How to Have a Luxurious, Laid-back Gloucestershire Wedding

Finding the perfect Gloucestershire wedding venue When you choose a Cotswolds wedding, you've got chocolate-box villages and rolling, peaceful countryside on your doorstep. That makes it a brilliant idea to choose a wedding venue that makes the most of your stunning setting. This could be a country house venue, with spacious grounds or gardens for you to spill out into. It could also be that you choose a Cotswolds marquee wedding venue, which can be really magical. Hire a marquee that has large windows or a trendy, side-less stretch tent to bring the outside in. Your views from the venue will be elegant and unforgettable, while the space means you can enjoy a touch of alfresco entertaining, which is wonderfully relaxed.

From your wedding photos to your wedding venue, entertainment and flowers, check out these five steps to plan your dream relaxed Gloucestershire wedding.

Picking relaxed wedding flowers It goes without saying that you want your Gloucestershire wedding to wow your guests and one way to instantly make an impression is with your flowers. I love to photograph all those lovely details, from the trailing ribbon that ties your bouquet to the dainty reception blooms. To give your wedding flowers a relaxed feel, try an asymmetric or hand-tied design. Arrangements like this will work the 'freshly picked' style to the max, making them super dreamy without becoming overly formal. Greenery garlands can also be a brilliant way to add an informal touch.

Creating a laid-back line-up Your Cotswolds wedding is going to be one big celebration, so plan your entertainment carefully. There are lots of ways to make your wedding reception feel relaxed and fun with a casual flair - try roaming musicians at your drinks reception, an acoustic performance for your first dance, a brass band to play you out of the ceremony, whatever you like just make it fun and personal. Music adds so much atmosphere so make sure you put plenty of thought into how you can incorporate it into your day.

Planning an informal feast Having photographed so many incredible weddings in Gloucestershire, I've spotted more than a few tasty ideas for your wedding breakfast. Kick things off in a relaxed style with canapés inspired by comfort foods (miniature fish and chip cone, anyone?). Hungry guests will love to tuck into these treats. When the time comes to take your seats for the wedding breakfast, you can still savour a three-course meal while adding a more relaxed twist. How about asking your venue for a carve-it-yourself banquet, so when the roast or barbecue joint is brought to the table, a guest can do the honours of carving? Don't forget that your family and friends will appreciate the chance to refuel in between stints on the dance floor, too. Laden tables are a laid-back way to do this, and they're easy to organise, too. Simply ask your caterers to create a table overflowing with cheese, chutney and crackers, pork pies, fruit, cakes and sweet treats for guests to snack on while socialising.

Capturing relaxed wedding photos The thought of being on camera can feel formal or intimidating, especially if you've not been photographed often before. But it doesn't need to be! As a Gloucestershire wedding photographer, I love to work with couples on an engagement shoot before their big day. This gives us all a chance to get to know each other and get a feel for what it's like being behind the camera, so when the big day comes, it's a breeze. You can also plan your wedding photograph list to suit a more relaxed approach. We don't have to spend an hour taking formal group photographs if that's not what you want. In fact, I'm a wedding photographer who loves to tell the story of your day, photographing each moment as it happens, as well as more posed photos. This documentary style means relaxed images are guaranteed! During your couples portrait session I'll gently guide you, I'm not going to just plonk you in a field and expect you to know how to pose in front of the camera! I'll find beautiful locations and give gentle guidance into positions that feel comfortable for you and then it is about stepping back and letting the moment and emotions take over.