Author: Claire Boon

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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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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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.

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.

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

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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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Latest news

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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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

Accessorising Your Wedding Hairstyle: Hair Combs, Veils, Clips, and More

Your wedding day is a special occasion, and every little detail matters. From the dress to the flowers and everything in between, every detail should be perfect, including your hairstyle. Once you’ve chosen a dreamy style for your luscious locks, choosing the right hair accessories can add the perfect finishing touches, elevating your overall look and leaving you feeling like the most beautiful bride. In this blog we’ll take a look at some of the most popular bridal hair accessories available at laceandfavour.com which are sure to leave you feeling inspired and excited for your special day.

April 25, 2024

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Latest news

New event! The Pre-Loved Wedding Boot Fayre & Bridal Show

The region’s only wedding boot fayre is back and this time at a brand new bigger and better venue!

February 21, 2024

Styled Shoot

Celebrating Love and Creativity: A Styled Wedding Shoot at The Deaf Institute, Manchester

In the heart of Manchester, a captivating styled wedding shoot recently took place at an extraordinary venue known as The Deaf Institute. Combining the vibrant energy of the city with a unique setting, this event captured the essence of love and diversity. In this article, we delve into the beauty and creativity that unfolded during this styled wedding shoot, showcasing the magical moments that were brought to life.

July 20, 2023

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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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Inspiration

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

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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

Meet the Supplier

Meet the Supplier: Tanya Flannagan Photography

Post author By Claire Boon
Post date December 14, 2020
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Inspiration

Meet the Supplier: Tanya Flannagan Photography

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 UK based photographer Tanya Flannagan Photography.

A light, airy and natural style, with a relaxed and friendly approach to wedding photography. Tanya Flannagan Photography is a UK based wedding photographer, that travels far and wide documenting weddings.

What makes you different?

Wedding photography is one of the biggest and most important things to book for your special day.

So it’s really important to make sure you call/video or email to any photographers you may have in mind – to make sure you get on well. I think It’s really important to make that connection and understand 1) what it is you’re looking for and 2) if they are the person who can do that.

With me, its kind of “you get what you see”, as in – there is no sale technique I use. If you like me and my work, then yay!

My main aim is that I just want you to feel relaxed in whatever situation you are in, and I like to blend into that situation. I have a very relaxed approach to weddings, and I like to get involved as and when I can. All of my past clients tell me how “it’s like having a friend on the day”, and that’s how I like it to be.

I want you, and your family, to feel relaxed and comfortable around me. That’s why I love to be me, and just me.

Simple!

How did it all start?

My journey began when I was asked to take wedding photos for one of my friend’s sisters. I never thought that one wedding would create my entire career path, and I’ve been photographing weddings ever since.

I also do a lot of family/engagement and celebration photography too. I now couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

I’ve always had a keen & creative ‘eye’ for photography – so I’m able to use that in my work now to create some really pretty moments.

Why should couple choose you?

I would like to think couples should chose me because they love my work, and also myself. I honestly love every aspect of being a wedding photographer – and put my heart and soul into each wedding.

I’m always happy to chat/call or video so people can get to know me and see more of my work.

Words of wisdom

Its your day, so do what you want! Don’t stress about the things you cant have control over, and just remember to have a few moments on your day to take it all in.

Ps, if it rains – don’t worry! Just go dancing in it!

Contact Tanya

tanyaflannagan@outlook.com / 07891 434306

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TanyaFlannaganPhotography
Instagram: @tanyaflannaganphotography

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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.

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2021 Wedding Trends

A Bridal Loft Styled Shoot

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2021 Wedding Trends

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Inspiration

2021 Wedding Trends

A guest article by Wedding Suppliers.

All of the unfortunate events that have happened in 2020 have meant that many weddings that were supposed to take place this year have been cancelled or postponed.

This means that 2021 weddings will need to be better than ever to make up for it! But don’t worry, here are some themes that will make your big day even more special.

Go big or go home

By 2021, brides will be dying to celebrate their marriage and can’t wait to have the best and biggest day of their lives. Especially brides who were supposed to get married this year, will be itching to have the most amazing day imaginable.

Going big can be in another form you like, such bigger blowouts, larger flower bouquets, more guests or glitter; everything over-the-top is wanted!

Make sure all of these elements are sustainable and will not double the price of the wedding, but everyone will be ready for a huge party, after not having a social life for most of 2020, so go big!

Outdoor Ceremonies

We have all been stuck inside for most of 2020 and the rest of the year is not looking too promising for large social gatherings, therefore, opting for an outdoor summer wedding in 2021 will be very popular.

An outdoor wedding allows you to personalise your big day in a way that a brick and mortar venue doesn’t. You’re not bound to anything that the establishment may decide for you; you will be able to be picky with every little detail. You can have any theme that you want and decorate the outdoor space exactly how you imagined it.

