{"id":308556,"date":"2022-01-19T07:00:05","date_gmt":"2022-01-19T07:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whimsicalwonderlandweddings.com\/?p=308556"},"modified":"2024-03-17T12:23:09","modified_gmt":"2024-03-17T12:23:09","slug":"greatest-showman-wedding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wedissimo.com\/blog\/greatest-showman-wedding\/","title":{"rendered":"Playful Whimsical Wonderland Wedding with a Touch of The Greatest Showman"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well well well, what do you know, I’ve only gone and had the total pleasure to share WWW readers Hannah and Lee’s The Greatest Showman inspired wedding<\/strong> complete with an Alice in Wonderland, fairytale theme.<\/p>\n

If a wedding ever was a whimsical wonderland, it would be this one. Swoon<\/em>! Their day really had it all; romance, stylish attire, pretty blooms and so much fun, all held at Preston Court<\/a> in Kent<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kerry Ann Duffy<\/a> I can’t thank you enough for sharing with us these absolutely gorgeous images. From the autumnal<\/a> tones to the gorgeous calligraphy and magical carousel ride, I urge you to take in every little detail and moment.<\/p>\n

\"Wecome\n

\"Bridal \"Greatest \"Bride<\/p>\n

The Greatest Showman Wedding<\/em><\/h2>\n

The Proposal<\/h3>\n

After the pandemic cancelled our original summer plans, we were lucky enough that when travel opened back up, we made it on a very last minute, impromptu trip that took us to beautiful Santorini<\/strong>. On the first day of our travels, we spent the day on the empty beaches taking in the beautiful views and enjoying the privilege of having such a serene spot all to ourselves.<\/p>\n

On our way to dinner that evening, we stopped for a stroll along the beach<\/strong> to watch the sun set over the still sea. We expected to be the only ones there but many of the locals appeared to have had the same idea and so our little walk took us right to the furthest inches of the end of the beach in search for a quiet spot.<\/p>\n

On the little strip of black sand, we enjoyed a private, romantic moment<\/strong> to ourselves as we watched the sky flush pink. Before I knew it, Lee had one knee in the sand and had asked me to marry him. I can\u2019t recall exactly what he said – just my teary \u201cyes!\u201d and him proceeding to try and put the ring on my wrong hand which still makes me laugh!<\/p>\n

The giant moon rose high in the sky, and it was like nothing we had ever seen before. I\u2019m a huge moon-gazer and so it seemed like it was there especially for us to mark the occasion. It turned out that on this night there was a rare supermoon<\/strong> which is why the locals were all out with their evening picnics!<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t planned but it was a magical and beautiful coincidence that we will always remember<\/strong>. We had been together nine summers, and this one topped them all. It was such a special moment for the both of us that we\u2019ll treasure forever.<\/p>\n

\"Dress \"Greatest<\/p>\n

The Vision<\/h3>\n

We knew we wanted a romantic outdoor ceremony<\/strong> and once we picked our wow-venue, everything fell into place. We wanted a subtle fairy-tale theme<\/strong>, and so we wanted to incorporate elements of Alice in Wonderland and other story book motifs into our wedding.<\/p>\n

We wanted wild florals, cosy fairy lights, lots of greenery and an autumnal colour palette<\/strong>. We really wanted to take time making the details \u201cus\u201d and so we spend an impractical amount of time on elements such as the wedding invites and the table settings\u2026<\/p>\n

For example, our save the dates<\/strong> were little vintage keys with a riddle on them \u2013 \u2018keep me safe, hold me tight, you will need me to open your invite\u2026\u2019. The key could then unlock the formal invites<\/strong> that followed which were hand painted \u201cbooks\u201d with our names and date stamped on the front in gold ink.<\/p>\n

Inside each book box were our beautiful Alice in Wonderland invites, an \u2018admit one\u2019 fun fair token, a mini carousel charm (to hint at the secret carousel we had planned!) and a small bottle of pink shimmery gin with a \u2018drink me\u2019 tag tied to it with twine. We actually used one as our ring box<\/strong> during the ceremony!<\/p>\n

\"Flower \"Groomsmen \"Centrepiece<\/p>\n

The Venue<\/h3>\n

We nearly didn\u2019t visit Preston Court<\/strong> as we were looking for a woodland wedding originally but after visiting another venue in the area, we were shown Preston and I remember falling head over heels for it after seeing the too-beautiful-for-words Juliana’s\u00a0Island that I was genuinely nervous that Lee might not feel the same\u2026 One look at him and his jaw was on the floor \u2013 we had only viewed two venues but we were entirely smitten!<\/p>\n

