English Countryside Marquee Wedding
Freddy & Chris
‘We always agreed that no matter what (2 or 120 people) we would get married on the 24th of July and you can always have a party later. I think that helped us focus on what was important and not get too attached to a big wedding.’
Freddy and Chris tied the knot on 24th July 2021, which just so happened to be the first weekend after the COVID restrictions were relaxed. While their guests had to wear masks inside the church and no singing was allowed, the couple focused on having the most amazing day! They even sang the hymn, Jerusalem, outside the church – which was truly memorable. I loved every second of capturing their celebration on camera and it’s a pleasure to be able to share their images with you today…
The bride booked an appointment at Kleinfeld in New York (where ‘Say Yes To The Dress’ is filmed) just for fun. The team were great, with Freddy’s mum and sister joining her appointment via Zoom. The first dress that she tried on was the gown she ended up buying, made by Canadian Designer, Rita Vinieris. Alterations were done at Bride and Alter in London (after getting the dress over here with its own seat on the plane). “I just felt amazing in that dress and nothing else compared. I was initially worried the train was a bit over the top for a country marquee wedding, but it bustled so easily and was so comfortable I ended up wearing it all night!” She also had a bespoke veil made by Bride and Alter, designed with a scalloped lace trim that perfectly edge the train of her dress. Freddy’s mum had a fabric base from her blue wedding dress, that was wrapped around the stalks of the bridal bouquet. It was her ‘something blue’ for the day and a beautiful surprise for the bride-to-be!
The couple chose to host their ceremony at the village church in Easton, which is just outside of Winchester. The bride had grown up here and loved the community feel, so always knew they’d want to get married here. However, the bonus was having the marquee (by Pole to Pole Marquees) within walking distance – opposite where her parents live!
As they were getting married in a country village, Freddy and Chris wanted the wedding to be relaxed but fun, with timeless décor inspired by traditional countryside vibes. They opted for simple yet elegant white florals teamed with lots of leafy greenery, with their bridesmaids in navy and their ushers in morning suits. The couple are lucky enough to actually be neighbours with their amazing florist, Pauline of Stem and Green, who although is now retired has previously been a part of the Chelsea Flower Show.“We were keen to stick with whites and greens and local where possible. We even got some of the flowers from the local flower farm which was set up in the field we walked through from the church to the marquee.” The bridal bouquet consisted of greenery and white flowers, including beautiful peonies. A flower arch adorned the entrance of the church where they said, ‘I Do’, while stunning hanging flower arrangements transformed the marquee space. Freddy and Chris opted for four long tables, which were decorated with dainty flower arrangements and candles in varying shades of blue. This savvy bride made the name cards from ivy they had handpicked in their land, writing each name in Sharpee. She also made the table plan by sticking leaves to a wooden board and writing the names by hand.
Little Bee Bakery in Romsey created a delectable lemon sponge and orange icing wedding cake, which the couple served as dessert during their wedding breakfast. Personalised envelopes filled with wildflower seeds were gifted to the guests as wedding favours. Freddy and Chris kept their friends and family entertained with croquet, ring toss, Jenga and other games for their guests to play during the aperol spritz hour! An amazing 7-piece band called Floor Fillers got everyone on the dancefloor, playing epic disco classics throughout the night!
Freddy and Chris found me on Instagram and were drawn to my documentary style photography.
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“We were blown away by the photos and everyone has been raving about them, especially as Grace was so discreet on the day that lots of people don’t remember there being a photographer (in a good way). Everyone agrees looking back at the album is like reliving the day and we are so grateful to have these memories recorded.”
I hope you enjoyed seeing a snippet of their love story! Thank you to F + C for choosing me to capture your very special day.
CREDITS & THANKS
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Photographer - Grace Pham Photography
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Venue - St Mary's Church, Easton, Hampshire + a Pole To Pole Marquees marquee
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Wedding Dress - Rita Vinieris via Kleinfield Bridal + alterations at Bride & Alter
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Veil - Bride & Alter
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Headpiece - Etsy pearl clip
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Shoes - Rainbow Club
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Accessories - Tiffany pearl earrings + a Monica Vinader bracelet
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Groom - Morning suit
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Florist - Stem & Green
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Cake - Little Bee Bakery
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Transport - A neighbour's vintage Rolls Royce
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Entertainment - Dance Floor Fillers via Entertainment Nation
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Rings - John Lewis
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Catering - Wild Garlic Event Catering
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Stationery - The bride