Author: Claire Boon

Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine Issue 04: Pre-Order Now

Post author By Claire Boon
Post date August 2, 2021
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Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine Issue 04: Pre-Order Now!

Issue 04 of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine is now available for PRE-ORDER!

First of all, we sincerely hope your wedding plans are back on track. It’s so lovely to see weddings beginning to happen again, and we are excited to continue to inspire you through our magazine.

This bumper issue celebrates weddings getting back on track. You won’t find anything but positivity and hopefulness here! With features including a mixture of lavish and upmarket dos along with the more alternative and intimate celebration, this issue is full-to-bursting with the best inspiration for your day. Plus, we’ve gathered together 50+ unique ideas that will make your day stand out and be remembered for all the right reasons.

We also spoke with real couples that have kindly shared their personal stories on how their wedding was affected by COVID-19 including Jessica & Jonathan’s viral wedding. We hope this gives you a sense of not feeling like you’re alone, and no matter what, love always wins.

To tie everything together, we help solve the most common wedding problems submitted by real couples.

All our issues include a full supplier directory filled with the businesses we have worked with and trust. There’s a huge selection including bridal wear, florists, entertainment and everything in between.

This bumper issue also includes articles from some of the best in the industry, sharing their top planning tips to help make the process as easy and stress-free as possible.

Once again, we have YOU to thank for the cover image of this issue. We shared a poll on Instagram (@bouquetandbells) and asked you to pick your fave image from a selection of options and this was the clear winner – we think it’s a bloody marvellous choice! We have the incredible Twigs Branch Photography to thank for capturing the striking image of Harley & David at a Viking shoot we coordinated earlier in the year. See the full feature inside this issue.

Full sized A4 magazine. Pre-orders close on Friday 3rd September 2021. New issues released every spring and autumn. Created by Bouquet & Bells.

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Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine is the ultimate paper guide for stylish & fun loving couples. Each and every issue is full-to-bursting with the latest innovative fresh content & hottest trends.

Other Articles

with CLAIRE BOON and SARAH MACKLIN of Bouquet & Bells

Latest news

An Alternative Church Wedding with Unique Outfits

This shoot was inspired wholly by the vastness and beauty of the venue as well as the unitarians inspiring ethos: Ullet Road Unitarian Church. We chose a beautiful day for the shoot, meaning the light flooding into the building and outside of the building was beautiful. We had a selection of dresses to change into for different parts of the church, and we utilised the late in different rooms and at different windows, as well as the doors for the iconic confetti shots.

November 6, 2024

Latest news

Top Tips for Dealing With Wedding Jitters

Your wedding is a magical day which will stay with you forever. However, it’s unquestionable that with a tag like that, there’s also going to be an element of pressure you need to manage. 84% of brides report feeling some sort of stress about their big day. And while a lot of this comes hand-in-hand with planning a large event, it’s unquestionable that standing in front of anyone as the “star of the show” is going to get the nerves jangling.

August 12, 2024

Latest news

Say ‘I Do’ to Preloved at St Kentigern Hospice Wedding Shop

At St.Kentigern Hospice (Abergele) lies a bridal boutique like no other. Brides-to-be can discover their dream gown while supporting a cause dedicated to providing exceptional care. Every purchase helps fund the hospice’s vital services; from patient care, family support and bereavement counselling.

July 18, 2024

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Tags Blog, budget, day, how to, planning, wedding, wedding blogger, wedding day, wedding magazine, wedding planning, weddings

Meet the Supplier

Meet the Supplier: Makeup By Mary

Post author By Claire Boon
Post date April 29, 2021
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Meet the Supplier: Makeup By Mary

As part of our brand new series, we’re so exited to be interviewing a selection of fantastic wedding specialists. We take pride in recommending the finest in the industry, and hope this series will help connect you with suppliers for your wedding day.

Today, we’re thrilled to introduce Midlands based and modern bridal makeup service Makeup By Mary.

What makes you different?

I’ve been told that I’m a very laid back and bubbly person when it comes to the trial and wedding morning, which is nice to hear! You can read more about what some of my clients have said here.

If you love a killer red lip (like me) or winged liner, I say go for it!

