Ali & James
Photos by Paper Rabbit
Ali and James wanted a fuss-free wedding day, so with the help of friends and family, celebrated a fun and personal day at Ali’s family home that incorporated their love of books, colour and family. Ali tells us more…
We got married in my parent’s back garden. James’ family live overseas and couldn’t come so we didn’t want anything elaborate.
The theme was DIY literary lovers! We both love books and didn’t want a stressful planning period so we decided on minimal decoration with a book arch being our focal piece.
I thought we’d just glue a bunch of books together a week before. Instead it was many MANY evenings gluing coloured linen to secondhand books we salvaged from a bookshop’s skip. We also commissioned a local welder to make a special metal frame for the books after much trial and error battling gravity. It really was a labour of love and my husband dutifully put the whole arch together (including over 100 books) on the wedding day, despite the rain-filled forecast.
Thankfully we had wonderful sunshine all day. Walking through the home I grew up in with my dad out into a sun-soaked garden containing our loved ones was so lovely. It was even more emotional watching my baby daughter walk the aisle first with my mum. James’ family live in Stockholm and London so they were video linked in.
Our wedding was mainly DIY with guests becoming the celebrant, bunting and dress makers, bouquet makers, venue hosts, photographers and more. It was important to us that our family and friends be a part of the wedding. It was definitely a budget wedding but it wasn't so much a financial choice but more that I'm a pretty low-key person so I didn't want a huge venue and lots of fuss. Plus, trying to plan a wedding with a newborn was way too much work!
James wore a green blazer and mustard trousers because both of our favourite colour is green, and he didn't want something traditional. I bought a yellow bridesmaid dress that I fell in love with when trying on the traditional bridal gowns! Our daughter wore a green dress with white daisies and a yellow sash that my bridesmaid made her to complement us.
What I loved about our wedding was that it was with our nearest and dearest and they were an integral part - my bridesmaids made my bouquet and bunting, my friend married us, it was full of laughter and ease. A couple of our friends bought giant centaur cut outs for people to take photos with!
The most poignant moment for me was surprising my husband with a video montage of his family overseas and their well wishes. He burst into tears seeing his family on screen, part of the day, declaring their love.
Photographer: Maria Hussey - Paper Rabbit Photography
Bride attire Wilkins Bridal / Groom attire Rodd & Gunn / Make up & Hair Selina Nunn / Flowers, Food & Cake New World / Catering Caitlin Dore / Celebrant Married by Hilary