Patricia & Jimmy

Featuring a mesmerising mix of dahlias, roses, leather flowers and craspedia, Patricia’s breathtaking bridal bouquet created by Foxglove Studio complements her minimalist, elegant bridal ensemble beautifully.

For all the details of Patricia and Jimmy’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Abbie & Will

Abbie’s alluring bridal bouquet by Sage & Co epitomises the natural beauty of autumn, with its captivating crimson hues and delicate pampas. Fresh greenery enhances the anemones and garden roses within this handheld arrangement, creating a natural, botanical look.

For all the details of Abbie and Will’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Josie & Charlie

Josie Fear’s wedding day look is truly fit for a fairytale, and that doesn’t exclude her beautifully minimalist bridal bouquet by Floward. Marrying classic peonies with tulips and delicate foliage, this understated yet striking arrangement exudes timeless elegance.

For all the details of Josie and Charlie’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Luby & Dec

Radiating rustic charm, Luby’s ethereal bridal bouquet by Urban Blooms works perfectly in tandem with her enchanting countryside wedding setting.

For all the details of Luby and Dec’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Giorgia & Sam 

The striking simplicity of Giorgia’s graceful bridal bouquet proves that sometimes less is truly more. Marrying eucalyptus with ivory roses, this bouquet’s undeniable versatility makes it ideal for a multitude of contrasting settings.

For all the details of Giorgia and Sam’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Gwen & Nate

Gwen’s eye catching bridal bouquet by Sage Flowers embodies the uplifting spirit of summer. Featuring sweet peas, dahlias and bearded irises in warm pastel hues, this arrangement is perfect for the bride who wants to make a flamboyant floral statement on her big day.

For all the details of Gwen and Nate’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Katherine & Lewis

There’s nothing quite as classic and truly timeless as a rose bridal bouquet. Katherine’s quintessential rose bouquet by Jenny Fairbanks Flowers works beautifully with her striking satin bardot bridal gown.

For all the details of Katherine and Lewis’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Claire & Timothy

Embracing the beauty of modern minimalism with a perfect pop of colour, Claire’s bridal bouquet combines unique chionodoxas with carnations and roses to create a stunning summery floral look.

For all the details of Claire and Timothy’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Katherine & David

Featuring fresh eucalyptus and white roses intertwined with delicate wildflowers, Katherine’s effortlessly elegant bridal bouquet complements her breathtaking country wedding setting beautifully.

For all the details of Katherine and David’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Tom & Abi

Featuring a soothing palette of soft neutrals, Abi’s dreamy bridal bouquet by Sartoria Floreale embraces an alluring natural and untamed look, appearing as if the flowers were gathered freshly from a meadow.

For all the details of Tom & Abi’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Rachel & George

With captivating dahlia blooms complemented by cosmos and wild foliage, Rachel’s whimsical wedding bouquet by Kidge Flowers embraces an enchanting mix of softness, vibrancy and wild beauty.

For all the details of Rachel and George’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Sarah & Kris

Enhancing the beauty of her relaxed chic London setting, Sarah’s sensational bridal bouquet by Rachael Barker incorporates a plethora of pretty blooms that complement each other just perfectly. Peonies command attention with their bold ruffled petals, elevated by classic roses and eye catching dahlias in a symphony of soft hues.

For all the details of Sarah and Kris’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Benjamin & Araminta

Araminta’s trailing bridal bouquet arranged by Studio White is nothing short of showstopping. Within this mesmerising arrangement, cosmos and dahlias exude timeless romance, and dramatic cascading foliage steals the show with its intriguing rustic touch.

For all the details of Benjamin and Araminta’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Leah & Rory

Crafted by the phenomenal team at Clapham Flowers, Leah’s breathtaking bridal bouquet with delphiniums, roses and gypsophila exudes summery joy.

For all the details of Leah and Rory’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Camille & Natan

Camille’s entrancing bridal bouquet by Vincenzo Dascanio exudes timeless elegance with its soft peach and blush roses, delicate dahlias, and intricate touches of Queen Anne’s lace, all nestled amidst gentle greenery for a romantic, vintage-inspired look.

For all the details of Camille and Natan’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Henrietta & Ronan

Vibrant and enchanting, Henrietta’s standout summery bridal bouquet by Agnes and Bee radiates whimsical allure.

For all the details of Henrietta and Ronan’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Cressida & Orlando

Cressida’s captivating bridal bouquet is an elegant arrangement featuring soft pink and white roses, complemented by fluffy white astilbe flowers and delicate sprigs of lavender.

For all the details of Cressida and Orlando’s wedding including the florist read more here.

Sophie & John

Marrying cosmos with tulips, astrantia and delphiniums, Sophie’s whimsical wildflower arrangement radiates rustic charm.

For all the details of Sophie and John’s wedding including the florist read more here

Emily & Tom

Combining classic elegance with contemporary details, Emily’s bridal bouquet by Flowers By Passion features a mesmerising mix of scabiosa caucasica and roses.

For all the details of Emily and Tom’s wedding including the florist read more here

Chrissy & Archie

Featuring classic peonies, Chrissy’s bridal bouquet by Andrea Patrizi Floral Design embraces a striking minimalist look: a perfect match with her satin sheath gown and Chantilly lace veil.

For all the details of Chrissy and Archie’s wedding including the florist read more here

Isabella & Luke

Isabella’s sensational summer bridal bouquet arrangement by Aqua Florist comprises a graceful assortment of snapdragons, delphiniums and peonies in alluring pastel hues.

For all the details of Isabella and Luke’s wedding including the florist read more here

Kate & Max

Kate’s bridal bouquet by Copper Green flowers features a whimsical mix of wildflowers, including a soft pink peony, delicate white daisies, and accents of light blue and lavender blooms, creating a natural, garden-inspired feel.

For all the details of Kate and Max’s wedding including the florist read more here

Alice & Matt

Alice’s bridal bouquet by Willow and Wisps showcases a soft and airy blend of white and pale blush roses, complemented by delicate baby’s breath, eucalyptus leaves, and small wildflower accents.

For all the details of Alice and Matt’s wedding including the florist read more here

Cynthia & Taylor

The epitome of modern minimalism, Cynthia’s bridal bouquet by Wisteria Lane Flowers features an elegant arrangement of soft white peonies and lilac roses, delicately tied together with a flowing white ribbon.

