What is Causing the Resurgence of The 2020s Bohemian?

Globetrotters Return Home to Organise Their Dream Industrial Boho COVID Friendly Wedding

28/10/2020

Matt and Jess’ (@mrandmrstetstall) insatiable love for travelling and exploring every corner of our world has been a theme throughout their relationship of three and a half years. Their most recent trip in 2019 saw them exploring the country of Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia. Ending up island-hopping across the Philippines in March 2020 when COVID hit and consequently got stuck there for over 2 months when world travel came to a standstill.

Changing Plans
Their original plan was to end up in Australia to live indefinitely which they had worked really hard to achieve their permanent residency for. But with Australian borders closed for the medium term, and most other countries in the region following suit.

They made the decision to head back home and stick out the rest of lockdown, and see what the world looked like in a few months. They also originally had plans to get married in Thailand in 2022 where close family and friends could join them for the celebrations on a white sandy beach with the sun on their faces. But being forced to come home and re-evaluate their life plans, they took the opportunity as the free spirits they are, and start planning their wedding for the same year!

Wedding Planning
Due to the world coming to a halt, it was rather tricky to get a confirmed slot with the Registry Office, but they persevered and finally got a confirmed date on 18th August 2020 from the registry office, to get married on the 26th September 2020 with only 5.5 weeks to prepare! But this didn’t phase Matt and Jess, they took it all in their stride and picked one wedding planning aspect off at a time and it all came together nicely!

The Budget
From the very moment I started working with Matt and Jess, planning their flowers and assisting with wedding planning. It was clear to me the emphasis was on bringing together close family and friends to celebrate the love they have for one another, and having a damn good time.

They had a strict budget of between £5-7k to stick to, and as Jess was used to taking control of the budgeting on their trips around the world, she had this covered. Each aspect of the day was itemised and Jess was clear on exactly what it costed and how she wanted the end result to look like.

The COVID Friendly Ceremony

They were lucky enough to get a slot with the Registrar at The Old Municipal Buildings, a stunning Grade II listed, Tudor Hall in the heart of Taunton, Somerset. The fabulous venue was then perfect for outdoor photos taken either on the grand staircase leading up to the hall, or on the Castle Green just behind to celebrate the newly wed couple.

The staff their were very organised and struck a good balance between abiding by clear COVID guidance and welcoming guests and completing the marriage ceremony with the happy vibes of the day.

The Dress

As soon as Matt and Jess decided they were going to tie the knot in the UK, Jess began her wedding dress search. However, being in the middle of the first UK lockdown, this proved rather challenging She was certain she didn’t want to attend a bridal boutique as they were not within the price range she wanted to spend, and therefore opted to search online.

Jess scoured every online bridal outlet there was, ordered several to try but they were not quite right. Time was ticking, so we sat down and decided to order a number of dresses to try, even ones that Jess wasn’t 100% on. Well, as soon as Jess put on her chosen dress from ASOS, she instantly knew this was the one, and I’m sure you can see why! With its kimono sleeves, fitted deep plunge neckline and elegant cut out back. Covered top to toe in delicate tiny sequins that captured the light beautifully, the dress was sure to be a showstopper and made Jess feel sensational on the morning of her wedding.

Grooms Attire
Being a Brummy, there was only one place that Matt wanted to go to choose his wedding day suit, Slaters in Birmingham. Matt opted for a beautifully fitted mid-grey 3 piece suit with fine white check detailing and a double breasted waistcoat. He chose an orange paisley tie and crisp white shirt to complete his look and accompany some of the rusty tones of the chosen florals, and felt totally ‘dapper’ in his suave outfit!

Parker & Peony Flowers

Flowers
From the very start of the planning process, Jess was clear on the type of floral look she wanted for her bridal bouquet and the venue styling. Very ‘desert boho’, with lots of pampas, other neutral coloured grasses as the backdrop, no greenery.

Decorated with white orchids as the main feature and then white and rusty coloured florals as an addition. So with my wedding florist hat on @parkerandpeony.flowers, I selected nude Quicksand roses, rusty coloured large head Toffee Roses, White Lisianthus, Bohemian Mocha Lisianthus and white Anthurium to accompany the Orchids and Pampas to complete the uber stylish look for our uber stylish bride.

