Enchanting Woodland Wedding Photography at Umberslade in the West Midlands

What can I say about this wedding at Enchanting Woodland Weddings at Umberslade Adventure in the West Midlands (a little bit of a mouthful)? It’s bloomin’ AMAZING!! I have always wanted to photograph a wedding in the woods and I have to say, I absolutely loved it!
With a Woodland Wedding, it is a blank canvas. Everything is left to the imagination of the bride & groom…and Lucy & Andy let their minds run free and created what was a stunning, unique and super cool wedding to be proud of. I was walking around with a big smile on my face all day, feeling fortunate to be invited along to enjoy a wedding such as this. I hope you enjoy seeing it from my perspective too. 🙂 

I just wanted to add that, for this wedding, I was able to work with a couple of lovely, talented suppliers who knocked it out of the park with the work they produced. Lucy’s amazing hair was expertly styled by Sharon at C1 Bridal Hair Experts. Also, worth mentioning was the florist. Lisa at Lisa Flowers Floral Design did an exceptional job. Please go and take a look at her work! 

 

Their Love Story

1) Please tell me how you first met? 
We first met online – Andy was sunning himself in Thailand when we first starting speaking, and a few weeks of constant messaging back and forth led to our first date. I was living in Nottingham at the time and we met in front of ‘The Lions’. I remember being so nervous, having never attempted internet dating before. It was a baking hot day and whilst I was waiting (Andy was late as always), I was approached by a guy not wearing a top. My heart dropped thinking ‘Oh my God I have to at least go for a drink with him!” Luckily, it wasn’t my Andy, and when he turned up looking cool in his shades (and, thankfully, a top!) I was so relieved! Our first date was so much fun, and we managed to cram a lot into that evening, including quite a few drinks! The rest, as they say, was history!2) When was it you knew they were the one?
(Lucy) I knew Andy was the ‘one’ fairly early on. We first met on a Wednesday, and again on the Friday and Saturday. I just loved being in his company, from going out for drinks or hanging out at home. Andy’s such a lovely guy, he would give up his last pound to anyone who needed it, no questions asked. I remember we were at my flat in Nottingham, and I had cooked him dinner. Believe me, I am a terrible cook – I had attempted to impress him with my culinary skills and made a homemade pie. It was a disaster, there were bones in it and, following a disaster with the pepper shaker, whole peppercorns. It really was inedible, but Andy just laughed and ate it up! I went on holiday with one of my bridesmaids a few weeks after I had met Andy, and remember missing him terribly! I must have done Helen’s head in talking about him (Sorry Helen!), but when I came back and met Andy, it just felt like I was home. That’s when I knew.
(Andy) I can’t say that there was a moment, a one-off that made me realise, it just felt right from the word go and just kept getting better and better from there. A couple of dates in we were doing that trick where you blow Maltesers up in the air, then we were dancing on her couches whilst listening to her great taste in music and sinking more than the recommended daily allowance of booze. We just clicked straight away, I’ve never been comfortable in my own skin, yet since meeting Lucy I’ve not spent a day feeling uncomfortable.3) Could you give us the story of the proposal?
(Lucy) I had absolutely no idea Andy was going to propose. Early on during our trip to India, we had a phone call from my little sister, who had got engaged to her now-husband, on their holiday in Italy. I was so excited for her, but remember being grumpy with Andy because I was the last sister to get engaged – and I literally had no idea it had ever even crossed his mind. Looking back there were lots of signs, but I was totally clueless. When we first arrived, the first thing we did was change out of jeans and winter clothes (we went in October), and put on our summer things. Andy had stashed his jeans right at the bottom of his rucksack. I was looking for something and thought it would be in Andy’s jean pocket. I was rustling around until Andy came in from the bathroom and saw what I was doing. He grabbed the bag off me, and I remember him shouting at me to mind my own business and stay in my own rucksack. I was a little taken back, but just thought he was tired from the flight and remember joking with him about being a ‘stress head’. I can’t believe I didn’t know!
The proposal was out of this world! It was like something from a movie! Andy tells this story much better than I, so will leave the finer details to him.
(Andy) I knew I wanted to propose in India, but I had no real plan, I just wanted to wait for the right moment. One night towards the end of the trip, we had treated ourselves to a slightly nicer bit of accommodation, a hut on the beach that had tropical paradise written all over it (not literally!!!). I can’t remember what we were doing that day, but on the way back to the hut we picked up a bottle of wine and opened it up on the hut’s Varinder. There was (another) power cut in the village that night and a storm out to sea giving us the odd flash of light to add to the candlelit atmosphere. It was beautiful and as Lucy walked over to see down the beach if anyone else had power, I figured this could be my moment, I grabbed the ring and stuck it in my pocket. When we were both sat back down outside the hut, as if on cue, there were fireflies everywhere!! If this wasn’t the perfect moment I was waiting for I don’t know what was … one firefly started heading towards Lucy’s hand and as it flew away again (cue the cheese), I pulled out the ring, got on to one knee and said ‘if that won’t go on your hand, maybe this will??’4) If you don’t mind sharing, can you tell me something quirky, funny or silly about your partner?