For all the details of Cynthia and Taylor’s wedding including the florist read more here

Olivia & Nico

An exquisite arrangement of all-white roses, Olivia’s graceful bridal bouquet design by Spriggs Florist is an ideal choice for nearlyweds seeking understated sophistication on their special day.

For all the details of Olivia and Nico’s wedding including the florist read more here

Arielle & Sam

Featuring a whimsical blend of peach and blush dahlias decorated with delicate cosmos flowers and garden roses, Arielle’s wonderfully eclectic bridal bouquet by Liberty Lane Florals embraces a standout, stylish aesthetic.

For all the details of Arielle and Sam’s wedding including the florist read more here

Christie & Charlie

Incorporating tulips, roses and eucalyptus, Christie’s understated yet striking handheld floral arrangement by Simply Flowers enhances the beautiful botanical details within her romantic bridal ensemble.

For all the details of Christie and Charlie’s wedding including the florist read more here

Solly & Eunice

Eunice’s enchanting bridal bouquet by Farima Perry marries peach roses with pale pink astilbe, creating a soft, whimsical floral look that exudes elegance and joy.

For all the details of Solly and Eunice’s wedding including the florist read more here

Rosana & Thibault

Rosana’s minimalist bridal bouquet by Anthea Studio flawlessly complements the natural beauty of her ethereal summer Italian wedding.

For all the details of Rosana and Thibault’s wedding including the florist read more here

Related Article: Our Editors’ Favourite Wedding Cakes

The post The Best Bridal Bouquet Ideas For 2025 appeared first on The Wedding Edition.

The best part of our day was… 

The speeches! My father, brother-in-law and husband all gave stand-out performances. Truly perfect, I couldn’t have wished for better. Witty, hilarious, warm and heart-felt, they all hit the perfect note. 

We choose to get married at… 

Wytham Abbey in Oxfordshire. This was our family home – my sisters and I all grew up there and my parents were married there, so it has a very special place in my heart. Orlando and I were married in the Church opposite the house, and our reception took place in the Abbey’s gardens on a beautiful, sunny June afternoon. It was just as my parents had done it 30 years before.

I knew I found ‘The One’ when… 

I saw my mum’s reaction. She burst into tears and from that moment I just knew. It was the second dress I tried on, but there was no need to try anything else. The dress was perfect – it hung so beautifully and it just felt right. We were originally going to be married in September, on my 30^th Birthday, so I wanted the long sleeves for an autumnal wedding. Due to Covid, we didn’t marry until June the following year, but the dress still worked in the summer’s sun. 

The figure-hugging, almost mermaid style, made me feel confident and elegant. I’m still to this day trying to find an excuse to wear it again!

The most enjoyable moments of planning were… 

Flower arranging. My mum’s friends and sisters got involved to help source and design arrangements for the tables using flowers from their gardens and from the nearby fields – we had roses, peonies and sweet peas. The house was filled with the most sensational smells and vibrant colours. We brought the English Countryside inside, and it was magical.

The hardest part of planning was…  

Not being able to make solid plans! Our wedding date had to change 4 times, and our big day plans were constantly shifting to keep in-line with rules. In the end, we agreed to have a much smaller affair for 30 people so that our day could at least go ahead. Even though we couldn’t have all of our friends there, we had a wonderful time and a truly intimate celebration.

The best account to follow on Instagram for big-day inspo is…

Doggart & Squash – my friend runs the business and they cater for all kinds of weddings – they were my inspiration from start to finish.

My top three tips for any couple would be…

Pay for everything on a credit card (as opposed to making bank transfers or paying in cash). This way you are covered under consumer protection laws… we made this mistake and lost a lot of money when one of the suppliers went bust!

Try not to worry about things going wrong. Enjoy every moment together – it goes far too quickly!

Find time for the two of you leading up to the wedding where you don’t talk about wedding ‘stuff’. The preparations can be stressful and tedious and can distract from what’s most important.

If I was able to do it all over again, the one thing I would change is… 

I would ask someone to film the speeches. I didn’t want a videographer, but I wish we’d had those moments recorded so that we could re-live those moments over and over again!

List of suppliers:  

Venue: Wytham Abbey, Oxford

Caterer: Doggart & Squash @doggardandsquash

Dress: Suzanne Neville at The White Room @suzanneneville @thewhiteroomuk

Groom outfit: Favourbrook @favourbrook

Tableware: Couvert @couverthire

Photographer: M T Studio Weddings @mtstudio_weddings

Wedding rings: Wildsmith Jewellery @wildsmith.jewellery

Hair: Susie and Gabby Vincent – Oxfordshire Wedding Hair @oxfordshireweddinghair

Gift list: Prezola @prezola

Related Articles: Inside: A Charming Wedding On The Isle Of Wight

The post Inside: Cressida Stewart’s Elegant Wedding In Oxfordshire appeared first on The Wedding Edition.

Honeymooners should beeline for Marbella Elix for heart-stirring, unobstructed views where mountains meet the ocean and a laid back, poolside vibe sets the tone. And should cabin fever ever strike (which in our experience, it never did), the hotel is a stellar launchpad for exploring the Greek mainland time-warp villages, beaches and its surrounding islands on activity-packed day trips.

Honeymoon style 

Marbella Elix is for those after a heavy contemporary dollop of luxury, without the pompous, stuffy air that can so often accompany a hotel of this calibre.

Alongside the reverentially modern architecture reflecting the hues and smooth lines of the surrounding landscape, one of the best features of this hotel is its tour desk, which curates adventures without the last-minute research stress and hastily booked trips. These excursions are cleverly tailored to couples’ whims and taste for adventure level of adventure, albeit hopping in small buses to marvel at vertiginously challenged monasteries clinging to the cliffs, or navigating rocky islands with a catamaran to reach mystically-charged blue caves. Those wanting to pootle around film-set ready streets and scoff traditional Greek pastries after a morning lounging by the pool can head to the picturesque city of Parga.

As tempting as these jaunts may sound, Marbella Elix’s sheer variety of facilities, food and uncrowded beach spots can make it difficult to ever leave the compound. Mornings can open with a strong serve on the tennis court, or a paddleboarding escapade along the still shallows, then afternoons can be drawn out in the spa, with right-on treatments and various pools and tubs to wallow in. Make sure to make the most of the sun beds on the beach with the Azure Beach Bar’s fruity cocktails a mere wave away.

