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Rhymes to Remember

Poems, quotes and artwork by Sally R. Wilkes

Categories: Wedding Inspiration

Feeling Festive

I think it’s fair to say that I’ve caught the styled shoot bug. My third styled shoot took place a few weeks ago, this time a Scandinavian Christmas wedding, set at Aston Hills Barn in Matlock. This one really got me in the festive mood and I’m sure you’ll see why!

A few years ago, my husband and I travelled to Finland just before Christmas and I was completely captivated by how magical it felt under the snow-capped trees. The only means of decoration they’d used were candles and fairy lights and yet it created the most romantic Christmas scene. It was this memory that inspired my poem titled “A Wintry Romance”, which in turn formed the basis for this shoot. 

Christmas is a time that’s full of magic and a Christmas wedding should be no different. I wanted to recreate the scene that inspired my poem to demonstrate that such magic doesn’t always have to involve tinsel and baubles. I pitched the idea to Bethan from Finishing Flourishes and together we came up with the idea of using elements from nature to transform the rustic barns at Aston Hill Farm into a winter wonderland. The barn was filled with pine trees and dusted with artificial snow. Playing on the literary aspect, Bethan also created some small pine tree table centrepieces from an old book. 

The magical wintry wedding dress made by Ryley and Flynn Vintage featured a delicate pearl and crystal trim along the neckline and around the waist, dramatic cape sleeves, a floor length circle skirt and a stunning train. A detachable cape veil with crystal clasps completed the look.

Two verses of my poem were delicately hand-lettered onto two tall fabric backdrops by The Handmade Sign Company and hung perfectly either side of the aisle. The stationery, created by The Cheshire Calligrapher, also featured snow-dusted spruce to create a quiet elegance for the invitation suite. The jewellery and hair accessories, handmade by Crzy Best, were inspired by the line “the pine trees were sprinkled with glitter” and sparkled beautifully just like snow. 

The simple yet elegant Scandinavian styled cake table from Little Chelly Cakes had just a hint of Christmassy red berry decoration and gold leaf. Perfectly complimenting the cake table were two pyrography wood slices with bespoke poems burnt by hand into the wood by Cowshed Creations. 

The models, Kiana and Tom, are a real-life couple who have been married for ten years and have five children. They said of the shoot, “The day was incredible. It reminded us of how much love we share for each other and how strong we have become over time. We had such a laugh together and this shoot has inspired us to renew our vows with our children accompanying us to mark how our love has grown.”

Rosanna Lilly perfectly captured the true to life emotions of the couple through her beautiful photography and Karl from Mitchell Films paired Scandinavian Christmas visuals with spoken poetry from myself to create a magical short film that brings both tears to my eyes and a smile to my face every time I watch it.

I’m excited to say that the shoot has now been published in Boho Weddings just in time for Christmas! So, all that’s left to say is Merry Christmas everyone and a very Happy New Year. 

All of my poems and quotes are protected under Copyright ©️ Sally R. Wilkes of Rhymes To Remember and are registered with The UK Copyright Service. They may not be reproduced in any form without my written permission. 

The full list of suppliers for this shoot is as follows:

Concept and coordination – Rhymes To Remember and Finishing Flourishes
Venue – Aston Hill Barns
Stylist and florist – Finishing Flourishes
Photographer – Rosanna Lilly
Videographer – Mitchell Films
Dress – Ryley And Flynn
Menswear – Blidworth Menswear
Hair and Makeup – Mazz Loxton
Poems and quotes – Rhymes To Remember
Fabric backdrops – The Handmade Sign Company
Body art – The Mobile Painting Parlour
Nails – Courtney Sherlock Beauty
Napkins – The Embroidered Napkin Company
Stationery – The Cheshire Calligrapher
Pyrography wood slices – Cowshed Creations
Earrings, necklace and hairpiece – CrzyBest
Cake – Little Chelly Cakes
Hand painted boots – Jodie Illustrates

[jetpack-related-posts]

About Sally R. Wilkes

Sally began writing poems in 2016 as a way of remembering moments with her newborn daughter. Rhymes To Remember was set up not long after this when requests started to flow in from friends and family who wanted poems written specifically for them or their loved ones. She has now written over five hundred rhymes for a wide range of individuals and businesses. Whether you are planning a wedding, celebrating another special occasion or trying to find the right words to remember someone special, Sally is able to create something truly meaningful and unique to you.

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“My bespoke poem for my wedding is everything I dreamed of and more. It’s so very special and I will treasure it forever. Thank you for understanding exactly what I wanted.”

"My grandparents were so touched with their poem, and everyone in the family has commented on how well Sally captured the essence of each of our relationships with them."

"I gave Sally a list of things that she did, memories, quirky things that only meant something to us. Sally took the time to speak to me and listen to the stories behind this list so that our poem would have meaning and not just be words on a piece of paper. The end result was amazing."

