A Creative Floral Vintage Village Hall Wedding Filled With Personalised Details

I am so excited to share this beautiful wedding from last year. Abi and Antti hired my vintage floral chair covers to help decorate their village hall wedding reception. Packed full of chintz, seasonal flowers, cute kitch details and heaps of love this creative couple enlisted the help of their family and friends to make their dream wedding day come true.

Take a peak at their fun and colourful vintage wedding. Get inspired as I get all nosey and ask Abi and Antti a few questions ……

How did you meet?

We met on set filming... I'm an actress and Antti is a gaffer. He was lighting my face and I was ignoring the director and flirting. I got told off for not concentrating. I gave him my number and the rest is history.

Can you tell us how you got engaged?

Antti is Finish and proposed to me by a lake in Finland. We were just sitting have a beer and suddenly he was looking at me very strangely! It was very unexpected. I had no idea he had bought a ring a month previously. I had a slight panic attack when he asked! Far from the tears of joy in the movies... poor guy! For me it was a very strange moment. I feel like no-one can prepare you for deciding like that in 10 seconds! Some people have an inkling, but I really didn't. We laugh about my odd reaction now but of course I said yes!

Where did the ceremony take place? Tell us a little about why you choose the venue?

We got married in Bowes in a tiny little church in County Durham. The village is small and beautiful, and my parents live there. We had a really fun personal ceremony. Songs that my friends had written and with slightly naughty lyrics for a church ceremony, but it fitted well with mine and Antti's personalities. The ceremony was full of love and laughter. I walked down to 'all you need is love' by the Beatles played my Antti's friend on the trumpet and we left the church to Sinatra's 'love and marriage.' We had a real giggle and it was so beautiful and relaxed. I felt a million dollars in my dress which was from 'The Vampire's Wife' and something I’d wanted for a long time. It felt so comfortable and luxurious at the same time and I cannot wait to wear it again and again. I never tried a wedding dress on, as it just wasn't something, I could imagine myself in. That felt completely right as I love colour and print. I also wore a fabulous veil from 'Me and my girl vintage' on Etsy. Antti got a fab suit from 'Mark Powell bespoke' in Soho. We didn't see each other’s outfits, but they somehow looked perfect together.

Where did the reception take place? Tell us a little about why you choose the venue?

I saw one venue. The village hall in Bowes! Done! It was a 3-minute walk from the church! This is exactly what Antti and I wanted. Something old school and low key where people felt comfortable to have a really good time. My family helped to dress the place up the day before and we personalised everything. Photos everywhere of memories with every person at the wedding. Little personal notes on the table that had a message of love for each person and why they were so important to us. It took a while to write but it was so worth it! There were lots of tears when they were opened which was my ultimate aim! We used my mum and sisters' collected tablecloths on the tables and the Betty loves vintage chair covers looked stunning! Alicia and her wonderful team from 'Fifteas Vintage Tearooms' in Bishop Aukland made all our food and it was utter perfection. The tables were so full of love. There were vintage knickknacks on every table, beautiful food, great wine and little personal touches. All the flowers were from my sister's garden and a local farm in the village. They took a picture of my dress as inspiration and the flowers turned up on the day looking like a fairy tale. Loose, wild, and natural. Exactly what we wanted. Our friend's Clemmy, Cara and Hope made our beautiful cakes and my brother and sister in law helped with setting up everything. My parents were also the most incredible people on the day and organised so much for us! It was a real friend and family affair and I feel that it made everyone enjoy the day that little bit more! Well that and the copious amounts of booze! We had a swing band in the evening and a pizza truck to soak up the booze. This was followed by a disco full of 90's classics and absolute bangers that everyone could get down and dirty to. I have never had such a fun day in my life!

What were your favourite memories from the day?

Walking down the aisle and seeing everyone smiling and looking as if they were up for a fun day full of love!

Last minute, we organised some Prosecco in little paper cups which were handed to everyone inside Bowes Castle (opposite the church) It is a gorgeous derelict building and the sun was shining through the stone. It was a way of getting everyone together before we all walked down a cobbled street to the village hall. Looking around at everyone talking and laughing and enjoying themselves in the hall. Everyone was up for a good time and so many friendships were made.

Getting ready with my friend Hollie and my mum before the ceremony. It was just like getting ready for a night out. Me sat on the floor doing my make-up. Hollie blow drying my mum's hair! Just what I wanted! The outrageous dancing late at night basically every single minute!

What advice would you give to other couples planning their wedding?

Do it your own way. You don't need to keep up with the Joneses. We didn't want formal. We didn't need everything. We didn't want a plan for the day or for certain things to happen at certain times. We just needed good food, great people, and lots of booze. Do what makes you happy. Everyone else is there to support you and just get dressed up and have a great time. It is not about spending the most money. There's so much you can make and create. People remember weddings for the moments... not the expensive favours. Don't get stressed. Try to enjoy every moment because it's soon over. Oh also... the bits that go wrong are the bits you remember and laugh about. We forgot to cut the cake so no-one could eat it! Whoops! And make sure you have plenty of blue tac and double-sided tape if you're doing it all yourself... oh and paracetamol for the day after!!!