Beautiful Blue and White Wedding
All photographs are by Jessica Hayman - www.jessicahaymanphotography.co.uk - unless marked otherwise
The weather forecast for the Saturday was dreadful but the bride remained hugely positive and she was proved right! The clouds were gathering as the marquee went up in the field but our farmer also was firm that it would be fine for the wedding. (Sean from Affordable Marquees - https://affordablemarquees.co.uk ). Jacques & Co. (www.jacquesandco.co.uk) provided benches and tables which were set out on the main lawn ready for the evening meal on Saturday.
The following day the bride and groom arrived to decorate the marquee and grounds. With the sky still very threatening, we discussed the possibility of having to hold the ceremony in the marquee and then going into the house to repeat the vows. Chairs stacked ready by the dance floor just in case.
Handmade signposts were put in place to direct guests to their chosen spot and two rustic tables appeared down one side of the marquee - one with a guest book and photographs of the couple’s grandparents on their wedding day and the other with jars of biscuits for guests to snack on in the afternoon and a little case of tattoos to decorate themselves - very popular with the children.
The bar – a beautifully decorated horsebox – rolled up and took up position in front of the marquee. I suggested that a gazebo be place between it and the marquee to enable access IF it rained the next day. Ditto one for access to the Photo booth and Pizza van arriving on Saturday evening. (The Copper Still Bar - https://thecopperstillbar.co.uk/ )
The caterers - https://www.meekscatering.co.uk/ - arrived and tables were arranged and laid. Beautifully thought-out table settings were put in the centre of each one - collections of old books and succulents in little terracotta pots. Each child had a bag with their name on it, bulging with goodies to keep them amused and each adult a wrist band with the couple’s names on.
A pallet hung with a collection of different frames was put in place to direct guests to their tables - the Head table for the bride and groom was particularly beautifully decorated.
Confetti, service sheets and Nibbles for the next day were stored along the side of the marquee.
Continuing her book theme, the bride had spent hours making bunting out of old paperbacks which she had carefully folded into rosettes. She hung this across the centre of the marquee and along both sides.
We lent some galvanised and enamel jugs and watering cans to add to those collected by the bride and soon beautiful blue and white flowers were being arranged in them – some for the marquee and some for the gazebo.
In house
Many of the friends and relations who had come to help had found time during the day to set up their tents in the outer walled garden so now the only thing left to do was to practice for the ceremony!
The day of the wedding arrived – the weather was not good until the clouds lifted after a shower at 11am. The gods were with them! Decision made to go ahead with an outside ceremony, the groom and his groomsmen carried the chairs down to gazebo lawn. The seats were stacked in the gazebo just in case! The flowers were placed on either side of the gazebo
The sun came out – seats went onto the chairs with a service sheet on each one and the PA system was set up and tested ready to play the ceremony music.
Props appeared out of the marquee - umbrellas and sunglasses to the front of the house, along with a welcome sign and lawn games onto the big lawn
The most amazing cake from Caked Patisserie arrived - https://www.cakedpatisserie.co.uk - three layers of white icing, decorated with brown and blue flowers and a photograph of the bridal couple on the top.
The Groom and Groomsmen hurriedly changed, collected their buttonholes from the front porch of the house - everything was ready for the arrival of the first guests.
The bridal party had stayed at the Cashmoor Inn the night before - http://www.cashmoorinn.co.uk/ . As the Bride had predicted, the sun was shining, as she and her father arrived at Shillingstone House. She was wearing a simple, very beautiful dress of fine voile with a lace bodice. Her hair had been intricately plaited at the back and twisted with blue and white flowers. She carried a bouquet of the same. https://theenglishgardenflorist.org/
Photographs over, everyone made their way over to the catalpa tree on the lawn to await the signal to process down to the Gazebo for the ceremony. The two small bridesmaids went first, scattering confetti from tiny baskets as they went. They were followed by the five adult attendants. All were dressed in a lovely shade of blue/grey but in varying styles and carried blue and white flowers.
The bride and her very proud father brought up the rear. They were met by a possibly somewhat nervous bridegroom!
As the bride and groom and their witnesses signed the official documents, they were serenaded by a group of friends. Then having been been presented with their marriage certificate, they made their triumphant way back down the aisle under a sea of confetti. More confetti awaited them on the top lawn!
Guests went to pick up their welcome drink of cider from the bar, who had used one of the emergency gazebos to keep this cool rather than dry. Pretzels and pop corn circulated and Sam Scott ( a family friend) began to play his guitar. Guests soon discovered the many lawn games including the cricket - luckily using a soft ball.
While guests were enjoying themselves on the lawns, Jessica Hayman took the bride and groom to have some photographs taken in the walled garden.
On their return, Jessica began to whisk family and close friends into groups for the more formal - and some not so formal - photographs before coming into the house to take a large group photograph from an upstairs window.
Time for the bride and Groom to enter the marquee as Mr and Mrs Brain. A feast awaited them, cooked by Meeks Catering, of barbecued steak and chicken accompanied by an array of salads with a delicious selection of cakes to follow. Andrew Meeks kindly took most of the following excellent photographs.
As speeches were made in the marquee the evening entertainment arrived. This was not easy and involved a lot of maneuvering to avoid driving into the Ha Ha but eventually the Dorset Pedaling Pizza Company - https://www.dorsetpedalingpizza.co.uk/- and the Hello Love Caravan Photobooth - https://www.hello-love.co.uk/ - were both in place. Both were much enjoyed by the guests. The pizza van produced a heart shaped pizza for the bride and groom
As darkness fell, it was time for the first dance and the party began and with dancing continuing, to the sound of the band. Pop the Top until Midnight. https://popthetop.co.uk/
Music over, the party retired to camping area to chat round the fire pit before the bride and groom retired to our bell tent in the Walled Garden, decorated, very appropriately in blue and white.
The party did not stop there as the campers all met for a huge breakfast round the firepit. It had been an amazing weekend.
Guest photograph