It’s always exciting to share a woodland wedding and today’s beautiful real wedding feature shows us just how to pull of a woodland ceremony in total and utter style!
WWW readers Luke and Nikki were hitched on the 6th July 2019 at Captains Wood Barn in Essex. Following their woodland wedding ceremony, which was surrounded by a macramé backdrop, antique rugs and beautiful blooms, they headed to the magical barns to celebrate. Boy oh boy did the barn look incredible, adorned with fairy lights and bohemian decorations. Think macramé, pastel meadow flowers and peacock chairs, wow. I’ve not even mentioned the super stylish attire (Luke and Nikki looked gorgeous!), the pretty bouquets, the epic cake and the smoke bomb portraits. I am in wedding heaven today folks.
Camilla Andrea Photography I cannot thank you enough for sharing with us these utterly beautiful photographs, enjoy it all WWWers.
The Proposal
Luke proposed to me a week after my 30th birthday on the beautiful Norfolk beach – holkham sands with Summer (our daughter who was 5 months at the time) in his arms.
We had our engagement shoot there with Camilla and both the kiddies.
The Vision
We wanted a boho inspired whimsical outdoor wedding and for it to be quite laid back.
The Planning Process
We only had just over 9 months to plan so we chose our venue which we were recommended by a friend and then our photographer Cam and the florist.
From there I then hired or made items and even ended up using a lot of pieces from our home to create the boho feel.
It was all very quick and we ended up pulling it all together in the last 3 months really.
The Readings & Music
String quartet @maple.rose.strings
Luke’s dad Tim read a reading but we can’t remember what its called I’m so sorry.
My brother Jamie read “scaffolding” by Seamus Heaney.
Groomsmen
Adam, Tom, George, Ste, Phil, Lenny, Rich and Jamie.
They actually chose their own, as long as they all wore white shirts and navy trousers.
We bought all their braces and I hand made their bow ties.
Bridesmaids
Hollie, Laurel, Livie and Simone.
Their bodysuits were from prettylittlething.com.
Skirts @stylishbrideaccs
Shoes New Look
Flower crowns from our florist @velvetroseflowerstudio.
Budget
We aimed for 20k but it came to nearer 30k.
The Venue
Captains Wood Barn – Maldon.
The Flowers
@velvetroseflowerstudio provided all the flowers and our flower crowns.
I wanted a pastel colour palette with green foliage, dried pieces throughout and pampas.
The Details & Décor
We wanted long trestle tables rather than lots of little ones so everyone could sit together and we chose a small top table of just us two with peacock chairs just to make it a bit more personal for us.
These were hired from @anthologyvintagehire, we also had lots of vintage rugs throughout the venue hired from them also to bring some of the indoors outside.
We had brass animals (these reminded us of the nature surrounding the beautiful venue) and candle holders on all the tables with bud vases hired from @rockthedaystyling and macramé chair backs and a macramé frame backdrop for the ceremony (also hired from rock the day) for that boho feel with lots of flowers throughout.
We wanted lots of seating for everyone to be able chill out on so we had old vintage sofas and a low seating area which consisted of pallets as tables and lots of cushions and candles in brass wear with low moody lighting.
Our cake, sweetie table and card table were on old vintage dressers with lace cloths.
The ceremony was in the woods which is what I’ve always dreamed of and we didn’t want to take away from the nature of that so it was all very natural with splashes of colour from the flowers and from the vintage rugs too.
The Cake
One of our best friends @jodiedavey made the cake with flowers from @velvetroseflowerstudio.
Your Outfits & Accessories
I chose a Justin Alexander dress as it had a whimsical feel to it with the tulle bottom and dainty beads all over the bodice.
My veil was Grace Loves Lace – (Gabriella veil) and was the same texture as the tulle to my dress and I chose it for its long length.
Luke wanted a tailored slim fit suit to fit him so went to Trotter and Dean (a local tailor). He chose Navy and still wanted it to be three piece for the ceremony but to be able to take off the jacket for the evening.
He had a blush tie to match the bridesmaids.
His shoes were from Grenson Shoes in Tan.
Beauty
@hannahtheossalon put in my hair extensions to make it a bit thicker and to hold a curl better, she styled it with a natural wave on the day.
@ci_themakeupartist did my make up for the engagement shoot and the day and I went for neutral tones as I don’t normally wear a lot of make up.
Your Photographer
The amazing @camillaandreaphotography, Cam actually shot our best friends wedding the Summer before and we just loved her style of photography and how lovely she was.
She takes the most gorgeous candid shots which is what we really wanted and captures the atmosphere just perfectly.
Your Filmmaker
We didn’t have one but my brother captured it all on a go pro.
The Honeymoon
We went to Mykonos in Greece for a week (originally planned Bali years ago but didn’t want to go anywhere too far away as we didn’t want to be too far from the kiddies).
We’ll visit Bali when they’re older for one of our anniversaries.
Memorable Moments
- Our two children as our witnesses doing their hand prints and Isaac being so proud of his little stained hand and showing it to everyone lol.
- Going off for our couple shoot (loved the smoke bombs).
- Tractor ride around the grounds of the venue.
- Isaac trying to eat the cake as we cut it bless him.
- Dancing all night with our friends and family.
Advice For Other Couples
Consider a humanist ceremony as you can make it really personal with the words used.
Spend money on things like the venue, food, dress and photographer and then try and source or make the smaller details yourself.
Use Instagram, Pinterest and blogs for inspiration.
Credit Where Credit Is Due
Photographer
Camilla Andrea Photography
Make Up
@ci_themakeupartist
Hair
@hannahtheossalon
Dress
Justin Alexander from @justadaybridalipswich
Veil
Graces Loves Lace
Suit
Trotter and Deane
Shoes
Grenson
Bridesmaid Skirts
Stylish Brides
Flowers
@velvertroseflowerstudio
Venue
Captains Wood Barn
Cake
@jodiedavey
Furniture
Anthology Vintage Hire
Prop Hire
Rock The Day
Catering
Elite Cakes and Buffets
Table Plan
Knock Knock Penny Studio
Lighting
Dream Wave Lighting
Celebrant
Natraybould Weds
Oh how wonderful!!
Luke and Nikki thank you so very much for sharing your super special and very magical whimsical wedding with us xo Lou
This wedding photographer has done a brilliant job of not only capturing the day but translating what it was like to be there. You really get a sense of the couple’s personalities and the love between them and they’re family and friends. Love it!