Colourful & Crafty Country Spring Village Wedding

Katie and Jon envisioned a family filled, simple Springtime village wedding and it was a complete delight from beginning to end. They chose to have a Church ceremony followed by a brilliant knees up in the village hall. I have to say it was a craft lovers dream, complete with rainbow streamers, honeycomb lanterns, daffodils galore and Easter touches too.

Katie wore a simply gorgeous Sottero and Midgley gown, while Jon was suited and booted in country gent tweed. Then there were the sweetest flower girls and dried flowers all round. So lovely.

Thanks so very much to My Fabulous Life Photography for sending through these wonderful shots.

THE PROPOSAL | Katie knows what she likes and what she doesn’t like and has always wanted to choose her own ring (she would be wearing it for life after all!). After discussing getting married shortly after Jon had moved in with Katie, they agreed that there would be no big lavish proposal and they would simply get engaged when the right ring showed up.

After popping into Exeter to buy RockTape for an up-and-coming Crossfit Competition. They walked passed a jewellers that had a 50% closing down sale on. Low and behold, in the window Katie saw a ring!

As it was a sale, there was a massive queue to get in. After having a burger at Ruby’s to kill time, Katie and Jon went back to try the ring on and it was perfect! The ring was brought and they were engaged. Driving home they got to traffic lights at Magdalene Road where Katie realised Jon hadn’t actually asked the big question. He asked and she said yes and then the light went green and they drove off to phone the parents.

THE VISION | Simple, country, spring time, fresh, fun and something that would involve the whole family. With as much as possible sourced from local suppliers and businesses.

THE PLANNING PROCESS | Neither Katie or Jon are very good at planning anything, Katie’s mum Caroline became chief wedding planner. Katie never had a wedding folder, but Caroline did! The mother of the bride did an absolutely awesome job and used all her local connections to get the best deals from the best suppliers.

BUDGET | £6-7K

THE VENUE | St Nicholas Church, Brushford with a reception at Brushford Village Hall – Exmoor, Somerset. This is the village where Katie’s mum and dad lives.

THE DRESS & ACCESSORIES | Sottero and Midgley dress (Diana) brought from Days of Grace in Budleigh Salterton, Devon. Jewellery was made by Katie’s Auntie Guggy (Janet Weeks of Honey Beaders) and dried flowered hair piece was from the Artisan Dried Flower Company. Shoes from Dune and Reebok (Crossfit Nano 2’s).

FINDING THE DRESS | Found in the first shop and was the first dressed Katie tried on. It was brought in Days of Grace in Budleigh Salterton (where Katie grow up). Katie wanted an all lace dress because when she was little she told her mum that when she got married she wanted to wear her mum’s net curtains.

Katie tried on other dresses, but came back to this one. She loved the design and the fact that it came from where she grew up.

GROOM’S ATTIRE | Tweed suit bought online.

THE READINGS & MUSIC | Katie’s brother Richard was head of music direction and sound. Music was performed by Katie’s Uncle Colin and cousin Ollie. Jon and his family are Christian and Katie’s are of no faith so we tried to get the right balance by singing a hymn and a non-hymn.

Katie walked down the aisle to Elbow, On A Day Like This.

Hymn – Give me joy in my heart.

Sing-a-long to Here Comes The Sun, George Harrison with Uncle Colin and Cousin Ollie.

Reading – Song of Solomon Jon’s dad Martin White.

Walked out to Pharrel Williams Happy.

Evening band: Katie’s brothers band, Pickpockets Love Tourists.

BEAUTIFUL BRIDESMAIDS | The bridesmaid and three flowers girls all choose their own dresses. Katie and Jon wanted them to choose something that reflected their own personalities rather than making them all dress and look the same. Bridesmaid wore a dress from ASOS and flower girls wore dresses from Monsoon and Next. Flower girls wore hair pieces made made by Caroline (mother of bride) and Katie made the bouquets for flower girls. Bridesmaid hair piece and bouquet were from the Artisan Dried Flower Company.

THE FLOWERS | The Artisan Dried Flower Company and daffodil bulbs planted were from the Fentogollen Farm in Cornwall. Grown by Caroline.

THE CAKE | Naked lemon cake with flowers from the Bakery in Dulverton Somerset.

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER | My Fabulous Life – Becky Joiner.

THE DETAILS & DÉCOR | All the colours of the rainbow, anything goes, paper streamers and pom poms. Daffodils, hessian and lace.

THE HONEYMOON | Barra Island, The Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS | The vicar was late as he thought it started at 2pm not 1pm, one of the ushers was sent into town to find him. He evenly came in running up the path to the church and received a round of applause as he walked into the church – he was only 15mins late in the end, it just felt longer!

Doing pull ups in the tree outside the church – yes they are possible in a wedding dress and suit!

The adults doing time trials on a plastic tractor and trailer – meant for the kids!

Walking back to the Three Acres hotel together after the reception. It was a quiet, chilly moorland evening and we were husband and wife.

ADVICE FOR OTHER COUPLES | Don’t get too caught up in making sure everything matches or sticking to a theme too religiously. Just put together things you like and let your personalities come out. Then your wedding will look like yours and no one else’s.

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE |

Photography | My Fabulous Life Photography

Film | Tim Joiner

Venue | Brushford Parish Hall

Church | St Nicholas Church

Catering | Feast Without Fuss

Evening food and reception canapés supplies | Bampton Butchers and smoked fish from Exebridge

Bouquets and hair pieces | Artisan Dried Flower Company

Dress | Days of Grace

Flowers/bulbs | Flower Farm

Wedding night and Grooms party accommodation | Three Acres Country House

Band | Bristol based Pickpockets Love Tourists

Ahh so brilliant.

Thanks so much to Katie and Jon for sharing their gorgeous wedding with us xo Lou