Yasmin and Jack met at Loughborough University in Yasmin’s very first week and have been an item ever since. Following a picturesque proposal overlooking Garibaldi Lake in Whistler, Canada, it was time for the newly engaged teachers to start planning their big day.

The Wedding & Reception Venue

The first thing on their list was to find a wedding venue. Yasmin and Jack knew the type of setting they were after, and it didn’t take long until they decided upon Gaynes Park.

“We wanted a venue that allowed us to have the entire day in one place and somewhere that had a barn style, outdoorsy feel. It was important that we had somewhere where we felt relaxed too.”

“When we first saw Gaynes Park, we were so excited! We knew that we could see ourselves getting married here. I will always remember after having our tour, Jack turned to me and said, ‘this is the one’.”

Wedding Planning

Yasmin and Jack set the date for a midweek July wedding, giving them just under a year to plan their special day. After taking inspiration from the Gaynes Park blog and a number of magazines, the couple decided on an outdoor style wedding, with plenty of fresh flowers and woody, rustic décor.

“We knew we wanted a summer wedding so we could make full use of our time off, and the midweek wedding date suited us and all of our family. We thought that the outdoor, rustic theme reflected Gaynes Park perfectly, especially the beautiful gardens that surround the Orangery!”

The Outfits

When it came to finding the perfect dress, Yasmin picked out a beautiful Justin Alexander design and combined it with a jeweled hair accessory and nude leather shoes.

“It wasn’t the style of dress I thought I would have chosen, but when I tried it on, I felt like a princess – I knew it was right for me! I bought it in the very first shop I went to, which was a bit of a surprise but when you know, you know!”

After some deliberation, Jack and his groomsmen chose three-piece navy suits coupled with a blue floral tie. The page boys continued the look with matching bow ties handmade by their grandma.

The Decorative Touches

Yasmin and Jack’s family all pitched in to help bring the couple’s theme to life. Handmade flower boxes took pride of place on the tables in the Mill Barn, while the four great tree trunks were adorned with fairy lights to give the place a magical feel. The Orangery looked incredible inside, decorated with nothing but flowers, while a rustic ‘welcome’ sign and freestanding lanterns marked the entrance to the ceremony space.

The Wedding Day

After spending the morning preparing with her bridesmaids in the Apple Loft Cottage, Yasmin, accompanied by her dad, made their way down the aisle of the Orangery.

“I walked down the aisle to ‘Beyond’ by Leon Bridges, the song that was playing the car just after getting engaged. I’d never heard it before, but from that moment on it will always remind me of that magical day!”

After tying the knot, the newlyweds enjoyed elderflower cosmopolitans and Pimm’s with the guests and made the most of the stunning grounds for photos. Then it was into the Mill Barn for a wedding breakfast of goat’s cheese crostini, Jack’s all-time favourite dinner of sausage and mash, and a delicious glazed lemon tart for dessert.

The happy couple’s evening guests arrived to help them celebrate and, after a first dance to ‘Hold My Girl’ by George Ezra, friends and family danced the night away!

“When everyone joined us on the dancefloor towards the end of our first dance, it was magical. Everyone that we loved was dancing and singing along to the song that we had chosen.”

Wedding Planning Tips

“We had lots of good advice from friends and family. The main thing was to enjoy it and be a bit selfish; it’s your day so do it how you want. We were also told to make sure we spent some time together as the day goes by so fast. This is exactly what we did and our favourite memories of the day are together!”

Suppliers

Photography :	TDH Media
Wedding Dress :	Justin Alexander
Wedding Dress Boutique :	Bromley Brides
Groom’s Suit :	Slaters Menswear
Bridesmaid’s Dresses :	Oasis
Wedding Cake :	Sunshine Makes and Bakes