Jenny Packham Elegance for a Secret Summer Garden Party Wedding

Good afternoon on this beautiful sunny day. It finally feels like summer is just around the corner, I hope that you have all had a chance to enjoy a little break this Easter. The wedding I have for today took place in the height of summertime, Holly who runs a hair and beauty salon and Mike, an electrician, tied the knot on the 21^st of August last year and it’s truly splendid. The ceremony took place in a gazebo within the gardens of The Old Kent Barn and with floral arrangements of navy and purple by Euphoric Flowers, the images by Cotton Candy Photography really come alive.

“We loved everything about The Old Kent Barn, the first time we viewed it we just knew that that this was the place we wanted to get married, the setting was perfect, and it felt really relaxed. The gardens were filled with pretty pink and white flowers, and in amongst the flowers sat the gazebo where we would say our vows, it reminded me of ‘The Secret Garden’. The barn completely took my breath away, I loved the beautiful tall beams with the pretty star light ceiling.”

Photography Copyright (c) 2015, Cotton Candy Photography

“I had followed Euphoric Flowers on Instagram for a while and was amazed by their beautiful work. Victoria made me a Pinterest board after our consultation with all the colours and ideas we had talked about. I completely trusted her with the style and ideas I wanted from then on, she was so creative and super helpful. I wanted a good mix of different flowers, including the Veronica flower as that was my Nan’s name and I felt I had a small piece of her with me.

It was so special to spend the whole morning with my mum and bridesmaids, then to go downstairs and see the flowers in the barn and the room set up for the day.”

The gorgeous bridesmaids looked amazing in their full-length navy blue dresses. One of the bridesmaids assisted Holly with all of the girls’ hair, adding fresh flowers at the end to tie in with the beautiful bouquets.

“The photographer was super important to us as we weren’t having the wedding filmed, I really wasn’t into the staged hand on shoulder photos, we wanted more of an alternative relaxed look and Cotton Candy fitted the bill perfectly, Gem and Phil were so great and captured literally everything about our day but never told us where to stand or what to do, they were there in the background capturing everything.

We chose not to film the wedding as we wanted to remember the day as we experienced it in the moment rather than thinking we could just the watch the video back through someone else’s eyes.”

Holly and Mike used to go to the same gym but it wasn’t until a night out with friends that they exchanged numbers. Mike proposed on Christmas day in 2012 when they had finished renovating their first house together.

“Mike brought a huge red box down from upstairs, I honestly thought it would be a pair of designer shoes, then to my amazement I opened the box and there was a tiny ring box inside, Mike then went down on one knee and asked me to marry him! Of course I said yes!! We just enjoyed being newly engaged for a few months then decided to give ourselves enough time to save for the wedding we wanted and set the date for 21^st August 2014.”

Holly got her stunning Jenny Packham dress from Teokath in Canterbury. Along the side of her veil she also wore a crystal headband which matched her dress and a few fresh flowers. Strappy Jimmy Choos finished the look beautifully.

“I tried lots of dresses on and although they were all so lovely they just didn’t seem me, all the designs were strapless and I didn’t feel comfortable, as soon as I put the Jenny Packham dress on I just knew this was it, I didn’t need to try anything else on this was the ONE.”

Mike wore blue Hugo Boss from top to bottom while his best men wore a similar Moss suit and a navy polka dot tie to match.

Holly’s dad Paul walked her down the aisle to The Greenwich String Quartet playing Canon.

“My dad coming up to the room and seeing me in my dress and the few moments that we had together before he walked me down the aisle was so special. Walking down the aisle and seeing Mike with tears in his eyes was the best feeling ever, and saying your vows you really feel like it’s just you two standing there, then walking back down as husband and wife seeing everyone who is so special to us was amazing.”

The flowergirls wore lovely Monsoon dresses with the same blue and purple flowers in their hair.

“After the wedding breakfast my parents totally surprised us with singing waiters, we didn’t know what was going on then all of a sudden they just started singing! It was the best surprise and our guests loved it! There isn’t anything I would change I loved every second from the planning to the day.”

Holly really wanted a fun and colourful wedding cake so there was only one place to go. Choccywoccydohdah make the most amazing cakes (they taste fantastic too!), it was bursting with colour and everyone loved it!

Words of Wedded Wisdom

“Love my dress gave me the confidence to break out of the box and be different.

Relax and enjoy everything on the day – try to take every little moment in.”

Thank you very much to Holly and Mike for kindly allowing us a glimpse into your beautiful wedding day. Many thanks also to the wonderful Gem and Phil for sharing your awesome work with us. We have featured more weddings by the lovely Cotton Candy which can be viewed here.

Love Caoimhe xx

 

Photographer – Cotton Candy Photography
Venue – The Old Kent Barn, Kent
Wedding Dress – Jenny Packham from Teokath, Canterbury
Veil – Teokath
Headpiece – Jenny Packham
Shoes – Jimmy Choo
Groom – Hugo Boss
Bridesmaids – Coast + Miss Selfridge Shoes
Flowergirls – Monsoon
Groomsmen – Moss Bros + The Tie Store
Florist – Euphoric Flowers
Cake – Choccywoccydoodah
Entertainment – EK1 Band + DJ Apollo
Rings – Cuttings Jewellers, Ramsgate
Catering – Mama Feelgoods
Stationery – Hip Hip Hooray
Hair Stylist – Holly the Bride with her Bridesmaid
Makeup Artist – Rebecca Brown