Real Wedding – Page 2

Wildflowers and Vibrant Blooms ~ Liz & Ade’s Beautiful Rustic Farm Wedding

July 31, 2019 by Signature Flowers

This week it is my absolute delight to share with you the wedding of Liz and Ade. This vibrantly personal wedding, was an absolute joy to work on. With bright bouquets and quirky centrepieces, we were delighted to be part of this special day.

Answers by Liz, I hope you enjoy today’s real wedding blog.

How long have you been together?

13 years this year.

How did you meet?

Through friends when I started college in Aylesbury.

When did you get engaged?

Ade proposed on my 25th birthday – Hiding the ring box in a book he gave me as a gift and then threw a surprise birthday / engagement party that afternoon!

Where did you hold your wedding ceremony & reception?

We had our legal ceremony at beaconsfield registry office. A small family do with the reception at Ades mums house. We had a large hand fasting ceremony and reception at Huntsmill farm where Signature provided the beautiful flowers.

What did you wear?

I had a customised Mori Lee princess gown with beaded corset and multi-layered skirt with added coloured tulle.

Bride and her father walking down the aisle

What theme/colour scheme did you chose?

Ade’s favourite food is Mexican as we had a Mexican food truck serving burritos as our wedding breakfast and a mariachi band performed after the ceremony. This influences our multi-coloured vibrant theme.

That sounds fabulous!

What was your favourite part of your wedding day?

So many parts! The actual ceremony was so beautiful, reading our own vows, dancing to the band and having all our friends and family with us.

What was your one Wedding Day ‘Must Have’?

Good food!

Would you change anything or do you have any advice for currently engaged couples?

Do it your way. We were a bit apprehensive how people might react to a pagan ceremony, a food truck, having the wedding in a farm. We were so happy we stuck to our guns and did things our way. It was an incredible day!

Would you like to mention any particular wedding suppliers who assisted with your day?

Huntsmill Farm are amazing. We loved the venue. Our cake from Bakerman in Leighton Buzzard. Our incredible photographer Emilie May.

Did you choose specific wedding flowers for any special reason?

Emma helped me pick flowers as we discussed the theme and also what was in season. The only thing I knew I wanted was peonies and some wild flowers and she helped me compliment them perfectly.

How did you feel when you finally saw all the wedding flowers in the venue for your special day?

I was beyond happy. Emma and the team did an amazingly beautiful job decorating all our tables and when I sneaked in to the marquee with my bridesmaids I even shed a tear. I was so overwhelmed.

What were your feelings when Emma handed you, your bridal bouquet?

It all started to feel real and it was so emotional. I’d asked to have a pendant belonging to my late nan added to the bouquet and Emma was so accommodating ensuring this would work and be secure.

I’d recommend Emma’s team to anyone in the area. We were so so happy with the bouquet for myself and my bridesmaids, the buttonholes for the bridal party – the grooms being extra special. Emma even suggested using corsages for the mother’s so as not to damage their new dresses with pins. Nothing was too much trouble.

Close up of bridal and bridesmaid bouquets

Have a great week.

Emma x

Image Credit: Emilie May Photography

Childhood Sweethearts Lisa & Nick, Marry At The Dairy

July 24, 2019 by Signature Flowers

With today being so hot (it’s going to be 32C here later apparently!), I thought I’d cool things down a little and share a winter wedding with you.

This week I am delighted to introduce childhood sweethearts Lisa and Nick. Their beautiful wedding ceremony took place just over 2 years ago, at The Dairy, Waddesdon. Lisa chose a shower bouquet, which I thoroughly enjoyed creating for her. Written in her own words, here is Lisa’s account of their very special day…

How long have you been together?

We have been together nearly 15 years and married for over 2

How did you meet?

We met at school at the tender age of 16 and it was love at first sight for me (second sight for him). Nick came to my school for a young enterprise meeting and we met in the school hall through a mutual friend.

When & how did you get engaged?

We got engaged after being together 11 years. We were at home one Friday evening and he gave me a shoe box at home and as I opened them, there were a pair of custom Nike trainers with “Will you marry me?” sewn into the back of them.

