Louise & Paul: Autumnal Beauty at Elmbridge Farm

Wow, it's been a while since I wrote a blog! It's been a busy summer of gorgeous weddings which I can't wait to share more about soon. In the meantime though, I'm thinking back to a stunning wedding from September 2022 and as the Autumn nights are drawing in I just knew I had to get this one on the blog!

I worked with Elmbridge Farm a lot last year and was lucky to meet some truly lovely couples. Louise & Paul were put in touch with me through the venue and we spoke about the day they wanted and how I could help them find some of the suppliers they were looking for. (I'm so pleased they chose one of my fave celebrants, Shelley aka SJW Celebrant, who performed such a fabulous ceremony for them!). We also went through everything I could do to help on the day, and I was looking forward to it so much. I just had no idea quite how much I was going to love this one!

It was also my first time working with Chris of Ginger Jam, and we had such a blast. His photos also happen to be some of the most beautiful I've ever seen. You'll see for yourself just what I mean... 
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​I arrived at Elmbridge as the girls were getting ready and putting finishing touches to their hair and makeup, and everything seemed so nice and calm and relaxed! We went through a few final plans and double, triple, quadruple checked we had everything ready to go.

I wondered along the lane to the gorgeous lakeside ceremony spot they had chosen where I met Paul and the groomsmen, and got Shelley all set up and in place. I was honestly blown away by how fantastic everything looked... although when you have a location as lovely as this, you can't really go wrong. The weather was exactly right too, but their  styling on the archway, the flowers from Ridges Farm Flowers and even the use of the haybales all came together perfectly. Sometimes you really don't need much to make a big impact!

I'm still obsessed with the styling in the tipis too! So much of this wedding was handmade by the couple themselves, and you'd honestly think they'd paid a professional thousands to get it looking like this! The colours, the florals, the candles, the balloons, the fairy lights... it made the tipis feel so warm and cosy and was perfect for a September day.

The girls finished getting ready as the guests all arrived to take their seats, and Louise and the team were soon making their way up to the ceremony. I met them at the end of the lane to give them a hand organising themselves and ensured they all got down the aisle okay, and then I had the pleasure of sitting back a little to take in the amazing ceremony by Shelley. She told stories and reminisced about things Louise and Paul had done in their time together. We all laughed, some cried and it was just the perfect celebration of this fantastic couple.

The bride and groom were able to take a little moment to themselves whilst guests made their way over to the tipis to take a drink, before they joined them for a gorgeous reception.

After a couple of drinks in the sunshine, everyone made their way into the tipis to take their seats and our gorgeous bride and groom made their own entrance to a humongous cheer!

And then we had the speeches...
This is always one of my favourite parts of the day. As a coordinator, the ceremony can be a little stressful when you're making sure the music plays and everyone is ready and checking that everything goes just to time. In the evening there's the food to sort out and the band to set up and there's things that may need to be moved or sorted out. In the afternoon, once you're all in your seats, I feel like I can take a load off as I hand over to your caterers and let them do their thing. I'm never far away if you should need me, but if the opportunity is there I will always pull up a pew somewhere inconspicuous and have a listen to what's going on. And these speeches were some of them best! 

They got family and friends up on their feet to recreate old games that were played as kids at Christmas, there were stories about their childhoods that made everyone laugh, and there were moments to reflect which were sweet and moving. Louise's mum and twin sister did a fabulous joint speech and the best man had everyone in bits. To be honest, if the bride & groom look like they're having the time of their life that's the best you can hope for, and these two absolutely did!
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There was some incredible food served by The Wild Oven, and there was time for everyone to bask in the September evening sun whilst Louise and Paul went for some couple's portraits. 

You may also know that this is another of the highlights of my day as your coordinator. Of course when there's stuff to be done, I will be a busy bee but if everything is under control and you're happy for me to join you, I love to tag along. And these were some of the most spectacular I have seen...

As well as photos of the two of them out by the lake, we also went into the woodland with some smoke bombs and got all the bridesmaids and groomsmen involved. In the setting sun, the colourful clouds looked absolutely incredible and the woodland setting was so perfect!
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The evening got underway with the cake cutting and first dance, and the band got everyone up onto the dancefloor! There was more amazing food from Bare Bones Pizza to keep everyone going to the end of the night, and truth be told when the time came for me to leave, I didn't want to go home!

There are times you drive back from a wedding with your heart so full it could burst, and this was one of those times. Louise and Paul are the loveliest people, I worked with some incredible suppliers that day and it was just a dream to see everything go so perfectly from beginning to end. You really couldn't have asked for more.
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Thanks so much Louise & Paul for being so fab, and for making my job so easy! And a massive shout out to Chris for the pics - now you can see what I mean!

Venue:
Elmbridge Farm

Photography:
Ginger Jam

Catering:
The Wild Oven
Bare Bones Pizza

Celebrant:
SJW Celebrant

Florist:
Ridge Farm Flowers