Set the scene  

Couples will wind their way up a pine-covered mountain to reach the hotel, sewn into otherwise unsullied scenery of sea, beach and rock sprouting various scrubs and herbs. A cavernous lobby engulfs new arrivals, pulling eyes out to the surreal blues of the Ionian Sea, all framed by a cathedral-like blonde wooden ceiling and rugged stone walls.

Here, the team appear with a glass of sparkling wine and beckon to one of the comfortable contemporary sofas scattering the lobby, and placed like theatre seats for the hair-raising sea views. A host of natural, organically-inspired materials is woven into elegant, smooth shapes – both in the design and architecture – which ensures the hotel blends seamlessly into its surroundings. The Ruby Bar’s wooden seating area, choreographed around a large stone fireplace, honours the traditional layout of the local houses. Outside, a pool, framed by sun beds and a stylish bar, has been carved out in trompe l’oeil fashion – as if hovering over the sea. Beyond it, the ivory-white sands and impossibly blue and balmy waters of Karavostasi beach are an easy lift away.

Rooms 

A pared down style keeps the focus on the spectacular sea views, with sleek modernist furniture complimenting the minimalist architecture and subdued shades. A towering woven headboard flanking a king size bed takes centre stage, and is framed by two suspended bronze pendants. Honeymooners can patter around his-and-her bathrooms, indulging late morning showers and mid-afternoon baths, (be sure to nab the rooms where windows are carved into the shower for an Ionian wake up call.

We’d recommend honeymooners book into the Deluxe Double rooms with their own private pool, sun beds and outdoor seating area. These offer the privacy of a villa with all the luxuries and clipped service of a top-drawer hotel – there’s even a fly screen that can be pulled across and allow couples to wake to that magical whoosh of waves curling along the beach.

If a blow-the-budget honeymoon is on the cards, we’d recommend the ‘ultra-all inclusive’ package, where truly everything – meals, drinks, daily activities – is covered and there’s no annoying creature in the back of your head ruining each and every experience with a painful reminder of mounting costs.

Food and drink

Marbella Elix’s headliner restaurant is the Pearl, with its knockout views over the Ionian Sea, stretching as far as Corfu and privileged position for golden hour. This restaurant may be compact but with its floor-to-ceiling windows, no diner is deprived of the views. Mop up olive oil and the freshest crushed tomatoes with warm bread and opt for the Kakavia fish soup as an appetiser. For mains, it’s all about the seafood – tender straight-from-the-sea fish piled into the centre of a bowl and drizzled in lemon and parsley oil. Options include the traditional Ionian sea bream with tomatoes and olive paté. Finally, round off the evening on a sweet note with thick Greek yogurt and citrus sorbet. 

Lunch is a more casual, beachside affair at Azure, with its delicious chicken souvlaki and fresh Greek salads. Or head to Indigo’s chic pool bar for a slightly more elevated spin on the traditional Greek lunch, with its soft lounge seating, navy and white cushions, and vine-covered stone beams.

Couples should beeline for the Ruby bar as the sun begins it’s crimson decent, where spruced-and-sunkissed guests sip espresso martinis to live music.

The story

The most recent addition to the Marbella Collection, this strikingly subdued hotel opened its doors in April 2022. Despite its run of 146 rooms, spread across 9 levels, they have managed to conjure a sense of intimacy. Nowhere ‘swallows you up’ and the team’s familiar approach mimics that of a boutique hotel.

The large framed traditional wear lining the main entrance are a nod to the traditional garbs and rituals that long governed the region. What’s more, the hotel’s own intimate chapel perched further up the hill can act as a Mamma Mia-ready elopement setting – should romance overwhelm any guests (or, indeed the cost and cantankerous politics of a large wedding).

Family-friendly

As a family-friendly hotel, Elix is well-equipped for little ones of all ages with its child-friendly buffet, shallow covered pool area, and fun watersports suitable for teenagers, such as snorkelling and kayaking. The hotel also offers childcare services for parents who want time to themselves. The ‘Grasshoppers Club’ offers expertly supervised activities for children between the ages of 4-12 and a creche for toddlers between 4 months – 3 years. If parents are after a child-free evening, the hotel can organise a qualified, experienced babysitter to look after the tots, as they sip Greek wine on the restaurant terrace in peace.

Spa

The Elixir Spa is filled with a mix of ancient and forward-thinking post-wedding treatments to help couples unwind and pamper. Treatments leverage Greek and Mediterranean ingredients from the spa brand Ariadne Athens, one which promises soft, radiant skin. Choose between a range of facials, massages, full body experiences, and couples massages.

The ‘cocoon and revitalise your senses’ treatment is a stellar choice for lowering shoulders and enriching the skin with various herb-and-oil goodies. A sauna and steam room are on hand for those wanting to sweat out any toxins post-treatment too.

Location

The hotel steers well clear of any ‘scene’ or busy roads to ensure its immense sense of peace, so it is best to hire a car or join the hotel’s well-curated daily jaunts for exploring the surrounding area. The nearest airport is Ioannina Airport, or if coming from Corfu Island, you can take a ferry across to one of the main ports, from which the hotel will organise breezy transfers. The local, blonde beach is mostly used by Marbella Elix hotel guests and makes for a romantic early evening stroll, along with some fantastic hiking routes around the hotel to work up a Greek-lunch-appetite and help get your bearings.

Doubles from £168 per night, on a Half Board basis.  

Book: www.marbella

Related Article: Spa Review: Andronis Hotels, Santorini

The post Honeymoon Review: Marbella Elix appeared first on The Wedding Edition.

Set into a hillside like a theatre seat along Corfu’s spectacular coastline, Marbella Nido mixes Italian and Greek influences (a reflection of the island’s own cultural mosaic). Here is an understated-luxe boutique hotel for honeymooners seeking attentive staff in a child-free (splash free) environment.

Honeymoon style

The pared down charm of the terracotta suits, the bed-to-sunlounger rhythms and truly spectacular views over the Ioanian sea speaks to the frazzled honeymooner, in need of some R&R. There is something endlessly romantic about the scenery – pines and olive trees scratched into a blue haze, where sea and sky appear to converge. Couples while away the hours with cocktails by the pool bar or, for more adventurous types, there are of course daily jaunts available to surrounding islands. Just make sure you are back in time for sunset and a leisurely evening at the hotel’s Apaggio restaurant.