My aim is to make you look like yourself and be bursting with confidence at your most beautiful.

How did it all start?

I didn’t really get into makeup until I left college doing what I thought was right for me. I had always loved doing makeup on myself and enrolled onto an intense course in makeup artistry – something I enjoyed. Although originally I didn’t want to go into the wedding industry, one of my friends asked me to do their bridal makeup and since then my business has flourished.

Why should couple choose you?

I’m there to take into consideration your dress, wedding dress and colour themes, likes and dislikes to help create your bridal makeup look. If you are not too sure what style of makeup to have or feel a bit timid because you barely wear makeup, I’m there to help and that’s also why we do trials!

Once all members of the bridal party are ready on your wedding morning, I’m an extra helping hand for anything that you need me to do! I stay with you up until the very moment you leave for your ceremony for any last minute touch-ups and give you a small kit of powder and lipstick for you to take with you.

If you have a few little ones about, I can give them a little swish of blusher and lipgloss complimentary to make them feel extra special.

Words of wisdom

It is YOUR wedding. Have some fun and personalise it to what you and your fiancé like rather than having guests telling you what they like and dislike.

It’s a special day, make sure that you are also surrounded by a bridal party that are helpful and bring you so much happiness on the morning of your wedding!

Achievements

In October 2019, I was awarded ‘Outstanding Beauty Professional of the Year’ by The Midlands Beauty Industry Awards. In May 2020, I was awarded Regional Winner of West Midlands’ ‘Freelance Makeup Artist of the Year’.

Contact Mary

info@makeupbymary.co.uk /07534 936266

Facebook: www.facebook.com/makeupbymarylj
Instagram: @makeupbymarylj
Website: www.makeupbymary.co.uk

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Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine is the ultimate paper guide for stylish & fun loving couples. Each and every issue is full-to-bursting with the latest innovative fresh content & hottest trends.

Real Weddings

with BOUQUET & BELLS

Browse beautiful & inspiring real weddings.

February, 2021

A Last Minute Wedding Day / Aishah & Paul

Aishah & Paul organised their wedding in just one week so it was all hands on deck to get everything ready in time.

November, 2020

A Small Celebration at Old Palace Chester / James & Jordan

James & Jordan brought their wedding forward due to looming tighter restrictions due to COVID-19.

May, 2020

A Beautiful Natural Themed Wedding at Longworth Hall in Hereford

Eilisha and Nathaniel held a beautiful, natural wedding at the stunning Longworth Hall, Hereford in September 2019.

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Plus get 15% off your first order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine when you sign up.

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Latest news

Wedding inspiration for 2021

Post author By Claire Boon
Post date April 20, 2021
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Inspiration

Wedding Inspiration for 2021

A guest article.

We all need a bit of inspiration sometimes, and planning a wedding is no different. There’s so much to think about – from finding the ideal venue and the perfect wedding band, to the dress of your dreams and a menu that will please everyone.

But 2021 is no ordinary year, for obvious reasons. It could be that you’re working on a tighter budget than usual, or maybe after the year everyone’s had you want your wedding to be a smaller, more personal affair. If this sounds like you, then a DIY wedding could be exactly what you need in 2021.

It’s no secret that a bit of creative flair can save you a lot of money when planning a wedding. But it could also help the environment. For example, what materials could you reuse to create decorations or table settings?

Bunting is a classic choice which you could make yourself with recycled fabrics. You can also think about how guests might reuse or keep items. Their name place cards could be a keepsake, for example. Or you could even include a personalised drawing or poem, if you’re feeling really arty. People have even used pegs or potted plants! You’re only as limited as your creativity, and the internet has plenty of ideas to help.

If you’re a star baker, why not bake your own wedding cake? Or maybe your friends and family have hidden talents that could come in handy throughout the day, too?

Incorporating DIY elements into your wedding is sure to make the occasion more unique. You don’t have to take on the whole of the wedding yourself, of course – this might be a daunting task! But by sprinkling some DIY elements here and there, you’ll make your wedding more personal and even more meaningful – both for you, and your guests.

