Colourful & Bright Summer Pub Wedding

WWW readers Charlotte and Matthew described their wedding to me as “fun, sunny and loud” and with such a cool summary I was super excited to read more about their gorgeous wedding story. They decided to get wed on the 10^th June 2017 in a church ceremony followed by a reception at The Four Horseshoes Pub in Chobham, Surrey. The vibe was really relaxed and the day certainly had a laid back summery garden atmosphere. What really caught my eye were the colourful and bright touches throughout. I mean the flower arrangements were so gorgeous and vibrant, they really made a bold statement.

Charlotte’s dress also had me hook, line and sinker, that lace, those off the shoulder sleeves, swoon! Matthew looked really dapper in his three piece suit and the bridesmaids wore really pretty pink frocks. Just so stylish. Keep your eyes peeled for cute flags, an amazing cheese cake, confetti aplenty and all the gin.

I really cannot thank WWW fave Charlotte Razzell Photography enough for sharing these incredibly beautiful and emotive images with us.

 

The Proposal

Box Hill after a picnic to celebrate my (Charlotte’s) 30^th birthday.

The Vision

English country pub with summer brights.

The Planning Process

We got engaged in May 2016, pretty much everything was booked by the June! We knew really what we wanted and were keen to keep it all relaxed and modern but with some formal traditions

The Venue

Chobham St Lawrence Church followed by reception at the Four Horseshoes Pub, Chobham.

The Dress & Accessories

Wedding dress from Bridal Indulgence, ‘Betty’ by WTOO. Veil by Rainbow Club, hair garland, bracelet and earrings from Liberty in Love and my silver shoes were from Kurt Geiger. My something blue was my blue initialled Emma Gordon clutch bag

Evening dress (for dancing!) Jarlo at ASOS and emerald green stilettos (my engagement ring is emerald and diamonds) from Zara.

I really struggled to find a simple dress with unusual detailing, firstly I went to a few shops alone as I found the whole dress shopping experience a little overwhelming and I then stumbled across Bridal Indulgence who happened to stock a designer I particularly liked. Kerri at the time was running her shop as a mobile business so she came to my house with a rail of dresses, a full length mirror and bottle of bubbly – the rest was history! She really ‘got’ what I wanted and was so patient and knowledgeable. The one dress I said I loved but would never suit me because I’m so curvy ended up being the one! I was genuinely so pleased to be in the comfort of my own home.

Groom’s Attire

Suits from Next, shirts from M&S, ties from Tie Planet and shoes from ASOS.

The Readings & Music

Two church readings, a biblical one by Charlotte’s brothers Alex and Nic, and the second by our maid of honour Charlotte and an old school friend Emily.

Walking down the aisle: Canon Pachelbel

Signing of the register: Air on a G String, Bach

Walking out: Wedding March, Mendelssohn

1^st hymn: All Things Bright and Beautiful

2^nd: Give Me Joy in my Heart

3^rd: Jerusalem

First dance – Return to Innocence by Engima, second dance Dance Away by Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music

Beautiful Bridesmaids

Their pale pink dresses from Coast, maid of honour (Charlotte’s) dress was the same design yet in a contrasting coral colour. Our Flower Girl Olivia’s dress and cardigan were from Monsoon.

The Flowers

Jenny at Chobham Flowers, she was incredible! I saw so many florists and no others really understood exactly what I wanted. She didn’t even flinch when I arrived for our appointment with a strict list of flowers I didn’t want, and two other mood boards! The moment the flowers arrived in our suite whilst getting ready was one I’ll always remember, everything at that moment came together – the bouquets were just perfect!

A mismatch of daisies, sunflowers, peonies, hydrangeas, veronica, yellow craspedia, ranunculus, cornflowers, celosia, with trailing ivy – all mixed in the bouquets, which were used as our centrepieces, and she also filled the jam jars and gin bottles I’d collected.

For the pew ends we had their candlesticks with daisies and ivy trailing down, which looked stunning, plus large galvanised pots of daises outside the church which we then transported to the pub garden too for the reception.

The Cake

Six tier cheese cake, which the florist decorated plus a ‘Connie’ the giant caterpillar cutting cake (a family tradition!).

Your Photographer

The FABULOUS Charlotte Razzell, she was just amazing, so discreet and friendly and really understood our vision, and wasn’t at all intrusive – the photos are so fresh and light and captured the day beautifully.

The Details & Decor

The wedding day fell on World Gin day, which happens to be our favourite drink too so we collected bottles over a year to use as vases and candle stick holders dotted around the venue. The table plan was set up on a garden shelf styled with pom pom ribbons, photos, and a different gin bottle per table filled with flowers. We also provided little hessian pouches on the church pews; ‘happy tears and bear snacks’.

The beer garden was the setting for the drinks and pub picky bits canapé reception, with wheelbarrows for keeping the drinks cool, parrot print table runners, gin bottle vases and deck chairs for chilling! Our guest book was a giant Jenga game, which the bridesmaids passed around during the drinks reception for the guests to write on along with a picnic basket for our lovely cards.

For the wedding breakfast tables, we had contrasting grey and white floral print runners with grey napkins, slate name tags, the bridal bouquets were the centrepieces along with some potted plants, various jam jars, which our florist filled with bright and rustic flowers and pink glass candle sticks.

The Honeymoon

Ibiza for a week, on the Monday after the wedding. Lots of fabulous beach clubs and tapas.

Memorable Moments

Seeing Matt at the top of the aisle was the best feeling in the world!

Drinks cans of Pimms and G&T’s outside the church after the service during the formal photos.

Walking into the beer garden and seeing everything set up and all the meticulous planning come together, and then walking into the pub for the wedding breakfast and seeing how amazing the tables all look dressed. Matt turned to me and said he finally ‘got’ my vision as he really struggled to visualise everything throughout the planning process and worried that our venue being a pub wouldn’t be ‘weddingy’ enough.

Matt and I sneaking off for half an hour during the meal for some photos on the village green, it was so lovely to be by ourselves and take it all in!

The pub quiz just after the desserts.

The dance off in the evening!

The after party in our suite at the hotel where all our nearest and dearest stayed.

Advice For Other Couples

Keep it simple, and do what YOU as a couple want to do. Every finer detail from the food and drinks to the styling and music had a sentimental reason why they were picked.

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Goodness me, how lovely?!

Thanks ever so much to Charlotte and Matthew for sharing their splendid celebrations with us all xo Lou