Nothing makes me happier than when my couples let their personalities shine through on their wedding day. Julia and Tim planned theirs to perfection, including so much thoughtful, handmade loveliness that I couldn’t help falling in love with them a little bit! It was clear to see that each and every one of their guests was having a truly wonderful time at this handmade Oxfordshire garden wedding, and had been catered for in a really meaningful way. These are the sorts of days that are remembered for years to come.
The couple chose to have a late afternoon ceremony, and hired the most beautiful venue to get ready and relax together with friends and family before the party got going. It was a rare treat for me to be able to spend so much time with the couple before their ceremony, and I felt truly welcomed by Julia, Tim and their families. Baldon House has to be one of my all time favourite spots for bridal (and groomly) preparations. This stunning 18th century manor house can be rented in its entirety. The rooms are gorgeous, and it’s got a staircase to die for – perfect for dramatic bridal entrances! The first time Tim set eyes on his bride was one of my favourite moments of the whole day. I’m a big fan of the idea of a ‘first look’ – a private moment for the two of you to take a deep breath together before you head down that all-important aisle. The joy on Tim’s face here makes me so happy every time I look at it!
The ceremony took place in the garden of the Seven Stars pub in Marsh Baldon – a short walk away from Baldon House. Julia and Tim were married in front of an arch adorned with lilac, purple and creamy blossoms. I can’t go very much further in this post without talking about the flowers at this wedding, and about the total heroine that is Julia’s mum. This amazing lady grew every last petal in her garden. But more than that, she created the bouquets to match the personalities of the people holding them. The end result was a riot of colour, and a beautifully unique and personal take on wedding flowers that made the whole bridal party feel very special indeed.
After the ceremony, guests relaxed in the garden, where Julia and Tim had created a host of games to play. These ranged from those you might expect, like giant Jenga, and those that were decidedly quirky…Rock-A-Roll and Monks. These games all hailed from Tim and Julia’s younger years, and it was lovely to see childhood memories being incorporated into their wedding day.
It’s been tough to select just a few favourites from this gorgeous wedding – I have loved reliving it here and I hope you will too. If you’re planning your wedding and like what you see here, why not get in touch and say hello?
Thanks for helping to make Julia’s and Tim’s day so special. All who have seen your photos say how spontaneous and fresh they look. We were blessed with a beautiful venue, fine weather and wonderful family and friends. As julia’s parents we are immensely proud of what she and Tim organised in a relatively short time. The flowers were mainly grown by herself from seed, the array of seedlings and plants she grew on and planted out in beds she made especially, was a sight to see. Tim’s Mum also grew a good quantity as well. My contribution was to ferry down various pots, jars and ribbons (and planted up containers) during preceding months. I had help and ideas from friends and Julia as to the effect she wanted. I was especially pleased how the button holes and bridesmaids flowers turned out. So with combined effort from all family, friends and staff at The Seven Stars a great and memorable day was had by all.
Hi Lucy,
Thank you for your message. I’m so happy you are pleased with the photographs. It’s always so lovely to hear. The wedding was absolutely one of my favourites of the season! Your flowers were so lovely and I loved how the bridesmaid flowers matched their personalities, what a lovely touch.