Hopefully you’re now feeling more inspired as you plan your special day, but if DIY weddings aren’t your cup of tea there’s plenty more inspiration out there if you need it! Check out our dedicated page full of the latest wedding tips and tricks…

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Latest news

We Have a PODCAST!

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Inspiration

We Have a PODCAST!

We are so excited to announce that we have launched our own podcast!

Introducing… Wedding Waffle.

Claire from Bouquet & Bells along with Caroline from Flowers at the Dutch Barn and Julie from The Red Rose Cake Company get together to discuss all things wedding including your dilemmas, shocking stats and just general wedding waffle. Get cosy and join us as we discuss anything and everything to do with weddings. Absolutely nothing is off limits!

We have just finished recording the first series which is made up of six episodes. The first episode will be available from Monday 12th April 2021 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and more.

Click here to listen!

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Real Wedding

An Elegant Wedding at Peckforton Castle / Jayne & Richard

Post author By Claire Boon
Post date March 23, 2021
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An Elegant Wedding at Peckforton Castle / Jayne & Richard

Jayne & Richard got wed at fairytale venue Peckforton Castle in January 2020. The theme was simple and elegant with neutral tones including white, grey and greens.

Photography by Madison Picture and Helen Williams Photography.

The Proposal

We were on holiday in remote Western Australia camping in our 4WD roof top camper. That day we had been snorkeling on the Ningaloo Reef and decided to finish off our day watching the turtles bob about in the sea at sunset from the top of a sand dune. Next thing Richard was on one knee proposing! We finished off our night star gazing with a bottle of bubbly and of course an aussie BBQ!

Special Touches

I wanted to bring a touch of Australia to the wedding (Rich is Australian) and love the silvery greens and smell of Eucalyptus which influenced our colour scheme. Our registrar table and top table we dressed with Eucalyptus (cut from my mums garden and beautifully placed by Thornton Events). The room in Peckforton Castle we were married in had lots of drama and high ceilings which I felt I needed to fill, so the aisle was lined with candles and blossom trees for height and looked beautiful.

The general theme of our wedding was travel as this has played a big part in our relationship (we met in Qatar) and we named our tables after our favorite places we had been together.

The Big Day

As we had a lot of friends and family visiting from all over the world (Australia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, America, UK) in Cheshire for our wedding, we had a get together the night before in a local pub (Hinderton Arms) where people could meet each other, have drinks and some dinner. We both then stayed over at Peckforton Castle and got ready there in the morning. Everything went relatively smoothly, Rich and his groomsmen hit the spa in the morning while us girls got ready with bubbly and breakfast in my suite. I was a little nervous but better than I thought id be! I walked down the aisle with my Dad to ‘Here, there and everywhere’ by The Beatles. Richard and I, and our families all love The Beatles and this song seemed to go perfectly with the theme of the wedding and the story of our relationship.

Any Mishaps?

Luckily, there were no major mishaps during the day! Of course nothing went exactly to plan, and we ran late etc but we were enjoying our day so much that we were completely oblivious and it didn’t have an affect on our perfect day

Top Tips

Don’t worry! I was worried about everything, who could and couldn’t be there, trying to please everyone and make sure everyone would have a good time. But in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t matter… you are there to do one thing only. Just enjoy it!

Suppliers

The wonderful local wedding suppliers that helped bring James & Jordan’s vision to life are as follows:

Photographers: Madison Picture and Helen Williams Photography.
Venue: Peckforton Castle
Flowers: Blooms Floristry
Venue Dresser: Thornton Events
Dress: Stella York
Stationery: Handmade
Makeup : Thomas Jack Makeup
Hair: Kate Pierce
Cake: Made by a family member
Rings: Jeweller in Melbourne

We hope this special feature gives you inspiration for your wedding or event.

Want to feature your wedding our blog? Please contact claire@bouquetandbells.com.

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The Magazine

Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine is the ultimate paper guide for stylish & fun loving couples. Each and every issue is full-to-bursting with the latest innovative fresh content & hottest trends.

More Real Weddings

with BOUQUET & BELLS

Browse more beautiful & inspiring real weddings.

