Good afternoon lovely ones. I enjoy featuring weddings like this one – they are full of English country garden charm. This particular wedding took place at the beautiful Walled Garden at Cowdray, Midhurst, West Sussex, where bride Frankie tied the knot with her beau Alex, on 6 July last year. Their wedding was inspired by Frankie's love of all things vintage and so in keeping with her vision, she had a lovely 50's inspired lace dress created by independent designer Joanne Fleming and collected lots of antique pieces to decorate with. I hope you enjoy her lovely wedding day.
“My love of all things vintage meant that the wedding would inevitably be vintage inspired. We chose a broad period of 1930 through to the 1950s and cherry-picked our favourite aspects of each decade. This also fitted in well with the overall relaxed, informal, English country tea party feel we were hoping for.”
Photography Copyright (c) 2014, Tim Simpson
“Alex and I met when I went to watch Alex’s band perform. Alex proposed at the top of the Belfry of Bruges on Boxing Day 2010, four years into the relationship.”
“My dress was by Brighton based designer, Joanne Fleming. I knew I wanted a lace, tea length dress and Joanne’s designs were exactly what I had in mind. The lace used and all of the details were exquisite. Joanne did everything she could to make sure the dress was exactly what I envisaged.”
“My brooch bouquet was handmade by Mandy of Daisy Mae Design, at incredibly short notice, using lace from my dress, some brooches that I had collected myself/been given as gifts and beautiful peacock feathers to give it some colour ."
"My bridesmaids all wore bespoke dresses made using original 1950s fabric by Dig for Victory along with shoes from Topshop."
These rather glamorous pearl shoes are by Marc Defang.
“Our florist was Gill Pike, who was an absolute star. The whole bridal party fell head over heels for Gill (as a florist and just a generally lovely person) who just instantly got what I had in mind and managed to use the endless vases, teapots and cake stands that I had collected.
We went with Gill’s recommendations when it came to the flowers as she knew exactly what was needed to create the perfect vintage look. I did, however, ask that gypsophila was used throughout, as it was my Grandma’s favourite flower.”
“Our photographer was Tim Simpson – Tim and his assistant Amanda were amazing and worked tirelessly on the day to get all the shots we wanted and the ones we could never have dreamt of. We loved the romantic, dreamy appeal of the images.”
“My dad walked me down the aisle to the sound of ‘The Coldharbour Road’ by Stornoway.
We wrote our own vows because we wanted to make realistic promises that were important to us. We specifically searched for cynical yet emotive readings that reflected our idea of marriage. These included ‘I Do, I Will, I Have’ by Ogden Nash, ‘Rock and Stone’ (author unknown) and ‘The Promise’ by Eileen Rafter.
The ceremony was our favourite part of the day. As soon as I walked in the room and everyone was there, everything was in its place, and Alex was waiting for me, all the stresses of the planning and organising fell away and it was just about us.”
“My ring was a 1930s platinum engraved band from an antique jewellery shop in Brighton. It perfectly complimented my 1920’s platinum engagement ring. I wanted something different other than a plain band.”
Words of Weddded Wisdom…
“Write everything down! Write down all your ideas as you have them, write down all the names of your favourite suppliers and write endless lists! It’s amazing how quickly bright ideas can be forgotten and star suppliers lost in all of the business cards you accumulate.
We would have had an earlier ceremony. As the ceremony was at 2.30 pm, that meant the day started quite late and we felt it was over in a flash.
Make it personal. Add little touches that mean things to you both and that can be used as a focal point. For example, everyone loved the gramophone we hired from Howard Hope. Heavily rely on friends and family – it’s the only way!”
What a charming wedding, so full of English country garden charm. Congratulations to you both Frankie and Alex, I wish you all the best for a wonderful first year of marriage and first year wedding anniversary in July.
Our thanks to photographer Tim Simpson too.
Love Annabel
Photographer – Tim Simpson
Venue – The Walled Garden at Cowdray
Brides Dress – Joanne Fleming Design
Veil/Headpiece – Madeleine Bride
Brides shoes – Marc Defang New York at Etsy
Bride's accessories – original 1950s earrings from Etsy
Grooms Suit – Tweed Addict + vintage pocket square via Snoopers Paradise, Brighton
Bridesmaids – Dig for Victory dresses + Topshop shoes
Flowergirl Dresses – Monsoon
Florist – Gill Pike
Brooch bouquet – Daisy Mae Designs
Cake – Mother of the Groom
Transport – Convertible 1950s Daimler provided by Bowfield Car Hire
Entertainment – Sweet and Lowdown
Favours – Jam Jars via Etsy + fruit pips via A Quarter Of
Vintage inspired wooden signs – Notonthehighstreet.com
Catering Company – Buns to Banquets
Stationery – Family
Hair and make-up Artist – Hannah at Pretty Me Vintage
Eyelash Extensions + Nails – Tans n Hand
Gramophone Hire – Howard Hope
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We are thrilled to be featured in LMD, Frankie and Alex had a great sense of style and The Walled Garden is such a great venue. It was just the perfect day, everything fitted together just so nicely, a real testament to Frankies vision.
Thanks so much Tim! It’s our pleasure to share this wedding with our readers – thank you.
Hi Annabel.
In the article it says that the bouquet was designed by Daisy Mae Designs on Etsay, it was in actual fact designed by myself. I wonder if you could be so kind as to change that for me please. I would really appreciate it. You have featured one of my other fab customers, Verity, on your page before and I thank you for the link on that occasion. Mandy xx
Sorry forgot to add my link: https://www.facebook.com/daisymaedesignsbroochbouquets
http://www.daisymaedesigns.co.uk
thank you
Mandy xxx
Absolutely gorgeous. What a cute couple. I love the bouquet and the timeless feel of this. The advice about having an early ceremony really stuck a chord as I adored every minute of my wedding which was at 5;30pm and the day WAS over too quickly despite dancing till well after midnight and post midnight feasting Congratulations to you both and what beautiful photos to treasure. You look radiant x
Struck a chord. I mean!
Her dress is gorgeous and the red lipstick really makes it pop.
Love it oxox
Absolutely adore the bouquet and your shoes and bag are so eloquent. Striking wedding in all elements.