Emma & Pete’s “Enchantment Under the Sea Dance” & A Big Fat Surprise Wedding

March 30, 2011 in British Brides, Wedding by Kat | 88 comments

I honestly don’t know where to begin describing Emma & Pete’s wedding to you all. From the reaction to just the sneak peek post (epic) that I put up last week, I know pretty much the whole of blog-land has been eagerly awaiting to see this wedding too and so I’m pretty flipping honoured that not only was I invited (and let into the secret that it was a surprise wedding!) but that Emma & Pete have allowed me to share it with you all. I have the best job in the world.

So, in January I got a call from my friend Emma Case. Emma & Pete have been engaged for like…forever…since before we even met in fact, but still hadn’t made any plans for actually getting married. I guess that with Emma being a ridiculously busy and successful wedding photographer, all their weekends were always booked up with other people’s weddings! Also, the fact that Emma has quickly become so well known for shooting the raddest Rock n Roll weddings out there, the couple said they almost felt a bit of pressure to make sure their wedding was as ‘cool’ as the weddings they shot…as well as being different. No pressure then!

Anyway as I was saying, Emma called me at the beginning of the year to discuss her 30th birthday plans. She was having a big party on the 19th March and I had had had to be there. “Of course I’m there, I wouldn’t miss it for anything!” I replied. “Good,” Emma said, “cos me and Pete are gonna get MARRIED…and it’s gonna be a SURPRISE!”

Oh. my. God…

“Me and Pete had been happily engaged for about 3 years…” Emma told me this week, “but any time we talked about getting married we ended up arguing… we knew that we wanted something that reflected us but we’d start talking about who to invite, table plans etc and we were quickly getting fed up… the question ‘Why are we doing it if it’s such hard work?’ usually stopped any further discussion. Also we were shooting amazing and creative weddings pretty much every week so all of our concentration was on other people’s days… which was great but it meant that it was quite hard deciding on how ‘we’ wanted to do it… and without copying all of my couples who have flippin’ fantastic weddings!”

“In January a good friend of ours Anthony came round and we chatted about my 30th birthday party… Anthony joked that we could get married in the afternoon and have a party on the night… we all joked about it even mentioning a 50’s prom theme based on the ‘Enchantment Under the Sea Dance’ from Back to the Future and then when Anthony left we started to talk about it seriously and we weren’t arguing! But we wanted it to be a surprise. We get asked when we’re getting married a lot and people would then say how amazing it’s gonna be (because of all the gorgeous weddings we luckily get to shoot) so I started to feel a bit of pressure. I also didn’t want to be going on about ‘our’ wedding all the time… I kind of just wanted to get on with it without the fuss… a little bit like being behind the camera I suppose…”

Emma & Pete are one of those enviably and naturally awesome couples and I have to say I wouldn’t have expected anything less from them. Emma’s ‘birthday party’ was a 50′s ‘enchantment under the sea dance’ prom theme and guests were ask to come in their vintage finest…which we all did of course. Both Emma & I wore dresses from our favourite vintage dress shop, Fur Coat No Knickers (Em also wore a blue prom dress to keep the fact that it was a wedding secret, which she found at The Wedding Club in Birmingham.)

Halfway through the evening Emma disappeared and went to get changed into her wedding dress. Their friend Joe stood on the stage and asked us all to split onto either side of the room (making an ‘aisle.’) He then informed the confused crowd that we had all been brought to the party under false pretences. ‘Hide & Seek’ by Imogen Heap kicked in. Pete stepped on stage and 3 girls carrying bouquets walked down the aisle followed by a very nervous but excited looking Emma with her dad.

It was an incredible moment.

People were whooping and cheering and in front of me I could hear a gaggle of girls screaming “NO WAAAAY!” Our friend Chris turned to me and mouthed “OI! Did you know?!” and finally I was allowed to share that I’d been in on the secret the whole time!

Once the cheering had died down Joe informed us all that Emma & Pete had gone to the registry office earlier in the day and got hitched, followed by a canal boat lunch/reception with their family. They now wanted to say their vows, which they wrote themselves, in front of all of us. The short ceremony was beautiful.

Emma cried.

Pete cried.

I cried.

All my friends around me cried.

The couple danced to ‘Home’ by Edward Sharpe & The Magic Zeros and we all joined in. I ran to hug the couple as soon as I could (and Pete squeezed me so hard that one of my straps broke on my dress…he was THAT excited!) We danced like loons and I spent waaay too much time in the photo booth.

At 11pm taxis came to pick us up and the hardcore partiers headed to a nightclub in the city centre where we drank until 3am and sang karaoke (badly…) The night was rounded off by 6 off us in a curry house at 4am…I’m not sure who’s brilliant idea that was but it was kind of the perfect way to end a totally Rock n Roll night.

