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simple. "We didn't go overboard on decorating as it was charming on its own with the old school desks and old chalkboard and unique windows." To honour Whitney's "obsession with art and design," they used a mix of rectangular and round tables. They rented white Philipp Starck ghost chairs for the reception. The tables and chairs added a modern twist to the older venue. To tie in with their colour palette, they chose pewter table linens, with blush pink runners and white serving dishes. Many of the details were DIY, with one of Whitney's close friends playing an instrumental part in decorating, "It looked amazing, and I fully trusted that my wonderful friends would do a great job, and I was able to relax the morning before the wedding." Photography for the day was done by Emma Smallbone of barebonephoto (♥) (www.barebonephoto.com). Jeff and Whitney found and loved barebonephoto's non-traditional image style and, after meeting Emma in person, knew she would capture their day perfectly. "Emma was really easy going and has a great eye for light and unique shots. Having my picture taken is one of my least favourite things in the world, but Emma made us feel comfortable and the whole process was very easy. On the day of the wedding we didn't even notice she was taking pictures!" Although Whitney has always loved white flowers, she didn't have any specific flowers in mind for her wedding. She trusted a local florist to come up with her bouquet as well as the flowers for the tables. "I didn't want large arrangements or centrepeices, I preferred the look of clear glass vases of various shapes scattered all over the tables, and wanted a few flowers in each." And so Whitney's florist used beautiful large white dinner dahlia's, soft roses and stock in a mixture of white, cream and light pink, with candles scattered throughout the tables. The bouquets featured the same white flowers with tiny pink snowberries and the guys wore white cala lily boutonnieres wrapped in ribbon.
one bride to another...
"Give yourself a lot of time... you can really never be too organized, and you will benefit from it in the end. I spent a lot of time on the details, but at the end of the day, if something doesn't get done, no one else will notice." - Whitney
Jeff and Whitney hired one of the venue's preferred caterers and together, they created a menu that would complement their British theme and appease their mates. The meal started with spinach salad that was topped with fresh strawberries, pecans, goat cheese and a champagne vinaigrette. The main course included beef tenderloin, rosemary chicken, roasted vegetables, fingerling potatoes and, of course, Yorkshire pudding! They also offered a vegetarian option of stuffed mushroom with herb chevron and a balsamic reduction. For dessert, guests were treated to an English Trifle. In fact, their late night snack was the only time they strayed away from their British theme: "We had happy meals delivered... It was a big hit!" Jeff and Whitney's cake was simple, with three layers of chocolate and vanilla cake with a white fondant. Their cake topper was a replica of the 'LOVE' sculpture by American artist, Robert Indiana. Although the cake was beautiful, Jeff and Whitney admit they actually forgot to cut the cake... "We were having so much fun, it completely slipped everyone's minds!" Needless to say, the couple has a lot of leftover wedding cake in their freezer! As a thank-you to their guests, Jeff and Whitney ordered white tea tins and had a friend design custom labels that read 'Have a cuppa on us!' The tea blend they chose was their favourite: Earl Grey... "It doesn't get much more British!" In the end, Jeff and Whitney say, "We had a lot of fun, and spent a lot of time with a lot of great friends who we are forever indebted to for all of their help. Something will always go wrong, but don't sweat it, and enjoy the day because it flies by!" ■
classic british details
Yorkshire pudding Also known as 'batter pudding', Yorkshire pudding is a dish that originated in Yorkshire, England. It is made by pouring a batter made from milk or water, flour and eggs into oil then preheated in baking pans and usually served with roast meat and gravy. English Trifle Trifle is a dessert dish made from
thick (or often solidified) custard, fruit, sponge cake, fruit juice or gelatin, and whipped cream. These ingredients are usually arranged in alternating layers.
Pimm's Pimm's was originally a brand of fruit cups, but in modern times, is mostly considered a
liqueur. Its most popular product is Pimm's No.1, a gin-based beverage that can be served both on ice or in cocktails. The recipe of Pimm's No.1 is secret; it has a dark tea colour with a reddish tint, and tastes subtly of spice and citrus fruit.
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