There are many outdoor areas you can use for a wedding, such as a public park, some beautiful gardens by a manor, or literally just your own back garden, if you are afraid of cranky strangers. The guests will have a great time outside, enjoying the weather and being all together again after such a long time inside!

Buying British

Since COVID-19 and the lockdown has taken a massive toll on the UK economy and many businesses are suffering with income and being able to pay their employees, it should be a trend in 2021 to support all local businesses, especially the in-store businesses.

Wedding related businesses especially have taken a hard hit this year, as no one is getting married. They all need to be considered in 2021!

Purchasing your dress in-store with all the help that comes with it, buying the venue decorations in small highstreet shops and utilising a local catering service will all help England’s recovery. Couples should be turning to more independent businesses and supporting local suppliers, rather than using Amazon or other online corporate brands.

Working with companies close to home will make the wedding planning feel more intimate and personal as well. A great wedding directory will really come in handy here, to find exactly what you are looking for.

Opt for a micro wedding instead

Lockdown has been a time for reflection for many people, about what and who is truly important to them. We have all come to the realisation who our true friends and family members are, the ones who you have been speaking to regularly and whose well-being you care about most.

Micro weddings usually involve around 20 guests and are very intimate and personal. Scaling back your guest list and the decorations needed can be exactly what many couples are looking for, especially as many people may still have anxieties about a large social gathering in 2021.

Your wedding will be just as amazing as a large one, the guests may even enjoy it more, as they will feel extremely special for being invited to such a cozy celebration. 2021 will be the year for authenticity; we have all realised how fragile life is, so make sure you celebrate every moment of it with the people you love the most!

Incorporating sustainability

Global warming is becoming more apparent every day and us humans should be constantly finding ways to change our daily actions to make the planet a better place for our future generations. Therefore, couples should be making sustainability and supporting eco-friendly businesses a priority when planning their wedding in 2021.

Weddings often produce massive amounts of CO2 emissions, especially if you are having a destination wedding and everyone has to fly out. If you have always dreamed of this type of wedding, make sure it is accessible by train or car instead!

Opting for locally grown produce and a local catering service to keep food miles down, choosing a vegan menu, having your wedding with a beautiful scenery that does not require tons of plastic decorations, are all ways you can incorporate sustainability and help save the planet on your big day.

Overall, the main theme for weddings in 2021 is freedom, celebrating love and making the most of the day, as 2020 has not been how anyone planned to spend their year. Therefore, whatever theme you choose, you can’t go wrong, if you keep that in mind!

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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 Inspiration

with CLAIRE BOON and SARAH MACKLIN of BOUQUET & BELLS

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Styled Shoot

A Bridal Loft Styled Shoot

Post author By Claire Boon
Post date December 14, 2020
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Inspiration

A Bridal Loft Styled Shoot

Sals Sentimental Gifts coordinated a loft style bridal shoot in the gorgeous setting of Bridal Reloved’s Shrewsbury boutique. The focus was on the enjoyable ‘getting ready’ experience with special attention to detail on accessories provided by Sals Sentimental Gifts.

Sal says “I specialise in personalised wedding party gifts plus more. I also work closely with brides to preserve their wedding flowers to create timeless keepsakes from their special day.”

“Today was the day I had been long waiting for, my first promotional shoot to showcase some of my products. After weeks of searching for the perfect venue I teamed up with Bridal Reloved Shrewsbury. Bridal Reloved is part of a chain of boutiques specialising in second hand and ex sample dresses. This venue was perfect as the dressing room here looks like a bridal suite and was perfect for the kind of image I was going for. I wanted the shoot to look as natural as possible and to portray a morning of a wedding with the bride and her bridesmaids having fun whilst getting ready.”

“The gorgeous dresses were supplied by Bridal Reloved, the bridesmaid dresses were by The only way. The photography by the talented Peachypix. My models for the day were also great and worked very hard. It was the perfect combination to showcase my products.”

“The main aim of the day was to show off my personalised bridal robes, but the setting also lent itself perfectly to capture my unique handcrafted resin wine butler and coasters alongside our wine glasses and gift boxes. The glasses were, of course perfect for a cheeky drink to calm the nerves.”

“We set everything up in just the right places, it was so hard to choose the spots as there were so many features we could have used, but I had a vision in my mind of how I wanted everything to look. With the models ready and my handmade keepsakes in place the photographer, Peachypix got going with me directing. This was all new to me so I may have been a little overzealous, but I wanted everything to be perfect. Luckily Suzy, the photographer was very patient and guided me through to get the perfect shots. One of the hardest things I have found while building Sals Forever Flowers and Sentimental Gifts is photography…. I have always found it hard to photograph my products to do them justice, Suzy gave me some great pointers to carry forward.”