Set the scene

Terracotta suites and villas scatter the island’s pine-studded hillside above the hotel entrance – in formation reminiscent of a dolce vita setting. Honeymooners are greeted at the orangery lobby with a Prosecco and apple purée medley as they soak in the blue-on-blue surroundings, framed by terracotta arches and cascading wisteria. Pathways to the suites are lined with fragrant citrus, pomegranate and olive trees, and it’s a challenge to walk them at pace without stopping to admire the heart-thumping Ionian views.

Those with go-slow ambitions can make their way to the hotel’s quaint coffee stand, just outside the chapel (a no nonsense introduction to Greek coffee-culture) before docking themselves on sunloungers with a zesty cocktail or wallowing in the pool as the sun winks along its surface. Golden hour is unequivocally the most magical part of the day at Marbella Nido (not to be missed) with guests scattered around the bar, sipping on mojitos using fresh mint leaves as the sun lingers over the horizon. Suppers here are drawn out, with a cicada chorus and delectable Greek classics drizzled in local olive oil. For honeymooners, they typically end in the suites’ private jacuzzis, digestif in hand and an unpolluted starry sky above them. While cabin fever is nigh impossible in this light-filled warren of villas and photogenic pool areas, the hotel’s white catamaran sails to nearby Paxos or couples can scoot over to the UNESCO-listed city of Corfu, and immerse themselves in its pastel-hued history.

Rooms

All 70 suites are connected via a steep, winding pathway that snakes through the lush gardens, and that all bags (and guests) are duly golf buggy’d up upon arrival. Dominating these villa-style suites are wildly comfortable kingside beds and views across the sea – the sort that sap hours of your time, tracing the movement of the water and lonely boats floating across the horizon. The balconies and terraces are ideal for such antics – better still from a private pool or hot tub (check your room booking if you are keen to bag one, or both). Inside, rooms are spacious rooms, light-filled and pulled together using contemporary shapes and neutral palettes. Expect oversized wooden headboards, statement lighting framing an elaborate bathroom mirror and a cavernous waterfall shower (big enough for two). From the sweet-toothed turndown service to the congratulatory sparkling wine and cake for newlyweds, the hotel knows a thing-or-two about in-room pampering,

In our opinion, the most romantic of these is the deluxe suite with a private pool, where couples can hide away from the world in a vast, open-plan space and amid sumptuous furnishings.

Food and drink

For romance personified, book a table at the Apaggio Restaurant, whose staggering views across the sea and warm, Grecian air are a thrill in themselves before the food even arrives. Wafts of lavender and rosemary cling to the air and faces are animated by candle-light.

The menu reflects the island’s Italian-Greek cultural medley, with from-the-fisherman seafood and seasonal vegetables taking centre stage. Go for the grilled calamari or share a generous and wholly delicious plate of lobster pasta. Small-but-mighty details elevate the Appagio experience, from the smoked paprika-infused butter in a heavy granite bowl to the chef’s welcome – ours was delectable mushroom risotto croquettes.

For a relaxed alfresco breakfast, San Giovanni offers à la cart menu along with a bursting at the seams buffet, catering to all breakfast tribes. Drizzle local honey on Greek yoghurt with summer fruits, and ensure you sip their fresh orange juice with plates of eggs, cold cuts and cheeses. Expect to be serenaded on Saturday mornings with gentle live music as you sip your coffee and plan your day.

The story

Sister hotel, MarBella Corfu, was the first of the MarBella collection and known for its family-friendly credentials. The owners looked to mimic its success and aesthetic, but with a more boutique flavour and adults-only environment. Hence the creation of MarBella Nido. The MarBella hotels are a family-owned collection, which is easily discerned in the finer details found throughout both hotels – the sorts larger chains and corporate-owned hotels are unable to match, from the trinkets placed around the hotel to the affable nature of the staff.

Family-friendly 

As an adult-only hotel, couples can be assured their leisurely evenings won’t be interrupted by tantrums or zealous pool splashing. However, those traveling with family can head to its sister hotel MarBella Corfu, just a short walk away. When staying at Nido, guests are welcome to use the facilities at MarBella Corfu, but this rule is not reciprocated for Marbella Corfu guests, for obvious reasons.

Spa

Couples wanting to sweat out the wedding cortisol (and over-indulgent dinners) while on their honeymoon can work out at Nidos’ well-equipped gym. In contrast, those prioritising relaxation can head to the spa and choose from various massages, therapies, and treatments. These all use tropical botanicals from Cinq Mondes of Paris, guaranteed to rejuvenate and boost the skin. Finally, finish up at the steam or sauna to banish any toxins.

Location

MarBella Nido is a breezy 20-minute drive from Corfu airport and Corfu old town. The hotel is also a short, scenic stroll away from the beach, where honeymooners can lounge on the white sand and plunge into the glistening Ionian when the Greek sun becomes too much. Better still, book a tour to catch a catamaran to see the other islands, including Paxos.

Cost / rates:

Book: visit marbella.gr/marbella-nido 

Price: MarBella Nido starts from £190 including breakfast.

Related Article: Honeymoon Review: The Blue Palace A Luxury Collection Resort, Elounda, Crete

The post Honeymoon Review: MarBella Nido appeared first on The Wedding Edition.

The best part of our day was…

Having everyone we loved together in the sun! Plus the boogying into the wee hours and the skinny dipping that followed! Also, unconventionally, my two younger brothers did a joint speech on the day which had everyone in stitches and was both touching and hilarious in perfect measure!  The ballroom was filled with tears of joy and laughter.

We chose to get married at…

Villa Cora in Florence. It’s a huge favourite of ours and we’ve visited on several occasions. We discovered it after finding ourselves stranded in Florence one summer a few years ago and scrolling Mr & Mrs Smith to find somewhere last minute to stay for the night. It’s a breathtaking venue that was once a gift from Baron Oppenheim to his young wife, and the views across Florence from the rooftop are absolutely out of this world! We always knew we’d get married there when the time came.

