Wedding | The Morning Of...

18 Aug 2019

Wedding: The Morning Of...

Welcome to the wedding posts! Aka a great excuse to share a load of photos and reflect back on our wedding day which was on Saturday 1 June 2019. All professional photos in these posts are taken by our bloomin’ lovely wedding photographer Hannah Mia. The rest are by friends and family.

The day before our wedding was one of those that just seemed to melt away as we floated around town doing bits and bobs. I had my nails done, we checked into our Airbnb, we had a long lunch with my mum and step-dad, went shopping for drinks and snacks for the following morning, took bits and bobs to the pub, spent way longer in the pub garden with our families than we intended and stopped in to Lussmans for wine with my girls and their other halves. We were tired and mildly tipsy by the time we got back to our Airbnb that evening but that didn’t stop me waking up at 4am and being unable to get back to sleep!

The Airbnb we chose to stay in was part of a converted rectory, next to a little church. It was very close to our flat but much roomier and meant we both had a place to get ready when we went our separate ways in the morning. The bedroom was unintentionally bridal with lots of soft whites and the main living area was this grand old room with high ceilings and plenty of room for my family and bridesmaids to chat and mingle in.

Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...

We started the morning just the two of us, giving us the chance to shower and have breakfast in some semblance of calm before it all kicked off. We’d bought eggs and bread for breakfast the day before but only realised that morning that we’d forgotten to pick up any butter/spread. Not that it really mattered because my stomach was feeling extremely squiggly as I tried to eat so I doubt I’d have noticed the dry toast unless Gary had pointed it out. It’s just one of those random details that I can remember. I also quite distinctly remember that Baba O’Riley by The Who was playing on the radio when Gary was in the shower. 

I put on the pyjamas from my hen do because dressing in normal clothes before the wedding dress felt weird somehow, and we laid out all the snacks and champagne glasses (rose gold ones from Asda – 9 for £1; we were splashing out!). Because we’d woken up so early, we suddenly found ourselves about two hours ahead of ‘schedule’ – so eager! But luckily at that exact moment, my dad and Elizabeth buzzed the door and so began our stream of visitors. My mum & Andrew arrived soon after and my Auntie Jane and Grandma also popped in for a cuppa. 

Alice arriving was a sudden reminder that we weren’t just having a family gathering! Gary took this as his cue to leave and I jokingly made him promise that he’d show up. 

Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...


My mum & Andrew had brought the flowers with them and I absolutely loved them. They were all from the florist underneath our flat – Flower Box. I had a gorgeous bouquet predominantly made up of peonies – my favourite flowers – and roses, and my bridesmaids each had a small bouquet of white gypsophila which went really well with their blue dresses. As it was so warm, we had to get all of them into some water; we had them balancing in washing up bowls and glasses on the windowsill to keep them fresh! 

My hairdresser/make-up artist was the lovely Charlotte Jay and she did such a good job. It was such a hot day but my hair and make-up both stayed in place right until the end – which is impressive given how much I was sweating on the dancefloor! My mum, cousin Clare and Alice all sat in the bedroom with me nattering as Charlotte started glamming me up. 

Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...


This was probably one of my favourite times as all the other bridesmaids started to arrive and the flat was filled with sounds of my favourite people all laughing and chatting. People were coming and going – the buzzer kept going off – everyone kept drifting in and out the bedroom to come chat to me; I could hear my mum and Becca having a lot of fun using a hand held steamer to steam the dresses and there was constant chat of hot isn’t it? I thought that I’d maybe be feeling nervous or stressed at this point but I actually just felt really happy and relaxed. 

Once my hair and make-up looked nicer than they ever have or ever will, I could take a bit of time to revel in the excitement before getting into the dress. I love how Hannah has managed to capture some of my favourite moments: Lizzie helping me put my jewellery on, opening the beautifully wrapped, epic ‘cheese lover’ tea-towel present from Lizzie’s parents (thanks Jo and Robin!), putting on the perfume I’d specially picked out (Jo Malone’s English Pear & Freesia), my mum practising walking in her heels and immediately tripping over which, as you can see, I found very funny. 

I also love the shots of the bridesmaids helping each other with their dresses, particularly when some of them didn’t know each other that well. It’s so odd/lovely to see people from all aspects of your life come together and bond. 

Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...


And then it was time to get into the dress! I was super paranoid of marking it before the ceremony so just my mum and sister stayed to help me get into it, and it took a while because of the many, many buttons! My mum kept repeatedly telling me that I was never getting out of it and I just kept giggling because standing there in a big white dress was suddenly making it all seem very real. 

Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...

Eventually, I was ready and could ‘make an entrance’ into the main room. I’m not sure whose idea it was but all the bridesmaids were lined up waiting as I came in. They all picked their own dresses and this was the first time I’d seen them all together in them. They all looked so gorgeous and my vision of them all in different dresses but the same colour was even better than I imagined. It was also the first time they’d seen me in my dress and I think the photo below of their excited expressions is one of my favourites from the whole day. I really am so lucky to have such wonderful friends.

Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...

It was time to start making tracks. The bridesmaids hopped in taxis and my rents headed off on foot, and then my mum, sister and I got in the wedding car. I was really pleased with the wedding car; it was less than a ten-minute drive to the venue and it was purely just a practical thing meaning I really didn’t want to fork out hundreds of pounds on it. I ended up booking via Elite Drivers and for £50, I got a fancy car with ribbons and a driver who was really helpful and prompt. Highly recommend should you be in the Hertfordshire area and just want something simple. 

Everyone always tells you that the day will fly by but I honestly felt like the morning stretched on for ages; it’s this happy blur of people and laughter and was such a special part of the day. 

Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...
Wedding: The Morning Of...



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