Love is enough: Zara and Stuart’s springtime wedding

Stuart originally proposed to Zara with a plastic ring inscribed with ‘Love is Enough’.

Zara then picked out her own emerald and had her ring custom made based on a Georgian design.

The pair gave themselves six months to plan their springtime wedding. They enlisted the help of family and friends to pull together their special day, and decorated their ceremony and reception venues with hundreds of daffodils.

Zara and Stuart said “I do” on March 25, 2016 among 60 daytime guests, and 100 evening guests. They chose a 13th-century monastery in the heart of Gloucester to exchange their vows, and kicked on the party at Uffculme Centre in Moseley, Birmingham.

“There are so many special memories from that day,” says Zara, “But my mum and brother walking me down the aisle was a highlight.”

Zara encourages other couples embarking on the same journey to not sweat the small stuff – “Nobody cares what colour your napkins are!”

“The day goes so quickly,” Zara says. “Enjoy yourself – we did!”

Photos courtesy of Kate jackson Photography.

Zara’s gorgeous bridal shoes were sourced from Rachel Simpson.

The pair decorated their ceremony venue with daffodils sourced from Birmingham Flower Markets.

Zara’s bouquet was made of springtime flowers including daffodils, paperwhites, muscari, creamy-peach ranunculus and lily of the valley.

Zara’s gorgeous vintage wedding dress was a champagne off-shoulder tea dress with a hooped skirt.

Zara and Stuart hired a vintage mini for the drive between ceremony and reception venues. “Lots of people beeped their horns and waved on our journey to the reception,” recalls Zara.

The pair kept their decorations minimal using mainly daffodils and bunting they’d made themselves. And, as a special touch, honoured their heritage through photographs of their grandparent’s own wedding days.

Bucking tradition, instead of cake Zara and Stuart opted for hot cross buns to suit their Easter wedding theme. They encouraged guests to take them home in paper bags to eat the next day for breakfast.

“After the speeches we danced the night away,” says Zara. “It was such a fun and relaxed day – and that’s just how we’d planned it.”