I knew I found ‘The One’ when…

Honestly it took me twenty minutes to find my dress – and that was only because the lady helping with my fitting insisted I try everything I knew I didn’t want just to make sure! I guess I’m pretty decisive! I went to my first appointment with my really close friend Carla and, along with my mum, she was the only person to see my dress before our big day. My favourite part of my outfit was actually my earrings that I designed myself in collaboration with Salome. 

The most enjoyable moments of planning were…

I honestly loved all of it! I’m a sucker for organisation (Jack would probably say ‘control’!) But I suppose ‘having to’ do a recce at Villa Cora in April didn’t hurt. The pool-side cake tasting was the highlight of the trip!

The hardest part of planning was…

Honestly I didn’t find it hard at all. My tips would definitely be to start planning as early as possible, to keep a spreadsheet or similar of your planning progress, and to have a separate inbox for wedding related matters (I didn’t actually do this but it definitely would have made things easier!). Also, if you’re getting married abroad, a visit and a meeting with each of your suppliers well in advance of your big day is a must!

The best accounts to follow on Instagram for big-day inspo are…

@meeleelou (just kidding) but actually I didn’t and don’t follow a bunch – I just went with my heart and with what felt right and unique to us!

Wedding menu highlights…

Aubergine Parmigiana (our shared death row first course) and a fancy take on tiramisu for dessert! Also our stunning cake which was as delicious as it was beautiful, with four tiers alternating between pistachio/white chocolate/raspberry, and fig/salted caramel/dark chocolate!

For our honeymoon we chose…

We had a mini-moon in Sardinia straight after the wedding but haven’t had time for a full honeymoon yet. We’re somewhat torn between visiting South Africa for wine and relaxation, or doing a more ambitious California/Hawaii/Japan combo!

My top three tips for any couple would be… 

If you choose a beautiful location, you won’t have to spend as much on decoration and flowers.

Fork out (sorry!) for the best food and drink you can afford – it takes the day to another level and a well-fed guest is a happy guest. Plus you’ll need the fuel if you want to dance the night away!

Get your funniest friends or family members to make the speeches!

If I was able to do it all over again, the one thing I would change is…

Nothing, honestly. Honestly, It was an incredible day.

List of suppliers 

Venue: Villa Cora @villacorahotel

Caterer: Villa Cora @villacorahotel

Dress: Pronovias @pronovias

Earrings: Bespoke collaboration with Salome @salome_designs

Bridesmaids: Wolf and Badger @wolfandbadger

Groom outfit: Cad and the Dandy @cadandthedandy

Florist: @simonebertinifloraldesigner

Tableware: Villa Cora @villacorahotel

Stationery: Papier @papier

Photographer : Charlotter Weaver @charlotteweaverphotography

Wedding rings: @berganzalondon @madisonjewellers

Makeup: Armillia Beauty @armillabeauty

Hair: Armillia Beauty @armillabeauty

Gift list: The Wedding Shop @theweddingshop

Bridesmaid gifts: Missoma @missomalondon

Cake: Sugarcups cake design sugarcups_cake_design

Related Article: Inside: A Lavish Wedding Weekend In France

The post Inside: A Spectacular Wedding In Florence appeared first on The Wedding Edition.

The couple met on the dancefloor at Infernos nightclub in Clapham nearly 10 years ago (21/09/2013) – it’s a running joke that (as Rihanna puts it) “we found love in a hopeless place”.

They were in Alicante for a couple of weeks visiting Jenny’s parents in August 2021 at her family home where she grew up, when Steve surprised her with a long weekend trip away to Ibiza. Which is one of their favourite places to visit in the Summer together. 

They had had a relaxing day by the sea, then went for dinner at the local tapas restaurant La Bodega Talamanca, located on Talamanca beach where they usually stay. Then, as they walked down the beach to one of the bars to grab a drink, Steve paused and got down on one knee and proposed with her grandmother’s engagement ring that he’d been carrying around in his pocket all day. Jenny’s grandmother had given her mum her engagement ring from the 1950s, which her mum would eventually pass down to Jenny. When Steve told my parents he wanted to propose, Jenny’s mum gave Steve the ring to propose with and he had planned for them to go to choose a ring together when they got back to London. However, her grandmother’s ring held so much sentimental value that she decided nothing else could match it. Jenny’s grandmother sadly passed away just after they got engaged, so having her ring as the engagement ring means she got to have a part of her with her on their wedding day and beyond. 

The best part of our day was…

Rather than throw the bridal bouquet, we decided to divide it up into four and give it to our friends who were getting married within the year after us. It felt like a great way to pass on the love and luck to them – it was a beautiful moment!

We chose to get married at… 

Casa Santonja, a historic venue in the small town of Beniarbeig in Alicante, Spain. Having grown up nearby (Jenny, the bride), it meant a lot to be able to get married there. It also meant our guests could have a lovely holiday and good weather was guaranteed!  

Our ceremony was held in the gardens. One of my closest friend’s who I met in high school, Joe (@Jcubed_), had flown from Australia to officiate the wedding. His officiant speech was so personal, it made us both laugh and cry. I (Jenny) lived with Joe in London when I met Steve, so he had seen our relationship from the very beginning. 

While officiating and explaining how we met, Joe announced that he had got in touch with Infernos and arranged as a wedding present from the bridal party for Infernos to have a plaque placed on the ceiling where we met. Infernos ended up turning our meet story & plaque into a TikTok that went a bit viral.

I knew I found ‘The One’ when….

My ceremony dress was @PeterLangner from @BrownsBride. I always thought I would wear a slinky contemporary silk dress, but after trying on lots of different styles I went with something completely opposite. I loved it because the neckline, skirt shape and hand embroidered guipure lace flowers reminded me of Audrey Hepburn’s black and white floral lace Givenchy dress in Funny Face. I mimicked Audrey’s look from the film with natural dewy make up and my hair pulled back into a sleek bun. 

My evening dress was a structured contemporary dress with a large black bow on one shoulder and a slit by Australian brand @Rasario from @TheOutnet. I loved that it wasn’t purely white. It also fitted like a glove – I felt amazing in it!  

I paired my dresses with earrings from @OreliaJewellery and white @Prada heels from @farfetch. I’ve worn all of these so many times since the wedding!

For my civil ceremony before the wedding I chose a white silk halter dress by @galvanlondon from the (Re)Cycle collection at @thefallbride and paired it with 80s vintage statement earrings from a vintage store in Milan, and a white @Jacquemus bag I rented from @Hurr. I wore the same white Prada shoes, I wore for my wedding day.