Celebration Venue
Matt and Jess chose the super trendy venue The Red Brick Building in Glastonbury, Somerset to celebrate in style. The edgy industrial vibes of the building continue as you enter the old factory building, through to the Old Tannery Bar and Restaurant and into the celebration space. Once the home of a thriving sheepskin factory, the building is full of original features from its wooden floors, industrial metal beams and red brick façade.

The Red Brick Building was saved from demolition in 2008 by concerned local young people who had a vision for its future. Since then, it has been transformed by volunteers into a dynamic enterprise and community hub that specialises in ‘Industrial Boho’ weddings by partnering up with their in-house bar and restaurant, The Old Tannery.

The Food
I couldn't miss out mentioning the fabulous food from the special day beings as the couple are such foodies! They they wanted simple hearty food, where the guests would be full to the brim. So, working with staff from The Old Tannery Restaurant, they selected 2 options; the homemade burger and chips, with home made coleslaw or salmon, seasonal veg and mash, followed by sticky toffee pudding and ice cream. Later on in the evening guests were then treated to a bacon butty to keep bellies nice and full, my kind of grub!!

COVID Friendly Venue Styling
The large open plan celebration space was perfect to set up for a COVID friendly wedding where we wanted plenty of space to seat the wedding party of 27 guests.

The guests were seated on individual long tables in each of their ‘bubbles’. We decorated the centre of the tables with natural cheese cloth and covered them with masses of small clear jars and freestanding white candles. In each jar, we then placed 2-3 stems of the stunning florals and grasses to complete the look.

To surprise the newly wed couple, the Parker and Peony Flowers Team created a top table for just the 2 of them. The Bride and Groom’s Sweatheart Table was layered with flowing natural cheese cloth, full of their favourite blooms sat in more small jars. Behind them stood a tall copper frame backdrop with an explosion of pampas grass hanging from it. From which they could sit and both then enjoy the funsies of the afternoon whilst sat in their regal vintage peacock chairs.

The Details

I loved Matt and Jess' idea for their guest book, with an instant print camera, guests were able to take hilarious photos from the day and write their messages of love and naughtiness! for the newly wed couple.

They also had a beautiful frame with 2 very special nan's that weren't able to celebrate with them in person, but were definitely there in spirit.

For their cake, they opted for Crispy Creme Donuts all round, sat on a clear tiered cake stand, topped off with a white choc and rasberry sponge cake to complete the look, yummy!

Photography

Adjacent to the Red Brick Building, stands another fantastic structure, The Zig Zag Building. This industrial space was originally part of the sheepskin factory, making slippers, gloves and sheepskin coats, opened in 1934 by the Morland Factory family. Now privately owned, it has now been renovated to hold exhibitions, events and workshops over its 3 floors of panoramic views of Glastonbury area.

The light from the original metal framed windows and skylights, create a sensational space to take some unique wedding photos with the couples very talented Portrait, Commercial and Wedding Photographer Jamie Denny. Take a look at these beauties!

Matt & Jess' Suppliers

Couples Travel Blog: @mrandmrstetstall
Photographer: @jamiedennyweddings
Florals: @parkerandpeony.flowers
Planning: @thebohobrideguide
Ceremony Venue:Taunton Registry Office
Celebration Venue:@red.brick.building
Food & Bar:@theoldtanneryglastonbury
Shoot Venue:@zigzagglastonbury
Dress: @asos @asosscout
Grooms Suit: @slatermenswear
Guest Book Signage: @jody_poppy
Couples Modelling account: @mrandmrstetstall_modelcouple

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Why You Shouldn’t put Your Plans on Hold to Become Parents…

20/10/2020

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Previous generations had a straightforward view on how life should run. ‘First comes Love, then comes Marriage, then comes Baby in a Golden Carriage’ as the rhyme goes. But, even when this was the aspiration historically, underneath many family facades, this approach to life didn’t always equal happiness. Here at The Boho Bride Guide I wanted to dedicate some time today to talking about this unwritten rule, that many couples currently planning their wedding feel an underlying pressure to follow.