(More photo booth photos after the ‘jump’ – in the gallery. If you have the opportunity to do a photo booth at your own wedding that do it! It was HILARIOUS!)

Emma & Pete wanted to do their wedding their way. They didn’t want the ‘industry pressure’ of having the coolest or most out there wedding (yes there can be pressure even if you don’t want a traditional wedding!) Yet in getting married in the way they did, they inadvertently organised the coolest wedding of them all.

To Emma & Pete – seriously guys, words can’t express how happy I am for you. You are perfect for each other and I love you so bloody much.

Be sure to watch this short 16mm film by Cine8 too (with sound). I’ve already watched it about 5 times. I love our happy dance at the end!

Thank you so much Emma & Pete for not only inviting me to be a part of your special day, but for letting me be the VERY lucky wedding blogger who gets to share you awesome wedding with the world. Big love to photographers Steve & Joanna and videographers Cine8 for sending over their beautiful images and film too.

Go check out Emma’s blog post for her side of the story & some awesome polaroids. Steve’s blog post & Jo’s blog post have also got more photo goodness if the 186 photos in my blog post isn’t enough!

(See file names of each image to see who shot what…there are so many photos which may be slow to load due to the amount of people that I know have been dying to see this wedding. I couldn’t cut down any more to please bear with it!)

Photography Credit: Steve Gerrard Photography & Joanna Brown Photography

iPhone/Hipsmatic Images: Ashton Jean Pierre Photography

Video Credit: Cine8

Ceremony Venue: Birmingham Registry Office

Lunch Reception Venue: Away2Dine (Canal Boat)

Surprise Wedding Reception Venue: Rowheath Pavilion, Bournville

Bride’s Wedding Dress: Fur Coat No Knickers, London

Bride’s Blue Prom Dress: The Wedding Club, Birmingham

Bride’s Headband: WhichGoose

Bride’s Shoes: Rachel Simpson (white pair) & Beyond Retro (brown, vintage pair)

Groom’s Suit: Topman

Groom’s Shirt: Beyond Retro

Groom’s Brogues: Office

Groom’s Tie/Bowtie: Topman/Converse

Bridesmaid Dresses: eBay/Cath Kitson/Vivien of Holloway

Cake/Dessert Table: Boutique Bakery Company

Flowers: In Bloom, Birmingham

DJ: Friends

Balloons: Balloon Away, Kings Heath

Tags: 1950s, British, budget wedding, DIY, emma case, Etsy, fur coat no knickers, Polaroid, Short dress, Super 8, Surprise, surprise wedding, UK, Video, Vintage

88 comments so far

Comments feed for this article

Trackback link: http://www.rocknrollbride.com/2011/03/emma-petes-enchantment-under-the-sea-dance-a-big-fat-surprise-wedding/trackback/

anna on March 30, 2011 at 11:49

Cuteness! I love you guys xxxx
Steve Gerrard on March 30, 2011 at 11:33

Amazing Day! Amazing couple! Amazing wedding! So glad I got to witness it first hand. Love these guys
Chris Bartow on March 30, 2011 at 11:39

“Marty! If your parents don’t have their first kiss at their wedding, you will cease to exist!”

Amazing!
amy f on March 30, 2011 at 11:40

Jeeez I actually cried reading this, first time I’ve done that on a blog. Massive congratulations Emma and Pete, it’s all beautiful beyond words and what a set of pics!
Lauren on March 30, 2011 at 11:44

I don’t even know Emma and Pete but after seeing all the sneak peeks, reading their stories about how they met and generally having my Twitter feed filled with their names, I have shed a tear every time I’ve seen photos. These photos just ooze love and happiness and I’m so pleased their day was as perfect as they are.

I hope they are both at the RnR party next month so I can congratualte them personally. Congratulations to the both of you.
Eve on March 30, 2011 at 11:44

fan- bloody-tastic xx
Kat on March 30, 2011 at 11:46

yes Lauren they will be!
Lisa Devlin Photography on March 30, 2011 at 11:55

Awwwhhh to the wedding photos ~ stunning…. but I am very busy laughing at the Photo Booth. My god, we all love a prop don’t we? ACE night guys, when are we gonna do it all again? Oh yeah the 14th, can’t wait xxxxxxxxx
Lou at Whimsical Wonderland Weddings Blog on March 30, 2011 at 11:55

Well.. what can i say, it was so worth the wait! Such an amazing day, the film has me in tears where Pete see’s Emma, so so sweet. Huge congratulations guys!!! I’m green with envy

That photobooth pic of Lee, Dani and Chris – flipping hilarious!! HAHA!!

