that it was held at Alyssa’s parents house make it even more personal! All the homemade and DIY touches are amazing, the sweetie table is amazing, with each personas favorite sweet making taking pride of place, the guest book, the programs, but my favorite has to be the table lay out, I am loving the rustic feel, just perfect! As for Alyssa, she looks stunning and that dress is just divine!

Marissa has been kind enough to tell me a bit more about the day itself.

Alyssa and Brian chose to have an outdoor wedding on her parents property in historic Waynesville, Ohio in the early fall. While the day turned into a worrisome forecast (rain, wind and dark clouds!) Alyssa and Brian made the best of the situation with tents and rainy day coverage while still allowing their guests to “feel at home” on the acreage.

The bride got ready in her own bedroom, doing her own hair and makeup. The first look came just as the clouds broke to allow for beautiful golden afte-the-rain light, just in time for the bride and groom portraits. The ceremony site was held on top of a hill on the acreage with a tent overlooking the picturesque fields surrounding the property. Guests sat on bails of hay. The ceremony ended with fireworks and everyone watching from the ceremony tent.

After the ceremony, guests were directed to another tent by the main house where Alyssa’s thoughtfully crafted details awaited them like burlap enhanced table settings and a serve yourself candy bar with keepsake labeled mason jars for guests to fill. Each candy was selected from a bride or groom or family member’s “favorite.” A handcrafted burlap banner hung from the candy bar table saying, “Love is Sweet.”

The mother of the bride crafted and made the cake, which was set atop a piece of wood cut from a fallen down tree on the acreage a few month’s before the wedding. Alyssa made sure the wedding was as personal as it could be to her and those attending, so it could be remembered as a very intimate experience.

For more information on Marissa’s work go to:
www.mbadp.com
marissa@mbadp.com
FACEBOOK
TWITTER

Maddy and Chris were married on 12th August and they booked me for an on the day set up service. Maddy is one fo the nicest, sweetest people I have met and she booked me to help her set up her wedding day and to make sure that the day ran smoothly.

The wedding was in 3 parts. The wedding itself took place at Sheffield Town Hall, while the reception was held just round the corner from me, in a place I didn’t even know existed, the Walled Garden in Sheffield. This is such a pretty place, and perfect for an outdoor wedding or a baby naming ceremony. The gardens  are looked after by the council, who do a brilliant job at keeping it maintained and looking good, as I’m sure you will agree from these pictures, that were shot beautifully by Christian Ward photography.

After the reception and the speeches, a big Vintage bus arrived to take the guests to the evening venue, The Tulip Lounge, where I held my Boho Christmas Bash.

Maddy did pretty much all of the wedding herself, she spent months collecting vintage tea sets, and then sourcing all the other little bits and bobs to help decorate the venue as well as the evening venue, she even did all the flowers herslef, including her bouquet. As the guests arrived they all got a specially printed bag that contained all they needed for the day, and made perfect favours as well. Maddy looked stunning in her vintage wedding dress, one of the prettiest brides I have had the pleasure of working with!

It was a great day with a truly wonderful couple.

For more information on Christian and Erica’s work go to:
Christian Ward Photography
www.sheffieldweddingphotographer.com
http://blog.sheffieldweddingphotographer.com
christian@sheffieldweddingphotographer.com
07832 113973

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The lighting in an outdoor wedding can not only form a functional aspect to the day but create a beautiful form of decoration. In the summer months it may not get dark till 10pm but as dusk falls it’s time to get out your tea lights, fairy lights……whatever takes your fancy and add another level of atmosphere to your wedding.
As a wedding planner, one fo my jobs is to light the tealights and make sure all the outdoor lighting is set up. It is important to balance out the functionality of the lighting with the prettiness aspect.

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I have put together some of my favorite ideas for you to hopefully help and inspire you for your own wedding day.

Paper Lanterns

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Hanging Lanterns

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Paper Bag Lights

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Tea Lights

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DIY & Rustic Lanterns

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Floating Lanterns

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Mason/Jam Jars

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Odd and Bods

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So I hope you like my selection, do let me know what your favorite is. If you are having any sort of outdoor lighting for your wedding do let me know what you have chosen.