The most enjoyable moments of planning were…

All the creative parts – choosing the photographers, the decor, the music…

From the moment we found @Norwud_on Instagram, we loved them! Jaume and Loren are a husband & wife couple who shoot on both film and digital. I’ve (Jenny) always loved film photography, there’s something so timeless and nostalgic about it. They have a talent for capturing beautiful moments in a reportage style. They made us feel super comfortable and were so easy to work with.

The flowers hand-embroidered on my wedding dress reminded me of daisies – one of my favourite flowers. My bouquet and floral décor throughout the venue were all built around this daisy theme. We wanted the decor for dinner to be simple and elegant since the venue itself was so beautiful. We chose long tables and dressed them with white linen, natural woven placemats, blue/green glasses, gold cutlery, different size white candles and eclectic small vases of different types of daisies mixed with other wild white flowers.  

Our menu design was created by my friend Mia who owns stationary company @theresapaperie. She drew a never-ending flowing imperfect line as the border in a green which complemented the venue’s green surroundings on grainy paper stock.  

As the evening grew darker, strings of bulb lighting illuminated the dinner and candles were lit, creating an intimate atmosphere during the speeches.   

We had a pianist and violinist duo play pop songs with a classic twist, while guests arrived at the venue before the ceremony and during appetisers. Everyone said they felt like they’d been transported to one of the scenes in Bridgerton. For the evening we had a DJ play everything from Disco & Motown to Pop & RnB.

Our first dance was…

A mix of ‘You’re All I Need To Get By’ by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terell, followed by ‘September’ by Earth Wind & Fire (since we actually met on “the 21^st night of September”). 

The hardest part of planning was… 

Decision paralysis! We didn’t have a wedding planner, we planned it all ourselves. There are so many decisions to make and things to choose for the big day, that if you look at them all at once it can be a little overwhelming. We’re both quite visual people, so to help us make decisions we created a collaborative Pinterest board, adding things we liked as we went along. Then we set some time aside each Sunday to do wedmin, whether responding to suppliers or making any big decisions.

The best accounts to follow on Instagram for big-day inspo are…

@theweddingedition_ (of course!), @overthemoon, @rileyandgrey, @_anti_bride, @vogueweddings, @norwud_, @benjaminwheeler @thebridaljourney @bash_studios @flurlondon @fluoresse__ @gableandgrain @fourteen_forty @aliceandletters @natalie.spencer @empaper.co @studioalissia @studiowrenco.

Wedding menu highlights…

Our guests were welcomed with homemade lemonade on arrival before the ceremony to keep them cool in the August heat.  

Following the ceremony, drinks & appetisers were flowing. Including a leg of Iberian Spanish Ham cut on-site by an expert, Spanish cheeses and a wide selection of other appetisers. 

For dinner, guests enjoyed a three-course meal with the main being locally sourced fish or braised beef.   

In the evening there was an open bar, which also featured each of our two favourite cocktails – Espresso Martini and Mojito.   

@mantelliskitchen made our two-tier wedding cake, which they decorated with daisy style flowers completely handmade from icing. The cake’s top layer was prosecco & raspberry, and the bottom layer was chocolate & salted caramel. It was so delicious!

For our honeymoon we chose… 

St. Lucia! We’ve both always been dying to go and since one of my (Jenny) friend’s is from there, she gave us lots of recommendations. Since we held our wedding abroad in Spain, where I (Jenny) grew up, we decided to spend some time at my home in La Nucia for final planning before the wedding and afterwards to unwind. Especially since we were driving to Spain and back, so we could bring our dog Peggy with us (and my wedding dresses & Steve’s suit). We’re doing a delayed honeymoon early 2024, which we will be booking imminently.

My top three tips for any couple would be…

Be present! The day will go so quickly, so make sure you live in the moment and soak it all in – otherwise blink, and you’ll miss it. 

Chances are everything might not go 100% to plan. If something unexpected happens, don’t dwell on it, as it’s a waste of precious moments. Just take a breath, move on and continue to enjoy the day!

You’ll find yourselves each trying to make your way round all your guests throughout the day. Take some time just the two of you to catch up and be together, even if just for a few minutes. We took 5 mins together just the two of us after we had our photos taken.

If I was able to do it all over again, the one thing I would change is… 

That anyone who couldn’t make it to Spain for the wedding could have been there. 

We did, however, get the best of both worlds – we also had a civil ceremony just before our wedding in Wandsworth town hall in London. We had just our parents & siblings present, plus a few of our family members who weren’t able to travel to Spain for the wedding.  

List of suppliers

Venue: Casa Santonja @casa_santonja_oficial

Caterer: Cocotte Catering @cocottecatering

Cake: Mantelli’s kitchen @mantelliskitchen

Dress: @PeterLangner from @BrownsBride

Ceremony: Peter Langner @PeterLangner from Browns Bride @BrownsBride   

Evening: Rosario @Rasario from @TheOutnet  

Civil Ceremony: Galvan London @GalvanLondon from @thefallbride

Bride Shoes: Prada @Prada from @farfetch 

Bride Jewellery: Orelia @OreliaJewellery & vintage

Bridesmaids & Mother of Bride: vintage, @reformation @daily_sleeper @becandbridge @rixo @asos

Groom outfit: Get the drop @Get_The_Drop  

Tableware: @cocottecatering

Stationery: Theresa Paperie @theresapaperie

Wedding website: Riley and Grey @rileyandgrey

Photographer: Norwud @Norwud_ 

Wedding rings: both from Royal & Regent in Brighton

Makeup: @RaquelCastillo

Hair: @claudiapinedobellezacapilar

Wedding Planner: @jenny_doris (planned it myself)

Related Article: Inside: An Elegant Wedding In Puglia, Italy

The post Inside: An Alfresco Wedding In Alicante appeared first on The Wedding Edition.

Shrinka Ghosh (36) is a Client Partner, working in the Luxury Advertising industry. And Wes McCranor (38), is Head of Protection working in the insurance industry. 

