Zoe and Tommy’s Rustic Autumnal Wedding
From Bumble to Tipi: A Rustic Autumnal Wedding in the Heart of Derbyshire
Amidst the rustic charm of an autumnal Derbyshire, Zoe and Tommy’s wedding day unfolded—a celebration of their unique bond and a testament to their enduring love. Captured in every glance and shared smile, their connection was palpable. Join us as we relive the highlights of their special day—a heartwarming journey filled with laughter, happy tears, and unforgettable moments.
The Love Story and Proposal
How did you two meet and where and when was the proposal?
Tommy and I met on the popular dating site Bumble during a lockdown in 2021. Neither of us were looking for anything too serious at the time, however, seeing as I’m completing a post wedding questionnaire, it soon became something more than a fling as Tommy stated in his speech! In 2022, Tommy and I booked our first adult-only holiday away to Santorini, a place I’ve always dreamt of going growing up. I had no idea that he was even considering marriage, and then on my 29th birthday in Santorini, he proposed after a lovely day horse riding along the beach and catching the sunset at the lighthouse Akrotiri.
What was your overall vision for the wedding day?
I have always known what I wanted my wedding to be like, and when I shared my dream day to Tommy he agreed that he would like it too. We went for a church wedding, followed by Tommy’s choice in a three-hat Tipi and an overall rustic, autumnal theme.
Was there a specific theme or inspiration behind your wedding?
For the actually ceremony and reception no. For our photo inspiration, yes. I lived next door to a railway station in Darley Dale growing up. I’ve never been into trains myself; however, I soon found out that Tommy and his family used to visit the station in Darley Dale, and also growing up enjoyed going out on day trips to various train spotting destinations. So this is why we decided to have our wedding photos on Darley Dale station. AND THEY ARE AMAZING!!! (thank you so much, it was great fun on the station and your reaction when you saw the photos on the same-day slideshow was just priceless!! DK)
What were your top three priorities when planning your wedding?
Ensuring both Tommy and I had everything we needed before everyone else, including dress, shoes, suits, rings, and each other. The first thing we booked was our Church and reception grounds, and we secured our photographers and videographers. (I very much recommend getting a videographer for your special day. So many people said to me not to bother as it’s an expense which isn’t worth it. But trust me, it is SO worth it. The day goes so quickly, and you easily forget bits throughout the day so being able to watch a short movie of your special day is such a lovely keepsake to have!
What made you choose your particular venue?
We originally booked a different church to the one we got married at. My original idea came from getting married at the same church as my parents. However, we went to look at the church we went for because of how beautiful the location is and to break the day up slightly as the original church was within walking distance to our reception.
The Wedding Planning
What was the most challenging part of wedding planning?
We had planned our wedding before even being engaged. So booking and securing venues was the easy part to start with. The most challenging part was everyone else. Tommy and I had no issues with each other, and even though people didn’t need to be involved because we knew what we wanted they then started to feel like they weren’t involved, even though its not THEIR day its YOUR day!
Other than that, no one told me how frustrating table plans are. This was awful! Once you’ve mastered it, you send it to print. You then have the anxiety of wondering if you have spelt everyone’s names correctly! We did a lot of our wedding DIY, as I like to get creative and have my own vision of how I want things to look. This wasn’t ‘challenging’ as such, but more time-consuming. I spent hours and hours creating signs, name cards, table numbers, etc.
What was the easiest or most enjoyable aspect of planning?
HEN PARTIESSSSSSS and STAG DOOOOOS! Spending time with the people closest to us, knowing we wouldn’t get as much time during the day, was amazing. If I could give anyone any advice, it can ALL be enjoyable as long as you keep strong-headed and stick to your guns about your day. Don’t let people try to pressure you into making decisions that you disagree on. As I said above, we did have fallouts with people because of this, but I always kept in mind that it was my special day that I have dreamt of since I was a little girl, and I wanted it how Tommy and I had planned. It ended up being the absolute best amazing day; it went better than expected because not many people other than the two of us were involved in the planning. I recommend hiring a wedding coordinator, especially if you had a wedding like ours, which wasn’t a complete wedding package and everything had to be booked individually.
Did you use any online tools or resources that you found particularly helpful?
Pinterest was probably the only social online platform I used for wedding Inso. I tried to not use too many as seeing loads of stuff you like on all different platforms can become really overwhelming and stress you out more than it needs to. stick to 1 or 2 platforms for your inso.
What advice would you give to couples currently planning their wedding?
It’s your day, no one else’s, and don’t let anyone ever pressure you or make you feel guilty about your choices. – Get a videographer and photography ( David Kinsey is awesome!) – Enjoy the run up to your day. The planning, the partying, the dress and suit choosing, take in every little detail. If I could plan again, I would definitely try and enjoy the planning a bit more and not let people get in my head, or try to anyway! – Take a onesie for the evening, especially if it’s an outdoor wedding. I finished my wedding photos dressed as Elmo, and it was amazing!
How long did it take to find your wedding dress and how did you know when you’d found the one?
I went wedding dress shopping 10 weeks after Tommy proposed. Only to look and try on a few different styles. Again, I had my vision and knew what I wanted. I went to a bridle shop in Belper and cried when I tried this particular dress. It was a bit out of budget, but I felt like a princess. (It was the first shop we went in!) So, I drove to Derby for the next appointment before saying yes. I went to Tiffany Jordons and found a dress that looked exactly like the one I’d cried at but was even nicer!!!! AND WAS A BIT CHEAPER TOO! BONUS!!! I tried her on and knew it was the one. I didn’t go looking to buy a dress that day; I went with an open mind, tried on other dresses after the yes one, and nothing was coming close. When I say ‘when you know you’ll know, I mean it. There isn’t anything I can say which will help you choose, you just know!
