Because of our pastel palette, it can be hard to find the right real weddings to showcase on Darling Lovely Life – but when fantastic photographer Karen Fuller of Fuller Photography sent me these beautiful images, I jumped at the chance to feature them. Rarely does a real wedding land in my lap that’s so Darling Lovely Life I can’t help myself! The wedding was so full of personal, heartfelt details (and Milo the dog – in a bow tie no less) captured with such sensitivity, skill and class by Karen! This incredible bride made her own cake! And stationery… and one of her bridesmaids provided the flowers… and no, you won’t believe it when you look at the pictures but it’s true – this wedding was a full on DIY job – amazing!

Sarah and John have been together for twelve years. They met working in TV production and the rest, as they say, is history. Of John, Sarah says: “he always sees the best in people, he’s not afraid of doing new things and he makes me laugh.” John loves Sarah for her great sense of humour and her ability to organise him!

In perhaps the longest proposal in the history of this blog, John carried around the ring for an incredible three years before popping the question.

Sarah says: “The ring went to Australia and New Zealand and various other holidays before John finally managed to pluck up the courage at our local beach.  We had gone with our dog Milo and whilst I wasn’t looking he tied the ring round Milo’s neck on a big red ribbon and sent him running over to me. Out of all the places we had been I’m glad he did it there as we visit he beach a lot and having Milo involved made it all the more memorable.”

The pair finally tied the knot in May this year in a beautiful, English country garden celebration at breathtaking Narborough Hall, Kings Lynn, opting for an afternoon tea (warning – images ahead may cause hunger and lust for pretty things). The couple were full of praise for the venue’s staff, who were enormously helpful in planning their big day.

All images © 2014 Fuller Photography

The bride looked absolutely glowing and beautiful in a dress from Sweetheart Gowns from Prima Donna in Norwich. She finished off her look with shoes from Dune and accessories from Debenhams, where she also found her bridesmaids’ gowns. The bride’s hair was styled by Kay at Narborough Hall while her beautiful makeup was provided by Paula Cowell at Beauty Bridal.

The groom cut a dashing figure in an outfit from North in Belfast. Even Milo the dog received a little grooming of his own from Willow Haven Groomers in Mattishall!

“The most moving moment for both of us was most definitely the ceremony.  Standing in front of friends and family made us both very emotional and when one of the people doing a reading got a little emotional, it really made us realise what a big day this was for everyone.”

Sarah was the absolute epitome of a Darling Lovely Life bride, from her gorgeous décor choices to her creative flair. On styling her wedding, Sarah says:

“We wanted a traditional English Country garden theme so I didn’t want anything to ‘neat’ or slick.  Mismatched china, rambling flowers and a very relaxed feel.

I did all the planning and quite a bit DIY.  One of my bridesmaids used to be a florist so she did all the bouquets, I made all the favours, we printed our own stationery and I made my wedding cake and all the cakes for the afternoon tea.  I also collected vintage vases from charity shops and car boot sales for the tables and made jam jar tea lights for the tables.”

On her favourite detail, Sarah says: “We had a tandem on the stationery and a tandem at the venue which guests were able to have a go on.  I like the significance of we are now on the same journey together.  We go out on it now and it reminds us of the day.”

And those beautiful bouquets Sarah mentioned? Those were actually really inexpensive to produce: “All the flowers for the tables we bought from a supermarket with reward vouchers.  Most of the flowers are guaranteed for five – ten days so you can buy in advance and store somewhere cool and a friend who does flower arranging came and do all the table decorations the day before which looked fab and nobody knew they weren’t from a florist.”

For the most part, Sarah LOVED planning her wedding, but like many brides & grooms had a little trouble delegating: “I enjoyed most of it, seeing it all come together. I didn’t like having to charge my sister and bridesmaids with planning the hen night – but I had to let something go!”

In the end, though, Sarah and John said they wouldn’t have changed a thing about their perfect day. Here are Sarah’s final words of wisdom for newly engaged couples:

“Enjoy being engaged and accept you probably will disagree about the wedding plans but remember to make your decision and move on.  You won’t remember on the day the little things you disagreed over.”

Wise words indeed – and what a wonderful wedding day. Here at Darling Lovely Life, we wish Sarah and John (and Milo) a lifetime of happiness together! Thank you to Karen for submitting these gorgeous pictures. If you have a real wedding you’d like us to feature, send some samples over to [email protected].

