{A Bow Occasions Wedding} Martha and Stu – July 2011

I’m super excited to share this real wedding this morning as I have been putting it off ever since I was told that it was going to be featured on Style Me Pretty! Did I mention that? Go on, head on over and check it out but don’t forget to come back here.

Martha and Stu contacted me about my Wedding Day Coordination service about 4 months ahead of their big day in July of this year. Due to unfortunate circumstances, their perfect venue cancelled their wedding just 6 months before their wedding. As the wedding was booked for a Saturday in July, finding a new venue proved difficult but their hopes were raised when Stu’s parents offered to let them get married in their garden and there begun their DIY garden wedding planning whirlwind.

Shell de Mar photography is the talented lady behind these photos. She is such a sweetie and was lovely to work alongside. If you’re looking for a wedding photographer, go check out her website!

I visited Stu’s parent’s home near Milton Keynes, to meet with Stu and Martha for their pre-wedding meeting on a rainy day approximately two months before their wedding date. Even in the rain, it was a gorgeous setting and I just knew that all their hard work would pay off.

Martha and Stu had planned a humanist ceremony outside and despite the rain threatening to fall on the day; the weather was gorgeous at the right moments.

After the ceremony, they served their favourite cocktails in glass drinks dispensers and jam jars for glasses. A lovely touch was when their friends surprised them by dressing up their old VW camper van and turning it into an ice cream van from which they served the guests 4 different flavours of wedding themed homemade ice cream.

 

In the months before the wedding Martha and Stu made most of the details and decorations.  They made the tissue paper pompoms, table numbers, place names, wooden signs, a photobooth and props, jam jar glasses for the reception, the cake topper, invitations, save the dates, orders of service, table runners, menu chalkboard, bunting, rubber stamped paper cocktail napkins, made 100 fabric napkins and the Polaroid escort card display with pictures of the both of them with each one of their guests.  They also spent many a weekend in the garden perfecting the ceremony area which included lots of clearing and planting of grass seed.

Instead of a formal 3 course meal, Martha and Stu asked their favourite deli to make picnic hampers full of their favourite foods and dessert was a table full of yummy treats made by their friends and family.

Martha and Stu sent me this lovely email after they returned from their honeymoon. I truly do love my couples.

“Everything was so perfect! I was so stressed in the run up to the wedding that I was worried I would never be able to relax and enjoy the day but having you there meant I didn’t even need to think about any logistics or anything. No one asked me any questions and there were no decisions to be made, it was pure bliss! I know it’s a cliche but it really was the best day EVER.

I can only imagine how hard you must have worked before the wedding and during to make the day run so well and for me and Stu not to be aware of anything except our guests and how much fun we were having. I seriously can’t put into words how appreciative we are. Not just for the logistical/organisey bits but the dessert table etc looked totally fab too! After a year of planning, immense DIYing and stressing I couldn’t imagine anyone better to off load it all on to to pull it all together to create the day we had hoped for, the service you provided was truely priceless.”

Huge congratulations to Martha and Stu and thanks for allowing me to be a part of your incredible wedding day.

Louise xo