February, 2021

A Last Minute Wedding Day / Aishah & Paul

Aishah & Paul organised their wedding in just one week so it was all hands on deck to get everything ready in time.

November, 2020

A Small Celebration at Old Palace Chester / James & Jordan

James & Jordan brought their wedding forward due to looming tighter restrictions due to COVID-19.

May, 2020

A Beautiful Natural Themed Wedding at Longworth Hall in Hereford

Eilisha and Nathaniel held a beautiful, natural wedding at the stunning Longworth Hall, Hereford in September 2019.

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Sign up to our mail list and stay up-to-date with the latest news, articles, inspiration and more!
Plus get 15% off your first order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine when you sign up.

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order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine!

Latest news

Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine Issue 03: Available Now

Post author By Claire Boon
Post date February 26, 2021
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Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine Issue 03: Available Now

Issue 03 of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine is HERE!

First of all, we want to give each of you a big virtual hug and squeeze. Planning your wedding during this challenging time must be really bloomin’ tough. My heart goes out to every single one of you whose plans have been disturbed by COVID-19. It continues to sadden us seeing so many couples having to postpone their day. BUT, we ain’t focusing on the negatives here. We want this magazine to inspire you and give you a breather from the utter rubbishness of the world right now.

This issue focuses on the couples that stuck two fingers up to COVID and got married regardless. It’s filled us with such joy being able to share the smaller celebrations. After all, LOVE WINS.

We’re also featuring a range of the most beautiful and trend-setting styled shoots to give you all the inspo for your wedding, no matter how big or small the occasion.

To tie everything together, we’re sharing our top tips on setting and managing your wedding budget with additional expert guidance and money-saving tips. In fact, there’s 30+ of our most valuable tips. No matter where you are in the planning process our guide will help you to avoid costly mistakes and spark some genius and also budget-savvy ideas.

Click here to order your copy straight to your door.

This bumper issue also includes articles from some of the best in the industry, sharing their top planning tips to help make the process as easy and stress-free as possible.

On a slightly separate note, we have YOU to thank for the cover of this issue. We shared a poll on Instagram (@bouquetandbells) and asked you to pick your fave image from a selection of options and this was the clear winner – we think it’s a bloody marvelous choice! We have the incredible Sarah Brookes Photography to thank for capturing the striking image of Charlie & Adam at a styled shoot we coordinated last year. We felt inspired by the more intimate celebrations and fancied going alfresco so we set up a pop-up outdoor wedding among the beautiful setting of Cheshire View in Christleton near Chester. You can see the full feature inside this issue.

Order your copy! Full sized A4 magazine.

New issues released every spring and autumn. Created by Bouquet & Bells.

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The Magazine

Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine is the ultimate paper guide for stylish & fun loving couples. Each and every issue is full-to-bursting with the latest innovative fresh content & hottest trends.

More Real Weddings

with BOUQUET & BELLS

Browse more beautiful & inspiring real weddings.

February, 2021

A Last Minute Wedding Day / Aishah & Paul

Aishah & Paul organised their wedding in just one week so it was all hands on deck to get everything ready in time.

November, 2020

A Small Celebration at Old Palace Chester / James & Jordan

James & Jordan brought their wedding forward due to looming tighter restrictions due to COVID-19.

May, 2020

A Beautiful Natural Themed Wedding at Longworth Hall in Hereford

Eilisha and Nathaniel held a beautiful, natural wedding at the stunning Longworth Hall, Hereford in September 2019.

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Sign up to our mail list and stay up-to-date with the latest news, articles, inspiration and more!
Plus get 15% off your first order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine when you sign up.

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order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine!

Real Wedding

An Intimate Winter Elopement Style Wedding / Jess & Jamie

Post author By Claire Boon
Post date February 18, 2021
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An Intimate Winter Elopement Style Wedding / Jess & Jamie

Jess & Jamie had a romantic and intimate wedding day. Beautiful elopement style photographs by Sophie Renshaw Photography were captured in the beautiful grounds of their Welsh venue.

Photography by Sophie Renshaw Photography.

The story as told by the couple.

