"All the colours of the Rainbow" - A colourful DIY wedding at Sandburn Hall

“All the colours of the Rainbow” – A colourful DIY wedding at Sandburn Hall

January 30, 2014 Real Wedding Features

Today I am thrilled to share the beautiful colourful DIY wedding of Kerry and Stuart at Sandburn Hall in York.

Images Of the day were captured by Key Reflections Photography.

Key Reflections Photography is run by Sarah and is based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

She originally studied photo-journalism so prides herself on my ability to capture a Wedding day as it unfolds in an unobtrusive way.

She says, “I love my job photographing people. I particularly love quirky unusual weddings and capturing all the little details. I have been lucky enough to do this ‘job’ full-time for the last 6 and a half years…”

She says of the couple,

“I met Kerry & Stuart photographing at the wedding of lovely Sasha, the maid of honour on this day.”

“I’ve said this before but it really is lovely to see so many familiar faces at a wedding.”

“I was over the moon to be photographing for the first time at this amazing venue – Sandburn Hall in York – it really is a gorgeous place.”

“The day started amidst the woodland in the adjoining Griffen Forest Lodges.”

“The first thing that struck me were the vibrant colours that Kerry, and possibly Stuart had selected (although I did later on in the day learn he was colour-blind!).”

“The attention to detail in this colourful DIY wedding was immense!”

“The whole day went brilliantly and the whole wedding party were a joy to be around.”

I now pass over to stunning Bride Kerry,

How did you meet?

“Through a mutual friend – we were on a night out and Stuart popped into the bar to say hi and we started chatting.”

“I don’t remember much of the conversation but I remember calling him a snob and old, thankfully he didn’t take much offense and he asked for my number.”

When did you get engaged?

“We got engaged 4th August 2012 in Cornwall.”

“It’s quite a funny story but basically after much persuasion to go on an evening walk in the rain with him, he threw the ring at me and it fell down a ledge overlooking the harbour.”

“Thank fully it was safely retrieved and a more traditional proposal could take place.”

Tell us about your wedding planning journey

“It all started with the venue – as soon as we saw Sandburn hall we knew we wanted to get married there.”

“All the decoration decisions were made to fit with the room, which was easy as it was so beautiful.”

“I did all the decoration myself which was a lot of fun and added the personal touch, from the invitations, name places and favours to the seating plan and guest book (well it was a wedding washing line) and all the other little bits and bobs.”

“We wanted to make sure the decorations were really simple and enhanced the venue rather than over power it so we went for a collection of used (but clean) jars for the centrepieces – my mum and dad were certainly glad to see the back of these after the wedding.”

“We just filled these with flowers and placed them on round cream trays with a patterned fabric on in the middle of the table.”

“The favours were jars filled with sweets and colourful patterned fabric wrapped around the lid, and simple post-card sized name places with the menu on the back.”

“It was quite a mix-matched, colourful theme, with no one signature colour taking precedence.”

“This started with the bridesmaid having a selected feature colour, and with 7 bridesmaids it meant we had a lovely colour palette to work with.”

“Each table had a different feature colour which was enhanced in the centre piece, name places and favours, but each of these had different patterns – nothing was allowed to fully match.”

“The florist did an amazing job to coordinate the colour of the flowers to the chosen signature colour for each table – the flowers were all random wild flowers in season, no formal arrangements.”

“I tried to make things simple, but quirky and fun, and overall not too ‘weddingy’.”

“Our mutual love for cake influenced our decision to opt for a table of cakes rather than the traditional wedding cake.”

“Most of them made by the 2 main mums of the wedding but we also bought a few from a local deli.”

“The main rainbow cake was made by a family friend coated in white chocolate and topped with paper flowers to match the bridesmaid bouquets.”

“The delicious cupcakes made by a friend and the there was a pretty special cake designed by my creative niece and nephew which featured dinosaurs, smiley faces and moustaches among its many decorative elements.”

“The beautiful Bridesmaids were in a simple cream dress with a coloured belt and matching coloured shawls and the flower girl, my gorgeous niece Molly, in a floral multi-coloured dress.”

“The groomsmen wore a grey 3-piece suit, black shirt and grey polka dot tie. The black shirts really made them stand out as the groomsmen and enhanced their feature colours.”

“It was also a really nice contrast to the bright cream bridesmaid dresses.”

“The Groomsman each had different coloured socks to wear which matched their cufflinks and button hole. ”

“The button holes were mini paper windmills; these matched the beautiful paper bouquets for the bridesmaid and the flower girls giant windmill (which was consequently abandoned just before walking down the aisle).”

“Finally my wonderful nephew George was the page boy and wore a matching suit to the groomsmen but with a bow tie and superman belt and cufflinks – he certainly was a superman that day.”

“We didn’t think the venue lent it’s self to overly formal, traditional wedding clothes so made sure all the attire for the wedding was relatively laid back, from simple bridesmaid dresses to ‘normal’ dinner suits.”

“It was so much fun to plan – thankfully Stuart let me make most of the decisions and kept out of the way like all good grooms should.”

“There were a few raised eyebrows over my mix-matched, multi-coloured choices, and being colour-blind you can understand his scepticism, but he trusted me that it would all look wonderful – and it did, well we think so anyway.”

When did you get married?

“We were married on the 19th October 2013.”

What was the best bit of your day?

“The ceremony was the best bit – actually marrying Stuart in front of our nearest and dearest was simply magical.”

What advice would you give to other couples getting married?

“Have fun with it and don’t get too stressed.”

“Try to stay grounded and remember what the day is about.”

Thanks so much to Sarah for sharing her fantastic imagery and also to Kerry and Stuart for allowing me a glimpse into their beautiful colourful DIY wedding.

I am such a huge fan of colour so this is like candy to me.

I love that even though so many different colours used and no set palette the day just flows and its a feast for the eyes.

From the wildflowers to the mismatched chair ties to the colourful pashminas and sunglasses and even down to multi coloured nail paint its just gorgeous in every way.

Venue – Sandburn Hall

Photographer – Key Reflections Photography

Wedding Dress ” Verity” by Sasha Perez – Blissful Daze, West St, Sheffield.

Wedding Accessories – Debenhams, and the pearl necklace was my mums

Shoes – Irregular Choice

Bridesmaid dresses – Principles, Debenhams.

Flower girl gown – Ted Baker

Invitations, name places and favours to the seating plan and guest book – DIY by the Bride

Florist – Big Blossom, York

Suits – Debenhams

Bridesmaid paper bouquets and butttonholes – Ribbons and Tulle

Cake Table – The Mums and the local Deli