Kelly and Owen incorporate Australiania into rustic wedding

Kelly and Owen, both 29, were keen to make their rustic wedding at Swallows Nest Barn on September 10, 2017 their own.

“I liked the idea of the wedding looking rustic and didn’t want to conform with the typical wedding malarky,” explains Kelly. “I suppose some people would say me and Owen definitely have our own style going on, not sure how I would describe it but most of our guests would say the wedding was ‘very you’ which I take as a compliment.”

With strong roots in Australia – they lived together as a couple Down Under for 18 months – the design was influenced by their time there. “For the tables I wanted big copper lanterns, with foliage scattered around them. Part of this was fern from around Bradgate Park the other was eucalyptus which tide in with Australia,” says Kelly. “This was also incorporated within the bouquets.”

Owen was in charge of choosing the first dance song – which he did perfectly, says the bride. “He chose Lay it Down by The Reuben’s an Australian band, which was the first gig we ever went to together. It was a complete surprise!”

Photos courtesy of Tina Clare Art Photography.

“The prep location was in a hotel with minimal lighting – but it seemed to work as you’ll see from the photos,” say photographers Ismael and Tina.

The groomsmen’s dapper suits were purchased from Next Retail Ltd.

“I wore my mum’s veil from her wedding,” explains Kelly.

Kelly’s gown was a 1930s style made of ivory silk.

“We originally met when we were 17 through a mutual friend, I fancied him with his long indie hairstyle but he was not interested… but then six years later we bumped into each other In a bar,” says Kelly.

“My advice which helped me the most was you can never book anything too early for a wedding,” Kelly says to other brides-to-be. “It kept everything stress free and we always got the people that we wanted.”

For dessert, the couple had a ploughman’s buffet on big rustic wooden boards.