We very rarely feature real weddings on Darling Lovely Life, but when we do they are SO Darling Lovely Life that they are impossible to resist showing off to the world!

Dan and Marie first met through a mutual friend, Rich, who went on to be one of their best men.  Rich played in a band with Dan, and he also worked with Marie. Marie went along to watch Rich play one night and took a fancy to the bass player. The couple met again in 2004 and the rest is history.

Marie’s favourite thing about Dan is his sense of humour, while Dan answered that his favourite thing is her smile, amongst other things!

Marie says: “We love Christmas, well me more than Dan – so it was a perfect festive Christmas Day proposal in 2011. I never thought Dan would ever propose – We have been together for 9 years and I was starting to give up hope!”

All images © 2013 Nova Wedding Photography

“Our wedding theme was vintage, I love everything vintage! I looked through magazines and online and made a scrap book full of my favourite things.I planned most of the wedding myself. My mum and I walked around car boot sales most Sundays collecting anything vintage. My Dad helped by making lots of things – like all the cake stands amongst other things.  But, my little secret weapon was Kirsten Butler, AKA ‘The Little Wedding Helper’ I couldn’t write this article without mentioning her.  I could not have done it without her – Kirsten you are amazing! Although Dan didn’t know I hired her at the time, but he does now!

In fact, our most indispensible wedding supplier has to be Kirsten, who took everything I collected and made it look amazing.  I had an idea of what I wanted and she put it all together.  Also, the photographers Katherine and Steve of Nova Wedding Photography who captured the day perfectly. We wanted natural and fun – they even did a fancy dress photo booth for us.  The photos were everything I could have ever wished for and as an added bonus we received our wedding photos on my birthday!”

“There were lots of beautiful wedding details but I did have a favourite! I displayed wedding photos of all our family marriages, I discovered photos of my great grandparents getting married on the 4th August 1928.

Everything went to plan on the day! It was so funny seeing the look on Dan’s face as I walked down the aisle to ‘Eye of the Tiger’. Delighted that my friends surprised me with a memory washing line. Enjoyed the best men’s speech – performed on a guitar. Surprised as Dan’s old band reformed on the evening for a few songs. Couldn’t have asked for anything more – good times as I become Mrs Darbon.”

Dan adds: “It was a beautiful day, that had the years best weather, in some of the best surroundings, with everyone who has ever mattered to us being there to witness and enjoy our day as much as we did.”

“I loved all the planning, collecting and making things. I didn’t enjoy not being able to do everything myself! Before planning my wedding, I didn’t realise how controlling I was. Practically speaking, I needed 10 clones of me to get everything done, but as that’s not possible, I just worked every evening and weekend – designing and making things, like 300m of bunting! My friends and family were really helpful too though – they attended craft club round our house (they’ll do anything for a glass of wine), I think they were honoured I let them do something.

Our best bargain find was our vintage china. We collected plates from car boot sales for 50p which we turned into cake stands (we bought the poles from ebay for £2). My dad drilled all the plates (36 in total).  A great end product for £3.50 – they looked amazing and original!

If I could go back and do something differently, I would get fans for the room! It was the hottest day of the year! I am ginger and, with pale skin in a big dress – it was hot!

My last words of advice for new brides to be would be , pack for your honeymoon before your wedding day.  We had one day in between the wedding and our honeymoon, but that day disappeared with seeing people and other things – we never got to pack! We went with not a lot and had to buy lots when we got there.”

Credit where credit’s due

Venues: The ceremony was in Leigh Court, Bristol and the reception was is Paintworks, Bristol
Photographer: Nova Wedding Photography
Bride’s dress, accessories and shoes: Dress – Alison Jane, Clifton Triangle, Bristol, Accessories – Glitzy Secrets Shoes – Schuh
Bridesmaids’ dresses & accessories: Dresses – Debenhams Accessories – Accessorize
Groom’s and groomsmens’ outfits: Burtons then tailored by Mark Anthony Tailoring, Bristol
Cars: VW Split Screens
Florist: The Wilde Bunch
Styling / décor: The Little Wedding Helper all lighting by SXS Events
Hair: Natalie and Michele at Escape Hairdressing, Bristol
Make-up: Jo at MUFU
Cake: (Marie) “My friend Caroline made our wedding cake/cup cakes – she does it as a hobby but is very talented.”
Catering: Relish
Stationery: (Marie) “I did this myself”
Band / DJ: Kirris Riviere Blues Band