Real Weddings

Catherine and Andrew’s Beautify DIY Vintage Real Wedding

We LOVE this week’s DIY filled real wedding! Hats off to Catherine and Andrew, not to forget their family and friends, for creating such a beautiful and heart-warming day. We can’t forget to mention the amazing wedding pictures, Lawless Rose Photography were able to truly capture the love of the day in a style as unique as the wedding. The soft vintage approach to the photographer transports you to another era. Truly beautiful.  Hope you enjoy.

Catherine and Andrew Real Wedding at Confetti.co.uk

 

Bride and Groom… Catherine and Andrew

Wedding date… Saturday 19th April

We met… Online!

The proposal… Andrew proposed in bed, hung-over after a work Christmas party, he was going to do it on Christmas day while taking the dog for a walk but did it 3 weeks earlier as it just ‘felt right’

I knew he was ‘the one’… After about 3 months of meeting him. I put up with monsoon style rain, camping and an 18 mile cycle ride, it must have been love!

Length of engagement… 4.5 months

How did Confetti.co.uk help in your big day? Gave me ideas for my dress and theme.

Cherry blossom tree

Bride getting ready for her big day

I had… 6 bridesmaids, they wore a floor length pale sage green dress, capped sleeves and high necked with a flower detail on the shoulders. They fitted in with my theme perfectly and suited the various shapes and sizes of my bridesmaids.

Bridesmaids in floor length pale sage green dress

The best man… Wore military uniform, and our usher wore a morning suit with a blue tie. There was also a guard of honour of 10 who were also all in uniform. Groom and best man in military uniform

Our wedding ceremony was… St Mary the Blessed Virgin, Brabourne in Kent. It was a religious ceremony and we had 98 guests. Most memorable moment was when my sister said ‘bloody hell’ during her reading as she kept crying!

The bride and groom singing hymns during the ceremony

My dress was… By Pheonix.  I’m wasn’t a ‘normal’ bride, I had never thought about a wedding dress until about a week before the wedding. I thought I may like a lace, fish tail style dress, but I ended up with a 50’s style satin number. I tried on a few dresses in the shop, which were all lovely, but just didn’t have that wow factor. My mum asked the assistant whether they had any dresses that were named ‘Audrey’ as this is the name of my granny. When ‘Audrey’ was bought out, I was dubious but agreed to try it on. As soon as I put it on I loved it. The fit, the shape, the style, the way it made me feel, and yes, at that point, my mum did cry! I wore a veil, a beautiful ‘Joyce’ design with lace flowers, and my mum’s old pearl drop earrings.
The bride and groom at the ceremony The newlyweds The newlyweds walking through an arch of swords Bride in a lace wedding dress and veil with her groom in military uniform Groom in a military uniform with wedding guests The bride and groom leaving the church Bride holding up a vintage photo The newlyweds with their wedding guests

Our wedding reception was at… The Thatched barn, Farthingloe, Kent Wedding reception at the Thatched barn Canapés during the cocktail hour

Brides with her bridesmaids in pale sage green dresses

Our wedding photographer was… Sarah Relf at Lawless Rose. An old friend who has a fantastic flair for capturing beautiful pictures.

Bride in her white lace gown and vintage bouquet

Red tractor

Pink and purple wellies   Groom in military uniform with his military comrades Bride and her bridesmaids in wellies Bride and her bridesmaids in wellies Bride and her bridesmaids jumping

The bride and groom standing next to a red tractor The bride and groom sitting on the grass Lego place setting Lego men

Our wedding theme was… English Country Garden. Vinatge cups

Our Wedding Cake was… STUNNING. 3 tier, fruit, chocolate and Victoria sponge. Covered in garden flowers made from sugar. We also had a nod to Andy’s military background with a ‘drop zone flash’ in the middle of the 2nd tier. Absolutely amazing.

3 tier fruit, chocolate and Victoria sponge

Our wedding flowers were… English country garden. Gypsophilia, eryngium, for a Scottish feel; small roses, eucalyptus, and a whole load more. I wanted it to look like I’d gone out in the garden and picked them and then shoved them in jam jars and various teapots and jugs. Nothing too formal or structured. They were wonderful. Newlyweds taking a selfie    Wedding guests enjoying the reception     Eat, drink and be merry sign Bride and groom holding gold picture frame

Our favourite part of the wedding was… Everything, I really can’t pick one particular moment. The speeches were heartfelt and I really enjoyed seeing the guests have lots of fun.

Our wedding was unique and special because... The way all my family and friends pulled together to make it come true in such a short space of time. We held craft evenings at friends’ houses to cut and sew the bunting together and had a few nights of a production lines, putting the covers on the jam jar favours which my mother in law made.

Did anything funny or unusual happen at your wedding? My sister swearing in church, that was hilarious and will never be forgotten. The 1930s Aston Martin being so small that I literally had to be shoved in the back and Andy’s hat flying out of the car on the way to the reception and broke his cock feather!

Groom and the wedding guests holding photo frames The bride and groom with their wedding guests

Our first dance was… Dance with me tonight by Olly Murrs.

First dance to dance with me tonight by Olly Murrs First dance to dance with me tonight by Olly Murrs

What is your advice for other brides? If my husband to be hadn’t been so hands on, it would have made the short timeline quite stressful. However, delegating to him and my fabulous friends and family made the whole thing completely low stress and really enjoyable. People like having a job and a role to play, don’t be scared of giving them something to do.

Our honeymoon was… A few days at Eastwell manor in Kent, relaxed in the spa and ate great food; wedding diet completely forgotten, I think Andy was quite shocked at the amount I put away at breakfast. I would whole heartedly recommend it for any occasion. We are also going to Madeira for 2 weeks.

For more information on our photographers please contact Nicola at [email protected]

Suppliers

Wedding Dress: Pheonix gowns | Wedding Bridesmaid Dresses: Debenhams | Wedding Flowers: Sharon Foreman flowers | Wedding Entertainment: Folkestone Academy 6th form band | Wedding Photographer: Lawless Rose photography | Wedding Cake: Helen @ Dippy Designs | Wedding Venue: The thatched barn, Farthingloe |Ceremony Venue: St Mary the Blessed Virgin, Brabourne | Wedding Gift list: John Lewis | Wedding Catering: The herb garden.

Download the free wedding planning app

Plan your dream wedding with Wedx, the free wedding planning app that makes organising your big day a breeze. With a countdown clock and intuitive planning tools, you'll stay on top of every detail. Discover amazing suppliers, explore their services, and view stunning photos and videos, all in one place. Wedx helps you connect with the perfect professionals to bring your wedding vision to life.

Free App Right Arrow
Wedx Icon

Claim your free wedding magazine

Claim your free copy of Confetti Magazine, one of the UK's premier wedding publications. Inside its beautifully curated pages, you'll find expert tips, checklists, and inspiring real-life stories to spark your imagination and plan your dream day with confidence, ensuring your wedding is just the way you envision it, down to the last detail.

Free Magazine Right Arrow
Confetti Magazine

Find Wedding Ideas, Inspiration, Venues and Services