Hollie says…
We chose The Woodlands because of the gorgeous scenery, the general relaxed atmosphere and the fact that we could get married outside amongst the trees. We also fell in love with the idea of staying the night in a treehouse and the fact that we could have firepits so our guests could party outside late into the evening!
My dress was very simple and flowy to fit with our boho vibe. It was a two piece with a see-through top decorated with diamonds for a bit of sparkle, the dress also had short sleeves which was perfect for the summer. I bought it from ASOS because I could get a fab dress and have more money to spend on our venue and photographer which we saw as crucial elements. To accessorise, I wore a necklace that had been passed down multiple generations through my Mum’s side of the family
I kept my hair simple too with a natural wavy look with wild flowers added and hair and make-up was done by family and friends. The Bridesmaids dresses were full length to match mine and they were a purple colour to complement our wildflower bouquets. Michael and his groomsmen wore tweed suits with wild flower button holes.
Our theme was rustic/boho. We had simple wild flower floral arrangements in jam jars on log slices as table centrepieces to add to the rustic feel. Wedding favours were homemade table games. We made glasses that held cards for a Guess Who? game. Sunflowers were a big feature in the flowers for our head table that had a mixture of yellows, purples and pinks. We hired a wooden backdrop for behind the head table with our new names written across. We also had a large frame with childhood photos of Michael and I with all different family members who were at the wedding.
Our florist was Zoe from The Bouquet Workshop and we wanted a rustic mixture of yellows and purples and pinks. We requested sunflowers and craspedia, and we absolutely loved the end result.
Our three-tier wedding cake and cupcakes were vegan and baked by one of our super talented bridesmaids and the catering was provided by our venue.
Our wedding was very informal, so it was important to us that our photos were relaxed and personal. We wanted a photographer who would capture the fun and laidback atmosphere, without becoming frazzled by the loose structure and the barefoot kids zooming around everywhere! After seeing Nathan’s photos and meeting with him, we knew straight away that his style and personality would fit perfectly with our vision for the day.
Best part of the day
For me, being walked down the aisle by my brother really meant a lot to me. The ceremony itself was gorgeous and I didn’t quite manage to hold it together during my vows. For Michael it was the ceremony itself, the really funny and personal speeches, seeing everyone meeting and mingling and playing the homemade table game together.
From one couple to another…
Give yourself time to actually enjoy the day. As much of a cliché as it is, it really does go by at 100 miles per hour! Have friends and family to work together with the running of the day, so the responsibilities aren’t all on you. Don’t be afraid to delegate responsibility! Also, remember – not everything will go according to plan but it all adds to the charm of the day.
Venue The Woodlands at Hothorpe Hall
Photography Nathan Walker Photography
Flowers The Bouquet Workshop
Stationery Nerissa Eve Weddings
Groom’s Attire Moss Bros.