In today’s UK society, we are lucky that the very definition of 'family' is evolving and is no longer the stereotypical husband, wife, and 2.4 children. The emphasis of ‘family’ is now around being a group of people that live together as a unit and no longer is prescriptive around who that may be with. So whether you are choosing not to have children and dedicate yourselves to each other and your fur babies, or whether you are 2 families coming together in the name of love to create a new family unit, as long as love is at the heart of the family it will flourish.

Through a survey completed for a recent Boho Bride Guide Podcast episode with Sally Jackson a Bridal Wellbeing Coach. A number of ‘Brides To Be’ that have postponed their wedding due to COVID were asked, how they have managed the situation, and how it has impacted them

The overwhelming response, was a feeling of massive guilt amongst brides. A feeling that they couldn’t speak out and be honest, about how gutted they are for having to postpone their wedding due to the global pandemic. When people were losing their lives and loved ones, they felt they couldn’t share how gutted and upset they were about having to delay their wedding celebrations. There were a number of reasons surrounding this feeling of distress, but one that stood out from the rest. This feeling was that they had to put their aspiration to become parents on hold until they tied the knot.

Flex Your 5 Year Plan
Now, having become a parent myself in the last few years, I cannot imagine how couples out there must be feeling right now that also want to follow that same journey. If they had their ‘5 year plan’ all set out before COVID; getting married this year, having a big blow out honeymoon and seeing the world a little more, and then looking to start their parenting journey following that. To then be faced with a world health crisis, lockdown, a wedding postponement and the reality of coming to terms with the fact you think you also need to delay your parent journey, must be a massive feeling of overwhelm.

If you are anything like me, the thought of flexing my 5 year plan fills me with absolute dread and instantly makes me feel out of control. But in these unprecedented (there’s that word again!) times, we need to take a pause and do some work around releasing the self inflicted pressure that we put on ourselves. And look at where we can make changes, and in some cases compromises, that will in the long term still achieve your long term plans. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always happen the way we envisaged it to, and we can’t plan everything all the time. And that’s totally ok!

Don’t Put Your Family Planning Off
If you are looking to start a family in the near future, and were waiting to get married first, there is one thing I want you to take away from reading this. That is, there is no right or wrong when it comes to living your own life. Plans do change and if you and your partner feel ready to start your own family, in whatever guise that takes, then don’t delay on the premise that you think you “should” get married first. There are so many unknowns in life, especially whilst we are still dealing with Covid, and ESPECIALLY in the family planning arena.

My Parent Journey
For people that know me, they will relate to how much of a planner I am and how I am really driven by goals to reach and timescales to achieve within. I have always had a 5 year plan right from school age, and on the whole with a little flex, accomplished my life goals. This was until I then wanted to start a family with my hubby at the age of 28. This age was what I had always had in my head, I had reached a place in my career I wanted to get to, I had travelled the world as I had dreamed of, and we lived in our gorgeous home that was perfect for starting a family in. All my ducks were in a row and now I wanted to click my fingers and for our baby to arrive on schedule too! I very naively assumed that I would come off the pill and a couple of months later, I would fall pregnant and have my baby 9 months later with no issues what so ever.

Oh how wrong I was. Each month we were trying, I would be hopeful that ‘this is the month!’, with it only to hit me in the face that we weren’t pregnant and for us to wait another month to see if it would happen then. 6 months past, and then a year, with no joy, and I cannot believe quite how this journey massively impacted my mental health and wellbeing. It was the first time in my life that the one thing I wanted in my life, I couldn’t get for myself. I started experiencing panic attacks for the first time in my life and sleep issues and the whole baby making process became so so upsetting, on top of what was a busy and stressful life I led in the corporate world and developing houses with my hubby. We had said to ourselves in the Summer of 2017 if we hadn’t got pregnant by Christmas, we would begin the journey of seeking help with fertility. But after 2 years of trying and being off sick from work for a significant period of time, we were delighted to finally be pregnant in the September of 2017. And our beautiful first boy Parker was born in the following May.