xxxx
Kat on March 30, 2011 at 12:02

Lisa – woohoo rock n roll bride party! cant wait to do it all again!
Abbie - Tattybojangles on March 30, 2011 at 12:03

OMG Danielle Barber!
Cathie Heart on March 30, 2011 at 12:10

Oh this is just too darn sweet and gorgeous and breath taking in its fabness. Its so wonderful to be able to laugh and cry at the same time at the sheer happiness in this. LOVE IT!!
Monika Grzybowska on March 30, 2011 at 12:14

What a fantastic wedding! wow! I love it!! Steve Gerrard took amazing photos!!!!
Chantelle on March 30, 2011 at 12:19

This has made me bawl at Uni! Hahahaha! (I’m a fine art student) I am soooooooo incredibly awed and amazed by this wedding. You look beautiful, your ring is beautiful! I am getting married here and have never seen the venue look so awesome too! (Can I steal your ideas with the pompoms? How were they attached? I was going to have them drape across but they look soooooooo much better your way!!!) I brought the same frames in pink too then saw this! Thankyou for sharing your wedding! Makes me feel so proud and excited for my day that such an amazing photographer was married at my venue too.
Ashton Jean-Pierre on March 30, 2011 at 12:20

Coolest post I have seen ever!! Thanks, Kat for posting Hipstamatic photos here! Pentax wouldn’t be happy! Ha!

Well done, Steve and Jo!
Tracy Morter on March 30, 2011 at 12:35

Oh wow how amazing! The dance floor kiss is just epic!
Lucy on March 30, 2011 at 12:47

Amazing!! Amazing couple. Amazing friends. Amazing day. Amazing night. AMAZING PHOTOS – great job Steve and Jo!!! We were so happy to be there and be a part of it. Congratulations Em and Pete xxxxxxxxx
Charis Warrell on March 30, 2011 at 12:50

amazing! love it all. well done Steve, Jo, Ashton and Cine8 and of course…. Mr and Mrs Smyh… we salute you! x x just so great looking back through again, warm feelings in my heart x xo&c
Corinne on March 30, 2011 at 12:51

What a gorgeous wedding and a gorgeous couple – the video made me cry!
Martin Pemberton on March 30, 2011 at 12:52

Congratulations to Emma & Pete – such a great story.
Fantastic images of the day captured so well by Steve and Joanna.
I know there’s lots of love heading there way but having never met the guy – how cool is Pete?!?
alex on March 30, 2011 at 13:18

wow such an amazing wedding – even my fiance thought it was great and he’s not usually interested – must be as he’s a massive back to the future fan :-p
what a gorgeous couple wish them all the best
xxx
Lauren Clark on March 30, 2011 at 13:18

AWESOME!!!!! Emma is so beautiful!! And i think looking at the amazing photos that they couldnt have organised a more perfect wedding, well done guys.
Many Congratulations xx
joanna on March 30, 2011 at 13:22

fab but I biased… love these guys and the day was out of this world. thanks love it mrs pink. love Mr & Mrs Smyth. x x
chantale@labellebride on March 30, 2011 at 13:24

This is sheer perfection! Congrats Emma! xoxox
Lou Liddy on March 30, 2011 at 13:26

Awwwww looks like an AWESOME day
Amazing pics xxx
Charley @ London Bride on March 30, 2011 at 13:35

I’ve been glued to each and every sneak peek, facebook tag, and twitpic that I’ve seen and it’s SO amazing to finally see it all together. Loved your write up Kat, can only imagine that’s a taster of the actually night. *Sob* that I wasn’t there…

Emma for someone who’s usually behind the camera you really ought to get in front of it more – it soooo loves you. Cutest. Bride. Ever. You look like a little fairy going through the woods in your ‘first look’ pictures.

Pete, loving the slicked back look – you boy look seriously dapper.

Photobooth is HILARIOUS loving seeing so many of the fab people I chat to over email and twitter on screen letting the hair (or dresses!) down.

Well done to Joanne & Steve – I can’t imagine two better people to have captured the day!