Big Boho Love

Kelly xx

BUT how do you make your dream of an outdoor ceremony into reality? there are so many thing to consider. I met up with Laurra from One Life Weddings when I first started my wedding planning business and I knew then that her ideas would revolutionise the wedding industry. More than 2 years down the line I’m happy to see Laurra’s business thriving and going from strength to strength and I have had the pleasure of working with her and her mother Maria on a number of weddings. They both run the business very successfully in the North of the country and have recently taken on Christabel to take on the London arm of the business so spreading the One life love to the South of the Country.

(Photo credit: www.leeallenphotography.com)

I thought it would be a good time to get Laurra and Christabel from One Life Weddings to discuss the idea of outdoor wedding further and tell you a bit more about the way they work, from the legalities to what happens if it rains!

I’ll hand the blog over to them…

 Planning an Outdoor Wedding

For many couples the idea of getting married in a flower meadow, on a beach or even in the grounds of their chosen wedding venue is high on their list of wedding ‘must haves.’ Once they discover that a Registrar cannot perform a marriage ceremony outdoors many are deterred, believing a wedding outside is simply not an option.

In England and Wales a legal wedding can only take place in a venue licensed for weddings and cannot take place in the open air, in a tent, marquee, or any other temporary structure. However, couples don’t need to be put off by this because you can hold your wedding outside it simply means you have to do things a tiny bit differently…

(photo credit www.phweddings.co.uk)

Can we get married outside?
Although you can’t sign the legal marriage documents, you can still hold your wedding ceremony outside with all the elements you’d expect: exchange of vows and rings, readings, an ‘I do’ and a first kiss.

Because One Life Weddings do not include the legal marriage documentation it means that your ceremony is free from restrictions. This gives you greater choice over where and when you can hold your wedding.

You simply visit the local Register Office prior to your wedding day to legally become husband and wife. This is a short and straightforward process in which make your declaratory vows and sign the register. That’s it. You can either invite just your two witnesses and keep it as brief and unromantic as possible or take a few close friends and family and then go for a meal afterwards. You may even prefer to do it on the morning on your wedding.

(photo credit www.OliviaBrabbs.co.uk )

Where can an outdoor wedding be held?
The choices for an outdoor wedding are endless, from your or your parents’ garden, a beautiful woodland, the grounds of a heritage site, park, vineyard or lakeside to a farmer’s field or even the grounds of a wedding venue.

One Life Weddings can always advise on the practicalities of outdoor weddings and if you need help finding the perfect location them we can help with that too!
If the location is completely outdoors (i.e. no venue close by) then you will also need to hire a marquee, tipi tent or yurt to hold the reception in. These make stunning venues and can be decorated to suit your personal taste or theme.

(photo source www.clairepennphotography.com )

What do I need to consider when planning an outdoor wedding?
If there’s one thing that can’t be relied on it’s the British weather, so when planning to hold an outdoor wedding one of the key things to consider is a plan B!

If you plan to hire a marquee, tipi or yurt for your reception it’s always worth considering whether it can also accommodate your wedding ceremony if the weather lets you down!
On the opposite side you also need to prepare for hot weather, this means ensuring your guests are comfortable; so you might want to think about supplying small bottles of water and fans, you could even provide them in place of favours!

When choosing a location you also need to consider the practicalities. Whilst the idea of having your wedding in the middle of a forest sounds super romantic, you need to think about how people will get there, especially if you have elderly guests or very young children coming.
Warning your guests that it will be an outdoor wedding is also a big must so they can prepare (and maybe re-think the 6inch heels if you’re asking them to stand in a field!)

(photo credit  www.phweddings.co.uk )

We’ve already booked our venue but really want an outdoor ceremony, what can we do?
If you’ve already booked your venue but hadn’t considered an outdoor wedding because you didn’t think it was possible, it’s always worth having a chat with them to see if they can accommodate your outdoor wedding vision (many venues don’t offer this because they assume it’s impossible).