We decided to have a Winter cosy wedding, based in Wales at Broneirion House. It was an evening affair, everything was lit by candlelight, the fireplace was roaring and mince pies and mulled wine awaited our guests on arrival.

The main focus of the wedding was to make sure everything was either handmade or ethical and sustainable. I made my own invites then family members and friends chipped in anywhere they could to help, hand sewing napkins, making the wedding cake, handmade soap for wedding favours, setting the tables, even two handmade sewn mice inspired by brambly hedge wedding story stood with the cake.

The food was all vegetarian, cooked by Jamie and his best man for fifty people, all prepped the previous night. We wanted it to feel like an intimate family gathering, a large scale dinner party.

Jamie wore my father’s wedding waistcoat, a dark indigo, paisley embroidered velvet waistcoat, almost Darcy inspired from pride and prejudice. I wore a Monsoon embroidered dress with a train at the back, a simple gypsophila flower crown made by Hidden Botanics, a bouquet of wild flowers with eucalyptus, white Victorian style lace up boots, then I did my hair and makeup myself. The colour scheme was based on winter colours, dark berry, greens and soft earthy tones. My bridesmaids wore Berry, with lace up boots holding a small bouquet of gypsophila.

Sophie recently took some beautiful elopement style photographs around the grounds of Broneirion. We opted not to have a photographer on the day as we wanted the whole focus to be about spending this special day with with our family, but still wanted some photographs that we could treasure forever. We headed back to the grounds of Broneirion House, where Sophie captured everything I was looking for in my wedding photos. I wanted nature to feel close, and entwine within the images. The mood, colours and feeling Sophie captured in the photos are exactly what I was imagining in my head.

We were always referring back to Edwardian images, and english literature from Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Far from the Madding Crowd and anything poetic inspired by nature.

The golden sun was dancing through the tall grasses, and the wild flowers were growing all around the House, with the hills in the distance. Sophie captured this all, if not more!

Suppliers

The wonderful local wedding suppliers that helped bring Jess & Jamie’s vision to life are as follows:

Photographer: Sophie Renshaw Photography
Head crown: Hidden Botanics
Dress: Monsoon
Shoes: Marks and Spencer
Grounds in Photograph: Broneirion
Wedding favours: Jiraffgifts
Bouquet: Bloomers, Newtown

We hope this special feature gives you inspiration for your wedding or event.

Want to feature your wedding our blog? Please contact claire@bouquetandbells.com.

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The Magazine

Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine is the ultimate paper guide for stylish & fun loving couples. Each and every issue is full-to-bursting with the latest innovative fresh content & hottest trends.

More Real Weddings

with BOUQUET & BELLS

Browse more beautiful & inspiring real weddings.

February, 2021

A Last Minute Wedding Day / Aishah & Paul

Aishah & Paul organised their wedding in just one week so it was all hands on deck to get everything ready in time.

November, 2020

A Small Celebration at Old Palace Chester / James & Jordan

James & Jordan brought their wedding forward due to looming tighter restrictions due to COVID-19.

May, 2020

A Beautiful Natural Themed Wedding at Longworth Hall in Hereford

Eilisha and Nathaniel held a beautiful, natural wedding at the stunning Longworth Hall, Hereford in September 2019.

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Sign up to our mail list and stay up-to-date with the latest news, articles, inspiration and more!
Plus get 15% off your first order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine when you sign up.

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order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine!

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Real Couples Wedding Regrets & Top Tips

Post author By Claire Boon
Post date February 6, 2021
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Real Couples Wedding Regrets & Top Tips

It’s all well and good listening to friends, family and even a professional when it comes to wedding planning advice. However, who’s better to ask than a REAL couple? Someone that’s already been there and done it? Well we’ve done the hard work for you. We approached past Brides & Grooms in search of their biggest wedding planning tips (as well as those all important regrets), in the hope that it will influence you and guide you to make the right decisions. Here’s a run-down of some of the most valuable advice…

Paparazzi

In our opinion, your wedding photography and / or videography are the most important elements of your day and are where you should dedicate a chunk of your budget. It’s so important to find the right person that fits your style and personality as a couple.