The ring was tied into the shoe laces and I responded with “I thought you weren’t going to ask me!”

Which date did you chose for your wedding day?

We got married on 25.02.2017. We chose February as we didn’t want to rely on the British weather for a sunny day. No major significance for us, but we are so pleased we chose Feb as we got some fab evening photos.

Where did you hold your ceremony & reception?

We had our ceremony and reception at the Dairy at Waddesdon Manor. We’re both from Slough/Windsor and thought about getting married back home, but then realised that Aylesbury, is our home now and we wanted our families to see us get married in our new home town.

The Dairy is just breath-taking and everyone involved there were so friendly and caring. We knew after we left the first viewing that this was the venue for us.

Who was involved in planning your wedding?

We did all of it ourselves, as we paid for everything. We wanted the wedding to showcase us as a couple and a partnership, and as such didn’t want too much interference from other people that didn’t see our vision.

Bridal party arriving for the Wedding Ceremony at Waddesdon Dairy

Did you both have Hen/Stag Do’s?

I had 2 hen parties. I went to Disneyland Paris with my mum and two sisters, which was a complete surprise and then went out in Windsor about 2 weeks before the wedding with some family and friends organised by my sister. It was a masquerade theme.

How many people did you invite to share your special day?

We had about 80 people in the day and another 50-60 in the evening. So quite small.

Who were your Bridesmaids?

I have got 4 sisters, so they were all my bridesmaids and then had my nieces and nephews as flower girls and page boys.

Who was your Best Man?

Nick had his brother, James, as his best man

What did you wear?

I wore an ivory Enzoani dress, from Butterfly Bridal Boutique in Bicester and had straps put on it as I didn’t like it strapless

What did Nick wear?

Nick wore a custom made navy suit and had our initials and the date of the wedding embroidered into it .

Blue and white wedding colour scheme at The Dairy Waddesdon

What about your Mum?

My Mum wore baby blue dress she found online, and fascinator from Mark’s and Spencer’s.

What theme/colour scheme did you choose?

Out colour scheme was midnight blue, white and silver.

How did you feel on the morning of your wedding?

I wasn’t nervous at all. I knew this was the right thing to do and all I wanted was to see Nick, and become his wife.

Who made speeches?

My dad, Nick and his brother made speeches. My dad spoke of how he nearly killed me and my sister (it was a lot funnier than it sounds) and Nick spoke of us as a couple getting together at school and going through so much together, but we’re still together and stronger for it.

Which song did you choose for your ‘First Dance’?

We had Bryan Adams “Everything I Do, I Do It For You”. When we were about 18/19 we had a karaoke machine out one Christmas and it was the only duet available and it has been our song ever since.

What was your favourite part of the day?

Seeing Nick for the first time and him stroking my hand throughout the whole ceremony.

What was your one Wedding Day ‘Must Have’?

Calm and patient family members. Without my mum and sisters there to help on the day it would have a lot more stressful on the day! And being super organised with lists’.

Would you change anything or do you have any advice for currently engaged couples?

Really think about who you want to come to your wedding and in your wedding party. I was bullied into having some people in my wedding party that I didn’t want, but I stuck to my guns and only had my sisters, who I knew were there for me and to see me and Nick get married and as such we had the day we wanted, not what other people wanted.

Would you like to mention any particular wedding suppliers who assisted with your day?

Emma at Signature Flowers, was amazing and really helped us as my husband and I were really clueless as to what flowers we wanted. She came up with ideas to match our colour scheme and the time of year we were having our wedding.

The team at Butterfly Bridal Boutique were fantastic! I had a bad experience at a previous bridal store and didn’t think I would find a dress, but they really put me at ease.

The whole team at The Dairy at Waddesdon Manor who were there for us every step of the way. I really wanted a chandelier wedding cake and Kristina at Penn Wedding Cakes, was able to do this for us and give us an amazing wedding cake that looked, and tasted, amazing!

Mark Sisley, our photographer was impeccable and got some fantastic photos of us that we will treasure forever!

