Two-day festival of love for Amanda and Vic’s elegant bohemian wedding

Free spirit Amanda Gannon wanted her wedding to Vic Martin to follow tradition, while also celebrating her quirky style.

The Essex couple’s elegant bohemian wedding was able to strike the perfect balance for Amanda, 47, and Vic, 50.

“We were aiming for relaxed but ritualistic, solemn and meaningful, but happy and fun,” Amanda says of the July, 2017 celebrations.

The pair, who share a son together, had already had a traditional Hindu wedding blessing together in Bali, which Amanda calls her spiritual home.

For their UK celebrations, the couple spread the love over two days, having an intimate ceremony in front of 40 guests at Hedingham Castle and Gardens on July 27, before a fun-filled “after party” on July 29 at The Henry Swan Pub and Restaurant with about 180 people.

Amanda says it was important that the celebrations had a homemade feel, with driftwood signs, handmade confetti, jam jar table lanterns and handmade flower arrangements forming part of the DIY decor.

The bride says the marquee reception had a fun, festival feel.

“With a banging DJ and sound system, top 80s dance tunes and an Asian street food vendor,” she says.

Photos courtesy of Grace Elizabeth Photography.

Amanda wore a long-sleeved lace gown from Abigails, teamed with a handmaid pearl and aquamarine headpiece made by the bride herself.

The happy couple first met at a club, where Amanda was a resident dancer. Amanda says they fell in love almost straight away. She became pregnant with their son Sonny about a year later.

While she wanted to pay tribute to tradition, Amanda encourages other brides to also be a little unconventional. “Think about spreading proceedings over two days – ceremony and party,” she says. “Then there’s more time to relax and organise.”