Browse websites, magazines and wedding blogs to get a better idea of what kind of photographs you want. Then set aside time to sit down with your photographer and brief them on what you would like them to capture. Make sure you’re equipped with references and notes to make sure you’re clear from the start.

“I had envisioned several shots, but my mistake was to assume my photographer could read my mind. She was amazing, but unfortunately several things I wanted to capture were missed.”

“The wedding was amazing. But while I had an amazing photographer, I didn’t hire a professional videographer. So many wonderful moments were captured frozen in time, but there are no moving images.”

“My biggest wedding regret was having a family friend take photos instead of hiring a photographer. She had a lot of heart, but the pictures were really disappointing.”

The Ceremony

One of our main pieces of advice for this section of your day is to tell your guests that your ceremony is due to start fifteen minutes before it actually does! This will help account for any late arrivals.

“I’d start the ceremony later in order to account for late arrivals.”

“I wish I had asked the celebrant to tell people to put their mobile phones away. We have so many lovely shots of the ceremony, but in everyone there are people in the background holding up their phones so you can’t see their faces.”

“I would have had a shorter ceremony. It was more than half an hour long, and I remember being bored standing up there, and I am sure those watching felt the same!”

The Reception

Your reception is where you spend the majority of your day so it has to be right. It’s so important to chat with your partner to ensure you’re on the same page and in agreement with arrangements. Tech is a big part of the day. Why not talk to your partner about your tech stance before the wedding, and make sure it’s clear on the day. If you’re pro–social media, choose a great wedding hashtag and print it on your service guides. If you’d prefer a mobile phone–free day, ask your Coordinator to make an announcement during special photo moments.

“One of the things I would have done differently for my reception is include more time for speeches… we only let the best man speak, and looking back, I think it would have been nice to have heard from others.”

“I would have tried to have a smaller wedding. It went by so fast, I barely had a chance to go talk to guests.”

“What I regret is spending so much time worrying about little details — the seating plan, the music, the bridesmaids’ dresses… In the end, all the stress I put myself through leading up to the big day was avoidable. Your wedding is perfect regardless of whether certain details don’t work out the way you planned.”

DIY

There’s two types of people. You either love or hate getting stuck in to some good ol’ DIY. If you’re going to create your own items for your day, don’t forget to consider transportation arrangements and factor in how long it will take you to set up the items on the day.

“We wouldn’t have done DIY invitations. The amount of money we saved just wasn’t worth the time it took us to make them.”

“My biggest regret is not factoring in what a huge pain it would be taking everything down after the reception. The cost savings of DIY tend to disappear when you remember that you have to provide everything AND take it all down!”

“I ended up spending money on all the craft items, wasting my time, and then changing my mind and throwing them all out. I am all about a good DIY, but when it comes to a wedding, I don’t recommend DIY-ing anything, since it means you will have to either do the setup yourself or worry about explaining your vision for these items to someone else.”

The Honeymoon

So your wedding day is over and you have the excitement and novelty of your honeymoon to look forward to! We’d recommend jetting off not too long after your day to ensure you still have the just wed buzz.

“I don’t regret the actual honeymoon, but I do regret the fact that we put so much pressure on ourselves to find the perfect place and plan the perfect trip. The process became more stressful that it was fun. My advice to brides is to pick somewhere you both love and will enjoy yourselves, as opposed to worrying about whether or not it’s the most epic trip of your lives.”

“We booked our honeymoon really far in advance and without putting as much thought into it as we probably should have. By the time I realised I wanted to do something different it was too late/costly to change our entire game plan. We still had a great time, thank goodness.”

“Instead of leaving for our honeymoon the morning after the wedding — which ended at three in the morning! — we would have waited a day to take off for Costa Rica. The whole first day of the trip I was exhausted and hung over.”

And there we have it! Thank you to all the lovely Brides & Grooms that gave us their wedding regrets and top tips. We hope you gained some useful pieces of advice from this article and best of luck with your planning.

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Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine is the ultimate paper guide for stylish & fun loving couples. Each and every issue is full-to-bursting with the latest innovative fresh content & hottest trends.

More Inspiration

with CLAIRE BOON and SARAH MACKLIN of BOUQUET & BELLS

Browse the latest inspiring content including new wedding trends, your most
asked questions, beautiful shoots and more.

