Whimsical Woodland Style & Magical Bohemian Wedding

Katie and Tom are joining us today with their utterly stunning Hall Farm Hotel wedding, which was held on the 21st September 2019 in Lincolnshire. They envisioned a whimsical woodland style with a bohemian twist, complete with plenty of magic as Tom is a professional magician. Just incredible.

Firstly Katie and Tom were married in a church ceremony before heading to the Hall Farm Hotel barn to celebrate. The barn was decorated beautifully in lanterns and an epic dream catcher backdrop to the top table. Also keep an eye out for the mega naked cake and greenery florals. There is so much to love from the stunning attire, hello Peaky Blinders inspired suits and over skirt tulle gown, the smoke bomb portraits and pretty stationery.

HBA Photography, thank you both ever so much for sharing these beautiful captures, which by the way, also include a peek at Katie and Tom’s memorable engagement shoot too. Wow.

The Proposal

I have always been interested by the weird and wonderful, spooks and Dracula and forest ghosts. So Whitby was always a favourable place for me to visit. So when Tom and I first decided on our first weekend away, Tom’s suggestion of Whitby seemed perfect. We ended up going regularly and we both loved going.

One trip was different. Tom had packed a beautiful luxury picnic and bought a beach tent with a bottle of bubbly. Cosy on the beach on a fairly warm day watching the waves come in, Tom brought out a box, medium sized…in that box was another smaller box, with Tom on one knee he opened the smaller box and asked me to marry him. What made this more special was the fact we were in the exact same spot we took our first ever Whitby picture together, which we cherish. It was the perfect proposal!!

We celebrated with a nice meal and a few glasses of wine and an early night to sleep as food = sleep every time!!

The Vision

I wanted to be a princess on my wedding day with my prince but with a twist. I’m not a traditional princess and wanted to be true to myself and match mine and Tom’s personality.

Bohemian magical woodland princess. Whimsical and smoky magical fairyland – everything that lies in the misty woods. My vision was classic but with a mix of the unusual. I saw simple classic crisp white with greens with the twist of bohemian stylish elements. Relaxed yet extravagant. Wedding outfits that were a statement of each individual and their personalities with none being exactly the same. And of course magic, lots of magic – after all what do you expect with marrying a Magician.

The Planning Process

Booked two years in advance to give time to get everything right without feeling rushed. We planned slowly and focused on us as individuals and as a couple. We planned the wedding around what spoke about us and our relationship. Tom being a very successful professional Magician, he had plenty of ideas and contacts within the wedding industry. Planning was fairly straightforward with the help of family and friends. Tom being the calming influence at times of feeling overwhelmed, and me being true to my vision. We made a fantastic team.

Budget

When it’s right it’s right, you can’t put a price on that.

Beauty

Having a small business as a MUA, I couldn’t decide on the choice of hiring someone or doing it myself. I wanted fresh glowing skin, peachy flushed cheeks and a pretty peach lip. A fresh youthful look throughout for makeup. The choice of doing this myself was the right one. I know what’s good on my skin after all and I wanted to just look a polished version of myself. Bridesmaids following the same look. My hair was a low up style which set off my halo perfectly. Bridesmaids chose their own style, true to their personalities.

The Venue

St Peters Church, Ashby Cum Fenby. Grimsby is set back behind trees in a pretty quaint village. Trees surrounding a pretty medium size church with a well kept yard full of passed generations. Inside it’s spooky yet stunning with stained glass and a huge beautiful organ. A perfect mix of tombs and beauty.

Hall Farm Hotel in the village, is just a small walk away from the church, a beautiful barn conversion surrounded by open fields. High and low wood beams and a nice sized courtyard which is central to the building making it a fantastic social outdoor area. And enough room for our string quartet!!! Perfect on a sunny day which it was.

The wedding breakfast was held in the main room which has high beams and lots of glass giving plenty of natural light. The room is perfect for still feeling close to guests from your top table. The dance floor held in the room opposite again with low beams covered in fairy lights.

Bedrooms comfortable and cosy.

Your Outfits & Accessories

I was searching the shops for the dress I had in my mind…. my vision. The search was tough and looking online was no better. It just did not exist. What could I do? After a while I became resigned to having to choose something else.