Many congratulations Mr & Mrs Smyth!
Charley xoxox
Gemma on March 30, 2011 at 13:37

Beautiful. Fact! I love that it was a huge suprise. Just looking at those photos you can see the huge amount of love between Emma & Pete :,-)
Charley @ London Bride on March 30, 2011 at 13:38

Eeep typo – meant JoannA
Nic Jones on March 30, 2011 at 13:39

What a smashing wedding, and a corking blog. Despite working in wedding world I rarely get inspired to do the deed myself… Now I want to! I want a surprise wedding, what a riot.
Congratulations Emma and Pete here’s to you dudes!
Carly on March 30, 2011 at 13:40

gorgeous wedding, what a beautiful bride I cannot stop looking at the gorgeous pictures
Philip Casey on March 30, 2011 at 13:50

Simply perfect uniqueness! You did an amazing job @RocknRollBride, Where can I find those vintage filters you used???
Tenielle on March 30, 2011 at 13:51

Such a lovely couple, in every sense. Without knowing them, I can still see that they’re humble, tender-hearted sweeties. They had a seriously spectacular wedding, but it’s also so lovely to see them concentrating on the most important part of the day, their committment to each other. Congratulations, you two are gorgeous. NOW – come visit us in Oz so we can share a beer and more floordrobe stories.

Love T xo
Elizabeth Gall on March 30, 2011 at 13:52

Gorgeous gorgeous wedding – absolutely love how personal it is, and the video is fantastic! congratulations! xxx
Bridal Jewellery on March 30, 2011 at 14:12

What an absolutely perfect way of getting married….love it!! It’s so easy to get carried away with what everyone else wnats you to do for your big day and not so easy to stick to your guns and do it your way…well done Emma and Pete-you def did it your way!!
Liz Gayther on March 30, 2011 at 14:58

Hi Emma and Pete

That’s what a wedding should be like – loads of fun a hassle free. Emma, you look beyond beautiful. Joanna, I knew you were the right one for the job, and this has confirmed it. You’re hired (as soon as I’ve had this baby).

x
evie on March 30, 2011 at 15:03

omg that was so totally amazing (i cried) brilliant xxx
Josephine on March 30, 2011 at 15:10

iv been like teary & just overboard happy just going over all this..so happy for Emma and Pete! and weird that im missing my own wedding hahahaa wanna get marrieeed again LOL ;p
–
and oh , replaying countless times that great wedding video ever! ;p
–
and ever ever lovely post Kat! xxx
Kathryn @WillowTreePhotography on March 30, 2011 at 15:46

Love the video!! Too cute! And the song is great!
Annamarie Stepney on March 30, 2011 at 16:04

Love it all, and that little vid is the cutest ever..especially your little girly dance together at the end! hehe Fab work to all involved x
Sara on March 30, 2011 at 16:14

I rarely read blogs and I certainly don’t comment on them but… I just had say how amazing this day looks. Such beautiful people, outfits, photos, video and friends. WOW…. brought a tear to my eye and I don’t even know them!

Congratulations!

Sara x
Wedding Sparrow on March 30, 2011 at 16:14

What a beautifully personal wedding! Love the fact they never caved in to peer pressure and did it their way (the RocknRoll way!). Congratulations Pete and Emma x
Debbie Carlisle on March 30, 2011 at 16:31

Lovely lovely Emma and Pete, what incredible pictures of an incredible day… and an incredible couple!

Steve, Joanna, Ashton and Cine8 – you totally caught the essence of the day, and their love. And made me cry a teensy bit again.

Oh and the photo booth pictures are totally hilarious! It was so much fun to do, and I don’t even like having my pic taken. I’m seriously going to start practising better poses for the Rock n Roll Bride party!

Absolutely the wedding of the year.

xxx
Bowie Bride on March 30, 2011 at 16:33

I am gushing over this!! What an enormously special way to get married! Gorgeous photos. Gorgeous couple. And holy cow those photo booth shots had me cracking up! Y’all are too fun. Can I come party with you????!!! xoxo
Angharad on March 30, 2011 at 16:34

This just made me cry! So lovely and romantic and above all genuine.
sarah on March 30, 2011 at 16:58

It’s the Back to the Future ref that takes this on to a whole new level of cool! Congrats the the super cute couple xx
Kat on March 30, 2011 at 17:08

Britt – please come party with us!!! we’re doing it all again at my Rock n Roll Bride party in April. Too short notice to fly over to London from LA?
Sophie Day on March 30, 2011 at 17:24

Not quite a tear – it made me smile in a way I’d forgotten how to though.
Truly cute, tender and delightful. Just like the happy couple

Love the sepiated 70s style photos in particular – how were they done? Should I ask Steve or Joanna? XXXX
michelle gunton on March 30, 2011 at 17:26

The photo booth pictures really cracked me up, but I really loved the first dance smokey picture.
Sassy on March 30, 2011 at 17:32

OMG AH MAY ZING!!!!!

Ok my socks are well and truely blown off!!

Congrats to you both and and to Steve, Joanna and the lovely boys from Cine8….you have all done a totally incredible job!!

xx
Emily Quinton on March 30, 2011 at 17:45

At last enough of my children are asleep and I get to see them!
I am crying again of course. Just totally beautiful images of a totally beautiful couple.
Big love xxxxx