NEILU & TREVOR AT HEDSOR HOUSE

There really is nothing more wonderful than wedding photos. And images from a gorgeous summer wedding on a chilly day are particularly cheering, especially these images by And Your Story from Neilu and Trevor’s wedding ceremony and celebrations at Hedsor House. With guests flying in from around the world for the occasion, the stage was most definitely set for an incredible day and, as you’ll see, incredible is an understatement…

All For Love London worked their floral magic around the venue with flowers trailing and tumbling wherever you looked. The huge arch of flowers around the entrance was just a hint of what awaited guests inside and the decorations in the ceremony room were breathtaking. The phrase ‘bringing the outside in’ has never been more appropriate!

Neilu and Trevor’s celebrant-led wedding ceremony was just a dream and their personal vows really said it all. I also spoke to one of their friends as I was writing the ceremony and these beautiful words had to be included in the script as they painted such a glorious picture of this delightful couple. You can always tell a lot by the reaction guests have to moments such as a couple’s ‘first kiss’ or when they head back down the aisle after the ceremony. It was fair to say that there was a lot of love for Neilu and Trevor in the room as their guests brought the house down!

The whole day was a blend of traditional and modern touches whilst also referencing the couple’s heritage with an intimate vow exchange before our ceremony. Wedding planner Katrina Otter and her team, as always, ensured that everything ran like clockwork and let me tell you that the couple, their guests and all the suppliers involved in this exceptional event appreciated all their efforts.

I’ll leave you with a few more details from the day and let’s all look forward to warmer, brighter months ahead…

YANGZI & JIAN AT SOMERLEY

There are some weddings that aren’t just worth the wait, they are so incredible that you’ll always feel that the wait somehow made them all the sweeter. This was certainly the case with one of my last weddings of 2022, Yangzi and Jian’s glorious celebration at Somerley, planned with such grace and precision by Katrina Otter Weddings and captured by Rebecca Searle Photography.

Delayed numerous times by the pandemic, Yangzi and Jian’s wedding was nothing short of incredible. I mean, just take a look at the florals! All For Love London filled Somerley with towering, cascading arcs of roses, blooms and greenery that were the most perfect backdrop to this longed-for celebration.

Somerley is also a remarkable wedding venue. If you’ve watched recent series of The Crown, you might well recognise it but let me tell you, when you approach the house, making your way down the long drive, it really does take your breath away.

But there is no doubt that it was Yangzi and Jian who, quite rightly, got all the attention on the day. They are a truly lovely couple - gentle, heartfelt, and emotional and being with them was such an honour. Their ceremony spoke of love across the miles, hopes for the future and their roots in their shared histories. Beautifully chosen music from Apollo Strings added yet more atmosphere to the occasion and there were definitely more than a few tears of happiness that afternoon.

As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait and Yangzi and Jian deserve the very best of everything as they, finally, get to enjoy married life.

ANDREEA & LUCAS AT NONSUCH MANSION

Well, here we are in autumn and the madness of summer is behind me now. Weekends are now not packed out with weddings and the pace of life has slowed a little. It’s so lovely to be able to take a breath and spend some time looking back on the glorious weddings that I’ve been privileged to conduct this year. Today, I’m turning the clock back into early September and remembering the joyful occasion of Andreea and Lucas’s wedding at Nonsuch Mansion.

Image by Shelby Ellis

Andreea and Lucas are, quite simply, one of those couples that make you smile. Positive, open, engaging and always delightful to speak to, it was an absolute delight to be able to be with them on their big day. As they’d had to postpone their wedding a number of times due to the pandemic, the atmosphere at their ceremony was something special as we all finally got to send them into married life with a big smile and a lot of love.

Image by Shelby Ellis

Expertly co-ordinated by Georgina of Georgina Alexander Weddings & Events, everything was perfect and, of course, having the super talented Shelby Ellis Photography on hand to capture everything was equally fabulous.

Image by Shelby Ellis

I loved every minute of working with Andreea and Lucas and I love how they included so many personal touches in their day - the flowers on their cake, for example, were the national blooms of their family’s countries and they’d also placed lots of photos of them around the venue and I know I loved looking at them! This was such a memorable day and I’m beyond happy that, after the delays, it was certainly a wedding worth waiting for.

Image by Shelby Ellis

“Tamryn was absolutely amazing and a delight to work with, we are so happy we had her as our celebrant. She put together and conducted our ceremony and it was one of our favourite parts of the day! It was so personable and reflected exactly who we are as a couple which made it extra special. The entire ceremony, including our vows, were beautifully written and all of the words made us feel so emotional. We will cherish the memory of our ceremony forever.”

— Andreea & Lucas, September 2022

Image by Shelby Ellis

A MAY WEDDING AT THE VICTORA & ALBERT MUSEUM

In May, I was absolutely honoured to lead a wedding ceremony at the world-renowned Victoria and Albert Museum. This spectacular venue was transformed in just an hour and a half after closing to visitors and the result was, as you’ll see, utterly extraordinary. Expertly planned by Emma Joy The Wedding Planner and captured by Imogen Xiana, the ceremony in the beautiful Raphael Gallery is one that I’ll remember for a very long time.

