decided on a two-day celebration. “We wanted a venue with beautiful gardens for an outdoor ceremony and one where we could enjoy a pre-wedding dinner with our loved ones the evening before,” Holly says. “The first time we viewed Pauntley Court, it was raining hard yet we still loved it, so we knew it was the one. The couple decided on an English country garden theme. “Our florists Christiane and Beth created a stunning floral archway as the ceremony backdrop which looked amazing!” Holly tells us. “Walking down the aisle is something neither of us will ever forget.” Mike’s auntie is also a florist so as their wedding present, she made the table flower centrepieces displayed in rustic urns. “They suited our English garden theme perfectly,” Holly says. The couple decided on a long table for 16 guests as their top table and round tables for the rest. “This worked well for my blended family,” Holly tells us. “I’d seen a mirror design on Pinterest for the seating plan which I recreated by bringing my hallway mirror from home and sticking the names of each table on it. I loved how it turned out so it was worth the stress of packing two large mirrors in the car! We also used our lounge mirror for the welcome sign and some candles, lanterns and blankets from home to decorate the inside of the marquee and around the firepits. I also brought some plants from our garden to place at the end of the aisle and then move inside the marquee to add some greenery to the bar area. The bouquets and arrangements of flowers that lined the aisle were positioned on the circular bar in the middle of the marquee. Mike’s dad, Martin, is well-known for making sloe gin so he created a special batch ahead of the wedding that became the couple’s favours and place settings. “Names and nicknames were printed on the gin bottles and our table names were after places and countries that mean a lot to us both,” Holly tells us. Holly and Mike had two large Kilner jugs of cocktails at their drinks reception named after their dog, Bobby. “Mike loves his food so I left that decision to him!” Holly says. “We had steak or sea bass for the main course and shared sides and salads on the tables to create a summer barbecue-at-home vibe.” The couple’s budget was almost spent by the time they decided on their cake so they purchased a two-tier naked cake from M&S for £40. “I ordered a pack of pressed flowers and stuck them on,” Holly tells us. “It was just big enough to cut for the photographs and for some guests to enjoy a slice in the evening if they fancied it.” LOOKING THE PART Holly wore a bridal dress by Enzoni. “I thought I wanted a tight, floral or lace gown to suit the venue and our outdoor ceremony but I ended up with a style that was the complete opposite!” she says. It took me a few weeks to decide to buy it but when I took my maid-of-honour, Jade, with me to see it and I saw her reaction, I purchased it! Mike and his groomsmen wore cream linen suits with dark green ties and socks. “They all wore the same outfits and looked amazing, Holly says. “Mike is really into his clothes so they all went on a trip to London to pick their suits! “We both loved getting ready with our closest friends and family on the morning of our wedding.” The maid-of-honour dresses were sage-green styles with a floral lace design on them. “They featured a small train and gorgeous button detail down the back, which I had added to my bridal dress,” Holly tells us. “They all have different figures and I loved how the chosen style suited each of them. They looked beautiful with their matching necklaces which I gave them as a thank-you gift.” TIME TO CELEBRATE “Music is a big part of our relationship and was a priority for our big day,” Holly says. “The live band who performed during the evening made it so special and we’re so grateful for what they did. We also had a saxophonist playing whilst our guests arrived before the ceremony, a roaming band during the drinks reception a DJ in the evening.” “Our female bridal party gave a joint speech which was so special.” - Holly and Mike “All of our suppliers did an incredible job and made our day what it was. A special thank you to our photographer, Alicia and wedding planner, Holly.” - Holly and Mike 41 REAL WEDDINGS
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