That is until I was given the details of Joanna Leigh Couture of Brigg. This lady was a very popular, well respected dress maker. Worried about dress budget I went ahead and booked a consultation. Best thing I did!! I told Joanna what was in my head. The mix of classic sexy…. bohemian.. woodland princess with an unusual overskirt back dress veil. Lace, silk and lots of tulle. In addition, a bohemian feel with illusion and lace lower arm sleeves. Joanna was just as excited as I. This process was worth the wait and I gradually watched Joanna take my dream dress from my mind and turn it into life. A real fairy godmother.

Tom and his groomsmen had a checked Peaky Blinders style, all mixed and unique to each individual.

Bridesmaids wore a beautiful whimsical woodland style dress in silver/grey all with different accessories in the hair to match their personalities. Smaller bridesmaids wore dusty pink pretty flowing dresses to add a touch of soft colour.

The Readings & Music

First thing guests noticed about Kimberly, the vicar, was her accent – said to be a mix of American and Scottish!! Kimberly is actually from Kinetic America. She guided us throughout very professional and straight, but also kind and very person centred.

We went with suggestions from Kimberly to keep some traditional elements, and had a string quartet playing everything from Beauty & The Beast to Stars Wars.

During the Wedding Breakfast we had a very talented saxophone player… more about that later!

Evening was a DJ who played a lot of film theme tunes including Ghost Busters. That was definitely pinned on the groomsmen. Long story!!!

Bridesmaids

Choosing my maid of honour was easy. Melanie, my sister in law, a lady I met around the age 10. As an annoying sister of her boyfriend I’d hide behind the sofa and tap them both on their head. I’d knock on the bedroom door run away and be a general pain. But I did do many shop runs for them, only getting one Muller fruit corner yoghurt out of it!! My brother being several years older and this being many years ago, Muller fruit corners was the in thing!!! Mel has always been there. I proposed to her with a bunch of owners and a bottle of fizz. Mel instantly tearing up, as she tears up at everything.

My other sister-in-law Helen, my run training companion and best friend Anna, Tom’s beautiful half sister Annabelle, Tom’s little frog queen niece Isabella, and my all round superstar niece Lauren, completed my bridal party. All very different, very unique, made a fun and fabulous team.

Groomsmen

Tom liked the style of the Peaky Blinders suits. Trendy yet classic. Brides and Maids of Grimsby had a good sized section of these so Tom had plenty of choice. Tom going for a stylish check suit of blues and grey with a silver paisley tie as a good colour connection to the bridesmaids. Groomsmen going for the same colours in different styles.

Tom and his groomsmen have been friends for nearly 30 years. Choosing his best man was a difficult decision as Tom also has an older brother. All Tom’s groomsmen contributed in supporting Tom in a way only they know!! The Best Man’s speech was certainly one to remember. A mix of embarrassing stories laughter and sentiment. Oh and very blush worthy blown up pictures!!

The Details & Décor

The Perfect Touch, Grimsby had a challenge when I went in for consultation with my vision. Bohemian magical woodland theme. Perfect Touch created a large custom made bohemian backdrop using dream catchers as inspiration. White ivory lanterns hanging from beams with heart shaped feathered dream catchers and yellow light fairy lights anywhere we could get them. White lanterns with simple white lace tied and white lace ribbon on chairs. My very own Bohemian Whimsical Magical Woodland. Everyone looked on with wide eyes!!!

The Cake

Tom and I both have a sweet tooth. A very sweet tooth. We admit we wanted a bit of everything. We chose a naked cake with three thick tiers. Chocolate, a plain jam Victoria sponge and a lemon flavour Victoria sponge drizzled with icing and mixed fruits. Couldn’t wait to try it and it was delicious.

Your Photographer

Photography was very important for us particularly for me being the more sentimental in the relationship. I’m also the anxious one and tend to over worry. Tom met Ben and Hannah of HBA Photography through wedding fairs and at gigs (weddings would you believe). Tom being a professional Magician meets many providers on a regular basis from all over the UK. Tom from the start said Ben and Hannah.

