Rural & Rustic Autumn Wedding

This wedding really sums up Autumn to me. Glorious sun light, natural tones and the beautiful woodland. Yes it’s time to share Jacob and Keren’s North Wales wedding held back in September last year.  They opted to hold their celebrations at Ty’n Y Nant Christian Centre in Abererch and they had a super meaningful ceremony. They wanted to create a weekend extravaganza for all of their loved ones to get to know one another.

There was a really relaxed, home made vibe to their wedding. Think home baked cakes, wild home grown flowers, which were also dried and DIY crocheted bunting. The décor was all kept simple and sweet in pale green hues. The bridesmaids looked especially pretty in their sage green frocks accessorised with bunches of gypsophila.

Keren made for the perfect Elven Princess in her tulle and lace gown, while Jacob chose a tweed ensemble reminiscent of the Hobbit films. I love this down to (middle) earth and extremely loving wedding.

Thanks so much to Salty Sea Photography for sharing these stunning shots with us.

THE PROPOSAL | 03.09.2014. A walk to an ancient well buried in the welsh hills, a picnic on the very edge of the ‘Llyn’ peninsula, where the pilgrims once walked, a candle-lit church (candles like everywhere!) and a song, written, composed and played live by the man himself. Tears were an inevitability… as was a undoubted yes.

THE VISION | For a whole weekend, family and friends came together in the same place, to eat, sleep, celebrate, and get to know one another. It was something that was about so much more than just us. Rural, rustic and relaxing. We wanted the warm colours of autumn trees and the raw beauty of wild flowers; we wanted homemade crocheted bunting and recycled paper décor, and plenty of opportunity to lay around in the sun and spend time with everyone.

THE PLANNING PROCESS | Long, exhausting, and an absolute thrill to an organization addict, and event planning junkie like me!

BUDGET | £8,000 approx including the honeymoon.

THE VENUE | Ty’n Y Nant Christian Centre, Abererch. An all in one venue of dining hall, kitchen, marque, and chalets; enclosed by trees and a view of the sea.

THE DRESS & ACCESSORIES | The dress came from Krystle’s Brides, Bath. Think Lord of the Rings… Elven Princess and all that… a little fantasy of mine.

FINDING THE DRESS | The golden moment when an internet search for your dream dress lists pages and pages of American suppliers and only one result in the UK; the shop you walk past almost every day on your way to the bus stop at University. I made an appointment and tried on a number of their other dresses before the one I had come for; which when it came was presented to me as a sale dress… it was as if the decision had already been made for me.

GROOM’S ATTIRE | Again think Lord of the Rings, more Hobbit this time… tweed jacket, tweed waistcoat, woven tie, black jeans, brown brogue shoes. Suits were never really an option.

THE READINGS & MUSIC | The Worship was led by a good friend and worship leader: Andy Smith from Ivy Church, Manchester. We wanted songs that celebrated love, and praised God for His goodness, His faithfulness and His provision throughout our lives, our relationship and the future of our marriage.

The service was led by the bride’s grandad and a short talk brought by the groom’s dad.

The readings came from Ephesians 5: 21-32 & Romans 8: 28 -31.

One of my favourite moments of the day was walking out to the theme song for How to Train Your Dragon 2… it there is ever a moment you think you could fly from excitement…

BEAUTIFUL BRIDESMAIDS | Pale green dresses individually designed and hand-made by Katie Hughes for each bridesmaid: Hannah, Kristina, Abigail and Katie.

Flower girl: Nyah.

THE FLOWERS | Wild grasses, dried flowers from Granny’s garden, lots of baby’s breath and a main flower of Astromeria’s – all bouquets, buttonholes and décor by Dawn Wilkinson.

THE CAKE | A wild flower decorated, three tier fruit cake made by Sarah Montague (Aunty of the bride), surrounded by sheep iced cupcakes made by Esther Margetts (cousin of the bride).

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER | Sarah Porteus (Salty Sea Photography) and Lucy Smith (SmithImaging).

THE HONEYMOON | A weekend glamping in Clynnog Fawr, a couple of days in Chester Spa, a week in a cottage in Ulverston, Lake District.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS | The emotional, and powerful moment that we exchanged vows and committed our hearts to one another before God. Traipsing through the wood as over-excited newly-weds, (lots of twigs, leaves and mud)… it felt so surreal. The best man demonstrating how to roar during his speech (something he claimed Jake had taught him). Looking out from the head table and seeing everyone you know and love all in one place at the same time… and all there for you… strange and special feeling!

ADVICE FOR OTHER COUPLES | Keep it simple. Keep it about being able to celebrate with the people you love. Remain thankful. Don’t think you have to do it all by yourself, people want to help and will try to help, if you ask or not, so invite them in and give them instruction and roles to play. Enjoy yourselves, it’s a choice, so make that choice, even if it’s all going wrong.

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE |

Photography | Salty Sea Photography

Dress | Krystle Brides

Venue | Ty’n Y Nant Christian Centre

And all rounded off with the perfect sparkler exit. Magic.

Jacob and Keren, thank you both so much for sharing your wedding story xo Lou