Iain182

Tropical paradise!!

0 notes, May 18, 2013

Finding chicks at kedleston hall #nationaltrust

0 notes, April 7, 2013

Ava and her dolly ready for ballet class #toddler #ballet

0 notes, March 17, 2013

naturallychloe:

Wednesday.
Finally got around to hangings all of our gorgeous handmade wedding gifts this morning. This beauty was given to us by Pink Couch and is the perfect addition to our pretty little kitchen.

Today is for Nutella toast in the sun, dancing around to favourite tunes, playing doctors, helping Ava with her homework and packing for our weekend away. Seriously, if my bag is this rammed for a weekend in the country, what will I be like when we jet off on our honeymoon?! Eek.

Reblogged from naturallychloe, 16 notes, March 13, 2013

naturallychloe:

The day I finally got to marry my best friend was everything I dreamed it would be, completely perfect down to every last detail.

Originally we were in favour of a small and simple wedding but seeing as we only get to tie the knot once we decided to go all out, something grand yet traditional with a hint of 1920’s. It took eighteen months of hard work, serious saving and endless planning but it was all worth while. As well as buying and renovating the house, Iain was squeezing in 90 hour weeks over the summer to ensure our day was completely magical and all paid for well in advance.

The weeks approaching our wedding I had been so nervous I could barely eat but waking up that morning I was oddly calm and composed, after spending the night away from Iain and just couldn’t wait to see him. The venue that stole our hearts was a gorgeous 16th century country house surrounded by miles of rolling countryside and looked especially breath taking in the winter sun. For us it just ticked all the boxes; history, romance, stunning scenery, high ceilings, open fires, big chandeliers, exposed beams and 10 luxurious bedrooms all with roll top baths. Our photographer Wayne Rowe and his wife Linda were already there to meet the bridal party when we arrived. My bridesmaids, Charly, Sarah and Lauren all arrived shortly after 11am so we could get dressed together and nervously sip champagne in the bridal suite.

Once the staff had finished setting out our decorations I just couldn’t resist sneaking off for a peak before Iain arrived. Dinner set for seventy something; 8 round tables with plain white linen and floral rose table runners down the middle, each with a tall polished candelabrum holding 5 candle sticks and a reef of white roses. The tables were dotted with additional tea lights (because nothing is more romantic than candle light), sprinkled with old fashioned keys, our homemade art deco place cards and beautiful cut out birdcage and heart favour boxes. Two floor standing candelabras stood either side of the long top table, the huge open fireplace behind held smaller decorations and the oak beams were dressed with rustic pear tree branches with tiny fairy lights twisted in between. It all looked so magical.
The candy buffet looked pretty fab’ along with the lace covered guest book and birdcage card box on the gift table but my favourite little touch was the round photograph table that stood alongside. A mismatch of beautiful frames all filled with black and white stills of all our relatives on their wedding day, going back 5 whole generations. Seeing all our hard work finally come together and looking like dream was just the best feeling.

My dress was a dreamy floor length gown made from the most stunning lace, a modest trail, tiny capped sleeves and intricate button detailing down the back. My hair was twisted into an elegant plait and held with a pretty jewelled hair combed and fresh gypsophila, the rest loosely curled. My Nan had lent me her biggest diamond necklace for the occasion which matched my two bracelets perfectly.

All the bridesmaids wore long dusty pink chiffon dresses and Ava’s similar but in white. Our flowers were all hand tied bouquets of roses, gypsophila and eucalyptus gunnii. The six groomsmen arrived around noon, all suited and booted in matching dark grey tails, waistcoats and sage green cravats, their button holes a simple pink rose with a flash of greenery and tied with brown string.

The ceremony took place at 1pm in The Gallery, the upstairs of the converted barn, a fabulous room with a traditional beamed ceiling and two huge chandeliers. The aisle was a cream runner laid out with rows of chairs either side. The chairs were dressed in white covers and champagne coloured sashes, each fastened with a vintage jewelled brooch. To the sweet tune of White Winter Hymnal our guests were asked to stand as we entered the room in pairs and began the long walk down the aisle; Ava and Lauren first, followed by Sarah and Charly and finally my Dad and I. Two bay trees either side marked the beginning and aisle and Iain was waiting at the end. I’d dreamed of the moment for so long that a barely even noticed the room filled over capacity with all our family and friends.

Our vows were meaningful promises and the best man, Sam, had asked to do a beautiful reading before we signed the register along with our witnesses. We exchanged rings, two simple while gold bands, mine laced with diamonds, and shared our first kiss as Mr and Mrs. The music set the mood perfectly throughout, a compilation of all our favourite tunes; Birdy, Bon Iver, Lucy Rose, A Boy & His Kite, Sia, Mumford & Sons and Ellie Goulding.

We left the ceremony hand in hand to Winter Winds and lead our guests into the lower barn where reception drinks of mulled wine and champagne served. After being congratulated a million times over by all our friends and family we head out into the cold to make the most of the pretty December sun for a few pretty snaps in front of the house.

After reception drinks in The Orangery and an hour of photographs our guests were seated for the wedding breakfast and we were announced into the enormous Oak Hall as Mr & Mrs Tebbutt-Atkin. The dinner looked exquisite but I was just far too excitable to eat; soup to start, chicken in red wine gravy and seasonal vegetables for mains, sickly Gâteau Fondant au Chocolat for dessert and finally coffee. It was starting to get dark outside and I was far too busy watching from the top table as all our friends and family enjoyed themselves in light from the candelabras. As well as all of the mulled wine and champagne we had also paid for three glasses of wine and another drink to toast for every guest. Needless to say everyone seemed particularly merry by the end.

The speeches were beautiful. My proud Dad went first, followed by Iain who managed to make a fair few cry with the sweetest words and finally Sam and his hilarious anecdotes.

Once all of our additional evening guests had arrived we cut the cake; one tier of traditional fruit cake and two tiers of sponge, each iced in white and decorated with a string of pearls, topped with a corsage of flowers to match my bouquet and tied with a dusty pink ribbon and brooch. Our first dance followed and was no where near as awkward as I imagined, especially once Ava comically decided to join in. We were so caught up in the moment I don’t think either of us really noticed the room full of people watching and taking photos.

The evening catering was something a little less classy, bacon and chip rolls, but it certainly went down a treat (especially with my brother’s friends and Iain’s work friends). The rest of the night was for serious dancing and drinking and generally being deliriously happy. Ava crashed out on Iain’s mum about 10pm after being an absolute angel all day and throwing some serious moves on the dance floor. Once she was fast off we were bombarded with Disaronnos and Jägerbombs and forced into some god awful dance off between all my friends (and my Nan!). I think it’s safe to say we all lost hands down to Kieran and his ‘break dancing’. Literally the best night ever. I even had the pleasure of dancing with a very charming little Louie for the very first time.

An overwhelming amount of our guests (and staff!) made a point in complimenting us on what a fantastically relaxed and enjoyable celebration it was, insisting it was without a doubt the best wedding they had ever been to - the food, the venue, the dress, the décor, the flowers, the music, everything.

The day just flew by. One minute I was putting on my dress the next I was crashed out on our four posted bed with my new husband. Twenty twelve was a mammoth year for us and this really was just the icing on the cake.