Wishing you a fantastic week, enjoy the sunshine!

Emma xx

A Vintage Wedding at The Five Arrows Hotel, Buckinghamshire

July 17, 2019 by Signature Flowers

Today, I am delighted to introduce to you, Tori & Michael. A fabulous couple, that I had the honour of working with last year. Focusing on a classically vintage vibe, Tori tells us in her own words, how the magic unfolded on their wedding day.

How long have you been together?

5 years, and now married for 1 of those.

How did you meet?

We met through friends – his workmate and my workmate set us up. He almost didn’t get a second date, as he turned up late for the first one! Not his fault though, his lift took a wrong turn and he ended up miles from where he should have been.

When & how did you get engaged?

Michael proposed on Christmas day! It was our first Christmas together at home, just the two of us. It was my final (and best) Christmas present.

Where did you hold your wedding ceremony & reception?

We had both at the Five Arrows in Waddesdon – beautiful!

What made you choose that location?

We both loved the intimacy of it, as we weren’t having a huge wedding. The grounds are stunning, the rooms are great and it was a good location for the majority of our guests to get to us.

It was also the most perfect day in terms of the weather, so the outside spaces were fully utilised. Also having both in the same location (and with accommodation too) made it so much easier logistically.

What was your wedding dress like?

I wore a 1950’s style tea dress length, ivory dress. I fell in love with it from a picture on google images, and it turned out to be from a very expensive shop in London, that I could never afford.

I went and tried lots of other dresses in various places, but nothing seemed quite right. Then I went to Berkertex in Birmingham. Charlotte asked me what kind of dress I had in mind, and of course I showed her the picture. Turned out they had an almost identical dress in their range!

The difference was almost imperceptible and despite her throwing some other curveballs in the mix (I was temped by a grecian style), I knew deep down my original choice was THE ONE! If I could, I’d wear it again and again (I just need a reason).

Brides Rose Gold Vintage Ruby Shoo Mary Jane Wedding Shoes

Tell us about THE shoes..

YOU KNOW about those shoes! Rose gold vintage style, Ruby Shoo Mary Janes with a flower detail. The shoes came before the dress. I just adore them. They also had an outing on my honeymoon!

What theme/colour scheme did you choose & why?

There was no theme as such – just what we liked, and what fitted with the venue. My style is fairly classic/vintage, so it worked really well with the venue.

What was your favourite part of your wedding day?

I don’t know if I could pinpoint one. The whole day was just perfect from start to finish. Although as I recall, I cried A LOT. (Happy tears of course). I also spent the entire evening on the dance floor. Just being with friends and family who were there just for us was amazing.

What was your one Wedding Day ‘Must Have’?

Tissues and my Mum. (Sorry that’s 2!)

Who made up your bridal party?

My Mum, my stepdaughter and my two nieces. Kept it small!

Intricate floral centrepiece made up of mini vases

What were your table names?

Our table names were all brands of gin – top table was Mermaid, which is my favourite brand of gin, distilled in a place where my family, including my newest additions, Mike and Kate, have made so many memories – the Isle of Wight.

Gin is our favourite drink, and there are so many beautiful gin bottles around, we thought it would amuse our friends to use them as our table names and it worked.

Did you give Mike a special gift on the morning of your wedding?

I made a groom’s box for him, with little gifts and a meaningful tag attached to each. Tissues, personalised cufflinks, personalised boxer shorts, a miniature of amaretto, special socks, mints etc.

Close up of Bride and Bridesmaids Bouquets

Would you change anything or do you have any advice for currently engaged couples?

I would have hired a videographer – there are so many moments that you miss, and a photographer can’t capture everything.

My main piece of advice would be (and this was passed to me by a friend, and I’ve passed it on ever since): Take some moments with your Groom to absorb what’s going on. Look at people’s faces – they are there to see you, and look how much joy it’s giving them, how much fun they are having.

The day flies by so quickly, it’s important to savour those moments when you can. Have 5 minutes, just the two of you, to take a step back as a couple and take it all in.

Would you like to mention any particular wedding suppliers who assisted with your day?

