Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist

wpid385268 jenny packham classic english spring wedding 42

Hello lovelies, today’s wedding has a real ‘awww’ factor about it as it’s the wedding of two school sweethearts who were together for 19 years before getting hitched earlier this year. It is also overflowing with beautiful details and a comprehensive list of suppliers so make sure that you have notebooks and Pinterest at the ready!

Claire, a Corporate Training Executive married her beau Simon, who is Head of Sales for a chain of stores, following a five-year engagement where he proposed on a Californian beach. They married in the majestic Wimborne Minster in Dorset on the 16th May and it looks like they were able to make the most of the beautiful gardens at Deans Court as they were blessed with glorious spring sunshine.

“We both adore France and try to go there a few times every year. In an ideal world, we would have married in France, but we felt that it would mean that not all of our friends and family could join us on our special day. Instead we opted for a UK wedding, but with a French vintage style theme. We chose classic and stylish colours – grey, white, nude, taupe, pale pink and green.”

Photography by Big Bouquet

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

“From the moment we met Emma and Ian from Big Bouquet we knew that they were the photographers for us. They made us feel completely at ease and were so lovely throughout the whole process and on the day.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

They were just like old friends. Neither of us felt particularly comfortable in front of the camera, but we had a wedding prep shoot that definitely helped us to relax.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

“We had complete faith that they would deliver stunning photos and they did. So many of our guests have said that our photos are the best wedding photos they had ever seen.”

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Our bride added a pair of ivory satin peep toe shoes by Paradox London, and handmade Lalique headband and cuff by Flo and Percy. These tied in perfectly with the vintage styling of the gown.

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

“I actually bought my Jenny Packham dress two years before we married. I was walking past a bridal shop one day with Simon’s sister and I saw the Aurora dress. We went in and I tried it on and it fitted perfectly.

I loved the vintage/1920s style and the beautiful detailing. I went back a week later with my maid of honour-to-be and had to buy it. It was then safely stored at my parent’s house until we set a date for the wedding. The Aurora dress was the first and only dress I tried on.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

The finishing touches were made to all the ladies by hair and make up artist Jenny Dayton.

“Jenny was amazing. She did such a good job and was absolutely lovely. We all got ready at Apple and Plum Cottages at Deans Court on the morning of the wedding, and Jenny made us all feel so relaxed whilst doing a perfect job.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

“We chose these bridesmaids dresses from Coast as the colour went perfectly with the colours of the day and I also wanted to buy dresses that they could wear again.

The bridesmaids wore their own shoes and accessories. We gave them two thank you gifts each; goodie bags filled with bits and pieces they could use on the day along with a silver necklace with their initial engraved from Wedding in a Teacup.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

Claire had her full length ivory silk veil made for her by Gillian Million in Teddington. “I visited Gillian’s beautiful shop and she was absolutely lovely and so talented. Her studio was simply beautiful.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

Charlotte Bronte is one of Claire’s favourite authors which is why they chose the Jane Eyre extract as one of their readings.

I have for the first time found what I can truly love – I have found you.
You are my sympathy – my better self – my good angel.
I am bound to you with a strong attachment.
I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wraps my existence about you, and, kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one.
It was because I felt and knew this, that I resolved to marry you.

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.047_bigbouquet_clairesimon

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

“We both love flowers and I knew from the start what sort of flowers I wanted for the day – snowball viburnums, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, gypsophila and succulents. When we first met our florist, Jennifer Poynter and I explained what I had in mind, she was great and I knew straight away that we were on the same wavelength. Jen was amazing and provided such an ideal service.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

“Our table plan was a Tour de France map and we had little wire bicycles that were handmade on each table with trivia about different stages of the Tour, together with little pots of succulents, lots of mercury, cut, silver and clear glass tea-lights and different vases, Kilner jars, jugs and jam jars.

We continued the styling outside and had bunting and wire and wicker hearts hanging from the fences and trees and many more tea lights.”