They met November 2018 through Hinge. Their first date was a unique one, spanning over four days. The initial date was sushi and cocktails at Sushi Samba followed by a live orchestral rendition gig of Notorious B.I.G at XOYO ending with a boozy bar crawl in Shoreditch. The next few days and dates included a (failed!) trip to London Zoo in Regents Park, a boozy session on Old Marylebone High Street, dinner at Gaucho, Sunday Roast on Bermondsey Street and an evening of Attenborough! 

Finding out how much they enjoyed spending time with each other and how much they had in common, a connection was made instantly. 

Following the most magical trip to The Retreat at The Blue Lagoon in Iceland after a couple of months of knowing each other, Wes had planned to propose in Iceland, but the pandemic decided to cancel all travel plans. Wes eventually proposed, over a Saturday date night at home, November 2020. The last place Shrinka would think for it to happen, it couldn’t have been more intimate and personal. 

The best part of our day was…. 

This is so difficult to pick one!

I had the best time relaxing and getting ready with my four bridesmaids (our wedding was at 5pm so we had time to get ready at our own pace) knowing everything had been done, and a lot of champagne and room service at The Rosewood. There were no pre- wedding nerves with the girls around me!

Walking down the aisle to a live strings performance of Pachelbel Canon was a dream come true. Father of the Bride was one of mine and my father’s favourite films when I was a little girl, and for us to walk down the aisle together to the same song they did in the film was an emotional moment. Seeing Wes break down in tears when he saw me made the moment even more special. When I got to the front, I saw my mother’s personal memorial arrangement on the registrars table, filled with her favourite flowers, yellow tulips alongside white blousey roses and powder pink tulips. Bud Flora did a beautiful arrangement for her.

We wanted to make our ceremony incredibly personalised, so this included having a strings trio play our favourite songs for guests, very Bridgerton vibes! We decided to also deliver personalised vows to one another. There was not a dry eye when these were read, including us!

As it was a black-tie wedding, seeing everyone look so elegant and sharp in their tuxedos and dresses was incredible to see.

Finally, seeing our absolute closest friends and family be in one room together at our reception. Guests had travelled from all over the world- Canada, US, India, New Zealand, Italy, and to see the love and happiness for us was a moment we will never forget. Their white napkins in the air when Bruno Mars 24k Magic came on to our arrival for dinner was a real pinch me ‘lets’ have the best night’ feeling!

We chose to get married at…

From changing plans – Italy to UK, city or the countryside, we chose to have a modern, timeless, stylish black tie city wedding in London in Spring. Having both lived in the city for a number of years, we wanted a cool, effortless city vibe that suited our personalities. After my bridal lunch at Cecconis in Mayfair, the girls made me realise why wait another year to get married! So a drunken decision ended up being the best one! We knew we wanted to focus on quality across every touchpoint, so we scaled our guest numbers and brought our wedding forward 6 months.

As we now had smaller numbers, we pivoted from shortlisting venues like Kew Gardens, Wilderness Reserve and Oakley Court, to smaller, exclusive spaces in Central London. This included The Ned, The Rosewood, to viewing a few private dining rooms within Caprice Holdings, at Scotts, The Ivy and 34 Mayfair.

The guest experience was a very important priority for us. What would our wedding look like from the guests POV and what would the takeaways be for them. This helped us narrow down the venue with this in mind.

With guests coming from abroad and using London as ‘the destination’, we split our wedding and reception venues to see different parts of the city and have each part of the day have its own ‘moment’.

We married at Old Marylebone Town Hall as Marylebone held a close connection for us from our first date, plus I adore the architecture and grandeur of the building with the majestic white pillars and history. It’s an iconic venue, so photography also played a big part in what would be the most beautiful backdrop.

We followed this with our reception at 34 Mayfair, taking over their beautiful private dining room, The Emin Room, one of the best private dining venues in London with a baby grand piano, private bar, Tracey Emin modern installations and a beautiful art-deco romantic design, full of marble and wood detailing. 34 Mayfair has a flamboyant exterior with an abundance of colour and florals, so we knew this would also be a perfect photo opp. We hosted a champagne and canapé reception, with a live jazz trio, who went against the grain and played all our favourite hip hop and rnb tracks, from Drake to H.E.R, to Justin Bieber and Kanye West. We then followed up with a luxurious three course dinner and then an open bar fueled party to let go!

Afterward, we had a cheeky afterparty at Sexy Fish organised by the Caprice Holdings team, to keep the party going till the early hours!

I knew I found ‘The One’ when…

As we had originally planned to get married summer 2023, I started the dress process 12 months in advance (as per friends advice!). I knew I wanted a showstopper. As there was so much choice, too much choice in fact (!), I reached out to PS Bridal
Styling. Their free consultation to narrow down designers based on my needs and wants began the dress journey.

My first stop was Pronovias for two hours with one of my bridesmaids. It was the perfect first experience, as I got the chance to try on a number of styles, shapes, looks to expand my original thoughts. As a highly organized person, I already had my Pinterest board full of inspiration and styles to show them (Advice: have some designs to show the dress consultants. It will help you and them to get these designs to start shortlisting).

After this first appointment, I got the bug for dress trying (!), and went to Morgan Davies in London for my second appointment. I visited them the morning of my bridal lunch in September with one of my bridesmaids and a close friend who had travelled from Oz.

From the first appointment at Pronovias, there were modern elements I wanted to incorporate if I could – oversized sleeves, pockets, a long train, a luxurious material. I knew I wanted that ‘cool girl’ modern dress but one that was timeless and a real ‘bride’ moment.

At this point, I knew the wedding would be in London so I did have this in mind- something stylish, city specific with a ‘wow’ moment.

After a number of dresses were given for me to try on (the girls definitely pushed the boundaries on style and price!), I came across a Jesus Peiro dress. It ticked a number of boxes, and helped to benchmark it as the number one dress when I went to the next appointments after!

After Morgan Davies, I was on a real “try everything” mode to eliminate. Visits were made at Halfpenny London, Grace Loves Lace and Sarah Seven. I now gave new dresses tough love, weighing out real pros and cons to eliminate dresses quickly. I eventually came back to the Jesus Peiro dress. It was the perfect dress that exuded my personality, my style and that ‘bridal’ vision, with the best support from Laura, one of the bridal consultants. Following the purchase, I then went to Morgan Davies recommended dress alterations service, and the magic happened! We turned the dress into a truly bespoke design, changing the material, the shape, adding features and altering original features to fit my luxurious vision. The number of appointments and fits was worth it in the end, as the dress was a definite talking point on the day! After my wedding, I plan on re-selling it to another bride to have their memories. The sustainability of the dress is important for me and hope it goes through many cycles of life.

