Pastel Paper Cranes for a Pretty and Relaxed Country Wedding

New York is one of those places everyone says you should visit at least once in a lifetime.  Its not somewhere I’ve made it to yet (I’m usually a castles and countryside sort of girl) but its got to be done- right?

Lucky bride Amanda was proposed to in the Big Apple by beau Marc and the couple returned there to buy her wedding ring as well- how fabulous.  The couple married at St Michael’s Church in Woburn Sands on Saturday 29th April 2017, followed by a reception at Dodmoor House in Northamptonshire.

Film by A Beautiful Day Productions

“We just went for all the things we like and love and that way it just all came together really easily. We loved the intimacy of Dodmoor House- three lovely barns connected by a courtyard with a mezzanine floor and en suite room for the bride and groom.  It was the perfect size for a busy, party atmosphere with plenty of different areas to suit different guests.”

Photography by Natalie J Weddings

Today’s beautiful and light-filled photographs are the work of the lovely Natalie of Natalie J Weddings.

“Natalie was an absolute dream.  Everyone was so comfortable around her and she captured our day exactly how we’d imagined.  The photos speak for themselves and we will cherish them forever. Part of me wants to keep her a secret but on the other hand I think everyone needs Natalie as their wedding photographer as we would totally choose her again.”

Amanda wore a beautiful gown by Ella Rose Bridal, which she purchased from Ann’s Bridal Room in Leighton Buzzard. I absolutely love the cut of the neckline and the shape of the back bodice.

“My bridesmaid and I spotted this dress as soon as we sat down in the shop and I couldn’t concentrate on anything else.  I think it was the detail I loved most as it was so pretty and delicate and complemented by the simplicity of the train and a gorgeous lace trim. Words don’t do it justice as it was just beautiful!”

 

Amanda wore gold sandals from Next while for her headpiece she chose the rather fabulous ‘Laurel’ by Ulyana Aster Hair Couture.

For scent she chose Narciso Rodriguez, which was a gift from her sister in law for the day and for jewellery she opted for a Tiffany bracelet and earrings, to match her rings.

Hair was by Becky White (bride) and Samantha Rodell (bridesmaids), while make up was the work of Sasha Crawley.

The bridesmaids looked ethereal in Kelsey Rose tulle dresses in platinum, silver, pebble and mist, purchased from Something New Something Blue in Clophill, Bedfordshire. They wore nude sandals from New Look and for jewellery each maid wore an initial bracelet from The Little Keepsake Company.  For the ceremony the girls wore gypsophila in their hair and afterwards they all swapped to amazing flower crowns by Elaine Sturges.  The little flower girl looked so sweet in a dress from Debenhams.

“As my ‘something borrowed’ my bridesmaid lent me a gorgeous pearl and diamond bracelet which was left to her by her lovely mum.  It complemented my dress beautifully and it felt very special to be able to wear it.”

“Marc and I met on a night out in 2009.  He asked for my number and then kept forgetting my name.  After about ten times I refused to tell him again, so my nickname was Dot for the first week or so.”

“It turned out we lived on the same road just doors away from each other, with a lot of the same friends.  Six years later Marc proposed to me at the top of the Empire State building!  We were engaged around 18 months.”

Amanda walked down the aisle with her dad to the traditional Bridal Chorus by Wagner.  Readings were by Amanda’s Grandma (John 2:1-11) and Amanda’s sister (‘Grow Old with You’)

“It was so lovely to have my grandma do a reading. From the moment I asked her she couldn’t wait and she thought this reading (where Jesus turns water into wine) was most relevant to us as a couple.  It really included her in such a special day.”

Marc looked very smart in a royal blue mohair suit with a white and blue spotted tie from Fogarty Formal Hire in Leighton Buzzard, which he wore with a watch and shoes from Paul Smith.

“When we got engaged in New York we went to Tiffany on fifth avenue to choose my engagement ring together and a year later Marc surprised me with a return trip to purchase my wedding band.  Marc wasn’t sure if he would wear a ring so we purchased a plain silver band from Goldsmiths for him.”

“For both of us our favourite part of the day was the ceremony.  Beforehand we’d both been keen to get this part of the day out of the way so we could relax and enjoy ourselves, but how wrong we were. We loved it and we literally beamed the entire way through.”

Flowers were the work of the talented Elaine Sturges.

“Elaine was amazing and advised what would be suitable to work with the time of year for the colours we wanted.  She also created a beautiful flower arch at the church made up of gypsophila and dusky pink spray roses, as well as flower crowns for my bridesmaids and I.”

The bridal party travelled to the reception venue in campervans Daphne and Wilson from Pear Tree Weddings, whose mint and white shades matched the colour scheme beautifully.

“I’d heard that one who folds 1000 origami cranes is granted happiness and eternal good luck which sounds a bit extreme but it was fun wedding prep and I really enjoyed making them.”

“They hung from the barns to create really effective décor.”

Catering was the work of Lemon Zest, while the cheese wedding cake was made by Couture-cakes by Katie Sanderson.  Amanda’s family also put together a cake table of fruit, chocolate, lemon, carrot, Victoria and coffee cakes for those with a sweeter tooth.

“I won our invitations at a wedding fair through Russet and Gray and they were fab.  The table plan I made myself using a mirror and our grandparents and parents wedding pictures printed on retro style prints from Photobox.”

 

The newlyweds shared their first dance to ‘Thinking out loud’ by Ed Sheeran and they and their guests danced the night away to music by The Burgundys.

Words of Wedded Wisdom

“Listen to yourself and your husband to be, it’s your day.  Enjoy every moment, including the build up because before you know it, it will be the end of the evening and you’ll be wishing you could do it all over again.”

Thank you Amanda and Marc for sharing your pretty day with us today- I hope you’re enjoying newly married life together.  For some more weddings photographed by the talented Natalie J, follow this link– there are lots to choose from!

Much love,

S x