English country wedding | Polly Alexandre Photography

When you are a cool, edgy couple working in the entertainment industry, you don’t throw a wedding that is like anyone else’s right? No….. you stamp your own very personal style and create a celebration at home that’s full of meaning and personality, and uniquely your own: both laid-back and lively and a ton of fun!

Lou and Rocco chose Lou’s family home to host their wedding, which her parents had very kindly held onto a little longer so the couple could complete the family tradition of marrying there, before her parents sold the house and moved on. The celebrations were hosted in different locations around the gardens – from a humanist ceremony is a marquee in the apple orchard – to a lively band in the driveway.

The stars of the show – after Lou & Rocco of course – were the amazing original Doritos band off the TV advert – the Mariarchi Band. Hilarious, fun and awesome musicians to boot, these guys got the party going at full swing right from the drinks reception.

As the sun set the family released gold balloons into the dusky skies, one to mark each dear family member who had moved on, in a meaningful and poignant acknowledgement to those loved and lost, but never forgotten.

And as the balloons flow off into the sky, so this couple were about to fly off to their own new life. Lou and Rocco’s wedding was a statement of their love and marriage, a coming together of 2 happy families, and also a send off to the newly married couple who shortly after emigrated to the US to begin a new life together.

To Lou and Rocco: America is a better place for your sense of fun and personality, and I hope your have a long and happy new life together and a marriage that is filled with just as much laughter and love as the day it started. All my love xxx

Venue: Clients Home // Bride’s Dress: Pronovias // Band: Mariarchi Band

They say that third time is a charm, luckily for the bride – not the man but the venue! Robert and Rebecca had actually paid a deposit for two other venues before they found the beautiful Kelmarsh Hall , situated on the boundary of Rutland and Northamptonshire. The Gardens and stunning Georgian architecture became a running theme throughout the day. Rebecca had a pencil sketch of Kelmarsh Hall made into a stamp online which was placed on their handmade muslin confetti bags, envelopes and stationary suite, escort cards and place settings.

Rebecca had always envisaged her bridesmaids wearing ivory lace (some might say a risky choice but her parents live near Nottingham which is famous for lace). Ami Elisah, who designed the bride’s daughter’s dresses, managed to track down the Kate Middleton lace (yes! that exact lace!) to make her a beautiful kimono wrap to wear whilst getting ready.

The bride wore a designer gown called Hepburn by Suzanne Neville . It was made of corded heavy lace and came with a removable lace jacket which she wore for the ceremony and took off for dinner and the evening reception. Rebecca wore a long silk tulle veil also by Suzanne Neville.

The flowers in the marquee were absolutely stunning. The inimitable Miss Pickering provided six tall arrangements, overflowing with a variety of peonies, roses, mint, hydrangea, jasmine and other flowers. The bride worked together with Miss Pickering to create a DIY style that was elegant and sophisticated and Rebecca actually created the small glass bowls herself for the table centres the day before the wedding. Bright and early at 5:30am on the morning of her big day she hopped in the car and drove over to the venue to check that the flowers had made it through the night! They had…phew!

Dinner was delicious with special his and hers’ deserts, suggested by the caterers, for something unique. Each place setting had two spoons to share. The evening food was a hog roast, cooked by a wedding guest, and served by the bride’s brother. Rebecca’s favorite aspect of the wedding food was the Cheese Room which was, you’ve guessed it, a room set aside for the serving and adoration of cheese! All the cheese was from a local shop to the Bride in Louth – Louth Cheese Shop . The cocktail bar, set up in the adjoining saloon, provided drinks from their favorite cocktail bars around the world.

Following their first dance to Nina Simone’s “My Baby Just Cares for Me”, the dance floor was full all night with a dance-off to top it off!

Rebecca and Rob, it was a long journey to get to the aisle and I am honoured to have shared it with you. You were probably my greatest fan (borderline stalker ha ah ha!) for the years you spent planning your wedding and I am delighted I was able to be your photographer. You created a beautiful wedding that was both elegant and relaxed and the perfect start to your married life together. Wishing you a beautiful future together!

Florist: Miss Pickering // Hair: James White // Make Up: Liza Smith // Dress Designer: Suzanne Neville // Band: Kelly Dickson // Catering: Lemon Zest , Louth Cheese Shop , KB Hog Roasts // Cocktail Bar: Bar Hire Company // Marquee: Wings Marquees // Stationary: Glasgow Press // Bride Dresses: Rosa Novias // Bridesmaid Dresses: Ami Elisah // Boy’s suits: Moss Bros // Ceremony and Reception Venue: Kelmarsh Hall