Contemporary & Elegant Wedding at Kew Gardens Cottage with berry shades and blossoms by Claire Graham Photography | b.loved weddings | UK Wedding Blog & Inspiration for Pretty Contemporary Weddings | Wedding Planner & Stylist
Contemporary & Elegant Wedding at Kew Gardens Cottage with berry shades and blossoms by Claire Graham Photography | b.loved weddings | UK Wedding Blog & Inspiration for Pretty Contemporary Weddings | Wedding Planner & Stylist
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Gemma & James: Berry & Blossoms
Written by: louise
Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2014
As well as receiving beautiful submissions, it really makes my day when I spot a talented team of my favourite suppliers have been involved in creating the most perfect wedding for their couple! Gemma and James' Kew Gardens wedding was inspired by contemporary elegance, and their choices from venue to florist to photographer were flawless throughout! Gemma's Ritva Westenius gown is sheer beauty, Ritva's classic style shining through in sleek and simple silhouette with just the perfect amount of lace. She carried a cascading bouquet of orchids created by Pollen Nation who really deserves a special mention for the incredible berry-toned flowers throughout their day. Their celebration was captured perfectly by Claire Graham, who's elegant fine art style complimented the couple's throughout.
James and I met at university and have been together for 15 years. We had talked about getting married a few times but had always been busy travelling, working, living abroad or buying a house to get round to it! In August last year James proposed and the timing was perfect. He planned a lovely day for us in London and as we got home he proposed with a beautiful ring. We had just enough time to phone our parents with the news before I was whisked away for an amazing dinner in Mayfair. 
My dress was from Ritva Westenius in London. I loved the elegant shape, and the embroidered lace across the bodice that then flows down just one side of the dress gave it a modern look unlike anything I had seen elsewhere. My hair is long at the moment so I decided to make the most of it and wear it down. Kasia Fortuna styled it into waves that were elegant and modern, and I added an accessory for some sparkle. I was nervous about my make up for the big day so called upon the expertise of Kristina Gasperas who brought out my eyes as the key feature of the make up. The bridesmaids wore pale green chiffon dresses from Coast, with silver shoes and shrugs. James wore a made to measure classic grey herringbone suit from Anthony Formalwear, with ivory satin waistcoat and tie and the groomsmen wore grey suits, with pale green waistcoats and ties to match the bridesmaid's dresses. 
We got married at Cambridge Cottage in Kew Gardens. We loved it as soon as we saw it. It's a beautiful suite of rooms and we also felt very much at home there. There is a private garden and as we were lucky with the weather we had champagne and canapés outside. Our guests then went on the 'Kew Explorer' for a short tour of Kew Gardens while we had photos in some beautiful spots in the gardens. Richmond Creative Event Catering did the food - it's visually amazing as well as really delicious. They were very helpful in all the planning and the staff so friendly on the day. We had many compliments! 
We wanted our wedding day to be contemporary, and elegant yet informal, choosing a soft green and flowers bringing splashes of pink. Our florist was Annie from Pollen Nation and she was fantastic. James and I always liked the idea of using orchids in the wedding. The gallery in Cambridge Cottage displays images of orchids and this first gave us the idea, and they are such elegant, striking flowers. We used pink orchids in tall arrangements to bring bold colour to the reception room, and I chose white orchids with a hint of pink for my bouquet. Drawing inspiration from the flowing embroidery of my dress Annie suggested using eucalyptus as the foliage for a trailing bouquet. We loved the idea and went on to choose its soft green colour for the bridesmaid dresses. 
We met our photographer, Claire Graham, at a wedding showcase. Her work really stood out to us because there is so much light in her photos that makes everything look so beautiful. Claire also really knows how to put you at your ease. It's a great feeling to be so confident in your wedding photographer! ***
Categories: real weddings · Tags: anthony formalwear, berry, blossom, cascade bouquet, claire graham, coast, fine art, glitzy secrets, green, kasia fortuna, kew gardens, kristina gasperas, marks & spencer, orchids, pink, pollen nation, rainbow club, red, richmond creative catering, ritva westenius, sage, spring
