Country Rustic Chic Military Real Wedding: Charmaine & Sam
Hello lovelies! I have a really sweet real wedding to share with you all today. A country, rustic chic, military wedding – Charmaine & Sam had a traditional church wedding followed by a picnic reception on the family farm!
I’m loving the military aspect of their wedding. Sam looked ultra dashing in his military attire and Charmaine’s a stunning bride in her Sophia Tolli gown. All the military fanfare makes for some really lovely, romantic and vibrant wedding images too.
Words by Charmaine. Images by Parkershots.
I’ve lived on the farm for most of my life and it’s where a new chapter begins with Sam. The country theme suits us both as we love country walks with our dog Rupert – all my friends call us the country bumpkins and say that I’m just like Felicity Kendal from The Good Life (I’m always growing veg in the garden).
My grandma was one of the biggest inspirations in my life and I wanted her there on the day. I know she was there, proud. Her roses were in my bouquet and Sams buttonhole and her jewellery, a gift on the wedding day I will cherish forever.
Sam’s HAC connection is such an important part of his life and to have them there performing was one of the most memorable experiences for him.
My wedding dress was by Sophia Tolli – the vintage lace and alabaster colour felt timeless and classic. I wore my dress with a chapel length veil with ivory trim and a jewellrey set gifted to me that belonged to my grandmother. It was a wonderful way for her to be there with me.
My bridesmaid dresses were from Jenny Packham and they wore them with beautiful flowers in their hair. The flowers were grown in our garden.
In fact, we grew all of our flowers for the wedding and my aunt and cousin helped put the arrangements together.
Sam wore a military outfit and his buttonhole was made using flowers from my Grandmas tree!
We walked from the church to the farm following a military procession from the Corps of Drums from the HAC where Sam is a serving soldier in the reserve regiment.
For our wedding breakfast we had a picnic as we wanted people to interact. We love that type of food & we wanted everything to come from local suppliers. We had really good canapes so we could ditch the starter.
Our wedding favours were chutney jars I made with fruit from our orchard. I gave flip flops as dancing shoes for the evening.
We decorated the farm and marquee in a country rustic chic style. Sams mum made all the pretty bunting, we used flowers from our garden and trees to signify beauty and life.
I work in the wine trade and it’s a great passion of mine, I’ve studied and traveled to wine regions for the last 4 years- all the canapes, picnic food and cake were served in wine box boards.
The wine selected was also chosen from Italy (Sam’s mother is Italian and the family live in the Prosecco regions- we drank La Marca Prosecco owned by Nonna’s second cousin. The tables were named after our favourite wines from Bordeaux in France.
My good friend Sophie made the cakes. We wanted a cake stand with a good selection of victoria sponge, lemon drizzle, double chocolate, coffee & walnut cakes. Delicious!
Our wedding photographer was Nick Parker of Parkershots. He was fantastic at creating the modern touch to traditional images. We couldn’t have dreamt for better photos to capture our special day. He really styled them in the theme of our wedding.
Our first dance was Etta James ‘At Last’ – the song we would play when we first told each other ‘I love you’.
If you could impart any words of wisdom to a bride to be planning her wedding day, what would they be?
Put your personality on the day and make it a day that represents you as a couple. It;s your day so have what you want! Don’t be worried what everyone else will think..
Get your friends & family involved & use their talents. we found we could involve important people in our life in all aspects of the day which made it just as special for them as well.
Michelle painted the picture for our wedding stationery and drew the guest tree.
My auntie, cousin, mum and me grew the flowers and did the flower arranging
Sophie baked the cakes for our dessert.
Sam’s mum made all the bunting.
Leigh did all the bridal makeup and Lisa the bridal hair.
I made the chutney for the favours and to go with the picnic.
Pete did the evening disco.
Atila did the afternoon Jazz music for the drinks reception.
Irene made individual napkins for everyone & table runners.
Also – research, research, research! Don’t think that anything is impossible and get a photo-booth… It made the evening shenanigans.
credits / wedding photographer: parkershots / brides dress: sophia tolli / shoes: next / bridesmaid dresses: jenny packham
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