Maxine Wilson, my hair and make up artist. She was absolutely amazing. She did a fabulous job and made me look beautiful (no mean feat) but still myself!

She was also so great with bridesmaids, who were 7, 10 and 11 years old – she made them feel really special and kept them occupied!

Of course, you know how I feel about you and your flowers – they really did make the venue look stunning, and you made it so easy. You seemed to know exactly what I wanted even when I wasn’t sure.

Did you choose specific flowers for any special reason?

I just chose what I like, and what I knew would fit with the venue and my dress.

How did you feel when you finally saw all the flowers in the venue for your special day?

I saw the heart outside the venue and burst into tears! Everything was just perfect.

What were your feelings when I handed the bouquet to you?

Guess – TEARS AGAIN! I’m shedding one now just thinking about it! They were everything that I wanted, and more. If you could just arrange for my husband to get me the exact same bouquet for every anniversary…..

It was a true delight to be part of Tori and Michael’s Wedding Day. I hope that you have enjoyed seeing their beautiful images captured by Amy Kirkham Oxford Photography.

Have a great week.

Emma x

Laura & Lawence’s Dream Winter Wedding

July 1, 2019 by Signature Flowers

It’s always wonderful to chat with our lovely couples after their special day. I adore looking through their photos and hearing all about the magic that unfolded for them. So much so, that I have decided to create a regular real wedding feature to continue the celebration for our wonderful couples. Today I would like to introduce you to Laura and Lawrence, who got married on the 9th February 2019.

Written by Laura in her own words, we hope you enjoy our first real life wedding post as much as we do.

Emma xx

How long have you been together?

Lawrence and I have been together for 6 years.

How did you meet?

We met after uni in Sheffield when we ended up in the same house share, and well I just couldn’t get rid of him haha 😉

When & how did you get engaged?

We got engaged in July 2017. Lawrence took me back to where I use to live in Cyprus and asked me to marry him. I bet you are thinking, a beautiful sunset, a lovely beach, some champagne… no in true Laura & Lawrence style he was in his pants and I had my head in the fridge!

Who were your wedding party?

We had our best friends and my sister.

Groom and his Bestman awaiting the arrival of his Bride

Where did you hold your ceremony & reception?

We got married in Quainton church, this was important for me as it is where my Grandads were born and raised. Our reception was in Long Crendon at Notley Tythe barn, it was a lovely barn venue.

What did you wear?

I wore a long white dress, with a little bit of fur for warmth.

Bride in car travelling to wedding ceremony

Did you change your mind at all on your dress?

Nope, I went with my gut and stayed with it!

What theme/colour scheme did you choose?

We picked a colourful scheme, this was because we were getting married in February, so we wanted to bring a little colour to the cold winter.

What was your favourite part of the day?

Saying ‘I do’ with our loved ones around us.

What was your one Wedding Day ‘Must Have’?

The earrings my mother wore to her wedding.

Would you change anything or do you have any advice for currently engaged couples?

It’s not about how big your party is or how much money you spend, it’s about signing that piece of paper and taking that vow with the person you love.

Did you choose specific flowers for any special reason?

I wanted simple and colourful. I wanted more field like flowers to suit our venue and NO roses as valentines was around the corner.

How did you feel when you finally saw your wedding flowers in the venue?

We were absolutely overwhelmed by how amazing the flowers looked, it finished off the look of the wedding and really made our day special. It was everything and more.

Close up of Bridal Bouquet and Bridesmaid Bouquets

What were your feelings when Emma handed the bouquet to you?

I was speechless at how amazing my bouquet looked, when looking at the photos the colours in my flowers bought out the richness in all the colours around us. They were beautiful.

Special Thanks to:

Hair by Holly
Make up by Jodie Elenor
Photography – Chelsea Cannar
Venue – Notley Tythe Barn.

How Does A Florist Style Their Own Wedding Day?

June 24, 2019 by Signature Flowers

DIY of course! We got married five years ago. Our wedding day was a celebration of our lives together so far. It needed to incorporate our love of being outside, the village our families have grown up in, and botanicals. My husband to be James, was working (& still does) on the family nursery, and I was running my Floristry business, from a workshop on the premises.

