This post should come with a health warning if you’re remotely interested in fabric, stationery or craft. I speak as someone for whom it is already too late. My bank balance has already suffered huge losses (I like to think of them as investments) as a result of multiple purchases of beautiful material, papers, inks, paint and threads… all inspired by the amazing creations of this thoroughly lovely and talented bride….. meet Rebecca.

Not so long ago, Rebecca got in touch with me in a blind panic as her photographer had needed to cancel due to pregnancy and she had convinced herself that she wasn’t going to be able to find anyone else at such short notice. Luckily for both of us, I was able to step in and do it – lucky for Rebecca and James as it meant they got a photographer after all, and lucky for me as it meant that I got to photograph such an absolutely lovely couple and some of the most heavenly, lovingly and exquisitely crafted handmade details I have ever seen.

Rebecca is a trained weaver and general genius with anything crafty or homemade. The amount of love, time and skill she had poured into creating so many aspects of the wedding was astonishing. Crafted by her own fair hands (occasionally aided by lovely family and bridesmaids) were… are you sitting comfortably? Here we go… her gorgeous hand-stitched ribbon rose headband, the bridesmaids’ linen handkerchiefs embroidered with their names, the bridesmaids’ beautiful clutch bags, the beautiful wicker hearts hand-tied with ribbon in the church, the gypsophilia heart at the reception, the elegant orders of service, menus and place cards in corks, the candle and hydrangea bowl table centrepieces, the incredible ruffled lace cake topper, the chalk-numbered slate table markers, the homemade jam favours (homemade jam, homemade fabric covers, homemade tags!), the bags of sweets for the children and the cute-as-a-button camera labels.

Rebecca looked beautiful – the textures of her dress and accessories were so rich and really touchable (I’m quite a tactile person who loves texture, and when I was handling the dress and accessories for the detail shots I couldn’t get over how nice everything felt – Rebecca’s expert love of fabric really showed), and the ribbon rose headband she had made was just stunning. The bridesmaids’ dresses were absolutely beautiful. I loved the print and colour and how they tied in so perfectly with Rebecca’s accessories. They also seemed to fit perfectly with the time of year too – a mix of summery and autumnal, with the gorgeous pashminas on hand to combat the october chill creeping in. The lovely venue, Crosby Lodge, fitted perfectly with the day, with a really warm, intimate atmosphere.

For logistical reasons relating to another wedding the next day, the only way I was able to shoot Rebecca and James’ wedding was to leave at the wedding breakfast, so was unable to capture the evening shenanigans as I usually do. To ensure they didn’t miss out on pictures of the evening’s celebrations, Rebecca and James bought disposable cameras and attached fantastic luggage-style labels to them, all hand-stamped with that gorgeous purple doily stamp also used for the place markers, each saying “Be our Photographer!” on one side, with a photography-related quotation on the other side (every one different!) – I absolutely adored these.

It was a really amazing day, full of love and laughter, with a truly lovely couple who clearly adore one another. Thank you so much Rebecca and James for having me as part of your day, and thank you Rebecca for inspiring me to start hand-making lots more things. There’s no way I’ll make anything even remotely as gorgeous as you do, but I would be over the moon if they were even a fraction as good! Now where’s my Etsy login…?

For more of my wedding photography, see my wedding gallery

For more information about my wedding photography, see my wedding photography pages