Becki & Calvin

Photography: Lee Towndrow

Becki & Calvin’s outdoor wedding at the amazing Pheasantry Brewery is full of love, laughter and a gorgeous mix of pastel colours. We have a chat to the bride and take a look at some of the details from her day.

TELL US ABOUT THE PROPOSAL
Bit of a funny one! Having been together for a few years, already living together, both have kids from previous relationships and a baby together, it became just an inevitable thing that we would get married, we even started to go to wedding fayres without being engaged. The element of surprise for a proposal was slipping away. So a few months after we had renovated a house and moved in, we planned our first date night.
So, I bought him a watch and got an engraving for the box asking him to marry me!! I decided to propose at home before we went out for dinner. After getting down on one knee, he left the room, leaving me a little bit worried. A few minutes later he returned with a ring box, proposed back to me and said he had planned to ask me when we got back from dinner! So after a bottle of champagne and laughing at how we had both planned to propose on the same night, we went out for dinner.

WHERE WAS YOUR DRESS FROM?
My dress was called The Kimberley from Wed2Be Nottingham .

WHAT WAS YOUR COLOUR SCHEME AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IT?
I chose multiple pastel colours. Pink, blue, lilac, lemon, peach and mint. I have always loved pastel colours anyway and with having 3 daughters, 2 sisters and a friend as my bridesmaids, and our joint daughter as my flower girl, I loved the idea of having all of the girls in different colours. We had a very relaxed, informal summer wedding. The venue was decorated with pastel flowers, fairy lights and honeycomb balls.

WHAT WAS YOUR BUDGET AND DID YOU STICK TO IT?
We decided not to make a budget, so then we wouldn’t be upset if we went over it! We got bargains along the way, cut out lots of unnecessary things, and I did some of the DIY myself. I’m not sure I really know what we spent, maybe about £15,000.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE DAY?
I loved my venue and my wedding coordinator made everything run so smoothly. We had the whole ceremony and reception outside, all day and night, until 1am. We danced under the stars, it was a dream.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD CHANGE?
I felt a little rushed getting ready. I had to help my 4 daughters get ready, along with helping out with my 2 nieces, my bridesmaids, mother of the bride and mother of the groom, ensuring everyone was getting their hair and make up done in time. I wish I’d been ready much earlier than I was so I could have had a bit of chill out time before leaving for the venue.
And my only other thing was I’d been praying for good weather, as it had been raining for weeks leading up to the wedding, and on the day it turned out to be 30+ degrees!! I’ve never been so hot in a big dress in all my life, just a few degrees cooler would have been lovely.

WERE THERE ANY LITTLE DETAILS THAT WERE A SUCCES?
Everyone enjoyed the photo booth. I also had a vintage ice cream bicycle which went down very well, especially with the weather on the day, and I did provide flip flops which almost everyone used.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO COUPLES PLANNING THEIR DAY?
It’s very easy to get caught in the wedding bubble and believe you need to spend money on so many things that are just unnecessary. Stick to your budget as best you can, decide early where your priorities are and don’t buy into all of the gimmicks if you cant afford them, as most aren’t necessary, but are just nice if you’ve got the budget. And most of all, it’s your day, do it your way!!

ARE THERE ANY SUPPLIERS THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU?
Danielle, the wedding coordinator at the venue was amazing.
My photographer, Lee, did a great job.
I love my artificial flowers and proudly have them displayed in my house, Becky’s Blooms based in Hinckley.
My videographer did a superb job and I cry every time I watch my videos, Matt Oak based in Barnsley.
There are so many more, cake makers, make up artist, and my hair stylist, the list could go on forever.