So, at no point do I think that everyone will have the issues we have been through, and many of you reading this will have no problem at all when you decide the time is right for you to start a family. But for the 1 in 7 couples in the UK that will experience fertility problems, and of that 25% of fertility problems left unexplained (NHS website). The situation you currently find yourself in with holding out to starting a family due to your wedding being postponed is definitely worth re-thinking.

Take control of what you can control and do what is right for you both in this new Covid world. Whether you are pregnant when your new wedding date comes around, or whether you have a new member of the family to join in on your wedding photos. Either way you will create your own version of a perfect wedding day, and think of the stunning photos with your new family addition!

However your wedding day pans out, you will be able to declare the love you have for one another in front of friends and family, and celebrate in style surrounded by oodles of love, laughter and maybe even a new little life will come a join the party.

Take Care,

Love Jen x
The Boho Bride Guide

Shoot Photography to Bethan at @florirosaphotography
Other Images: Unsplash

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"A Wedding Full of Autumn Love".

1/10/2020

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With a delicious colour palette of autumnal earthy oranges, yellows and peaches, this delightful seasonal shoot is full of dreamy boho and rustic styles.

If you have had to make the tough decision to postpone your big day or reduce your guest numbers to still hold your wedding this year during this beautiful season. Or whether you are looking forward to your planned Autumn wedding next year, enjoy every minute of this enchanted editorial and get lost in its magic. Its a goodie!!

Exquisite blooms, macrame hangings, lush foliage, soft candlelight, and mouth watering food platters & beverages dominate this inspiring shoot, so hold tight as you feast your eyes on this Autumn harvest treat full of love and laughter created by a fabulous team of South West Suppliers.

The Venue, Westcott Barton
Nestled in a secluded picturesque valley in North Devon, a wedding at Westcott Barton will always inspire and enchant. Set within its own private estate of beautiful gardens, woodlands, lakes and meandering stream, Westcott offers a stunning venue for your bespoke wedding. Both the stunning Function Barn and Orangery overlooks the beautiful gardens, with exclusive use of the entire venue, as well as accommodation for guests on site within the Grade ll listed Devon Longhouse.

The Dress from Always & Forever Bridal, Bideford.
The Bridal look and style was brought to life by the ‘Prudence‘ wedding gown from Bianco Evento, and supplied by award winning boutique, Always & Forever Bridal.

It was the perfect gown for the Autumn Love Shoot, featuring delicate polka dot lace sleeves, a sheer lace bodice and a floaty tulle skirt. The hint of sheer lace and polka dot sleeves allows a bride to cover up for a crisp Autumn day wedding whilst keeping a soft romantic feel and the light tulle skirt layers float dreamily in gentle autumnal breezes.

Bridal Hair by Vera K Hair
With a stunning mane of red flowing hair, Carly from Vera K Hair wanted to keep the Bride’s hair as soft and natural as possible, "I felt the hair was beautiful in itself, but added just a hint of interest at the back. I was working with a stunning flower crown made by Fuss Pots, and wanted to compliment this by keeping the hair quite soft. I created some natural waves and combined three fish tale plaits that entwined into each other.”

Carly has grown up in the hairdressing industry, as her mum trained with Toni and Guy and her dad with Vidal Sasson. When Carly was old enough she also trained with Toni and Guy and worked in their salon for many years. Carly now runs her own freelance hair business, specialising in her passion, bridal hair in the Devon area.

Makeup by Isabelle Grace Makeup Artistry
For the bridal makeup, Rachel owner of Isabelle Grace Makeup Artistry added warmth to make the Bride’s eyes pop whilst complimenting the rich autumnal tones incorporated in the flower crown. “Her lips were kept soft, a rich stain as opposed to a defined statement lip, and cheeks just a flush of colour, steering away from anything too current”.

Rachel is a fully qualified, freelance makeup artist with over 10 years experience, specialising in bridal makeup. Isabelle Grace is Rachel’s daughter, who was named after Grace Kelly, her make up inspiration! When Rachel was pregnant with Isabelle, working on brides wedding makeup, she realised how much she loved what she was doing and so had to pursue her profession further, and that where Isabelle Grace Makeup Artistry was born.

