I’ve such a gorgeous wedding for you today, lovely Victoria and Jonathan had a beautiful church ceremony followed by a rustic wedding reception in the prettiest village hall in June last year. These gorgeous images by Rachel Joyce Photography show just how much total joy there was on the day. Victoria and Jonathan look so happy! Victoria is so pretty in her Enzoani gown, I adore the beaded overlay, total elegance.

Their families and friends were very involved in their rustic wedding day with lots of homespun details, it has created a truly authentic, genuine vibe. A heartwarming display of the love that surrounds them. The couple put a huge amount of thought into lovely details that have meaning to them. From the decor (test tube flower displays as the groom is a scientist), to the food that celebrates the brides heritage, the stationery that celebrates their different travels, places they have lived and their wedding bands from the two locations where their love grew.

Let me hand you to bride Victoria to tell you more;

THE LOVE STORY

We both met at Secondary school, where we were in the same social circle, but not really close friends. It was only until we went to separate colleges but kept bumping into each other at parties and get togethers that we realised that we both wanted to be more than friends! So at one party, with my hatred for banana shots and Jonathan’s lost contact lense, was the time for our love to blossom!!
What we thought was going to be a summer romance before University ended up being a ‘we’ll just see how things go’ and 10 years later we’re still doing that!!

THE PROPOSAL

With a quest to be eternal students, and a few career changes along the way, we felt finally settled in our London life. Jonathan therefore decided we needed to take the next step to cementing our lives together. So he set out on his hunt for the ring, keeping it all to himself apart from telling my Dad about his plans. One early Saturday Morning, underestimating the body clock of a nurse, he snook off to shave (knowing I would know something is up if he was shaving on a Saturday). He got down on one knee and popped the question along side a champagne breakfast and some hysterical surprise face times to close family letting them know. He had the day planned with a trip up the Shard for cocktails and celebrations followed by dinner at borough Market, and the rest is history!

VENUE

Perfect for a rustic wedding vibe the couple chose their village hall for the reception;

As we both grew up in the area we both knew we wanted to get married in Mellor church. However we really struggled to find a venue which was close and created a relaxed atmosphere which we could put our own touch on. When the village hall was suggested it just seems perfect as we could do pretty much anything we wanted and it was a short stroll down the hill from the church!

CEREMONY

My dad had great privilege in walking his only daughter down the aisle and to be there for me to step into the next chapter as a married lady.

WEDDING RINGS

Jonathan got a platinum band from the same shop he bought the engagement ring from in Hatton Gardens in London.
My wedding ring is a platinum band with baguette cut diamonds inset in a curved design to fit with my engagement ring. This was handmade by Christopher Evans at a jewelers in Poynton. It was really important for us to have a little piece of Manchester (where we met/got married) and London (where we live/got engaged).  We both got both of our rings engraved with the date of the wedding on the inside of the band.

PHOTOGRAPHY – RACHEL JOYCE PHOTOGRAPHY

Where do we start! From the beginning Rachel put us both at ease and it felt like a friend was with us on the day! She has a true talent for capturing the day as it happens, without you even realising. We wanted a photographer who captured the emotion of the moments and the little things which you don’t even realise are happening on the day. Her personal touches and warm approach made us both feel really supported on the day and we are both so pleased with the photos.

RUSTIC WEDDING INSPIRATION

Planning the wedding in our local Church and choosing for more of a low key setting in the village hall, has meant we’ve been able to choose all the things we love as a couple. It’s been all hands on deck with the lead up to the wedding, with many a crafternoons! But what has made it so much fun, is spending time as a couple working out what is important to us! In the end we decided that once the ceremony is complete and we’re man and wife…the rest is just a big party!
We wanted to have a relaxed theme to the day which celebrated all the people and things we love. From a gin bar to climbing ladders to hand test tube chandeliers (Husband’s a scientist). We wanted it all to have a personal touch and comments from guests were that it was one of the most personal and happy weddings they’ve ever been to.

Overall: Relaxed, personal and a big celebration with all the people we love!

DRESS

I didn’t really know what kind of dress I wanted but I wasn’t a big fan of lace. The simplicity with the elegant beading sold it for me. I also really liked the fit of the dress and it felt like me.

SHOES

Victoria wore Dune shoes, Breann style which were nude suede high heels with beaded buckle detail.

ACCESSORIES

Victoria wore a floor length ivory veil made by The Wedding Dress Shop where she found her beautiful dress too;

I wore a preserved flowers head comb by Folkey Dokey in my hair, the designer lives locally to where I grew up and I just loved having flowers in my hair without the worry of them wilting.
My husband bought me some diamond earrings as my something new as I had my ears pierced for the wedding. My grandma’s wedding ring which my grandad had inscribed when they got married. As well as two broaches which I attached to my bouquet as my something old/blue (1 belonged to my great Auntie who no longer is with us and the second from my Grandma who was there on the day).

PERFUME

Victoria chose Jo Malone-Tudor Rose and Oud.
Myself and Jonathan went scent shopping as a treat before the wedding where we both helped choose each others perfume/cologne. I loved the floral notes of this scent which felt in keeping with the time of year. Now whenever I wear that perfume or Jonathan wears his it instantly takes us back to our day!

