Remember this adorable couple and their super cute pooch?  Well, today I get to share their wedding.  It’s so super gorgeous I couldn’t fit all the loveliness into just one post, so today I’m treating you to a two-parter!  There’s something about photogapher Katherine Ashdown‘s couples I’m telling you, there must be something in the water in Norfolk!  Her stylish bride Chantal, picked an elegant Sottero & Midgley dress and styled her look with boho flair to suit the laid-back vibe of their outdoor summer wedding, while Chris looked suitably dapper in a smart navy three-piece.  The romantic palette of pale aqua and dusty pink pops with hints of plum (yum!).  Every detail is perfect, from the coordinating bridesmaids dresses and blousy blooms to the sentimental meaning of the church where they exchanged vows, where Chantal’s family have celebrated important events for so many years.  You’ll be happy to see their cute tandem bicycle and pooch Molly made it into the celebrations too

Honestly, I could talk about this wedding all day, but bride Chantal tells a much better story ~

Put quite simply, our story has all been pretty magical! Meeting at the gym (I know, cliché!) Chris was a fitness instructor and I was a keen gym-goer.  After a few dates and falling asleep on the sofa one night like bookends after talking for hours and hours, I knew I was in love and 8 years later, on a very windy desolate beach in Scotland on Christmas Day, he proposed and after many tears (of joy!) I said yes! The proposal was swiftly followed by Chris’s 30th Birthday and I had a long-awaited surprise for him, first class to New York for NYE.  What a Christmas/NY, I shall never forget it for as long as I live! {Read more here}

My dress hunting was more stressful than I had imagined.  I took my mum and best friend/bridesmaid Linzey with me.  Both very different in their ideas of style but both equally frank in their opinions.  The first shop had some great variations of dresses, but I knew something better was looming.  In the second shop I tried on a few, then the boutique’s manager, Gemma, a lovely friendly and very genuine young lady, said she had an idea.  She wanted me to try on her favourite dress in the shop.  She said everyone walks past it because next to the white and ivory dresses, it looked a strange colour.  I felt wary, and tried it on with my eyes shut!  As she clipped it tight I already felt amazing, then I opened my eyes and twirled around to my mum in tears.  That was when I decided on Sottero & Midgley’s “Sharon” in Ivory/Champagne accent over light gold.  A light gold satin dress covered with a beautiful ivory lace, a corset back and medium length puddle train.  The right combination of sophisticated and whimsical.  I was lucky to be recommended local seamstresses, Sisters with Scissors in Thorpe St Andrew, who worked their magic for a week, it was perfect!

After months and months and months (!) of searching and frantic pins on Pinterest, I had 2 test runs of styling with my hairdresser and with her help and insight, I settled on whimsical gypsy-style braids teamed with a lot of smooth volume on-top and curled into a low partly braided chignon at the back.  I have long hair! The make-up was a combination of magazines and then advice and inspiration from my make-up artist, Melissa Abel

I choose a long floaty Dessy dress in “Rose” for my bridesmaid Linzey, she’s tall slender and blonde and I knew she would look exquisite in this dress.  We accessorised it with some jewelled pumps from Next and some pearl tear drop earrings and necklace set which I gave to her as a gift on the day.  My younger bridesmaid, Millie, had a gorgeous girlie ivory dress with a sash in the same material as Linzey’s dress.  Millie teamed this with a vintage lace jacket, cute pumps and fresh wild daisies in her hair.  Our dog, Molly, also co-ordinated by having a headband made into a collar and her lead was made up of a spare yard of material from Linzey’s dress, so a big floaty chiffon lead!

We got married at St Peter’s & St Paul’s Church in Swaffham followed by a reception at Strattons Hotel.  I am from Swaffham and it always had to be the church for me, all of my family, including my grandparents, were married there and/or christened there.  It’s a beautiful large ornate church with large stained glass windows and a long aisle, perfect for strutting your stuff down! The hotel is very unique.  The fact that it is not a “wedding venue” per se, is what sold it to us (especially me).  We really did not like the idea of a wedding in a function room where they roll out the same stuff wedding after wedding, its personal choice of course, but it just isn’t us.

Join us this afternoon for all the delicious details…

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Suppliers: Photographer:   Katherine Ashdown // Dress:   “Sharon”  by Sottero & Midgley from Pure Brides // Dress Alterations:  Sisters with Scissors //  Vintage earrings: borrowed // Bracelet: Lisa Angel // Shoes: Next  // Bridesmaids dress: Dessy // Flower girls dress: Jacka Gowns //  Groomswear: Topman //  Groomsmen:  Greenwoods // Florist: Sarah Martin of Amitys – 07807060524 // Cake: Stephanie Walmsley {available by appointment} // Save the Dates:  DIY cards from Paperchase & stamps from Not on the Highstreet //  Invites:  Commissioned by Aimee Paints // Hair:   Gemma Holiday // Makeup: Melissa Abel // Venue & Catering:  Strattons // Music: The Vagaband and Miserable Man // Planned & Coordinated by:   The Bride – Chantal Beck of Angels by the Sea