Some may be wary about moving chairs outside, so as long as you’re happy to hire some in if needed then there shouldn’t be a problem with re-locating your wedding outdoors! If you’ve already booked the Registrar then there is also the option to complete your legal marriage indoors with them before your outdoor ceremony with One Life Weddings.

(photo credit  www.suzy-mitchell.com )

Is an outdoor wedding cheaper than hiring a venue?
The great thing about outdoor weddings is that they are a huge blank canvas. You can choose the location (woodland, beach, lakeside, field or garden) and you can also add to that your perfect venue whether that’s a marquee, a tipi tent or yurt and everything from the styling to the caterers is entirely up to you. So unlike some wedding venues you won’t be bound into packages, using certain suppliers and paying corkage.

However, this doesn’t necessarily make them cheaper. The thing to consider is that most outdoor locations don’t come with toilets, electricity, water, lights, heating and PA systems so all of these things will need to be hired. And unless your location has a venue with it you will also need tables and chairs.

Thank you Laurra and Christabel for this information, I hope you have found it useful and has encouraged you to consider holding your won outdoor ceremony! 

One Life Weddings are based in Yorkshire and London and provide personally written wedding ceremonies that reflect you as a couple. We work with some fantastic venues and locations in the North and South of England that are ideal for your outdoor wedding! Our personally written ceremonies start from £475.

To find out more please get in touch!
www.onelifeweddings.co.uk
info@onelifeweddings.co.uk
(0113) 868 0072

I’d like to hand the blog over to Lizzie to tell us  about more about her experience at the show.

Wow! 9 weeks have passed already since the Designer Vintage Bridal Show. The first wedding fair we attended with our wedding yurts. We were very fortunate to exhibit both our Wedding Yurts and the Raw Chocolate Parlour and find ourselves in the centre of the exhibition surrounded by some of the most creative and inspiring people in the wedding industry.

It was a great introduction and any doubts I had about setting up a business in the wedding industry were banished by beautiful displays of cakes, jewellery, stationery, dresses, shoes… and all of the people involved were so supportive. We left feeling very privileged to be involved in a show so utterly fabulous.

We showcased our honeymoon yurt which proved a real tease as everyone wanted to curl up on the bed for a little snooze.

The honeymoon yurt offers couples boutique accommodation anywhere they wish to spend their wedding night.  It is ideal for outdoor weddings when the guests are camping and the newly weds want to indulge and celebrate their wedding night in luxury or at a wedding venue where the guests are staying overnight and the couple want to be close to their friends and family but also somewhere private and special.

The honeymoon yurt can be set up in the gardens or woodland. Imagine following a path lit with hundreds of candles leading you to your luxury yurt, all cosy and magical, wood burner stoked, champagne on ice, maybe some aphrodisiac raw chocolates from our sister business the Raw Chocolate Parlour, big wooden bed with organic cotton sheets and feather down duvets, sheep skin rugs and golden sparkly lights, sleeping with the view of the stars above the bed, waking to the sound of birdsong on your first day as man and wife.

At the show we met the very talented Leckie & Jack from the Pocket Typewriter who made us some ‘honeymoon’ bunting to decorate the yurt and display at the show, how lovely?

Our yurts were beautifully adorned with floof fairies from fizzysnoods event and venue dressing in Brighton.  Lots of brides to be loved the floofs and a huge stack of fizzysnoods cards were gone by Saturday eve! The Snoods are exceptional at creating beautifully enchanting, whimsical spaces for parties and celebrations. Once all the decorations are in place and the guests start arriving, they drink  fizz to celebrate their creativity and to toast the happiness of their guests hence the name FizzySnood. So as you can imagine the floof fairies had fun in our champagne love potion cocktail bar.

I think my favourite moment from the show had to be when all the exhibitors were inside the yurts drinking champagne love potion cocktails after a hard days work!
A great big thank you to everyone who contributed to a very memorable show.

Fore more information on the Yurts and the Raw Chocolate Parlour go to
Contact: 07816452080
Wedding Yurts: www.weddingyurts.co.uk
Raw Chocolate Parlour : www.rawchocolateparlour.co.uk.
Photography: emmacasephotography.blogspot.com/