A Rustic, Humanist Wedding with a Musical Theme

We are so excited to be sharing the wedding of Kate and Matt with you today. The beauty, the details, the styling — everything about this wedding is just so personal to them.

Kate and Matt had a humanist ceremony under trees on the edge of a gorgeous lake. You are going to love the personal wedding details; the jars of sweet peas, handmade bunting, an accordion player, butterflies being release to remember those would who were not there, a homemade cake table, a truly beautiful wedding cake, an old cello used as a flower display — oh, and a beautiful horse! Even the couple’s friends and family got involved in their wedding, as talented musical friends provided the entertainment for the evening.

So, without further ado, we share with you the wedding pictures, taken by Charlie Davies Photography, of this incredible wedding. Enjoy!

“Our wedding style was natural, rustic, vintage, recycled and musical, but most importantly it represented and was true to us.

“We decided to have a humanist ceremony as this could be conducted outside and tailored for us — it was extremely personal and we are very glad we chose it. We went to a registry office a couple of days before for the legal part where we didn’t exchange rings or vows; it was a relaxed affair with a drink afterwards, then we went flower picking for the big day!

“The day before the official ceremony we ran through the outline with Vivienne our lovely humanist minister. The rehearsal was definitely worthwhile and helped us prepare both physically (and mentally!) for the day.

“We designed and printed our own stationery from recycled card and found butterfly and flower stamps from Royal Mail. Before the wedding we, with the help of family and friends, saved and decorated jars for the table flowers and evening candles, and grew sweet peas and wildflowers. My mum planted hanging baskets and both mums made loads of bunting (we also borrowed decorations from friends).

“My dad walked me down an aisle of sweet pea jars on shepherd’s hooks to the sound of ‘La Valse d’Amelie‘ played on accordion by my dear friend. We then had the most lovely ceremony under trees by the edge of the lake.

“Friends from local stables lent us straw bales for seats at the ceremony (a pony also stopped by at one point!) and we borrowed material from a friend to cover them. We reared butterflies to release at a remembrance part of the ceremony, as there we some family members we would have loved to be there so we thought this was a nice, peaceful way to think of them.

“Family and friends made cakes to bring along and we had a wonderful cake table containing a lemon and lavender tiered cake, a ginger cake, Welsh cakes, macaroons and cupcakes, and my Grandma made a diabetic cake too. Matt’s mum’s friend made a wedding cake and Alice at lock Cottage flowers supplied edible flowers to decorate it with.

“We created playlists for different parts of the day — guest arrival, meal and the in between bits. The place names were the favours, wax bags containing lavender shortbread biscuits and tiny edible hearts, and there was table confetti cut out of old magazines sprinkled on the tables which had hessian table runners.

“We salvaged an old cello (unfit for playing) and made a couple of holes for flower pots to go in, and my sister and niece made giant tissue paper flowers and used an old vintage wooden box to display the table plan along with cute hand decorated hearts and decoupage pieces. We also collected and dried flower petals for the confetti which the bridesmaids handed out on the day.

“The evening entertainment was amazing. Matt had been practising hard and played some wonderful music, even getting everyone to join in singing ‘Lean on Me’. Our niece sang her debut accompanied by Matt, blowing us away with ‘A Thousand Years’, and after that various talented musical friends performed into the night — it was an absolutely amazing summer’s evening that was relaxed, fun and just the way we wanted it.

“We’re very lucky to have such wonderful family and friends who helped with all of the preparations, from finding the perfect dress, beautiful venue, all the creative details and growing wonderful flowers through to picking flowers and filling the jars and bottles (and getting soaked in the downpour the day before!). It was a truly memorable and wonderful day, we have so many wonderful people in our lives and thank each and every one for being there to share our day and for being in our lives. The day just flew by, we couldn’t have asked for anything more — it was perfect.”