Image by Imogen Xiana, wedding planning by Emma Joy The Wedding Planner

This was a ceremony full of tradition and sprinkled with personal touches. It blended details from around the world with individual stories in the most incredible setting. The Raphael Cartoons, seven immense tapestries that are true treasures of the Renaissance, lined the ceremony space and behind us, the golden, gilded altarpiece certainly brought the drama.

Image by Imogen Xiana, wedding planning by Emma Joy The Wedding Planner

I was lucky enough to be inside the venue whilst it was being transformed and to call it a ‘military operation’ is absolutely justified. Teams from Veevers Carter wheeled in endless trolleys full of florals while Caper & Berry set up an entire catering kitchen in a corridor in record time. When the guests arrived, it seemed impossible that just 90 minutes before, the last visitors of the day were being ushered out and the privilege of being there ‘after hours’ for such a unique wedding was undeniable. I was smiling the whole way home!

Image by Imogen Xiana, wedding planning by Emma Joy The Wedding Planner

Image by Imogen Xiana, wedding planning by Emma Joy The Wedding Planner

ASHLYN & HUNTER AT ARDINGTON HOUSE

My Jubilee weekend was absolutely packed with weddings and frankly, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Five weddings in one week meant that I was out and about with ceremonies at the Victoria & Albert Museum and Holywell Hall plus country venues in Berkshire and, a close-to-home wedding at Oxfordshire’s Ardington House.

Image: Cristina Ilao

Ashlyn and Hunter were incredible. From our first call, chatting across the Atlantic about plants and gardening to the day itself where these two wonderful people made their vows in the way they’d waited so long for, it couldn’t have been more perfect. The skies were blue, the breeze lifted the leaves on the trees and family and friends made it so clear just how much Ashlyn and Hunter were loved. It was a joy to be with them.

Image: Cristina Ilao

“We just wanted to thank you so much for leading our ceremony at Ardington. It honestly felt like a dream. After more than 2 years of trying to make it happen, it felt so surreal. The ceremony was absolutely perfect. And so many people (even vendors!) commented on how much they loved how the ceremony was laid out and our personal vows. It felt very inclusive and organic, and the ring warming was the cherry on top.

It sounds cliche, but those few days at Ardington were probably the best days of our lives. So thank you again for your part in the magic!”

— Ashlyn & Hunter, June 2022

Image: Cristina Ilao

Image: Cristina Ilao

JUBILEE WEEKEND WEDDINGS

It’s fair to say that the Jubilee weekend was perfect for weddings! Couples certainly made the most of the extra day of holiday and in fact, the whole week was busy, busy, busy with weddings aplenty!

Emma and David certainly knew what they were doing when they chose a midweek wedding as their celebrations were the start of the long weekend and it was a joy to join them at Ufton Court in Berkshire for their wedding ceremony. The barn at Ufton Court is a great location for a ceremony (particularly on a hot day when it’s lovely and cool!) and Emma and David filled it with so many personal touches and handmade details. Their ceremony was equally personal and love was most definitely in the air!

Image: Chris Kemp Photography

“Sorry we didn’t say it on the day but we wanted to thank you for the amazing ceremony that you led for us on Wednesday. Everyone said that you made it so personal and they thoroughly enjoyed the proceedings.”

— Emma & David, June 2022

Image: Chris Kemp Photography

The weekend also gave me a chance to visit one of my favourite wedding venues, the stunning Holywell Hall, for Sabina and Ryan’s wedding. They chose to hold their ceremony in the beautiful deconsecrated church on the estate and every time I’m lucky enough to lead a ceremony here, it takes my breath away. Sabina and Ryan also took my breath away - both looked stunning and the ceremony really did have it all. A big shout out to the guests for responding so loudly to their cue in the ceremony and to Sabina and Ryan for being so utterly fantastic to work with!

The church at Holywell Hall (by me!)

“Thank you so much!! You were amazing and everyone said it was the best wedding service they had ever been to! xx”

— Sabina & Ryan, June 2022

2022 IS GO!

After a little winter downtime, I can offically say that 2022 is go!! The last few months have been packed with meetings and discussions for what are sure to be utterly glorious ceremonies but it’s now time for weddings, weddings and more weddings!

The beautiful Easter weekend saw me hit the road for my first ceremonies of the year and they could not have been more perfect. The sun was shining, the blossom was blooming and everyone was most certainly in the mood to celebrate. It feels great to be back, conducting ceremonies for the loveliest couples and, when I flick through my diary, there’s certainly so much to look forward to in the coming months. 2022 will be overflowing with celebrations and, after the last few years, what could be better?

“Just a quick note to thank you for last weekend... we loved having you with us and you made the ceremony so special and personal.”

— Hannah & Adam, April 2022

On that note, I’m now fully booked until November 2022 with some dates late over winter ‘22/’23. 2023 is filling up too so if you’d like to work with me to create a ceremony that will be totally unlike any other, do get in touch.

A little look back to a ceremony in summer 2021 - Naomi & David at Euridge Manor. Planned by Jennifer Louise Weddings with photography by Poppy Carter Portraits.