You need to look at some Avoncroft Museum wedding photography. It’s a venue like no other!

Avoncroft Museum wedding photography is always super interesting! There is no venue out there quite like this one… I love it! The list of potential photo spots at Avoncroft Museum is as long as your arm. Any Bromsgrove wedding photographer would be spoilt for choice. Please have a look below to see just how special Kerry & Mike’s wedding was. Enjoy… 

Their Love Story

1) Please tell me how you first met? 
Both – We first met a long time before we started dating, at a friend’s birthday party doing Go Ape.  A typical Go Ape experience chatting in a group, occasionally grimacing and a lot of laughing at ourselves and each other!

2) When was it you knew they were the one? 
Mike – I asked Kerry out a long time afterwards when we were both single and loved that she was a very positive, cheery and outgoing person.  I think to start with we just enjoyed each other’s company and were happy being active outdoors and also watching films, and going to do artsy things and it grew from there.
Kerry – Once I started spending more time with Mike, I really didn’t want to leave. We lived far apart but our weekends together became so special and there were so many memorable moments and gestures. 

3) Could you give us the story of the proposal? 
Mike – I had been thinking about proposing for a while and then there was a point where the timing felt absolutely right and not to wait any longer.  I spent quite a bit of time asking close friends and wondering whether to be elaborate or stay romantic close to home (or even at home).  In the end, I decided to do what I thought I would originally which was to propose abroad, especially as we both love travelling and it would give us a time when we were relaxed.  We were due to go to Riga, Latvia, to visit one of my best men and his family and as we’d both been before I knew it would be a romantic place, we would have close friends to celebrate with and have a nice hotel and bars close by.  I originally thought I’d choose somewhere busy but wanted it to be just the two of us and carried the ring around debating the right place.  I thought this would be in a particular spot and that’s what worked out – I proposed on Bastion Hill in the park in the Old Town.  There was lots of snow and not many people but there was a man playing his trumpet which added a nice background.  We went and celebrated in the fittingly titled “Bar I Love You” and less obviously had dinner in a mediaeval-themed restaurant!

4) If you don’t mind sharing, can you tell me something quirky, funny or silly about your partner? Little habits, something they do… 
Mike – Kerry has a tendency (thankfully when you’ve seen her hangry) to have unseen to anyone hidden a little piece of cake or an apple somewhere in a bag which appears at unexpected moments!
Kerry – Mike can find a way to slip Star Trek analogies or metaphors into any conversation. If Captain Picard didn’t say it, it’s probably not worth knowing.
Mike – it isn’t.

5) What is your perfect day together?
Mike – Kerry is much more into theatre than me but I would say one of the best days was going to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – both parts in a day, with a nice meal and some drinks and stay in London.
Kerry – Mike and I both love escaping the rat race and being in the hills with our walking boots or mountain bikes. Solitude together. Bliss!

6) Apart from the obvious, what are you most looking forward to on your wedding day? 
Mike – Wearing a cilt (Welsh kilt) for the first time – I’m really pleased with how smart it feels and not having to wear a suit!
Kerry – Seeing how successfully I can dance in my dress and sparkly heels without resorting to flip-flops!

7) What was it that inspired you to go for the theme or the decor you chose for your wedding? 
There’s nothing like planning a wedding to make you realise that there are things you are certain about, indifferent about, and know absolutely nothing about. We considered various colour schemes and themes but then found that the venue itself helped hone our ideas. The venue offered the Great British ‘Afternoon Tea’ option as wedding breakfast which led us to look at British classics – roses, pastels, greens, pinks, bunting and lace. The venue dresser suggested using teacups as flower vases and quirky candelabras with teacups rather than candles. We both love to travel and plan to continue our adventures throughout our marriage – our table plan, table names, and wedding cake all have subtle travel-inspired themes which we hope bring a smile to our family and friend’s faces.

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 brides reading this blog?   
Mike – I’m going to answer this too!  If I could go back to the very start before the engagement, I had no idea how complex matching rings (metal, shape etc.) was. I could have done with knowing a lot more or perhaps going for the ‘proposal ring’ plan and waiting to buy one together option (though I really wanted to propose with “the” ring)!

9) When searching, what were you looking for in a wedding venue? 
After some discussion, we knew that we wanted our friends and family all there so despite lots of temptations around the UK and the world knew we wanted somewhere central to our homes (London and North Wales) and still close enough to our new home (Brum).  We looked at many venues, from DIY glamping teepee sites to glitzy hotels. We soon realised ‘too much DIY’ was going to be very challenging to plan and liable to the weather and ‘too glitzy’ would restrict our creativity and might blow the budget.  We started to look at barns and permanent marquees and finalised our budget.  We heard of the Avoncroft wedding fair through a friend and it sounded a strange idea never having visited.  When we did visit Avoncroft we loved it and knew it was ideal for us – a beautiful setting, a bit different, a nice mix of modern and vintage, a professional but equally friendly venue and an excellent location!  Plus the date we wanted was free which wasn’t a given at that point!

10) Could you tell me the process you went through when you were looking for a wedding photographer?
We saw a range of photographers at wedding fairs and Kerry was determined to find the right photographer who would capture the feel of the day and be right for the outdoor venue.  When we met Duncan at a wedding fair and Kerry spotted that he had photographed a recent friend’s wedding so beautifully and atmospherically, we both knew we had found what we were looking for and were very happy to ask him to be our photographer.  We love his style of photos, I really like a photographer not to stage too many photos which Duncan immediately emphasised and we loved how he captured the reactions and life of the celebrations.  So really this was one of the easier decisions when I’m sure it can be the most difficult one!

Vendor List

Photography |  Duncan Cox Photography 
Ceremony Location | St John’s Church, Bromsgrove
Reception Location | Avoncroft Museum
Florist | Petals of Droitwich at The Wedding House
Wedding DJ | The Beat Goes On (Darren Jones)
Dress Designer | Adrianna Papell
Wedding Dress Retailer | The Dressing Rooms, Halesowen
Other Details/Vendors |Bars on the Run (mobile bar); Complete Caterers (canapés, evening food); Formal Hire & Welsh Tartan Centres, Swansea (Groom’s party attire); Penny Lane Vintage Hire (Props); The Wedding House, Bromsgrove (table decor); Cakes by Karen, Worcester (wedding cake); Bromsgrove Model Railway (train rides); Magic Chalks (blackboard writing); WicibelMoon, Horsham (place settings); Hard to Handle (band); J.K. Limousines, Birmingham (wedding car and driver); Amelia Bourne Hair and Make-Up (Hair and Make-Up Artist)

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