Bridesmaid Dress from Always & Forever Bridal, Bideford.
The bridesmaid’s dress was chosen to complement our inspired 'Autumn Love' sentiment. It is a beautifully soft wrap style with a flutter neck detail that flatters every shape, and keeps shoulders covered in those crisp autumnal breezes. The team chose the dark rich colour ‘Evergreen’ to compliment the styling and lush foliage. The dress is by Bill Levkoff (in Style no. 7112), and was supplied by Always & Forever Bridal. It is also available in 32 different colour shades easily suiting any season or theme.

Accessories
Always taking inspiration from the wild beauty of nature, the styling of this shoot at Westcott Barton were wonderfully inspiring for Gayle from Bee Lavish. “I found it allowed for a blend of styles and several different items for accessories and jewellery.

The bridesmaid wore gold jewellery that held a dark rich green moss agate pendant, tying into the deep green foliage, and her petite hair comb featuring ferns with tiny labradorite gems and pearls.

The Bride wore a bespoke gold and pearl necklace, with boho style fern hoop earrings, which mirrored the pearls and labradorite gems”.

Gayle from Bee Lavish is an artisan jewellery maker based in Devon, UK. Gayle specialises in hand making luxurious petite porcelain & jewellery, with all her designers having a strong connection with nature and the great outdoors, perfect if you are looking for unique pieces to accompany your wedding day look.

The Groom
Our Groom wore a classic Marc Darcy 3 piece suit, with handsome and natural, neutral colouring and a pop of earthy orange. This featured autumnal tones to compliment both the Groom himself, and the boho-rustic theme and wedding styling. The Marc Darcy suit was supplied by men’s fashion boutique, Suave Owl, an award winning independent menswear retailer based in Bath, UK.

The Ceremony
Nixie James-Scott was the Celebrant for this beautiful micro wedding. “It is fabulous to be part of such a great team for this rich, luscious autumnal shoot, celebrating love and beauty. I chose to include a Handfasting Ceremony, which also has a rich tradition in many cultures, plus the visual symbolism of joining couples together in their marriage. It always feels such a privilege to help couples create their own Unique Ceremony”, Nixie from Unique Ceremonies.

The Rings
Rings are very symbolic and so important in a wedding, so it was only fitting to ask The Molten Wedding Ring Co. to provide the shoot with the stunningly luxurious, ethical, and timeless wedding bands with a modern twist.

The Molten Wedding Ring Co. was founded by Erin Cox, a Jewellery Designer and Maker for the past 15 years The unique ‘molten’ design, started in 2005 with Erin’s signature collection, which came from playing with metal and pushing it to its limits while in its molten state, which has developed over the years of perfecting. The refine fluid molten texture features in all of Erin’s jewellery collections in silver, gold and platinum.

Styling
Katie from Best Day Ever Venue Styling & Event Planning designed and styled our seasonal shoot. For the wedding breakfast setting, table runners created a wonderfully natural, yet luxurious feel to the table setting, and these gently contrasted with the natural wood of the tables and chairs.

Gold cutlery and gold tea light holders were used to bring in luxurious elements and to reflect the warm tones of autumn colouring, along with gorgeous fresh apples.

To add ambience to The Barn dining area they also used candlelight, on the table setting and using Westcott’s own wall mounted candle sconces. This created all around soft lighting, warm luxury, and framed the top table in a unique way.

Outside our handmade arch framed the Bride, Groom and Celebrant with bohemian charm in front of the cosy sheep skin wrapped benches in the midst of Westcott’s beautiful gardens.

Whilst in the Orangery the glass of sparkling chandeliers nestled elegantly in the midst of their natural grape vine foliage leading the eye down to the feast of glorious colours of the sharing platters by Jax’s Cakes n Bakes, and the delicious, mouth-watering rustic themed Wedding Cake.

Macrame Detailing
Added layers of hurricane lanterns were used both inside and out, weaving the theme together alongside macrame from the talented Knot Again Jill. The whole setting was just perfect for a backdrop macrame, within the separate beautiful barn, simple style of the relaxed orangery and beautiful gardens.

"I created a large macrame hanging on a naturally weathered piece of local driftwood, which looked great in the barn, and we also used a table runner, macrame jars, and incorporated a small hanging for the table plan. The combination of these amazing suppliers working together created a truly special shoot that I am so proud to have been a part of!"

