Bride and groom looking at view of Dorset countryside at sunset

We love a wedding where the bride and groom make the most of the celebrations and go to town on the food, bar and styling details, and this is just what Lauren and Matthew did for their special day, as you’ll see in these beautiful pictures by Lawes Photography.

The styling is so pretty, with beautiful tablescapes, wooden crates for the seating plan, and wait until you see the bride’s gorgeous bouquet with berries; it’s all just so perfect for a country wedding… and what country wedding would be complete without steam engines and vintage machinery, hey?

“When we started planning our wedding both Matt and I discussed what we wanted from the day and the most important aspects we wanted to focus on. With me being from New Zealand and Matt being from England it was important that both countries were represented and aspects of both came through.

“We wanted our guests to enjoy themselves, feel welcome and experience some Kiwi hospitality. We agreed it was important to get the food, bar and band right — from my experience people will remember these three aspects most from a wedding. We also had parts that were important to each of us. From my point of view I wanted to make sure we paid close attention to detail, even if I was the only one who noticed it. Matt wanted to make sure we had some stream engines and vintage machinery there, so we worked on how we were going to make it all come together.

Pinterest was my friend during the planning process. I would have an idea about something I wanted and then just refine it by using Pinterest, or I’d see something on there that I thought would work well and then recreated it in our style.

“I also worked for years in hospitality and luxury hotels, so I had organised many weddings and events. This gave me a big advantage as I knew what I didn’t want, and what worked well. We picked the country vintage theme, which was a natural choice for us, and just went from there.

Tractor

Wedding dress hanging from ceiling beam

Light blue bridesmaid dresses hanging from ceiling beam

Bridal accessories

Vintage style bridal bouquet

Bride having make-up done

Make-up

Bridesmaids opening gifts

Bride putting on bracelet

Bridesmaid doing up back of bride's dress

Putting on bride's veil

Bride standing on stairs

Vintage farm steam engine

Wedding guests outside Stourpaine Holy Trinity Church in Dorset

Vicar outside church

Pontiac Firebird wedding car

Bridesmaids in back of Pontiac Firebird

“The colour scheme I based a lot on the bridesmaids dresses — I just loved the colour and wanted to repeat it throughout the whole wedding. For our wedding flowers I wanted something soft and romantic to complement the dresses and to give a vintage look.

Bridesmaids standing by Pontiac Firebird

Bridesmaids outside church seen through window

Church organ player

Father walking bride down aisle

Bride and groom at altar

Wedding reading

Wedding ceremony

Bride smiling at groom in church

Bride and groom kiss outside church

Wedding group shot outside Stourpaine Holy Trinity Church in Dorset

Wedding confetti shot

Lady throwing confetti over bride and groom in vintage MG TC 1947 wedding car

Bride and groom in vintage MG TC 1947 wedding car

Bride and groom driving to reception in vintage MG TC 1947 wedding car

Wedding marquee in field in Dorset

Vintage farm steam engine wedding transport

Wedding guests arriving at reception on vintage farm steam engine

“Outside we had a collection of steam engines with tables and chairs scattered around, and we had rugs and gas patio heaters for the evening so people could sit outside and still enjoy the engines.

Wedding reception on farm

Vintage farm steam engine drivers

Vintage farm steam engine controls

Gauge on vintage farm steam engine

“As we had family and friends attending from all over the globe and they had not all met, we thought a photo board of moments in our life with our closest family and friends would help — it was a great focal point for people and a real conversation starter.

Wedding guests

Wedding guest with hat

MG TC 1947 vintage wedding car

Groom holding dog

“Matt and his friends made the wooden bar, and our seating plan was four wooden crates with the guests’ names from each table in photo frames, along with photos of Matt and I. For our photo booth we had a canvas sign printed, and set up a iPad which had a photo booth app on it.

Punch Pimm's

Vintage style wedding seating plan

List of people sitting on wedding top table

Wedding table in marquee

“To decorate the tables we used hessian and lace trim table runners, and we had hessian favour bags, tied with green ribbon to match the bridesmaid dresses, finished with a luggage tag stamped with a quote, all made by the bridal party.

Vintage styled wedding table

Vintage candle wedding table centrepiece

Thank you note on wedding table

“Dan and Joseph, friends from NZ who are currently over here working at the Grosvenor Hotel in Chester, agreed to do the food for the day. I was very excited as it meant I didn’t have to think about it. We left them to write the menu and entrusted them to arrange it all. The food was exceptional considering it was just the two of them and they had a limited kitchen. It completely surpassed our expectations — I am one very lucky girl to know two exceptional chefs!

Wedding place setting with rosemary

Wedding place setting with rosemary

Wedding favour in hessian bag

Ford Model T wedding cake table

“The suppliers we used were incredible! Some came from recommendations, others a lot of Google searching. I think you need to find the right people and suppliers that suit your style, and you also have to be able to have a laugh with them so you can be relaxed and natural on the day — it makes the wedding day far less stressful. We also wanted to stay local and use people and companies nearby.

Wedding cake

Flowers on wedding cake

Bride listening to speech

Best man speech

Bride and groom embarrassed by speech

Toast at end of wedding speech

“We were very lucky to have such amazing friends who helped us put everything together and who invested so much of their own time in to it — I think this made the day so much more special. We had friends doing all sorts of jobs, from collecting the food and the chefs from Chester at 6am in the morning and bringing them back to Dorset, to folding napkins and polishing cutlery. We couldn’t have got to the day without all their help.

Bridesmaid holding bottle of champagne

Vintage farm steam engines

Vintage farm steam engine

Man on vintage farm steam engine

“The day turned out far better than we ever thought possible and we loved every minute of it. There isn’t anything we would change! Well, maybe only one thing… we would slow time down. Everyone says it will go fast but until it’s your turn you just don’t realise how fast.”

Bride and groom wedding first dance

Bride and groom on dance floor

Wedding guests dancing

Bride dancing

Photography: Lawes Photography

Ceremony Venue: Stourpaine Holy Trinity Church

Reception Venue: Family farm near Blandford Forum, Dorset

Bridal Wear marked * from Hannah Elizabeth Bridal

Wedding Dress*: La Sposa

Jacket*: Lusan Mandongus

Bridal Belt*: Lily Bella

Hair Comb*: Sash and Co

Shoes: Rachel Simpson

Bridesmaid Dresses*: Jim Hjelm

Hair and Make Up: Amazing Face

Suits: Abigail’s and Co

Flowers: Florabunda, Blandford Forum

Cake: Lisa Knotley

Catering: Daniel Reynolds and Joesph Clarke, friends of the bride and groom

Stationery: Alison C Board

Groom’s Transport: Marshall Traction Engine — Ben Lomand 1915

Bride’s Transport: MG TC 1947

Bridesmaid Transport: Pontiac Firebird

Cake Table: Ford Model T

Marquee, Tableware, Glassware, Catering Tent and Equipment: DP Marquees

Evening Food: Hog Roast by Ellis Family Butchery