Suppliers involved:
Accessories, gifts & flower preservation: Sals Sentimental Gifts
Photography: Peachypix
Bridal Gowns & Setting: Bridal Reloved Shrewsbury
Bridesmaids Gowns: The Only Way

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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.

Tanya Flannagan Photography

2021 Wedding Trends

A Bridal Loft Styled Shoot

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get 25% off our magazine.

Real Wedding

A Small Celebration at Old Palace Chester / James & Jordan

Post author By Claire Boon
Post date November 10, 2020
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Inspiration

A Small Celebration at Old Palace Chester / James & Jordan

James & Jordan brought their wedding forward due to looming tighter restrictions due to COVID-19. Held at beautiful Old Palace Chester, it was the perfect setting for an intimate celebration.

Photography by Helen Jane Smiddy.

The Proposal

James proposed during a holiday in Otranto Italy in September 2019. It was on a private balcony overlooking the sea as the sun was setting. It was perfect!

How did COVID affect your planning?

We ended up pulled our wedding forward due to Covid. Our original wedding date was set for the 3^rd October 2020 however due to the Covid restrictions changing three days before our wedding taking the total number of guests from 30 to 15 we decided to pull the wedding forward a week!

We originally had a wedding of 90 guests planned for 3^rd October but cut this number due to the restrictions. The wedding ended up being incredibly intimate with only direct family, bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Theme

We have our venue and florist to thank for the décor. The venue were completely amazing when we asked to move the date of the wedding with three days notice. In two days they had pulled a team together to make our special day possible. The food was sublime and the service was exceptional.

Special Touches

I wore my mums veil which was incredibly special as I still remember my sister and I playing dress up with it when we were little. It’s a miracle it was in one piece!

The Big Day

Myself and the bridesmaids got ready at my mums house next door to the church. Smoke Salmon and Scrabbled Eggs with Champs for brekkie.

I was completely calm in the whole lead up to the wedding and only started to feel nervous when I had the dress on and it was nearly time to leave. A few tears in the ceremony but I held is together… just about 😊

My brother chose the music I walked down the aisle to. It was Arrival of The Queen of Sheba by Handel played on the Organ.

Funny Stories

When the cars were getting loaded for the luggage for the venue my suitcase was somehow missed off the list! So I had no clothes or makeup the day after the wedding and had to go round my bridesmaids rooms to pull together something to wear, a hairbrush and makeup! Not the most glamorous first morning of marriage but lots of laughing!

Top Tips

The advice that was given to us by my incredibly wise Mother-in-Law was be in the moment and enjoy every second. It goes so quickly and you don’t want to spend the day thinking of the ‘what’s if’s’ or dwelling if something isn’t perfect. The most important thing is marrying the person you love, everything else is just a bonus!

We have no regrets. It was perfect!

We would have loved all of our guests to be there but we are planning on holiday a celebration when it’s safe to do so.

Suppliers

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

Photographer: Helen Jane Smiddy
Venue: Old Palace Chester
Flowers: Jacqui O
Cake: Kate Andrews (family friend)
Brides Dress: Jesus Peiro from Ellie Sanderson
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: TFNC
Mother of the Bride Dress: REISS
Suits: Moss Bros
Makeup: Lucinka Hodnett Makeup
Hair: Bridal Hair by Lindsey
Stationery: Papier
Cars: Classic Wedding Cars Cheshire
Rings: Samara James

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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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

Suppliers

THE FACE BEHIND THE BUSINESS

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Real Couples Wedding Regrets & Top Tips

Paparazzi

The Ceremony

The Reception

DIY

The Honeymoon

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More Inspiration

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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

Any Mishaps?

Top Tips

Suppliers

THE FACE BEHIND THE BUSINESS

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More Real Weddings

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Meet the Supplier: Tanya Flannagan Photography

What makes you different?

How did it all start?

Why should couple choose you?

Words of wisdom

Contact Tanya

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Similar Articles

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2021 Wedding Trends

Go big or go home

Outdoor Ceremonies

Buying British

Opt for a micro wedding instead

Incorporating sustainability

THE FACE BEHIND THE BUSINESS

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The Magazine

More Inspiration

Sign up to our Mailing List

Sign up to our mail list and get 15% off your first order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine!

A Bridal Loft Styled Shoot

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order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine!

Sign up to our mail list and get 15% off your first
order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine!

Sign up to our mail list and get 15% off your first
order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine!

Sign up to our mail list and get 15% off your first
order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine!

Sign up to our mail list and get 15% off your first
order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine!

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Sign up to our mail list and get 15% off your first
order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine!

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A Small Celebration at Old Palace Chester / James & Jordan

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