Latest news

An Alternative Church Wedding with Unique Outfits

November 6, 2024

Latest news

Top Tips for Dealing With Wedding Jitters

August 12, 2024

Latest news

Say ‘I Do’ to Preloved at St Kentigern Hospice Wedding Shop

July 18, 2024

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Real Wedding

A Last Minute Wedding Day / Aishah & Paul

Post author By Claire Boon
Post date February 3, 2021
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A Last Minute Wedding Day / Aishah & Paul

Aishah & Paul organised their wedding in just one week so it was all hands on deck to get everything ready in time. They celebrated with a small selection of their closest friends and family with an intimate ceremony at Wrexham Town Hall followed by an outdoor celebration in Aishah’s garden.

Photography by Upon The Heath Photography.

The Proposal

Paul and I got together at the end of 6^th form and had been together for almost 9 years when he proposed. Even though we always knew marriage was in our future, it was still complete surprise as we’d just bought a house, so thoughts of a proposal and a wedding were far away. On a beautiful, sunny August day in 2019, he took me for a walk in the Elan Valley. After our picnic, he told me to stand in a clearing while he set up a camera on timer for a photo of the two of us. I looked down to straighten my outfit and when I looked up he was down on one knee. I was in complete shock but after I recovered it was the easiest ‘yes’ I’ve ever said.

How did COVID affect your planning?

Whilst we’d decided to postpone our big Humanist ceremony and celebration to November 2021, we really wanted to go ahead with our legal ceremony. We thought it would just be a simple, no frills event. Just the two of us and our two witnesses. A week before the firebreak lockdown in Wales was due to lift they announced we could have up to 15 people for a sit down reception. We managed to book a table at Lot 11 in Wrexham and our immediate families, two of my bridesmaids and our photographer who is also a good friend, were able to celebrate with us.

Theme

We didn’t have a theme. But my dress was heavily embellished and the stunning all-white Playa Blanca rose bouquet our florist designed complemented the contemporary and elegant dress work so beautifully.

Special Touches

With a week to plan, the day was made so special by everyone who helped make the day happen. I work at a General Practice and they kindly loaned us a marquee for our garden and one of the practice health care staff provided us trestle tables and lots of decorations. A family friend baked our cake, Paul’s dad set up the entire marquee and my sister did my make-up on the day. We couldn’t have felt more loved.

The Big Day

We both got ready at home. It was such a relaxed and enjoyable morning and I face-timed with the 5 of my 7 bridesmaids who lived in England, so could not attend. They still got to watch me get ready so that was wonderful. Paul and I did a first look in our garden and then went in the same car to Wrexham Town hall. There were no nerves, just excitement. We felt so ready to be husband and wife.

Any Mishaps?

No mishaps, just lots of belly laughs and so much love.

Top Tips

We were able to have so much more that we thought we would on this day so there is not a single moment we regret or wish went differently.

The intimacy of the day, how loved we were made to feel by the people who were there and kindness of all those who helped us isn’t something we’ll ever forget.

Suppliers

The wonderful local wedding suppliers that helped bring James & Jordan’s vision to life are as follows:

Photographer: Upon The Heath Photography
Venues: Wrexham Town Hall & Lot 11
Flowers: Emma Jane Floral Design
Cake: Family Friend
Brides Dress: ASOS
Bridal Face Mask: Bridal Reloved, Shrewsbury
Mother of the Bride Dress: Phase Eight
Suits: Moss Bros
Rings: Vashi

We hope this special feature gives you inspiration for your wedding or event.

Want to feature your wedding our blog? Please contact claire@bouquetandbells.com.

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February, 2021

A Last Minute Wedding Day / Aishah & Paul

Aishah & Paul organised their wedding in just one week so it was all hands on deck to get everything ready in time.

November, 2020

A Small Celebration at Old Palace Chester / James & Jordan

James & Jordan brought their wedding forward due to looming tighter restrictions due to COVID-19.

