Hello wedding lovers! I hope you are all wrapped up warm and cosy to read this feature. In the bleak midwinter it’s easy to forget that any other seasons even exist, but this wedding will transport you straight to the warm and comforting hues of autumn, with its berry tones and country styling – complete with a Land Rover, naturally.
Today we visit the wedding of restaurateurs Katherine and Seamus, who tied the knot on 15th November at All Saints Church in Wraxall, and celebrated with a reception at Nailsea Tithe Barn in North Somerset, and he theme of the wedding was undoubtedly set by the season.
“We were both really keen to have an Autumn wedding, being our favourite season, the colours and warmth were the main inspiration.”
Photography Copyright (c) 2015, Emma Griffin
The bride’s ballet-length lace dress was designed by Joanne Fleming Design.
“I went to two bridal shops when I began looking for a dress, but to be honest the whole bridal shop experience just wasn’t for me. I don’t particularly enjoy being the centre of attention and just found it all a bit too much. Then one day scrolling through Love My Dress I saw Frankie and Alex’s tea party wedding. I knew then that Joanne was the designer I had been looking for.
Mum and I travelled to Joanne’s studio several times throughout the year for fittings, it was a great experience and I got exactly what I had hoped for. Joanne catered for me perfectly so that everything from the fullness of the skirt, shades of silk and bead detailing were exactly to my requirements and measurements. And I felt like the experience of seeing the dress come together and evolve from the studio was much more ‘me’ than trailing around bridal shops.”
The couple’s friend from university, photographer Emma Griffin, was on hand to capturing precious moments for the couple.
“We went to university and studied fine art with Emma. We have stayed in touch and watched her go from strength to strength, so she really was the obvious choice to capture our day. We love her informal style, and as neither of us are particularly at home in front of a camera, we wanted to be with someone who we felt at complete ease with and who would just become part of the day.”
Those fantastic suede shoe boots were from Hobbs, and Katherine accessorised with a stunning floral headdress that she made herself, in keeping with the autumnal theme of the day.
“I did all my own flowers. I had pre ordered the flowers I wanted to come in to Bristol Flower Market a couple of days before the wedding. I then spent the entire day arranging, it was definitely one of my highlights, I enjoyed everything about doing it – even arranging my own bouquet the morning of the wedding. I can’t stress how much work this was, but I saved a lot of money doing it this way, I’m so glad I did it.”
The bride was given away by her father, Simon, and walked down the aisle to Trumpet Tune, by Purcell, played by church organist.
“Seamus proposed in January 2014, we were in the middle of a lovely coastal walk in Clevedon, Somerset. Although we had been talking about how much we would like to get married for months it still came as a complete shock to me, in fact most of the walk I had been moaning about the fact we still weren’t engaged (I was convinced Seamus was going to propose at Christmas, little did I know he actually had a ring in his pocket!)”
The couple bought their rings from Rossiters and Sons in Cleveden, and marvelled at the service and quality they received.
“Such a lovely family business, initially we only popped in to get my finger measured but we ended up getting everything done there. It felt like they really cared and went out of their way to help us get exactly what we wanted. They even had my engagement ring professionally polished before the big day.”
“We were in a bit of a dither about what to do about our wedding car as we didn’t really like the thought of having a stranger drive us around on our wedding day. Then we had a brainwave, we both love Land Rovers and Mark Cox, the gardener at the walled kitchen garden where we work, has a battered old green one, and we loved the thought that he could be part of our day. Seamus gave it a jolly good scrub, as it really needed it! I also made a garland out of dried hydrangeas, which worked perfectly – although it’s not the easiest vehicle to get in and out of in a wedding dress!”
The Groom was kitted out by Old-Town Clothing, with the lovely extra of a handmade handkerchief from best man Angus.
“Seamus has loved Old-Town for a good while, they make British handmade work wear that is made to last. The more battered it gets, the better! He wanted a suit that he could wear casually after the big day. It was perfect for Seamus and he couldn’t be happier with it.