 

 

 

 

050_bigbouquet_clairesimonJenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

“Our décor included many French items such as vintage books and we had some of our text in French as well. We also love the Tour de France, Simon in particular, so we used that as part of our styling as well. We had a lovely marquee and hung over a hundred grey and white pom poms from the ceiling. We also had some stunning handmade Toile de Jouy bunting around the rim of the marquee.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

“I cannot recommend Samantha at the Pear Paper Company highly enough. She provided us with all of our stationery, including the thank you cards after the wedding and an amazing bespoke Tour de France table plan that we designed with her. Her stationery is beautiful and she was so helpful.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

“We wanted to have macarons and marshmallows for the favours. I bought the macarons from Patisserie Valerie and sourced some little boxes and had some bespoke stickers made. Our Madagascan vanilla and salted caramel flavour marshmallows were made by Miss Marshmellow.

I had some lovely vintage tags made and Miss Marshmellow bagged them all up for us and delivered them to Deans Court. The ideas worked perfectly and were a really cost effective way of doing it.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

“Our grandparents couldn’t be there to share the day with us, so we had photos of each couple from their wedding day and displayed them in some vintage frames on one of the tables.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

“Our day food – canapés followed by four courses, was provided by Gideon Hitchin Catering. We provided the guests with a choice of three starters, three mains and two desserts prior to the wedding as we wanted to give people plenty of choice for their food options.

We both love good food and so wanted the catering for the day to be really good, and it was amazing.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

Fans of naked cakes, the couple chose a beautiful, three-tier wedding cake by Jenny Budzynski at Miss Ingredient.

“We had two tiers of lemon drizzle cake and one of Victoria sponge with flowers supplied by Jen Poynter. The cake was absolutely beautiful and delicious.”

wpid385242-jenny-packham-classic-english-spring-wedding-24.jpg Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

As a linguist I’m loving this couple’s choice of first dance song – Quelqu’un m’a dit by Carla Bruni which was perfect for a marriage à la française. “This is a song that we love and heard many years ago during one of our numerous trips to France. We both really like French music. I also asked The Falltones to play ‘How long will I love you?’ after the first dance which was great as the guests flooded the dance floor and everyone all danced together.”

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“For our evening food and continuing with the French theme, we had a galette and crêpe stand which was supplied by La Bonne Crêpe. This worked so well and we felt it was a different option to the usual evening food choices.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.
Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

“My favourite part of the day was standing on the lawn together, glass of prosecco in hand, in the glorious May sunshine surrounded by our family and friends whilst listening to our amazing French gypsy jazz band, The Jonny Hepbir Trio.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

Words of Wedded Wisdom

“Be as organised as you can and get as much done as early as possible so you can relax and enjoy the final few weeks leading up to the wedding. Remember to make time for each other and don’t get too caught up in wedding fever. On the day, cherish every moment as it does go so quickly, I know that everyone says this.

It will be one of the best days of your lives and you will be surrounded by family and friends who are there to celebrate your love for each other so don’t worry if anything does not go exactly to plan. Just try to relax and enjoy yourselves. We have both said several times since the wedding that we wish we could do it all over again.

The only thing that we would change about our day would be to have had a videographer as well so that we could have captured every single moment.”

Jenny Packham for a Classic English Spring wedding with a Vintage French Twist. Photography by Big Bouquet.

Congratulations both on your recent marriage and beautiful celebrations and our thanks to Emma and Ian of Big Bouquet for sharing these gorgeous images with us all.

Styling the day was something that Claire enjoyed so much that she’s considering a career change in the future. Are enjoying the organisation and seeing your ideas come to life or do you wish that you could hand the whole thing over to a wedding planner?

Much love

Katie xx

 

Photographer – Big Bouquet
Ceremony – Wimborne Minster
Venue – Deans Court, Wimborne
Dress – Jenny Packham
Veil – Gillian Million
Shoes – Paradox London
Headband & cuff – Flo and Percy
Earrings & bag – Accessorize
Fragrance – Chloe
Bridesmaids – Coast
Necklace gifts – Wedding in a Teacup
Hair & make-up – Jenny Dayton
Groom – suit & shirt – Charles Tyrwhitt, cufflinks & tie – Reiss, shoes – Russell and Bromley
Watch – Tissot
Rings – Ernest Jones
Best Man – TM Lewin
Florist – Jennifer Poynter
Cake – Miss Ingredient
Catering – Gideon Hitchin Catering
Crêpes – La Bonne Crêpe
Entertainment – The Jonny Hepbir Trio & The Falltones
Stationery – Pear Paper Company
Favours – Patisserie Valerie & Miss Marshmellow
Postbox – Old Crocks Vintage Hire
Bicycle – Wedding & Event Hire Yeovil

 

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