Florals
Small leafy green trees and peachy blooms styled within a mix of natural baskets and urns, gently swayed either side of Westcott Barton’s Barn Doors setting the theme inside The Barn itself. Hannah from Fuss Pots used a mix of beautiful ivy and twisted hazel were styled in long vines along the table runner, complemented by Best Day Ever’s styling of earthy brown vases, soft feathers and fresh apples from Westcott Barton’s own grounds.

A stunning blend of chrysanthemum, large bloom roses, grasses, orange fire thorn berries, dried bunny tail grasses and scabiosa pods, seasonal flowers, and foliage were used in the Bride and Bridesmaid’s bouquets, the Groom’s buttonhole and adorned both the celebration arch, and the Bride’s glorious floral crown. Even the confetti was hand picked, dried and lovingly made for this shoot. Rose, delphinium and lady’s mantle were the choice of confetti petal and the soft scents were perfect for the intimate garden ceremony.

Stationery
“Focusing on the rich autumnal colours of the flowers, venue and grounds as the starting point for this stationery suite, I wanted to capture a contemporary twist on the boho feel”, Emma from Emma Louise Castle Stationery. Using bold fonts, layouts and shapes whilst lending a more delicate hand to the watercolour foliage details.

The mixture of hand painted ferns were inspired by the beautiful gardens at Westcott Barton and complementing the ferns used in the jewellery pieces, and rich green of the bridesmaids dress”. Emma is an established designer of bespoke wedding stationery, creating personal and handmade wedding stationery alongside a variety of other design services.

Catering & Wedding Cake
"Sharing platters are right on trend and they are perfect for a socially distanced wedding. With each table bubble receiving their own platter, a mix of a savoury and dessert, or keeping them separate. Something for everyone, from cured meats & cheeses, to homemade brownies & doughnuts. For the cake, to keep with the rustic charm of the barn, I created a semi naked sponge with chocolate drips, macaroons and added fresh flowers from Fuss Pots .” Jax Curtis from Jax Cakes ‘n’ Bakes.

Jax started her business in 2014 creating bespoke celebration cakes and then later expanded to offer full catering services. Jackie takes pride in cooking the food herself and then has a team of fabulous waiting staff to serve you and your guests every need.

Beverages
The Fizzy Pheasant is a bar hire company rooted in the North Devon countryside and celebrating rural life, "the changing seasons are always incredibly inspiring for us. Being part of the 'Autumn Love' shoot, was an amazing opportunity to showcase our shaker bar in a beautiful barn setting, as well as to make some delicious cocktails with seasonal flavours and ingredients.

The 'pop up' shaker bar in its warm dove grey finish fitted perfectly with the autumnal tones and styling of the shoot, and sank into its stone barn surroundings as if it had always been there. Their Autumn cocktails fitted in perfectly with the spectacular grazing table and beautiful cake by Jax's cakes n bakes, creating a true autumnal celebration spread!

"We used blackberries, pears and fresh herbs bring the flavours of fall to life. During the day the elegant styling of the bar enhances and compliments any wedding space, and in the evening, the backlighting and cocktail shaking draws wedding guests over - and that's when the party can really get started!"

The South West Team

Venue - @westcott_barton
Photographer - Laura from @freeformimage.co.uk
Dresses - @alwaysandforeverdevon
Make up - Rachel from @isabellegracemakeupartistry
Bridal Hair - Carly from @verakweddinghair
Flower Crown – Hannah from @fusspotts.co.uk
Bridal Accessories & Jewellery - Gayle from @bee.lavish
Stationery - Emma from @emma.louise.castle
Celebrant - Nixie from @unique_ceremonies
Floristry - Hannah from @fusspotts.co.uk
Cake & Catering - Jax from @jax_cakes_n_bakes
Grooms Attire -Jessica from @suaveowl
Rings - Erin & Janie from @moltenweddingringco
Styling - Katie from @bestdayeverdevon
Macramé - Jill from @KnotAgainJill
Bar - Jade & Nick from @thefizzypheasant
Models - Megan Louise @poppysflower3
(Facebook) Shane Maddock & Cat Richards-Kastelic