We were really keen to let the best men and groomsmen wear whatever they wanted, we just wanted people to be comfortable and feel themselves. Everyone had a handmade button hole and the two best men had liberty print bowties and handkerchiefs made by Angus.”
“We searched for a while for a suitable venue, I was keen for something like a village hall that we could essentially hire and do the rest ourselves. The Tithe Barn at Nailsea it couldn’t have been more perfect – only a short drive from the church, and available to hire for the whole weekend to set up for wedding reception. Not to mention the fact that the interior was beautiful!”
The couple met nearly six years ago, on their first day at university in Falmouth. “I first noticed Seamus walking in on the first morning, extremely cliché but I knew then that that was the man I was meant to marry, I even told a new friend this on the first day (they must have thought I was mad!).”
“Catering was provided by catering company Pie Minister. They did a great job, pie and mash is the perfect autumn food, and it really fitted in with our relaxed homely feel.”
“We love anything vintage, our years of hoarding actually paid off as all of the wedding décor was actually just moved out of our house for the weekend to style the tables etc., everything from terrariums, vintage glass bottles, doilies and stoneware jars. My mum was a huge help and sewed all the linen table runners and napkins, ferrying me off to Bristol flower market to collect bucket loads of flowers. I wanted it to be as much Seamus as it was me.”
“We purposely chose not to have a first dance, we both have two left feet and found the thought of a first dance mortifying! Of course we weren’t allowed to get away with this, in the end I believe it was a version of ‘Someone like you’ – Van Morrison, sung live by Lori Campbell.
We can truly say we loved every second! We have both said that we didn’t imagine that we would enjoy it as much as we did. Everything just managed to come together. We even loved the set up in the days running up to the wedding, we had a team of family that helped out, laying tables, transporting booze, props etc. It was so great for us as well as our families to be so hands on.”
Words of Wedded Wisdom
“Don’t try and do too much, we decided we would rather have something smaller and more manageable and do it really well. We also got so many comments about how ‘us’ it was, I know when if I’m a wedding guest I like to see as much of the couple in the wedding as possible, you want it to feel personal, and not just about us but our family. Pinterest was also my absolute saviour, it is such a great way to get and store ideas and really see the bigger picture of the wedding day. I don’t know what I would have done without it.”
Well, what a treat that was! Katherine and Seamus have made me excited for the autumn already, crunching through the golden leaves (in a pair of those divine berry-coloured boots!). I absolutely love their take on a traditional, seasonal wedding, organised and home-spun to perfection. I wonder how many other brides we have who are planning on a seasonal theme? Or colour pop footwear?
Love Rachel xxx
Photographer – Emma Griffin
Venue – Nailsea Tithe Barn
Bride’s Dress – Joanne Fleming Design
Bride’s Shoes – Hobbs
Bride’s Hair Accessories - homemade headdress from dried flowers.
Perfume/Scent worn on the day – Coco Chanel Mademoiselle
Grooms Suit – Old-Town Clothing
Grooms Shoes – Grenson
Tie – John Lewis
Liberty print handkerchief – handmade by Angus, one of the best men.
Rings – Rossiters and Sons
Stationery – ThatCopyShop
Catering – Pie Minister
Entertainment – Lori Campbell and Richard Trethewey
Venue styling – Virginias Vintage
I love that the doggies were involved in the wedding and Katherine’s shoes are amazing!
Oh I adore it when the pets are guests! 🙂 LOOK! I even have a whole category for it! Hehehe 🙂 —> https://www.lovemydress.net/blog/tag/dogs-at-weddings
Great suede boots and fabulous cake. Love all the vintage touches 🙂
Such a gorgeous wedding! The bride has the most amazing hair, and those boots – hot dang! I love the florals running throughout, and the little feather touches. There’s a real theme but it also feels very undone and natural. And I do love me a wee doggie – this one is such a beaut! xxLL
I know Lindsey, it is just so lovely isn’t it? The florals are so effortlessly elegant – you’re absolutely bob-on with your ‘theme but no theme’ comment too.
Love A xx