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Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine Issue 03: Available Now

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Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine Issue 03: Available Now

Photography: Sarah Brookes Photography | Venue: Cheshire View Weddings | Coordination & Concept: Bouquet & Bells | Flowers: Flowers at the Dutch Barn | Dress: Cherish Bridal | Suit: Groom Formal Hire | Hair: Hairby Kathleen | Makeup: Jeanette Flynn Makeup Artist

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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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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order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine!

Bouquet & Bells 2021 © All rights reserved.

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Real Wedding

An Intimate Winter Elopement Style Wedding / Jess & Jamie

Inspiration

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.

THE FACE BEHIND THE BUSINESS

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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.

Sign up to our Mailing List

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.

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

Bouquet & Bells 2021 © All rights reserved.

Categories
Latest news

Real Couples Wedding Regrets & Top Tips

Inspiration

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.

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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.

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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.

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Issue 07: ‘Flower Power’ is Available to Pre-Order!

Flower Power. Yep, quite simply, that’s what we’ve named this issue. With the cover image being so flipping cool, how could we not theme the whole issue around floral design, highlighting different ways you can style your day no matter the budget. Find out more…

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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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Categories
Real Wedding

A Last Minute Wedding Day / Aishah & Paul

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 6th 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.

THE FACE BEHIND THE BUSINESS

Share this Article

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.

Sign up to our Mailing List

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.

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

Bouquet & Bells 2021 © All rights reserved.