You have to see it in real life to truly appreciate it\u2019s magic, but Preston Court really is something so special<\/strong>. It has everything \u2013 a fairy tale pagoda on a little island under a beautiful willow tree with a little bridge as the \u201caisle.\u201d A fairy tale estate house with roses climbing its walls, a panoramic lush green lawn and a secret garden – all wrapped up with a beautiful, pristine lake (topped with a quaint blue, bobbing boat). There are even subtle mermaid statues in the garden and around the lake\u2026 It was pure magic.<\/p>\n

On top of all that, the barn<\/strong> area features a romantic fairy light maypole – under which we had our first dance under the stars. Oh, and then there\u2019s the reception barn<\/strong> which looks like it\u2019s straight out of a festival thanks to the light up vintage organ backdrops.<\/p>\n

Then to top it all off, there\u2019s the vintage carousel<\/strong>, original showman\u2019s caravan, a horse box turned pizza truck and a one of it\u2019s kind \u201cGiggle Box\u201d diary room where family and friends can submit video entries throughout the night.<\/p>\n

All of our guests had wondered why we were getting married nearly two hours away from home but when they arrived, they all told us that they understood exactly why! We wanted a venue that was the difficult mix of stylish, beautiful and somewhat traditional but still playful, laidback and utterly unique and we found just that with Preston Court. I truly believe it\u2019s the best wedding venue in the world.<\/p>\n

\"Centrepiece \"Leaf \"Leaf \"<\/p>\n

Your Outfits<\/h3>\n

I was lucky in that I found my dress just as quickly as we found the venue! In fact, my wedding dress was the second wedding dress<\/strong> I ever tried on. Although, that didn\u2019t stop me from trying on many more and still browsing dresses online, but nothing ever came close. Even with the pandemic shutting shops for four months, I didn\u2019t waiver and just couldn\u2019t wait to go back and order it.<\/p>\n

Strangely, it wasn\u2019t until afterwards that I found an old image of a wedding dress that I had saved on my vision board which was practically identical in every way! I was sure that I would go for something very different but there was something really \u2018fairy tale\u2019 about the image and so I saved it and forgot about it\u2026 It\u2019s funny how it found its way back to me<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Everyone expected me to wear a mermaid style and so I loved the surprise element of wearing something completely different\u2026 In fact, my best friend gifted me with a painting of us all at the venue on the wedding day and although my mum had dropped hints that my dress was A-line<\/strong>, she still painted me in a mermaid because she just didn\u2019t believe it!<\/p>\n

I wore the Misti by Enzoani<\/strong>\u2019s Blue collection. It had a beautiful sheer corset with delicate boning and a soft A-line tulle skirt that melted into a long cloud-like train. It was fringed with delicate ivory off-the-shoulder straps and finished off with a romantic heart neckline.<\/p>\n

The entire dress was dotted in subtle 3D flowers, and it truly was the most perfect fairy-tale wedding dress that I could have ever dreamt up. Instead of a veil, my hair was loosely pulled into a mermaid braid<\/strong> and accessorised with delicate wildflowers. Against the backdrop of the island, lake and willow trees, it really felt like I was in a fairy-tale!<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t know what Lee, the groomsmen or the ushers were wearing until the day! I loved that his suit was so different<\/strong>, and I was also really impressed with how well he managed to match the accessories to the bridesmaid dresses! Our whole wedding was very unusual but we just loved it and it felt so \u201cus.\u201d We couldn\u2019t imagine it any other way!<\/p>\n

\"Classic \"Hairstyle \"Hairstyle \"Hairstyle \"Rust \"Rust \"Rust \"Dress \"Greatest \"Rust \"Greatest \"Greatest<\/p>\n

The Ceremony & Music<\/h3>\n

The ceremony took place on the beautiful little island under the pagoda<\/strong> which was beautifully covered in the most unique autumnal wildflower arrangement. We were heart-set on getting married outside and surrounded by nature and so we felt very lucky that the weather stayed dry when it mattered!<\/p>\n

The island was small and so we just had a few seats beside us for our closest wedding party while our wider friends and family were seated just across the lake which made the ceremony feel perfectly secret and private<\/strong> which is exactly what we always wanted \u2013 a really intimate and romantic moment that felt like it was just us two.<\/p>\n

I walked across the bridge, which was our version of the aisle, to La Valse de L\u2019Amour by Patrick Doyle<\/strong> which is the instrumental to Cinderella which felt like the perfect subtle touch. After the ceremony, we played \u2018A Million Dreams<\/strong>\u2019 which is a song that means a lot to us and really set the tone for the rest of the day in a lot of ways!<\/p>\n

\"Pagoda \"Greatest \"Greatest \"Greatest<\/p>\n

Your Photographer & Filmmaker<\/h3>\n

Our photographer was just amazing \u2013 Kerry\u2019s style has a really romantic and fairy-tale edge that matched our vision and style<\/strong> perfectly. Plus, she honestly felt like a friend the whole day and it was a real shame having to say goodbye as we got to the evening!<\/p>\n

