"I was taken ill and transferred to intensive care with pneumonia and a blood clot on my lung, which meant I needed to be ventilated," explains Holly. "Matthew had planned to propose on our six-year anniversary, but because of the severity of the situation, decided he wanted to propose sooner and bought a ring that morning. He asked me in the afternoon down on one knee by my bedside. I couldn't speak because of the tubes but I could nod my head and write YES on a bit of paper!"
Planning began in earnest from her hospital bed for their "vintage feeling" wedding, with friends and family rallying around to create the personality-packed event at The Oak Barn, which they fell in love with at first sight. "We decided it was perfect there and then. It was a complete blank canvas and we could visualise our day coming together even on that first viewing," says Holly.
Hessian and lace featured in much of the decor, flanked by homemade floral bunting and fresh flowers in vintage pastel hues. A friend crafted the chair sashes out of hessian and decorated the centrepiece jars, while Matthew filled the favour boxes with sunflower seeds.
Guests enjoyed lawn games and fizz before a traditional afternoon tea wedding breakfast. "We asked a local WI group to serve the Prosecco and food, which they did dressed as Victorian maids," adds Holly. "It was served in vintage china which we had collected since we started planning." Their enjoyment of collecting vintage finds has prompted the launch of their china hire company, The Old Chapel Vintage Supplies. "We want to be able to give other couples the opportunity to create their dream vintage wedding without any of the stress."
A ceilidh dance kick-started the evening celebrations, which included a hog roast and cake cutting of the surprise trio of confections made by friends. "Each cake was unique to its baker and we encouraged them to create whatever they wanted," says Holly.
"The whole day was so magical we felt truly blessed that our friends and families were so heavily involved with the planning process, in the decorating of the barn the night before and the day of the wedding and then everyone was together again to tidy up on the Sunday," she says. "We could enjoy the whole weekend with everyone."
"It helps to give yourself plenty of time to plan so that you can have what you truly both want," she advises as an endnote. "We had our dream wedding on a small budget but had plenty of time to plan it so that we could make sure we stayed within our budget."
Photography Jonathan Neale Wedding Photography jnweddingphotography.co.uk
Venue The Oak Barn theoakbarn.co.uk
Dress Budeiful Brides
Bridesmaids' dresses Sexyher sexyher.co.uk
Groom's outfit -suit Ted Baker tedbaker.com waistcoat House of Fraser houseoffraser.co.uk
Make-up Abbi Scott
Flowers Peamore Flora peamoreflora.co.uk
Catering The Spitting Pig Company spittingpig.co.uk
Entertainment Spinach for Norman spinachfornorman.com
Copyright Wed magazine 2018
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