Tom showed me the website and I looked at their work and couldn’t deny it looked fantastic and exactly what I wanted. My vision was un-posed photographs something totally different and out the box. I wanted the pictures to make you gasp!!

It wasn’t until our engagement shoot that I met Ben and Hannah. This shoot took place in Whitby where Tom proposed. Whitby was one of the suggestions made by Ben and Hannah. Of course it was the perfect place. We met up not too much before sunset in a little village a few miles from central Whitby near some cliffs. It was as soon as I met them I knew they were perfect for us. Ben and Hannah are so down to earth, so warm and enthusiastic. They took us up some hills to cliff edges for walks on tracks in fields. They then took us to the beach and the waters edge and then we ended up in the water!!! Romantic walks, running, intimate moments and creative instructions led to one amazing photo-shoot. The end product being as 99% of people saying “Wuthering Heights”. Beautiful pictures as the sun came down. Any anxiety I had was gone. My confidence in them was solid. I was happy to let Ben and Hannah guide us on our wedding day keeping to a similar style. Ben and Hannah exceeded expectations and blew it out the water!!! Capturing moments unseen and moments that made me physically cry (again!!!). Memories caught of happiness, laughter and emotion. Pictures I’ll cherish forever.

I’ll remember the support from Ben and Hannah that day as I was very nervous. It’s down to Ben and Hannah that Whelshey Arms, Legendary is now my number one fave song on my run playlist. If you know you know… Did I mention the ultra amazing preview video we had as a taster??!! As I’ve told them, they are total people goals.

And one more thing… that very talented saxophone player during the wedding breakfast was the man himself Ben Appleby. With the Photographers being a married couple another service on offer was Ben on the sax. It was perfect background music, something different and everyone loved it.

The Flowers

My vision for flowers was walking into the whimsical woods and just scooping up the natural beautiful greens and flowers. Nothing neat, just natural. A halo of greenery sitting on my head to crown me a real woodland princess.

Colour choice was most difficult. I went from mixed brights to more autumnal colours to a mix of both, to then just confusion. Jane and her team at Crosskills Grimsby suggested mix greens including eucalyptus with soft, barely there blush pink roses. Simple and elegant and an exact match to my vision without me knowing. When Jane showed me the trial versions I was love struck. Venue flowers were again simple greens with a touch of Gypsophila throughout with white lanterns on logs. Flickering candles to add a romantic feel, set the flowers off beautifully.

The Honeymoon

Salou is a place we have been many times. Salou is home to the House Of Illusion a magic extravaganza. Magic shows with food and plenty to drink!! Tom is friends with Rodney who is the owner and creator. Speaking of Rodney, it’s thanks to him that we ended up in Barcelona to see the amazing Michael Bublé!!! Rodney mentioned he was going and that prompted Tom to booking last minute tickets. It was my first ever concert and it was incredibly romantic. The rest of the honeymoon included lots of rest, relaxation, laughter and Gin!!!

Memorable Moments

Seeing my dad face as he saw me, he broke into the biggest smile then laughter. He was laughing with happiness he actually had the giggles!! Was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen.

Seeing Tom in church and the look on his face, the compliments he whispered to me as we stood in church.

The excitement and pure love I felt and my wobbly knees at how handsome he looked. You know I said one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen seeing my dad’s reaction!? Well another was on honeymoon… I’d emailed Ben (our photographer) and asked him for just one picture of Callum (my son), (I was being cheeky asking) but when that picture came through, my heart literally melted, my eyes filled and I was crying again!! I don’t know when he took the picture, but it took my breath away!!! Callum being the hardest person ever to agree to pictures!!

All this along with crazy funny DIY eye goggles… slipping away for a nap while we should have been having pictures at golden hour, Tom’s car being decorated with toilet roll and lipstick crazy dance offs and mind blowing magic!!!!!

Advice For Other Couples

Stay together, enjoy it together it goes so fast. Stick to your vision and dream, don’t compromise. Take control of what you want and stick to it. Make choices that are right for you and go with your gut. Oh and check out HBA Photography!!!

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Oh so gorgeous.

Katie and Tom, thank you both so very much for sharing your epic wedding day with us xo Lou