BRIDESMAIDS

The girls lovely grey shift dresses were the Shanie dress from Coast, with pretty shoes from Dune called Dolley, they were Jewel trim peep toe-nude colour shoes.

HAIR AND MAKE-UP

Victoria and her bridesmaids chose Amanda Jones Makeup and Hair for the morning of the big day;

I wanted to just look the best me without looking too ‘done up’. We went for a dewy natural look with the makeup. With the hair I knew I wanted it up to show off the beading of the dress and otherwise I would mess around with it! We went for a natural curly up do which was amazing, it lasted all day without any issues!
The bridesmaids went for similar but with plaits incorporated and sprigs of gypsophila in their hair.

GROOMS ATTIRE

Jonathan wore a Charles Tyrwhitt charcoal textured slim fit suit, with shoes from Russell and Bromley. His cufflinks, gold initial plates, were a Christening present from his Grandparents. His tie was DKNY and Victoria bought him a vintage gold bean for good luck to wear on his pocket watch as well as a Paul Smith pocket square. He wore a pocket watch, chain and sovereign which was his Grandpa’s.

BEST MEN
The Best man wore a suit from Marks and Spencer with a tie from DKNY.

TRANSPORT

My cousin’s VW camper van which him and his partner had decorated especially! My cousin Danny is like a brother to me (only child) and it was really special to have him my part of the morning celebrations and for him to drive me, my mum and dad to the church.

FLOWERS

The couple chose Jenni Fleur’s of Marple Bridge to create the florals for the day.

We chose wild, in season flowers which had lots of greenery and herbs mixed in with peonies. In the Church all the flowers were arranged by the Groom’s mum and the church helpers.

VENUE STYLING

We wanted an informal relaxed environment where we could have all the things we love in a place which is really special to us. It also meant we could make things to decorate the hall to make it personal to us. All the decorations were either made by us such as the ‘dingly dangley’s’ which we cut and threaded onto string to hang from the entrance ceiling as well as chandeliers for flowers to be displayed around the venue and from the ceiling in the hall.

The father of the bride made the signposts himself for outside the hall! As well as both fathers of the bride and groom making barrels of beer. Any aunties, and grandparents drying petals for confetti! It was a full family and friends hands on deck over the 6 months leading to the wedding.

RUSTIC WEDDING CAKE

The cake was a white chocolate and raspberry sponge, lemon and Victoria sponge cake. All covered with vanilla icing. it was created by ‘Icing on the Cake’ in Marple.

The mothers of the bride and groom also made and decorated a fruit cake together.

CATERING

The couple chose Travelling Gourmet-Caters for the wedding breakfast;

They did a great job at making delicious food. We’re both big cooks and wanted to incorporate our favorite things. My family are polish so it was important to have a nod to my heritage. We therefore did a mezze board which had a polish influence for starters/canapes. It was great to see people dig in and get involved rather than formal canapes. Followed by lamb shoulder with seasonal veg and salads and dips. We allocated carvers all around the tables which made for great entertainment! It was one of our highlights seeing all these little chef hats mixed in on the two big tables sharing food like family.

We did the alcohol ourselves and made a pimp my prosecco and pimp my gin bar which was very popular. We also had a Polish toast called stolat and a Yorkshire toast to have a nod to both mine and Jonathan’s roots.

STATIONERY AND FAVOURS

We all made the stationery by hand sewing and printing and stamping with a bottle of wine!
The table plan was a play on our names and living in London which we made and had printed of the order of the day being similar to a tube stop. We home made rhubarb and ginger gin and decanted into little bottles for everyone to have on the day!

HONEYMOON

I used to live in Barcelona so the day after the wedding we both jet off to stay in Barcelona for a week which was fab!
We then stayed in St Lucia Royalton Diamond Club for two weeks in November for the honeymoon. It was just magical!

FIRST DANCE

Elbow-One day like this. Although quite cheesy it holds a special place for us both and with Elbow being from Manchester it just felt right. We didn’t practice the first dance and it was just literally us in the moment with each other.  

FAVOURITE MOMENTS

The first dance was truly magical-at the end of the song all our guests we’re on the dancefloor in a big circle surrounding us in the middle. All the love, smiles and energy from them all was just magic!
We also had a little moment just the two of us with a bottle of champagne after the ceremony and meal where we went for some pictures with the photographer. Jonathan had hidden a bottle of champagne for us to enjoy and just taking a moment after the photos just the two of us was super special we were both just giddy with excitement!

ADVICE FOR OTHERS

Think about the things which mean the most to you as a couple. Just take your time and think about little things which will have a big impact with little stress. One of our favorite things was thinking about what we loved as a couple and how we could add this to the wedding! People around you, love helping so when help is offered, take it! Don’t sweat the small things just remember to enjoy the moment!

Thank you so much to Victoria and Jonanthan for sharing their lovely rustic wedding day with us and to Rachel Joyce Photography for these truly beautifully authentic images,

love