Zoe & Chris: A Belle Epoque Vintage Wedding
It's MARCH! How in the world did I lose a whole month on this blog?? March means crocuses and early spring and engagement shoots for those of you getting married in 2017. It means opening up the windows even though it's still a bit chilly to shake out the cobwebs and it staying light a bit longer than 3 in the afternoon. It means we can really start relaxing into this year and look forward to greenery and warmer weather and gin. Lots of gin, please.
Wedding season is becoming less and less of a concentrated 'season' these days and I'm loving it. 2017 bookings fall in every month and are spaced in such a way that I can really devote some serious attention to editing and putting a proper finish on each and every one. After taking the month of January to get organised and ready for the year to come, I had the enormous pleasure of kicking off my year with the warm, wacky and wonderful vintage-style wedding of Zoe & Chris at the iconic Belle Epoque in Knutsford.
I first met Zoe in October last year when we were exhibiting across from each other at the Vintage Wedding Fair at Victoria Baths. Zoe is the brains and baking behind the fabulous mobile Vintage Afternoon Tea company and hooked me with her infectious laugh and a lemon drizzle cake that I still dream about. She had seen my work on a previous wedding and we started talking more about her big day: an old-fashioned knees up at the beautiful Belle Epoque hotel in the heart of Knutsford. It was to be a labour of love and dancing with a dear friend making their nearly naked wedding cake, vintage and DIY touches everywhere, no table plan, first dance or speeches but hearty pies, chips and peas as the wedding breakfast and two different bands to keep their guests boogeying. I was so in love with their plans, eager for the challenge of a wedding that doesn't fit the traditional mold in a very traditional venue and was over the moon when they decided to book.
I arrived at the Belle Epoque in the early afternoon to a very relaxed but giddy Zoe, and that joy just expanded throughout the course of the day culminating in a seriously old-school dance party as 'Mr. & Mrs O's' guests danced the night away to the upbeat tunes of the amazing Retrosettes. The love and admiration these two have for each other, the amazing warmth and celebration of the day were so inspiring. I feel so honoured to have been chosen to capture these moments for them. And please check out their awesome team of vendors: Florals by Diddibox, dress by Puure Bride, waistcoats and bridal fascinator by Kaye Hannabuss Textiles, light up letters by The Word is Love, Tunes by Dr. Butler's Hatstand Medicine Band & The Retrosettes and of course the wonderful John and his team at The Belle Epoque.
I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!