Our videographer Charli was a total gem in the game too. I had really high expectations and she honestly beat them a hundred times over. I have probably watched our video more times than I could count<\/strong>, and I only love it more each time.<\/p>\n

\"Confetti \"Greatest\"Confetti\"Rust \"Groomsmen \"Rust \"Rust \"Rust \"Greatest \"Greatest \"Greatest \"Greatest \"Greatest \"Greatest<\/p>\n

The Styling & Decor<\/h3>\n

Our venue was so beautiful and ready-to-go with fairy lights, vintage d\u00e9cor and greenery<\/strong> that it really didn\u2019t need any extras, but I just couldn\u2019t help myself! I love the little details and I really think that can add such a personal touch to a wedding.<\/p>\n

Our table settings<\/strong> were one of my favourite details \u2013 for centrepieces<\/strong> we stacked brass woodland animals on top of old, vintage story booked. And each table was named after a fantasy world \u2013 we had Wonderland, Narnia, Hogsmead and Oz to name a few! We also had an Alice in Wonderland teapot and cake stand, little moss rabbits, and jars filled with fairy lights.<\/p>\n

For our \u2018name cards<\/strong>\u2019 we had real red autumn maple leaves that were preserved and personalised with names hand-written in calligraphy style gold ink. Each leaf was specially handpicked by my mum and my now-husband and I taught myself calligraphy for the ocaasion! They couldn\u2019t be bought anywhere at the time and so it felt very special and personal to have them for our wedding. So many of our friends and family took theirs home and some every framed them so they really made for a special wedding favour and keepsake too!<\/p>\n

Now that were enjoying post-wedding life, I\u2019m making my wedding leaves for my Etsy shop @decorandsetails for other bride-to-be\u2019s! I started my small business during the pandemic and now it keeps me in the wedding world even after the wedding cake\u2019s all gone and dress has long been packed away!<\/p>\n

\"Barn \"Barn \"Semi \"Alice \"Favour \"Table \"Key \"Key \"Key \"Mr \"Greatest \"Greatest \"Face \"Greatest \"Smoke \"Greatest \"Rust \"Barn<\/p>\n

The Honeymoon<\/h3>\n

Just like with our engagement, our honeymoon was a very last minute, impromptu trip\u2026 Within 28 hours of coming home as a newly married couple for the first time we were heading off to Croatia<\/strong> for our honeymoon! We had never been before, and it was actually where Lee had originally planned to propose!<\/p>\n

We hiked the beautiful lakes which had been on my bucket list for years and years and it really felt like the most fitting follow up to our fairy-tale wedding. We feel so very lucky to have been able to have both our wedding and our honeymoon this year and these days really have been the happiest days of our life so far!<\/p>\n

Memorable Moments<\/h3>\n

The vintage carousel was truly the most fun in the world and I\u2019m so happy we had it! Our friends and family loved it so much more than we ever expected\u2026 The dance floor and the bar were empty for the first part of the night as everyone was pilling onto the carousel for a ride<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

The first dance<\/strong> was also one of my most favourite ever memories. Dancing under the fairy light maypole and below the stars with my new husband was truly something I\u2019ll never forget. And turning around to see the whole place lit up with sparklers and colourful bubbles as our closest friends and family blew them into the sky around us felt so magical and surreal. Just being there in the middle of all of our favourite people having a romantic moment to themselves, dancing together just felt so special.<\/p>\n

And of course \u2013 the euphoric moment<\/strong> when we officially became Mr & Mrs is maybe my favourite ever! We were just so over the moon, and I love watching back our wedding video and seeing us turn around and beam at everyone as they\u2019re all smiling and cheering! There\u2019s no moment quite like it.<\/p>\n

Advice For Other Couples<\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t leave the planning to the last minute<\/strong> like me (it\u2019s not worth the stress) and on the morning \u2013 give yourself two hours more time<\/strong> than you think you\u2019ll need! Oh, and if you can, do spend some of your budget on a videographer<\/strong> \u2013 they\u2019re one of the few things you\u2019ll invest in that\u2019ll stand the test of time and you\u2019ll never, ever regret spending the money on.<\/p>\n

Lastly \u2013 if you have props like photo booths and keepsakes such as wedding favours and guestbooks, make sure your guests know about them<\/strong>! So much is going on that they can be so easily missed. Perhaps put someone in charge of letting guests know about any activities or special details or maybe even create a \u2018wedding bucket list\u2019 for guests.<\/p>\n

\"Festoon \"Greatest<\/p>\n

SO epic!<\/p>\n

Hannah and Lee thank you so much for sharing your joyful The Greatest Showman wedding with touches of Alice in Wonderland and fairytales. What a total treat it’s been.<\/p>\n

Further Reading<\/h4>\n