Black Tie and Wild Flowers for a Wedding on the Isle of Wight…

It's time for some afternoon wedding wonder and Jeez Louise, I have some wonderment for you with this beautiful beach-side wedding from Isle of Wight photographer, Jason Mark Harris.

Laura and Gavin got married at Priory Bay Country House Hotel in sea-view on the Isle of Wight on 31st May this year and Mr Harris was there to capture all these beautiful and inspirational photographs…

"The story goes a little like this; six years ago, way before I met Gavin, he went to the Isle of Wight festival with some of his friends. He had a truly excellent weekend, naming the island "his happy place" and he told the group that he was determined to meet a girl from The Isle of Wight and live happily ever after.

Cut forward a year to a bar in Clapham in London, when we catch each others flirty eyes, and got talking. Gavin soon learns that the Isle of Wight used to be my home, and that my family still lived there – and so the saying goes "the rest is history!"

Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photograpy Copyright (c) 2012, Jason Mark Harris

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Those pretty bridesmaids frocks are from Zara

White bridesmaids dresses from Zara

I just adore the use of wild flowers throughout the wedding, they work perfectly with the laid back and casual nature of the whole day…

"We knew we didn't want to go overboard on loads of flowers, we wanted to keep to our theme of "no theme", simple and casual. We didn't have a colour theme running or anything like that. We both liked the look of wild flowers, as if they were just picked from the garden.

Flowers by Nic  is a beautiful florist on the Isle of Wight, and as soon as I told Nic my ideas, she was just as excited as me and couldn't wait to get creative! I collected lots of vintage tins, jars, tea cups etc and then Nic filled them up with garden love! amazing!"

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

An elegant veil from As You Like It Wedding Veils conceals a really pretty set of headsparkle by Gillian Million beneath…

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Don't you just adore these 'I loved her first" cufflinks, for the Father of the Bride? You can pick up a pair right here on Etsy….

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

"One of the best parts of the wedding was the night before – we had a beach party! The majority of the guests arrived for that. It meant the guests could meet one another and relax in each others company, and Gavin and I could chill out and get excited!

The weather was absolutely perfect – the beach looked stunning, the sea was the bluest and calmest we had ever seen it and the sun was just setting. We had music down on the beach, the hotel set up a great bar and a huge bonfire. We also had chilli and jacket potatoes served in boxes. We laid out blankets to sit on, chairs around the bar and bonfire, shawls and scarfs if people got cold and we had lanterns lighting up the beach.

Boy did we party – nothing like a mini beach rave until 3am on the morning of your wedding!  When planning the wedding, I certainly didn't think i would wake up still tipsy on the big day – let's just say, breakfast was interesting! But luckily, I also woke feeling like the happiest, most excited and luckiest girl in the world there was no such thing as a hangover! The party was such a hit! I'd highly recommend doing something like this the night before, we want to do it all over again!"

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

"I had quite a specific image in my head of how i wanted my dress to look. Something slinky and lots of back detail, maybe backless, and i loved lace. My Annasul.Y dress was one of the first ones I tried on, and straight away I knew I loved it, but wanted to put my own stamp on it and customise it slightly. Initially, the back was covering up the detail. It also had straps which i didn't like.

Teokath in Wimbledon were fabulous at listening to my ideas and together we created my perfect dress! I had lace added to the bottom, the straps and the back of the dress changed, and of course some sparkles and sequins added to all the lace – simply perfect!"

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

"We didn't want the traditional wedding cake, and wanted to keep things fun and relaxed. My Aunty Jo makes delicious, out of this world delights, so we decided to have a cake table, including our favorite things; brownie, flap jack, Victoria sponge etc.

Other guests brought cakes too, my Grandpa made his signature lemon drizzle cake – its a family favourite!"

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

"this is a text that i sent to Jason the morning after our wedding, should sum it up.
"Holy macaroni…WHAT A DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you so so much from the bottom of out hearts. You really were fantastic! It felt like you weren't the photographer…you were part of the family. I have never felt so happy in my whole life! The newly weds!"

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog


"Choosing our wedding venue was the easiest thing we have ever done! The Isle of Wight has always played a very special part in our relationship;  we have since been to every festival on the Isle of Wight together, and also Gavin proposed in Ventnor, in a stunning beach cottage in a beautiful bay called Steephill Cove. The fun times we have shared on the Isle are endless.

Our favourite beach is Priory Bay, it is a private beach connected to a hotel, so not everyone knows about it or how to get there. Every summer we wander through the woods to the little slice of paradise, always saying that if we ever got engaged we would get married at priory bay. So when Gavin proposed in February last year we both knew that Priory Bay was the place for us!

We had never even seen or been to the hotel before, but we knew how much we loved the beach so figured we would like it. And like we did, its rustic vintage charm, amazing grounds, delightful rooms and stunning views. We booked it! Job done!"

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

"My dad 'gave me away', it was such a wonderful moment..."

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

"We decided on an informal wedding breakfast which was essetially a BBQ.  The boys did speeches before the food so they could enjoy there meal without the dreaded speech nerves. We didn't have a table plan either – people could sit where they wanted to…"

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

"Gavin found the band, 30Ten! We both love music so the band were a crucial part! The band were brilliant – playing a mix of indie/rock, covers and there own tracks. And they played at the festival after our wedding!"

"We chose to dance to Elbow's 'One Day Like This'.  We couldn't decide on a song for our first dance as we love so many! We knew that we didn't want anything too soppy etc! 

One day we listened to Elbow in the car and both looked at each other, knowing what each other was thinking…"this would be perfect"! So we decided we would think about 'One day like this' as our first dance. The following day we got back in the car, turned the radio on, and there was an announcement to say that Elbow would be playing at the Isle of Wight festival, so you can imagine our faces then!!!! such a great song. And boy oh boy did we get emotional at the festival after the wedding when Elbow played it!"

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Words of Wedded Wisdom…

"Don't get stressed! It's such a fun exciting period in your life, just enjoy the ride! Don't worry about all the little things and just concentrate on having fun, the main thing is that you get to marry the man of your dreams, everything else will flow if you have that in your heart and mind.

Lots of couples who had to married before us said its so hard getting to speak to everyone and spend time with your guests. Therefore to free up as much time as possible to speak and mingle with everyone.

It is such an overwhelming feeling to have all of your very best friends and wonderful family all together in one place, having an excellent party, all because you have fallen in love and want to celebrate being together forever – simply beautiful!""

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

Isle of Wight Wedding, via Love My Dress Vintage and Alternative Wedding Blog

A super lovely way to start the week I think you'll agree. Can we show the bride and groom some love my friends, that would make my day 🙂

Big congratuatlions Laura and Gavin, thank you so very much for letting me share your day, and thank you once again Jason Mark Harris for sharing your gorgeous wedding photgraphy with my readers.

Much love,

Annabel

Heart

Photographer – Jason Mark Harris
Venue – Priory Bay Country House Hotel, Seaview, Isle of Wight
Dress Designer – Annasul.Y from Teokath in Wimbledon
Brides Veil – Pure silk tulle veil from As You Like It Wedding Veils
Brides Shoes – Orchabelle shoes
Brides accessories – headpiece + hair slides from Gillian Million
Bridesmaids Dresses – Zara + Accessorize shoes
Flowergirl's Dress – Monsoon
Grooms Suit – Dress to Kill
Florist – Flowers by Nic
Cake – Friends and family
Makeup Artist – Rebekah Terrell
Hair Stylist – Kirsty from Relax Unlimited
Entertainment – 30Ten

Annabel

Annabel View all Annabel's articles

Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.

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