Eliza Jane Howell and Garden Games for a Bluebell Filled Forest Wedding

Lovely readers, how please, is it the 20th of September already?  I’m sure last time I looked summer was just approaching and now the leaves are already starting to fall (or they are in Northumberland, from where I write today) and Autumn is on its way.

Allow me to stave off the cooler days for just a little longer and jump us back to April this year and this beautiful outdoor wedding in Kent. Meet Joanna, project manager for live events at Somerset House and Alex, executive director of a regional theatre, who married on the 29th April 2017 at The Paper Mill, Hawkhurst.  The couple got engaged at the top of the Empire State Building on a surprise trip to New York, planned by Alex- how fabulous is that?

“We both wanted to get married outdoors and as soon as we saw this venue, nothing else compared.  Being able to get married in a dreamy forest and then party in a field and barn all in one location was perfect for us.  Our date was easy to choose – we just asked the venue when would the bluebells look best – they were right! How the day turned out happened organically over the planning process. Quickly, we realised we wanted a very relaxed, festival feel full of colour.”

Photography by Joanna Nicole

Joanna looked beautiful in ‘Clara’ by Eliza Jane Howell, which she purchased from Isabella Grace Bridal in Tunbridge Wells.  I always love a EJH dress- so timeless and elegant (and also a much-loved member of our Little Book for Brides!)

“I wanted something comfortable and glamorous and as soon as I tried Clara on I instantly felt at ease – I could sit, I could eat, I could dance, whilst still feeling special and sparkly.”

The talent behind these beautiful images is photographer Joanna Nicole, who we have been delighted to feature a number of times before.  I love her relaxed style.

“We both found it quite hard to find a photographer we liked, there are so many out there and obviously, they’re all hugely talented.  Looking at some blogs of other people who got married at our venue I said to Alex one day ‘why can’t we just find a photographer like this one… these photos are amazing!'”

“As a musician I am lucky to have lots of very talented friends.  I was in a folk band for some time and the four men of the group played me down the aisle to their version of ‘One Day Like This’ by Elbow.”

“Signing the register they played ‘All You Need is Love’ by The Beatles and to play us out they chose ‘God Only Knows’ by the Beach Boys.” 

“Alex promptly reminded me that we could!  I met up with Joanna and she was so relaxed and kind I knew we were in safe hands.”

“She was such a joy at the wedding, silently capturing all the special moments of the day and we felt so at ease walking around the woods with her.”

“My mum and my best woman walked me down the ‘aisle’.   I was hoping that we would be a real power woman tribe except the ‘aisle’ was a steep hill downwards with straw and we were all hanging on to one another for dear life!”

The flower girls  and pageboys looked very sweet in Monsoon and Next  respectively, while Alex and his ushers impressed in grey suits from Moss Bros, worn with cufflinks from Beaverbrooks and a silver ASOS tie.

Joanna’s veil was also purchased from Isabella Grace Bridal, while on her feet she wore a fabulous pair of shoes from Irregular Choice.  For perfume she chose her Mum’s favourite choice for special occasions- Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel.

“I ended up wearing two headpieces as I’m greedy and fell in love with both.  They were by Chez Bec and Sass B.” 

For readings, the couple chose ‘The Lovely Other Dinosaur’ by Edward Monkton (one of my personal favourites) and Sonnet 116 by Shakespeare, another beautiful piece.  It begins,

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds”

“My favourite part of the day was when we were about to say our I Dos and  the celebrant turned to Alex and said ‘Alexander James, do you take Joanna Elizabeth….’ and before she had time to finish Alex said ‘I do!’.  Everyone laughed and I went on to do the same thing… We’re both so impatient.”

The beautiful flowers were the work of Darling & Wild, Tunbridge Wells.  The colours are just stunning.  I love how Joanna’s bouquet incorporates the same bluebells which carpet the wood in which they married.

“I wanted a very wild selection of flowers to fit with the woodland but made sure to tell Lara my favourite flowers so she could include them.  From our brief chat over a cup of tea, she put together the most beautiful bouquets and buttonholes.  She was so talented I knew I didn’t need to worry!”

The bridesmaids looked beautifully springlike in floral dresses from Uttam Boutique at House of Fraser, worn with shoes from New Look and engraved bracelets from Etsy which were a gift from Joanna.

The table centrepieces were put together by Joanna’s mum, largely with flower and foliage from her own garden, which is lovely

A talented bridesmaid (head baker at Balterzens in Harrogate) made the gorgeous cake while for the topper Joanna made clay versions of her rabbits- Pancakes and Waffles.

“For the wedding breakfast we bought each table a fondue set and I prepared the nibbles alongside the cheese the day before with my bridesmaids.  It was so much fun, and an ice-breaker for the tables.  Our main was salads bought from our local cafe, plus lamb from the local butcher and essert was a table with delicious nibbles made by my friends and I.”

Guests had the pleasure of lots and lots of different types of entertainment, culminating in a evening ceilidh.

“Alex’s sister surprised us with a portrait paper cutter and Alex had the big idea of making lots of huge garden games.  It was a big job and I wasn’t sure if we were going to finish in time but we managed to make a large Connect Four, Guess Who (with our favourite film and TV characters), dominoes, and checkers.  They were a huge hit with the guests.  We also did a DIY photobooth.”

“For the evening we had a ceilidh and it was our absolute highlight of the day.  My good friend and his dad’s band came down to run it and were so amazing.  Everyone got up and danced and had so much fun.  Finally we finished the evening with fireworks.  Everyone was hugging whilst watching them- it was really special.”

Words of Wedded Wisdom

“Enjoy the whole process.  In my head, it felt more cost effective to imagine the wedding as the entire lead up to the day.  Every special moment, chatting about flowers with my bridesmaids, making all of our outdoor games with Alex, finding the dress with my mum became the wedding journey and we made made every moment special.”

“Join the Love My Dress Facebook group.  They were so invaluable and I got so many ideas, advice and care from them.  It was so nice to have somewhere to ask a question or air a concern and know that you have people who understand the craziness of wedding planning.”

Huge thanks to Joanna and Alex for sharing the details of their beautiful day.  Marrying in a wood surrounded by bluebells… is there anything more romantic?  I just adore Joanna’s Eliza Jane Howell gown- take a peek here for more brides wearing dresses by this wonderful designer.

Much love,

S x