Editor loves and inspiration

Sophie and Graham met through her mother. “As cliché as it sounds, we fell in love at first sight,” says Sophie. “Graham worked with my mother, and we met at her leaving do. We fell in love over jelly and ice cream. The day we met, I went home and told my family I was going to marry him.”

Graham proposed during lockdown. “We were meant to fly out to Iceland; however, the flights were cancelled as we went into lockdown that day,” shares the bride. “Graham decided he couldn't wait any longer and popped the question in our living room. I cried a lot and was very surprised.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yourwestmidlands.wedding/free-download

Kara Owen from Kara-Mia Venue Styling worked with a team of local suppliers to create this beautiful styled shoot. “We were inspired by cool black-tie weddings and the champagne tower trend,” says Kara. “Black and white with touches of champagne and purple made for a striking colour palette. We wanted this shoot to be fun and it really was!”

See more from the shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yourwestmidlands.wedding/free-download

Brockencote Hall Hotel, an enchanting wedding venue in Worcestershire, is hosting a wedding showcase on 20th November and 12th December between 4pm and 8pm. The events will provide guests with the chance to meet with Brockencote's award-winning events and weddings team and experience guided tours of the spaces and facilities on offer to help shape their dream wedding.

The Victorian manor house is set within 70 acres of stunning parkland, has French-inspired architecture, and 21 bedrooms in the main manor house, all of which are elegantly decorated with luxurious furnishings and plush fabrics, representing the country estate splendour of the hotel.

Staci Williams, the wedding and events manager, said: “Brockencote's idyllic Worcestershire setting makes it a dream venue for weddings, whether it is a small reception, a civil celebration, or a big event, and events like these are a great chance to get to know the venue. We work with a range of suppliers who are handpicked and highly recommended and are able to talk through the various options for couples at the early stages of planning.”

See more local news in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yourwestmidlands.wedding/free-download

Nicole and Sam met during a night out in Coventry in 2015. “Sam arrived with a friend of mine, and we instantly clicked,” says Nicole. “I was drawn to his upbeat personality and sense of humour. Sam was always the loudest in the room; he was never afraid to laugh at himself, and he was so kind. He was drawn to my smile and my sense of humour. He's always been able to make me smile. We talked all night and laughed a lot. Eventually we swapped numbers and started as friends before becoming a couple in June 2016.”

Sam popped the question during a holiday in Wales. “Before we went, Sam told me not to get over excited as he wasn't going to propose while we were away,” shares the bride. “We had just had our sixth anniversary, so I was hoping for a ring soon! We went on a walk down to a waterfall with our puppy, Albie. When we got there, he insisted on walking underneath it. Once under the waterfall, Sam got down on one knee and proposed!”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yourwestmidlands.wedding/free-download

Choosing your photographer is one of the most important decisions you will make when planning your wedding. The first thing you should do is decide on a style that you like. There are plenty of photographers out there, and everyone's style is different; you'll need to narrow it down to what you like and don't like. Some photographers prefer to take relaxed, documentary pictures that are captured in an unobstructive manner with limited group and posed shots. While others have a more traditional style with more posed snaps. Work out what feels right for you and fits the vibe of your big day. To help give you some inspiration, we've Abigail May Photography to share one of her favourite images.

See more from our Photography feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yourwestmidlands.wedding/free-download

Hair stylist Claire Hateley tells us what hair style will work best with an off-the-shoulder wedding dress.

"Most brides with off-the-shoulder wedding dresses prefer a hair style that leaves their shoulders bare and is softer in appearance. Shoulders are quite often given a soft glow by make-up artists to highlight them, so it would be a shame to cover them. Consider a soft chignon, a classic low bun, or, for a look that is more boho, a low-textured soft bun with front framing pieces and hair at the nape left out.

"Something to consider with an off-the-shoulder dress is veil placement. A single long, cathedral-length veil will naturally fall behind the shoulders, whereas a two-tier or fingertip veil will sometimes hide your shoulders. To help eliminate this, you can place the veil in a lower position to help it stay behind your shoulders."

See more top tips in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yourwestmidlands.wedding/free-download

Kerry and Scott met 16 years ago. “I was attracted to Scott's sense of humour; if you ask Scott what he was attracted to, I'm pretty sure he would say my behind,” laughs Kerry. “Scott proposed in October 2020 with the help of our eldest son. We were at home, and Scott got our eldest to spell out 'marry me' in wooden letters, and then they presented me with a ring.

"We chose The Orchard at Munsley because it's a beautiful venue that we could personalise to make our own," adds Kerry. "It felt very relaxed, which reflected us as a family, and Jayne, who owns the venue, made us feel like we had been friends with her for a lifetime."

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yourwestmidlands.wedding/free-download

The inspiration for this shoot came from Bourton Hall, where Caroline Stokes from Palm & Peony Flowers was amazed by the contrasting dark wood staircase and the bright façade of the chapel. “I knew that each of these spaces would look stunning filled with colour,” adds Caroline. “The Italian Renaissance style doors were calling out to be shrouded in rich summer florals. We chose a timeless, summer glamour theme, and each of the suppliers contributed to the sense of elegance. The florals were the star of the show, with rich pinks, corals and oranges paired with soft peaches and blush used throughout. Having two female models meant that we could show two looks that embodied the theme; the first was a sexy vibe in sleek satin with sultry waves and a smoky eye, and our second model wore sparkles and a low bun with shimmering skin for a more youthful look. The layering of colour and texture were important in the Banqueting Hall, so we chose a grand, floral centrepiece and golden table linen to contrast the pink glassware and modern stationery.”

See more from the shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yourwestmidlands.wedding/free-download

Louisa and Sam met in their college's library. “I was obsessed from the moment I saw him, and he loved my curly, ginger hair,” says Louisa. “Our relationship blossomed, and on our seventh anniversary, Sam proposed at The Roseate Villa in Bath. It was the first city we visited as a couple, and the proposal was the most beautiful surprise. Sam used a photo book of all our memories over the seven years we had spent together to ask the question. It was so personal, and the photo album is something we often get out to look back at our wonderful memories together.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yourwestmidlands.wedding/free-download

We love flowers here at Your West Midlands Wedding, but with so many gorgeous blooms to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming. To give you some ideas, we asked Dean Sharpe more about his company.

"I always had a creative flair growing up and a real passion for flowers, but it wasn't until I turned 30 that I decided I wanted to work in floristry. I'd had various jobs prior to becoming a trained florist, generally involving some form of creativity, but once I began my floristry training, I knew that this was going to be the industry I wanted to remain in. I studied at the amazing Moreton Morrell College, then opened my business in 2017, which has continued to grow from strength to strength."

See more from our Flowers feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yourwestmidlands.wedding/free-download