Welcome to a fresh start, where love and joy take center stage. It’s my pleasure to share with you the enchanting tale of Amy and Ashley, two stylish teachers who exchanged vows in Wales. Their big day was a masterclass in whimsy, as the boys looked dashing, the girls radiated charm, and the florals stole the show. But what truly made their ceremony special was the surprise performance by a primary school choir – talk about setting the tone for a celebration.
You might recognize this lovely couple from their captivating wedding film slideshow, courtesy of McKinley Rodgers Film and Photography Today. I’m thrilled to introduce you to their breathtaking wedding photographs as well. Amy’s effortless beauty, infectious joy, and witty write-up will leave you in awe (not to mention her honest account of dress dramas – a must-read for any bride-to-be).
The Colour Palette
With the goal of creating a whimsical summer garden party atmosphere, our venue choice was crucial. We opted for a stunning marquee with breathtaking views that were bathed in sunlight on a clear day. To harmonize with this natural beauty, we selected a pastel colour palette, which offered flexibility and allowed us to incorporate the hues into various aspects of the wedding.
On the big day, it was thrilling to see how all the colours came together to produce a soft, airy aesthetic that perfectly captured the essence of our envisioned celebration.
Groom & Bridal Party Attire
From the onset, Ash and I were adamant that our wedding attire wouldn’t conform to traditional norms; for us, clothing was an integral part of the celebration – just as much as my dress was mine to claim. While some raised eyebrows at our unconventional approach, we stood by our decision and it ultimately proved to be one of our best choices. We embarked on a shopping adventure together, navigating through various stores until we stumbled upon the perfect find.
Ash opted for navy, reasoning that it would exude classic elegance without overwhelming the summer wedding setting during one particular excursion, I expressed concerns about the suit’s blue hue not being vibrant enough, prompting the sales assistant to quip, ‘You won’t get bluer than that, love.’ Our swift exit led us to Reiss, where we discovered an incredible navy suit that exceeded our expectations – and it was sold.
I may be slightly biased, but Ash looked dashing and debonair on our special day. To ensure the groomsmen felt at ease, we simply asked them to wear their own grey suits; we were thrilled with the outcome, as they all appeared suave and contributed to the overall mismatched aesthetic we sought to create. The bridesmaids, meanwhile, were absolute stars – a breeze to dress, in fact; quickly arriving at a mutual decision, they looked stunning on our big day.
Décor & Details
As we planned our special day, the décor evolved to reflect our desire for a charming garden party atmosphere. Initially, we considered lanterns and pom poms to adorn the marquee’s ceiling, but ultimately decided on bunting as the perfect choice. We could have handmade it ourselves, but after finding an artisan on eBay who offered custom-made solutions at a reasonable price, we opted for the stress-free approach.
Her creation exceeded our expectations, perfectly capturing the whimsical essence we sought. Our love of travel has taken us on many incredible adventures together, and we wanted to incorporate this passion into the celebration. We decided to name our tables after our favorite destinations, using postcards featuring photos of us in those places as table names. To complement this theme, Ash designed a vintage-style world map for our table plan, with luggagenots representing each table.
The plan itself was beautifully displayed atop a 150-year-old suitcase, kindly loaned to us by a friend of Ash’s mother.
The Favours
Our search for the perfect favors was exhaustive, but fate had other plans. Just three months before our wedding day, my dad suddenly passed away from a heart attack. As an involved and enthusiastic father, he had been heavily invested in the planning process and was thrilled about the upcoming celebration. We were determined to honor his memory and include him as much as possible in the special day.
To do this, we incorporated photos of him into our display and made a donation to the British Heart Foundation in his name. Additionally, we received heart-shaped paper infused with wildflower seeds that we used as favors, serving as a beautiful reminder of my dad’s presence even after he was gone.
The Refreshments
As enthusiastic cake enthusiasts, we wanted to ensure our wedding guests had an abundance of sweet treats to indulge in after a long day. To achieve this, we opted for a cake buffet instead of the traditional wedding cake. This spread featured an assortment of goodies, including flavourful cupcakes, cake pops, scones, macaroons, and scrumptious Welsh cakes, kindly prepared by Ash’s talented grandmother.
We gathered a variety of plates and cake stands to display our colourful array of treats, exceeding my initial vision of a vibrant rainbow of tempting delights. The morning after the wedding, a lone squashed macaroon was all that remained, a testament to how much our guests had enjoyed them.
Favourite Moments
It’s challenging to identify a single standout moment from a day packed with special memories. However, one particular instant stands out – being seated at the top table during the reception, surrounded by our closest friends and family, enjoying their company as we shared in laughter and smiles.
The key takeaway is that it’s not about the minor imperfections, like the cake being slightly off-color (ours was a lovely shade of orange rather than pink), or the bride’s veil blowing away in the wind (yes, we experienced that too). Rather, what people will truly remember are the joyful, humorous, and emotional moments that made your wedding uniquely yours.
The Wedding Music
As music enthusiasts, Ash and I were thrilled to book a band for our reception. We hit the jackpot with Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band, a talented 10-piece ensemble that brought a dash of Motown magic to the party. Their instrumentation was impressive, featuring saxophones and trumpets that added a rich layer of depth to their performances from the moment they took the stage, they commanded attention and kept our guests entertained until the very last note.
We had envisioned a lively atmosphere, and Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band delivered, filling the dance floor with infectious energy. Our first dance was a special moment we wanted to savor, so we opted for Al Green’s timeless classic ‘Let’s Stay Together’. Its funky vibes ensured our dance floor debut would be memorable and not too awkward – just right.
Advice For Other Couples
My top recommendation is to prioritize joy in your wedding planning process. It’s essential to find a balance that works for you, whether that means embracing traditional elements or incorporating unconventional and playful touches. The key is to be true to yourself and your partner, allowing the celebration to unfold organically.