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Recent Blog Posts

  • Through The Lockdown Glass
  • Foxglove And Black
  • Believe; Inspire; Captivate
  • Feeling Festive
  • Love Will Always Win

As Featured In

Unconventional Wedding Top Blog 2021
As featured in Whimsical Wonderland Weddings
As featured in Rock My Wedding
As featured in B.LOVED
As featured in Want That Wedding
As featured in Belle Bridal Magazine
As featured in Love My Dress
Winner of Lux Life Global Wedding Award 2021
As featured in Unconventional Wedding
As featured in Magpie Wedding
As featured in Brides Up North
As featured in Save The Date Magazine
As featured in Green Union
As featured in Boho Weddings
As featured in The Celebrant Directory
As featured in Weddings Abroad Guide
As featured in Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine
As featured in From Brides With Love
As featured in Festival Weddings Magazine
As featured in 5 Star Wedding
As featured in Pretty & Punk

Follow @rhymes_to_remember on Instagram

… “OK I’ll go without you then.” When she …
“OK I’ll go without you then.”
When she throws a major strop.
I wouldn’t really leave her,
But the tantrums quickly stop!

“The Internet has broken,
Peppa Pig can’t play today.”
The annoying whingey, snorty voice.
That Pig can go away!

A child’s imagination,
Is a very powerful tool.
I like to have some fun with it,
But you may just think me cruel.

“Quick there’s a crocodile coming, 
It’s snapping at our feet.”
When she won’t climb up the bloody stairs,
This really works a treat!

If there’s a monster in the bedroom,
That just won’t go away,
I run in with some air freshener,
”I’ve got my monster spray!”

If your kids, like mine, won’t brush their teeth,
Here’s two porkies you can trial…
“The Grinch would never brush his teeth,
Now there’s bugs all in his smile.”

“There’s people who’ve lost all their teeth,
As they didn’t keep them clean.
Now all they eat is mushy peas.”
She soon changed her routine!

Finally, there’s the porkies,
If there’s something I don’t know.
She asks so many questions now,
And my brain is just too slow!

The other day she asked me,
Where do stars go in the day?
“Behind the clouds” I answered.
I had no clue what I should say!

I know that I’m a hypocrite.
I always say that lies are wrong.
And before too long she’ll figure out,
I’ve been lying all along 🙈

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I just found this amongst my scribbles and thought I’d share it. I wrote it for a parenting blog a couple of years ago 😆

#parenting #porkies #mumpoem #motherofdaughters #poetess #writer #donttell #lies #whoops #parentinghacks #mumlife #rhymes #kids
I can now officially announce that I’ve been cho I can now officially announce that I’ve been chosen as...

The UK Wedding Writer & Poet of the Year for 2022!!!

😃🎉🥂 

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#writer #weddingwriter #poet #weddingpoem #awardwinning #globalweddingawards #weddingvows #weddingspeech #poetess #luxlife #customwedding #weddingsupplier #rhymestoremember
I love the blanket of blue these little flowers cr I love the blanket of blue these little flowers create in a wood. Has anyone been to see any bluebells yet this Spring? Any recommendations for places to visit in Derbyshire?

I made these little fairy items using bark, moss and pressed leaves for a fairy themed wedding shoot last year. They now stand pride of place in my dining room display cabinet 😆

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#bluebells #bluebellwoods #fairydoor #fairies #magic #enchantedwoods #enchantedwedding #fairywedding #creativelife #innerchild #blueflowers #creativewriting #fairytale #woodland #woodlandwedding
Back in 2019, I was invited to write a series of s Back in 2019, I was invited to write a series of short rhymes that would form the basis of an Eco Warrior kit aimed at teaching kids how they can save the planet by taking care of their home and garden.

Shiri from @helpfulkidz provided me with the content for the rhymes and I actually learnt a lot myself whilst writing them. If you swipe across you can see the finished product. The designs have also been published as a book available through Amazon.

Shiri and I have remained in constant contact since then and have become really good friends 🥰 She inspires me on a daily basis with her passion and enthusiasm and has definitely had a big positive influence on how I now approach sustainability in both my work and home life 💜

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#ecowarrior #earthday #savetheplanet #sustainability #supportsmallbusiness #doyourbit #ecofriendly #ecofriendlyliving #wildlife #inspiredbynature #rhymes #rhymingpoetry #bees #wildlifegarden #selfpublished #author #collaboration #teamwork #friendship
Yep that’s me! Anyone else? I just love this qu Yep that’s me! Anyone else?

I just love this quote 😍

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#creative #creativelife #qotd #quoteoftheday #creativelifehappylife #innerchild #whoswithme #quoted #writer #artist #alwayscreating
Anyone who’s been following me for a while will Anyone who’s been following me for a while will know that I tend to get a little bit excited by anything magical and fairylike. So, when I saw the first few teaser photos for a new wedding venue not far from me, I immediately started following their account. 

A few months on and they have not disappointed. I think @royleforestweddings is one of the most enchanting venues I have ever seen! If you’re planning a wedding and haven’t sorted your venue yet then you just have to check this one out.

#fairytalewedding #outsidebride #weddingsupplier #weddingvenue #forestwedding #weddinginspo #magical #fairy #ibelieveinfairies #enchantedwood #derbyshireweddings #gettingmarried2023 #mrandmrs #engaged #weddingplanning

Copyright © Sally R. Wilkes 2016-2022. All work is registered with the UK Copyright Service - Registration No:284736160.

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