Love is in the Air at Alexandra and James’ Spring Wedding

While the weather was predictably unpredictable, the stylish colour scheme, creativity, elegant décor, beautiful dresses and romance of the day shone through.

The Venue

Just 20 minutes from their home, Curradine Barns was a perfect location for Alexandra and James. ‘We fell in love with Curradine on our first visit’ says Alexandra. ‘The wooden beams, stone floors and beautiful countryside setting made it just perfect for us.’

Wedding Style

Complementing the natural beauty of the barns, Alexandra and James decided to keep the décor rustic and simple, enhancing the rooms and adding a personal touch. With a mutual passion for snowboarding, Alexandra used her first snowboard as the table plan, and chose its colours of deep purple, cream and pale pink as the colour scheme for the day.

‘Each table was named after our favourite ski resorts, and the bar area was decorated with rustic wooden skis!’ she says. For that personal, ‘homemade’ look, the happy couple made all the details themselves, from tealight holders and place names to floral arrangements and petal and lavender confetti cones.

Alexandra and her mother even decided to make the cake themselves, creating beautiful vanilla rose cupcakes in lace patterned cases.

All Dressed Up

Alexandra wore a Mori Lee fit and flare lace dress with a sweetheart neckline and buttons down the back. ‘I always knew I wanted a lace dress with an eye-catching back,’ says Alexandra. ‘When I tried it on, I knew immediately it was the one’. Pale duck egg jewelled peep toe heels by Jenny Packham and delicate jewellery completed the look. As for the groom… James wore a navy three-piece suit hired from Nicholas Smith of Worcester, with white shirt, purple cravat and tan brogues. ‘Our three-year old son wore similar as a pageboy,’ says Alexandra ‘and the three bridesmaids wore stunning Vera Wang gowns in deep purple’. Finally, two young flower girls wore pretty ivory dresses with lace detail.

Beautiful Blooms

Alexandra and her sister were florists for the day, creating beautiful bouquets and arrangements from roses, alstroemeria, gypsophila, lisianthus and cinerea foliage. As the bride is originally from the North Norfolk coast, she also used sea lavender and sea holly to remind her of home.

The Big Day

The rain outside certainly didn’t dampen the spirit of the day and, following a beautiful civil ceremony, the drinks reception was held in the bar area at Curradine. Pimm’s accompanied delicious canapés including mini fish and chips and goats cheese tartlets. Guests dined on a main course of fillet of beef with dauphinoise potatoes followed by a dessert tower of vanilla shortbread with fresh raspberries and clotted cream. ‘The guests all commented on how amazing the meal was’ smiles Alexandra.

Celebration Time

As day turned to night, the pizza oven fired up and guests enjoyed delicious pizza slices in the outdoor courtyard. Alexandra and James also decided to treat their guests with a popcorn machine and beer drums – both a great success!

When it came to music, the happy couple wanted a live band to create that fabulous ‘apres ski’ atmosphere. A four-piece band, ‘Mozart’s Go Karts’, got the party started with the first dance, ‘The One’ by Kodaline. ‘They were absolutely fantastic’ raves Alexandra.

Sparing every thought for their guests, a wicker basket filled with flip flops meant comfortable dancing shoes were available to all!

Escape to the Sunshine

James became ill a few months before the wedding and had open heart surgery just a couple of days after the happy couple tied the knot. ‘We had to rearrange our honeymoon’ says Alexandra, ‘but enjoyed an amazing week in Mauritius a few months later after James had recovered’.