May, 2020

A Beautiful Natural Themed Wedding at Longworth Hall in Hereford

Eilisha and Nathaniel held a beautiful, natural wedding at the stunning Longworth Hall, Hereford in September 2019.

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Styled Shoot

A Luxe Shoot at Old Palace Chester

Post author By Claire Boon
Post date January 7, 2021

Bouquet & Bells coordinated a luxe styled shoot at new wedding and events venue Old Palace Chester.

Elevated above the River Dee in the heart of historic Chester, Old Palace Chester is an exclusive-use wedding venue in Cheshire like no other. Couples can say ‘I do’ to palatial grandeur, unrivalled outside space and the highest level of luxury for every part of your wedding day.

Nestled between ancient ruins and the exquisite riverfront, where a remarkable history and a stunning contemporary style meet, we could think of no better place to host a glamorous styled shoot fit for royalty.

The shoot was full of opulence and glamour with shots by the incredible Sarah Glynn Photography. Sarah kept close attention to detail emphasising the inspiring decor, whilst making the most of Old Palace’s beautiful setting and ornate features.

We were inspired by the traditional and historical features of Old Palace, but endeavoured to introduce a modern twist with the latest stationery trends, geometric shapes and a touch of glitz and glamour.
A selection of top quality, local suppliers helped bring our vision of traditional-meets-modern to life.

We extended the shoot across multiple areas of the Palace to showcase the venues incredible beauty and heritage features. These areas included the grand staircase, outdoor terrace and of course the beautiful grand Ballroom.

Julie from The Red Rose Cake Company created two bespoke cake designs that followed the theme seamlessly. A three tier showstopper featured in the Ballroom whilst a more petite four tier with ruffle effect and diamante beading stood proudly in the bay window with views of the River Dee.

Three gowns were lovingly selected by Hannah from Elizabeth Louise Bridal Boutique in Chester. They chose three different styles to showcase the diversity of their range. A white satin gown with a huge flowing train featured in outdoor shots as it was a real show-stopper.

Three on-trend suits were handpicked by Groom Formal Hire. It was important that the suit and gown combos looked perfect together.

Danielle from Danielle Horan Hair & Makeup and Claire from Hair Agency UK worked together to create three unique looks. Each look was tailored to to gown the model was featuring, ensuring everything worked beautifully together.

Wedding Dance Chester choreographed the shoot ensuring the couple were always camera ready in poses that made everything look effortless. They even taught them some moves on the dance floor!

Caroline from Flowers at the Dutch Barn created beautiful floral displays with use of large silver stands and a matching moongate ring to give the flowers plenty of height and to fill the vast space of the grand Ballroom.

The mix of foliage along with florals including Eucalyptus, Palms and Salal with Hydrangeas, White Avalanche Roses, Tuplips and Delphinium’s were the perfect on-trend combination.

Natalie from Jellypress created elegant & bespoke stationery including table place names, table numbers and a welcome board. Each piece followed a matching theme with use of geometric shapes and calligraphy handwriting with soft, subtle pastel shades.

Both the florals and stationery complimented each other beautifully.

With thanks to the following suppliers:
Photography: Sarah Glynn Photography
Coordination & Styling: Bouquet & Bells
Venue: Old Palace Chester
Videography: Perfect Day Production
Flowers & Styling: Flowers at the Dutch Barn
Stationery: Jellypress
Cakes: The Red Rose Cake Company
Bridal Wear: Elizabeth Louise Bridal Boutique
Mens Wear: Groom Formal Hire
Hair Stylist: Hair Agency UK
Makeup Artist: Danielle Horan Hair & Makeup
Choreography: Wedding Dance Chester
Models: Amber Jones & Phil Bruce

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Wedding Inspiration for 2021

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An Elegant Wedding at Peckforton Castle / Jayne & Richard

The Proposal

Special Touches

The Big Day

Any Mishaps?

Top Tips

Suppliers

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An Intimate Winter Elopement Style Wedding / Jess & Jamie

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Real Couples Wedding Regrets & Top Tips

Paparazzi

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The Reception

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The Honeymoon

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A Last Minute Wedding Day / Aishah & Paul

The Proposal

How did COVID affect your planning?

Theme

Special Touches

The Big Day

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