(Lucy) Something funny, silly or quirky about Andy – where to start 😊 Andy has so many funny habits, it’s why I love him so much. From always picking up the guitar two minutes before we are about to leave the house, to opening his eyes and immediately thinking about breakfast. I have never met such a ‘fanny ann’, and his powers of procrastination are amazing. Andy is so laid back he is practically horizontal about most things, but he is such a perfectionist and if he is doing something he is passionate about, he puts his whole heart and soul into it.
(Andy) Lucy will spend an age weighing up two identical bags of chocolate until she is convinced she is buying the one with the most chocolates in. When Lucy’s tongue is hanging outside of her mouth, her concentration and coordination are both increased by 600%, she hums herself off to sleep each night and talks gibberish as she wakes, she holds the world record for speed when it comes to consuming chocolate … the list of quirks is endless, every one of them makes me love her more!!!5) What is your perfect day together?
Our perfect day together is probably going on a mini adventure in The Colonel (Andy’s camper van). When the sun is shining we love nothing better than to pack a bag and a bottle of wine and head out, with no idea where we are going. We both love the Countryside and often end up in rolling green fields. Just walking, talking and laughing is how we love to spend our time. Oh and obviously the obligatory trip to any nearby beer gardens!6) Apart from the obvious, what are you most looking forward to on your wedding day? 
Apart from the obvious, we are most looking forward to sharing our love with our friends and family. Andy and I have worked really hard at planning and doing much of the wedding ourselves. Apart from the flowers, and the evening food, everything else we have done. We are looking forward to all we have talked about and planned come to life, and to share this day with our friends and family.7) What was it that inspired you to go for the theme or the decor you chose for your wedding? 
We both knew that we wanted something relaxed and not too formal. We also knew that we wanted to make it our own, and were keen to put our individual touches on every part of the day. We knew that we would be looking for something that isn’t traditional, and with our love of the countryside knew we wanted to incorporate this in some way. I think initially we were thinking of more festival themed, as we both love going to festivals and the relaxed and laid back atmosphere you find there. We were looking at hiring campsites and went to see this one campsite which had a little woodland area. That place wasn’t right for us, but we were hooked on holding the wedding in a wood. It took us ages to find the place, as it wasn’t advertised as a wedding venue at all, but when we did, it fitted what we were looking for perfectly.8) Please tell me one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your wedding planning process, that you could pass on to future bride’s reading this blog?  
(Lucy) We knew what we wanted for our day, but it’s so easy to get caught up in what a wedding should and shouldn’t look like, and what ‘has’ to happen on the day. Just do what feels right for you, and remember that the day is about your love and commitment to each other.
(Andy) I would say to give the man the budget, and have the balls to tell your fiancé no when she gets carried away!9) When searching, what were you were looking for in a wedding venue?
The location didn’t play a massive part, as with friends and family all over the place. We were looking for a wood though, and when we finally found our venue it was perfect, smack bang in the middle between Birmingham (where Andy is from) and Oxfordshire (where Lucy is from). When we went to the woods it was in the heart of winter, and probably wasn’t looking it’s best. But we just loved its rustic charm and could imagine all we talked about taking place here.10) Could you tell me the process you went through when you were looking for a wedding photographer?
We knew that wedding photography would be a really important part of our wedding, and this was one of the first things we looked into. Andy is a really good photographer and knows a good picture when he sees one. We loved the photojournalistic style of photography and wanted someone who could tell the story of the day, right from the start to the end. We came across Duncan Cox Photography when looking online, and when we saw his pictures could see how talented he was. We love the expressions he has managed to capture on people’s faces and his work with natural light. We thought his work would fit perfectly with the light in the woods, and after meeting him, we both knew straight away he was right for us.

Vendor List

Photography |  Duncan Cox Photography 
Ceremony & Reception Location | Chalcot Wood, Enchanting Woodland Weddings (aka Umberslade Adventure) near Solihull
Florist | Lisa Hicks
Wedding Planner | Lucy & Andy 😊
Wedding Band – A Different Thread
Dress Designer | Ian Stuart
Wedding Dress Retailer | Proposals – Witney

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