In september this year we created Steve and Debbie’s wedding ceremony and co-ordinated their celebrations, it was such a cracker that it will come as no surprise that Juno and Joy also wanted to share the love!
Destiny and a love of festivals certainly played a very important part in bringing Steve and Debbie together and an integral part of their wedding. On a last minute jaunt, three years ago to the day, two strangers travelled to the Isle of White, along with thousands of others festival goers, to experience the “Bestival” music festival. Little did they know that they were going to meet that special someone who would change everything.
As homage to this they chose to hold their wedding at this stunning location “festival style” on the anniversary of their chance meeting at Bestival.We married Steve and Debbie in September this year in the beautiful rustic barn at Camp Katur in Kirklington, North Yorkshire that they had fallen in love with on first sight. It was the perfect blank canvas location for their festival wedding to create their own little bit of festival chic that they appropriately named “The Isle of Wright” wedding festival or as we called it “Aisle of Wright”!!!
Like all our couples, they were looking for a unique place that would allow them to have a more relaxed and personal ceremony and celebrate their marriage their way, which in their case was festival style. Their ceremony told their story through the loves and likes of their relationship.
The festival spirit is about having fun and shared experiences, a love of music, celebrating friendships and all that is good in life and these are all the things that they wanted to share and embrace with their friends and family. So in true festival style their festival wedding celebrations were not just one day but a whole weekend! Perfect!
As guests arrived they received their own”The Isle of Wright” festival wrist band and checked into the fabulous glamping accomodation in meadow pods, wooden cottages, yurts, bell tents and safari tents soaking in the atmosphere and enjoying a pre-wedding warm up night of re-unions and laughter under the stars.
The next morning the sun was shining and preparations began! It was an early start for us adding the final touches to the ceremony area in the barn and the amazing Papakata so that the Debbie and her family could enjoy the day from start to finish.
Her beautiful hairpiece designed by Firenza Floral Design and her beautiful long sleeved lace gown by Stewart Parvin (the same designer as Pippa Middleton apparently!) looked stunning!
Bridesmaid dresses were complimentary shimmering shades of pastel.
The brides bouquet and floral arrangements were created by the fabulous Firenza Floral Design, bold yet delicate and romantic.
Steve and his groomsmen, looking equally dapper dressed in dark blue suits and cravats, waited in anticipation of the bride’s arrival.
Debbie & Steve wanted a ceremony traditional in structure but completely personal and bespoke with a relaxed festival vibe. They chose to include the traditions that were important to them and made her entrance with her father to the very beautiful song that still gives me goose pimples “Come away with me” by Norah Jones.
Debbie and Steve’s personal commitment to each other was first sealed when Steve proposed to Debbie. He’d gone to a lot of effort to make it a special and romantic event, and despite nearly missing the flight, the hotel double-booking and the restaurant not having his specific table reservation, he did it ….out popped that short and sweet little but life changing question “Will you Marry me?”
To which Debbie replied “Yes, but will you say some more stuff?”!!! So in their ceremony he did!! When they both made their personal promises to each other!
We chose to incorporate three wonderful poems each with a different message and and tone to reflect their relationship and love for each other. “Love connections” By Jemarie Ragudo, “Yes I’ll marry you” by Pam Ayres and “The magic of love” by Helen Steiner Rice.
A rustic wooden ceremony table was laid with candles and flowers and their certificate which was signed by both their parents as “Someone like you” by Paolo Nutini was played.
The first part of their wedding festival on “the main stage” ended with “The Kiss” to seal their promises and personal commitment to each other and a confetti showers to “You’re all I need to get by” by Aretha Franklin.
Debbie and Steve then made their way down to the summer meadow in an opening in the forest to join their guests for some top notch food served by Eat me Drink Me.
No festival wedding would be complete without a VW camper van!
The celebrations then continued down in their Papakata that over looked the festival wedding village. Each of their tables were named after a festival they had been to and music and entertainment was by the very creative and quirky TJ and his suitcase on the mouth organ followed by their DJ friends.
Debbie and Steve’s festival wedding was everything they had dreamed of and more. It was stylish, beautiful and contemporary but most of all it was personal and unique. It was an absolute pleasure to work with Debbie and Steve over the last year to help make it such a personal celebration. A big thank you to Photographer Jo Irvine and of course the fabulous Debbie and Steve themselves for allowing us show a new generation of brides and grooms what a wedding should be about.
If you would like us to create a more personal and unique centrepiece to your day and tap into our boutique wedding services then drop Jan a line: ceremonies@janshillito.co.uk. You can find more inspiration and real weddings here.
Contributors:
Celebrant: Jan Shillito, Celebration Ceremonies & Weddings
On-the-day co-ordination: Celebration Ceremonies & Weddings
Photography: Jo Irvine Photography
Venue: Camp Katur
Teepee: Papakata
Bell tents: Glampit
Flowers : Firenza Floral Design
Music: TJ and his suitcase
Catering: Eat me drink me
Roast hog: Travelling Pig
Soundsystem: Elation DJs
VW Campervan: Dubstrips
Breakfast van: Chips and Things
MUA: Stephanie Brooke
Hair stylist: Cassie Shawyer at Koko Hair
Cake Nina Design by Nina Porvey
Gown: Stewart Parvin