Being in the wedding industry meant I wanted to push boundaries and create something unique to us, and as a Florist it meant the flowers were a key focal part to the day.

Our starting point, other than our gorgeous locations, both within a mile of both family homes, were choosing colours. My inspiration came from the rich green of the foliage around us (and ‘Defiant’ the stunning diesel locomotive situated behind our top table), ivory to co-ordinate with my dress, and hints of copper and brown to make everything more rustic.

Defiant Steam Engine at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre

As a curvier bride I wanted something that would help elongate me so I chose a shower bouquet. My incredible florist pal Daisy, made my bouquet for me and I will forever be indebted to her for it! I gave her two images that I loved and wanted to merge to create something bespoke for me. The base of the frame was made from rolls and rolls of silver bullion wire. Then Daisy threaded and glued all of my favourite Spring flowers throughout it.

My bouquet had to have lots of seasonal blooms in it including; hellebores, snowdrops and muscari were essentials! Then we used some what we call all year round materials; stachys, hypericum, kalanchoe and spray rose but is also had to include orchids, my absolute favourites.

Bride and Father of the Bride entering the church

James wore a green ‘Wimbledon’ rose buttonhole with some copper detailing that I created. These then had a eucalyptus trim and the stems were bound in stachys to compliment my bouquet. James really wanted red flowers being a huge Manchester United fan but had to compromise with one tiny red rose bud in the cake flowers! I promised him there’d be a red rose somewhere!!

We had to move all our flowers from the church straight away as it was Lent – one of the only times in the year when a Church shouldn’t have flowers in it. So we had a team of friends ready to move the pedestals which were spectacular and made by my best friend and florist pal Kirsty. So the pedestals had to have impact in the church and then also look amazing in the Railway Station – which is huge! These were made up with larger and longer blooms including chrysanthemum, gladioli, carnations, pussy willow, asparagus, wax flower and anthirrinum’s to give lots of impact.

Our Church has a new door, and an old door. Growing up in the village and being taken to Sunday School each week we used the old door. With it’s rustic charm and emotional connection I knew that was the door I wanted to use for my entrance. So we dressed the new door with a very natural foam free arch. The base was created by my florists; Daisy, Kirsty, Jo and Ali using foraged branches and willow, then we incorporated grasses, mosses, carnations and tulips. It softened the new brickwork and was a lovely way to welcome guests to our day.

Our top table was a long runner made up with lots of roses, carnations, lisianthus and chrysanthemum with moss and candles throughout. It went the whole length of our table to create a real focal point! I loved it!

My dress was a gorgeous soft lace gown from Charlotte Balbier. Very different to the dress I’d fallen in love with originally!

My bridesmaids; my sister and my best friend wore forest green dressed and their bridesmaid bouquets included soft green carnations bordered with a woodland collar showcasing delicate snowdrops and orchids!

Leading up to the wedding most of the jobs were done and we were both surprisingly relaxed, despite a lot going on around us (I think some of this helped with perspective!).

It was an incredibly beautiful spring day and we were surrounded by family and friends, who have been at our sides throughout our lives. Our favourite memory of the day has to be walking out of church in glorious sunshine to be greeted by so many members of the village who wanted to congratulate us – a memory to treasure forever!

Quainton Church with ribbons on the tree outside

The band in the evening ‘Who’s Got the Dog’ was brought together by my old piano teacher and I think that all 9 of them knew at least 5 guests! They started the evening with their own arrangement of Gabrielle Aplin’s ‘The Power of Love’, chosen by James, and kept the guests on the dance floor until we were sent home!

We were pampered on the day by my all time favourite bridal prep team; Harriet Bartley Hairdresser and Carla Tangi from Feel Beautiful. I still recommend them to my brides 5 years down the line!

So that’s an insight into our day! In the coming weeks I am looking forward to sharing with you some of this years weddings with you!

Have a great week!

Emma xx

Credit: Images by Wendy Grant Photography