Getting married at the end of February is a risky move when you live in the UK or Ireland - I say this as someone who woke up to sunshine yesterday and went to bed with a garden covered in snow! - but the couple in today's real wedding lucked out with the weather for their cool yet timeless winter wedding. Anna and Andy's big day was anything but traditional - they celebrated in two churches, Lawrence Church and St. Francis Church, Salisbury - but it has a really effortless style. It's the kind of day that looks like it was a cinch to organise but actually takes months and months of hard work to get right. Photography duo Beard + Mane were kind enough to share the images from the day, which means that we can all take a closer look!
Anna and Andy tell us that they met during a training session at a Crossfit Gym, which required them each to do a 5km run! "I came back to run with Anna, who hates running!" Andy says. "We got to know each other more during Strong Man training but despite me asking her out several times, she friend zoned me for 18 months before finally admitting that I was perfect for her!"
Let the glamorising begin!
We're only a couple of photographs in, and already the flowers in this wedding are blowing us away! Winter wedding florals can be really tricky but the team from Paloma Lily Flower nailed it with their chic colour palette of greens and whites!
Looking for relaxed wedding hair inspiration? You've found it! Anna's undone up-do is so pretty! And that pearl and greenery hair accessory provides the perfect finishing touch!
A wedding morning singalong? Don't mind if I do!
Can we just take a moment to appreciate Anna's totally timeless bridal style? I love the intricate lacework on her Jesus Peiro gown!
Eep! The First Look photographs always give us butterflies!
Anna tells us that Andy popped the question during a trip to Brighton. "We were in our hotel room, eating chocolate in our PJs!" she remembers. "Andy put the ring in the wrong pocket though, so went down on one knee and then got back up again to switch legs, which was emotionally confusing for me! I was thinking, 'He's proposing! Oh no he's not, be cool... Oh, he is!'"
The couple tell us that having a First Look was one of their best ideas during wedding planning. "It was one of the most memorable and special moments of our day," Anna says. "Meeting up before the ceremony gave us a private moment to see each other before anyone else did and totally calmed our nerves, making us even more excited to say ‘I do’. Our friends, Kerry and David of Beard & Mane Photography, orchestrated the First Look beautifully and we think our best photos are from this time, when it was just us, before the celebrations kicked off."
You know we love a mint green bridesmaid moment! These off-shoulder beauties are from The Daintyard on Etsy!
Have you ever seen a more excited groom!?
This couple were in an unusual position in that Anna's Dad is the Vicar at both of their wedding venues, St. Lawrence Church, where they had their ceremony, and St. Francis Church, where the reception was held. "It meant that I could push decoration boundaries further than with a commercial venue and cover the whole place in candles, fairylights and plants!" Anna says.
The church service turned out to be a highlight for not just Anna and Andy, but their guests, too! "We got many compliments on how special our Christian ceremony was, with Christians and non-Christians commenting on how moving the worship, sermon and readings were."
For this couple, the wedding day was all about spoiling their guests rotten! "We ultimately really wanted our family and friends to enjoy the day and not have too much to do, so we prepped to the max and gave a lot of tasks to our caterers! We agreed that we would invest in amazing food, an awesome band and a free bar, all of which our guests raved about!"
Anna describes their day as a "relaxed, cosy, enchanted forest-inspired, DIY wedding, with heart-warming food and no-judgement dancing," which sounds like an absolute dream to us!
That "we're married!" high is hard to beat!
Anna's advice to engaged couples is oh-so-practical! "Pick three things that are the most important to both of you and prioritise those," she says. "Trying to spend time and money on every element of a wedding can be overwhelming, but if you really nail those three priorities, you'll be less stressed and happier with how it goes on the day!"
It's such a small detail (quite literally!) but these DIY place name holders, which are made from real tree branches, give the tables such a wild, rustic feel.
This sounds like our kind of bar! And non-alcoholic beer was a really considerate choice for the non-drinkers!
After the wedding, Andy and Anna honeymooned around Scotland, but unfortunately, the cold wave known as the Beast from the East was UK-bound at the same time! "We started in Edinburgh, travelled to Aviemore, then the Isle of Skye and finally Glasgow before heading home. It was wintry and magical, if a bit hairy at times with the snow!" Anna says.
If this isn't the band performing a Grease Megamix, then I'm officially turning in my wedding expert badge!
A fun-filled end to a fun-filled day! At this point, we've got to say thanks so much to Andy and Anna for giving us the inside scoop on their wedding, and to Beard + Mane for providing the beautiful imagery!
