Colourful wedding bunting hanging from trees

Today’s real wedding, photographed by Neil Walker Photography, took place in the bride’s parent’s garden, and really was as DIY as it gets. The couple, with the help of their friends and family, created a festival style wedding which was bursting with colour, fun and personality.

Freya and Chris imported their own marquees, made their own wedding rings from old family jewellery, decorated the garden with beautiful bunting, flowers, homemade origami birds and decorated jam jars, created and decorated posh compost toilets, and guests were asked to bring items of clothing for the ‘Trunk of Oblivion’, so people could mix it up outfit wise — as you’ll see, this made for fantastic pictures on the dance floor…

“We chose to get married in Graffham because I grew up in the village and my parents have a magical garden for a wedding. Chris and I would describe our wedding theme as DIY, and it had a vibrant, festival theme with a lot of fun, laughter and dancing. We had a festival food van instead of a sit down meal, a tug of war during the canapés, and a bouncy castle for the kids.

“We made everything, including the invitations, bar, loos, dance floor, signs, garden seats and decorations. We even made each other’s wedding rings at a silversmithing course, melting down old family jewellery. There was enough gold left over for Chris to make some earrings which I wore on the day. Our friends and family contributed so much too.

“Our photographer, Neil, was brilliant — we love our photos so much!”

Bride having make-up done

Bridesmaids and mother of the bride

Wedding flowers with sunflowers

Wedding dress

Lace detail on wedding dress

Bridal updo

Bride wearing wedding dress

Bridesmaids and mother helping bride get ready

Bride with updo

Father seeing daughter for first time on wedding day

Bride getting ready

Bride standing on stairs in Elizabeth Van Stone wedding dress

St Giles Church in Graffham, West Sussex

Groom waiting for bride in church

Wedding rings in hand

Father walking bride into church

Father walking bride down the aisle

Father walking bride to groom at altar

Bride and groom holding hands during wedding ceremony

Bride and groom at altar

Groom holding marriage certificate

Bride and groom leave church

Bride hugging bridesmaids

Happy bride and groom

Bride and groom in vintage Bentley wedding car

Bride and groom in vintage Bentley wedding car

Brook Barn

Trunk of oblivion

Wicker heart

Bunting

Love garden sign

Blue flowers

Wedding seating in garden

Colourful lanterns hanging from tree

Pond

Colourful lanterns hanging from tree

Violinist

Top hat with feathers

Bride and groom tug of war

Bride and groom tug of war

Wedding canapes Wedding canapes

Bride and groom holding hands

Groom with arm around bride

Bride and groom kiss

Festival style tipis in garden for wedding

Wedding tables in marquee

Wedding flowers in cans

Colourful wedding flowers in can

Basket of napkins

Bar in wedding marquee

Sink in tipi

Table with jugs of sunflowers

Sunflower

Naked wedding cake

Father of the bride speech

Bride and groom sitting on hay bales listening to speech

Wedding guests listening to wedding speech

Best wishes sign

Fast food van at wedding

Wedding guests sitting on hay bales

Groom speech

Wedding guests listening to groom's speech

Festival wedding in marquee at night

Bride and groom cutting wedding cake

Bride and groom first dance

Bride being held up by groomsmen

Wedding guest dancing with mask on

Wedding guests dancing in fancy dress

Wedding guests dancing in fancy dress

Wedding guest dancing in fancy dress

Wedding marquee at night

Photography: Neil Walker Photography

Wedding Dress: Elizabeth Van Stone

Shoes: Sandals from House of Fraser

Bridesmaid Dresses: Coast

Suits: Groom’s suit made in Thailand several years earlier

Ties: Made by the bride

Flowers: From the gardens of family and friends

Cake: Made by a family friend

Catering: Canapés by Mari Hudson Events Catering. Main food by Spade and Spoon

Stationery: Made by the couple

Transport: Friends’ vintage Bentley