The Big Day!
Describe the moment you first saw each other on your wedding day.
Zoe – I felt fine (I think) for most of the morning getting ready. It hit around 11 AM, and I started to get a bit of pre-wedding anxiety. Arriving at church, I was so nervous. I had a mini breakdown before going in and had to take a few deep breaths. We had waited so long for this moment, and I couldn’t believe it was happening right then! I walked in, and all I remember is looking at my daughter (we walked down the aisle together) and asking if she was ready. I squeezed her hand and looked back to lock eyes with Tommy, and at that moment, no one in that room mattered except me, Tommy, and our daughter Lexi. The walk down the aisle felt like forever until I finally met him at the other end. This is the most surreal feeling ever!
Tommy – I felt incredibly relieved to have finally have been in that moment. Nothing in the world mattered, and time felt still, calm for a brief moment. She looked like an angel.
What was your favourite part of the ceremony?
Zoe – ALL OF IT! I felt like a princess and felt like we had finally made it after a few hard years before me meeting Tommy. I never thought I would ever find anyone who could love me and Lexi like Tommy does. And I never in a million years thought I’d get married!
Tommy – When I spent 5 minutes alone with my new wife to talk, laugh and cry away the stresses of that year leading up to the wedding. When you’re so invested in making the day perfect, it feels like you forget what matters the most, and in that brief period in the church, I remember she is all I ever wanted.
What was your favourite part of the reception?
Zoe – Again, all of it. There was one part that I didn’t enjoy! Everything went as planned, and I just appreciated our family and friends supporting us!
Tommy – was being in the company and presence of everyone that means the most to me all at once, when does that ever happen?
What song did you have for your first dance and why that one?
Lorn Balfe/Lady Gaga – You’re Where You Belong/Hold My Hand – Jennifer Connelly – Top Gun Maverick. We both love Top Gun and thought Hold My Hand was perfect for us! – meaningful lyrics!
Was there a funny or unexpected moment that happened during the day?
The evening food vendor was an authentic kebab takeaway van, and it got bogged in on the Cricket Club Field where our reception was. Due to the previous very wet weather, we had no choice but to serve food where it got stuck. Although I was worried, they were extremely professional, still did an amazing job, saw the funny side, and most of all, got a push out from a few guests at the end. (P.S. The Gyros were fantastic! DK)
The Wedding Suppliers and Details
Were there any suppliers that truly exceeded your expectations?
Jack and Megan – Tipi’s In The Peak – These two were incredible and with us every step of the way planning our wedding. Their communication, planning and efficiency was on point. They also did our bar for the evening and were incredible. I’d definitely recommend Jason Barker – Videographer and Singer/Entertainment! Again – a man of many talents! Incredible!
Is there a particular detail or DIY project you were especially proud of?
Our table decor. I enquired to several companies to dress our wedding and were looking at £3000+ and I couldn’t come to terms as to what you were paying that amount for as we had minimal decor planned for our tables, so I did it all myself. Again finding Inspo on Pinterest and re-creating it. I bought the majority of my materials from Hobby Craft, bought table runners and chair sashes second hand from market place, and a few bits and bobs from Ikea like jars. You could say we did it on a budget but when you looked it looked like it had been professionally done and far from on a budget!! It just takes a little more time to do it yourself, but I couldn’t have felt prouder of the fact that all my hard work looked amazing!!
Did you have any unique or personalised elements at your wedding?
I made a memorial board from a wooden pallet for those in our families who could not be there to celebrate with us in person. We also made special table name cards for those people too and placed them on the tables they would have been sat at. We had quite a few compliments for this, and it was a special touch.
The Photos!
How did you find me and what made you want to book me?
I found you from saying yes to my dress during a competition on Instagram in December 2022! I booked you because as soon as we met, and I saw the passion and love you have for your work, it made me feel really confident. As you know, we had already booked a photographer, but there was something about you as a person that I couldn’t say no to, and I am so glad we chose you. You made our wedding planning stress-free; you listened, took in every detail we asked for, and went above and beyond. We couldn’t be more grateful for you and your amazing talents!
Your gallery contained over 1000 photos. Which one was your favourite and why?
I can’t choose! What a question to put in! how on earth is anyone meant to choose or even answer this when every single photo is just as amazing as the next! (Thanks so much, in that case here’s a very small selection of my favourites! DK)
Final Thoughts
If you could describe your wedding day in three words, what would they be?
BEST DAY EVER!
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your wedding experience?
Choose David for capture your special day. You won’t regret it!
A Fairy Tale Ending!
The wedding day was truly magical, exceeding all expectations and leaving Zoe and Tommy with memories to cherish for a lifetime. From the heartfelt ceremony to the joyous reception and the stunning photos that captured every precious moment, their wedding was a dream come true. It was a celebration of love, commitment, and the beautiful journey they had embarked on together, surrounded by their loved ones. As they danced the night away under the stars, Zoe and Tommy knew that their wedding day was just the beginning of their happily ever after.
P.S.
The blog didn’t delve into the post-wedding adventure! Zoe had a unique vision: she wanted to incorporate her wedding dress into their honeymoon, specifically at the location where Tommy conquered his nerves and proposed. They flew me out to Santorini and we had a blast exploring and capturing even more breathtaking photos. Stay tuned for a future blog post with all the details; for now, here’s a sneak peek…
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Suppliers
Venue: St Giles Church, Matlock and Darley Dale Cricket Club
Videography AND Singer: Jason Barker
Tipis: Tipis in the Peak
Flowers: BLUM
Make Up: Buttons Beauty
Hair: Leah Rose
Suits: Blidworth Menswear
Cake: Lawsons Bakes
Dress: Tiffany Jordon