It was important for me to commemorate my mother and so I had her favourite blue sapphire and silver angel brooch in my bag and I wore her diamond bracelet as my “old”. Complimenting this was my “new” jewelry gifted by my father, a pair of beautiful
diamond drop earrings and a classic tennis bracelet. I wanted to have jewelry that I can wear again and hopefully pass onto my future children!

Shoes- I had my heart set on a pair of yellow Manolo Blahnik Hangisi sandals, to compliment my canary yellow engagement ring, but in the end, I wore a pair of Aquazzura crystal slingback sandals. As my dress had a long split in the middle, it was
important to wear a pair of ‘wow’ shoes and that I could wear for over 12 hours, and they did not disappoint!

Veil- my veil was a classic cathedral length single tier, with pearls scattered all over. I wanted the veil to be simple with a touch of elegance to not distract from the dress but give the look drama. Similar to my jewelry, this will be a keepsake for me.

Perfume- It was important to me that we had a little keepsake, so both my husband and I had our own wedding scent from Diptyque, I chose Do Son and his was Fleur de Peau.Now, whenever we wear it, the smell takes us back. A small detail but brings back memories!

With the bridesmaid’s dresses, I knew immediately that I wanted their dress to compliment mine, and feel sexy, not frumpy. I shortlisted a few dresses and gave them the choice as their input was important for me. We ended up choosing a Galvan inspired black halterneck floor length dress with an open back detail from Six Stories. With their overall look, I wanted it to feel contemporary and sexy. Their hair and make-up had a red carpet feel, a dark, smokey eye and tousled, textured hair. As my ride or dies, I wanted them to look and feel their best, than a ’cookie cutter’ bridesmaid!

The most enjoyable moments of planning were… 

Getting to enjoy the creative process with all the suppliers! As my background is creating beautiful ad campaigns for luxury hotels and brands, it was something I took real pleasure in doing. Working very closely with my suppliers gave me a great education in what they do. I had a very clear vision of what I wanted it to look like and exude and bringing their ideas to my vision elevated the whole experience. 

As I decided to not have a traditional Indian ceremony, I knew I wanted to blend my Indian culture into the overall vision- lots of rich colours, scents and aromas, with a lot of twinkle. We filled The Emin Room with hurricane vases and pillar candles across the windowsills, with so much soft light on the tables having both tapered candles and tealight candles to provide the romantic look. Wall lights were beautifully dimmed to give drama and allow the tables to be the center point. 

The food and wine tasting was a particular highlight! We knew we wanted the food to represent us and our personality. Having our reception at 34 Mayfair, we knew we were in safe hands. Their food is high end, luxurious and real crowd pleasers. On the menu for guests to choose included Puglian Burrata, Fillet Steak with Truffle Confit Potato, Devonshire Crab and Wagyu Croquettes, with espresso martinis and wedding cake for dessert! Having an open bar was our way of giving back to our family and friends, and to let them enjoy themselves with no restrictions! We created a bespoke bar menu for the party, with a Bride cocktail, a Lychee Martini, and a Groom cocktail, an Old Fashioned which went down a treat. 

From the beginning, I had a very clear brief. I wanted my black-tie wedding to represent the following across every touchpoint- Modern, Elegant, Stylish, Chic, Romantic. 

Pink Palms who I appointed to design and plan my wedding understood this vision from the beginning. As I love to stay in control (!), I had already found the suppliers who best demonstrated this and they worked spectacularly with each other. I realised after my wedding that I had a real girl boss team, with all my suppliers being female and owning their own businesses. They did me proud and I could not have done it without them! 

The hardest part of planning was…

Chasing guests for information as our deadlines were tight!! I hate bothering people but when you have stationery deadlines for items to arrive on time (the postal strikes almost delayed getting our invites sent), or meal information to confirm dishes, you just have to take the bull by its horns and ‘pester’! Luckily everyone understood. 

Cutting down the guestlist! From changing the wedding to be more intimate and focus on quality, we built our dream guest list of our ride or dies. The people we genuinely believed would be in our lives forever. 

The best accounts to follow on Instagram for big-day inspo are…

I loved following @theweddingedition_ , @benjaminwheeler, @thewed, @thebridaljourney, @the_lane, @sheerluxe, @wed_vibes, and @_anti_bride.

The best person to follow on Pinterest for bridal inspo is…

@thebridaljourney gave me so much inspiration for the look, feel and aesthetic for my wedding but also provided related images. It definitely opened up a rabbit hole! 

@gigiandolive – I’m lucky to know Georgie, the founder and she has done a stellar job inspiring future brides!

My top three tips for any couple would be…

Keep everyone in the same room all the time than splitting the spaces up. Having a large private dining room kept the evening close knit, and the best opportunity to be with everyone at once all night. 

Have a wedding planner/ on the day coordinator. They really are worth every investment to look after and manage all your suppliers in the run up and on the day so you don’t lift a finger, to making you feel like a true guest from start to finish. Their behind-the-scenes co-ordination and experience to manage all situations made the day so seamless for us, and our guests. We knew from experience, we didn’t want any of our guests to lift a finger!  

Don’t lose sight of your vision! It can be easy to be swayed but you are ultimately the one in control. Even though people say not to sweat the small stuff, it was in fact the small accents and details that mattered. From the perfect burgundy colour velvet ribbon bows, wine choices, to all our personalised stationery, the Vetiver and Blood Orange scented candles in the bathrooms, down to a specific amount of bud vases, candle holders and specific candle colour! I had guests admit they did take some of these small details for their own home decoration (!) and request our wine choices because it went down a treat. I’m a perfectionist, and I didn’t want any ‘what ifs’ or regrets! 

If I was able to do it all over again, the one thing I would change is… 

Nothing! The day was the most perfect day filled with so much love, happy tears, emotion and laughter. I married my best friend and everyone shared with us that our wedding was the most beautiful they had been too which made all the hard work and long hours and nights worth it. 

List of suppliers:

Wedding Venue: Old Marylebone Town Hall @adaytorememberdotlondon

Reception Venue: 34 Mayfair @34mayfair

Caterer: 34 Mayfair @34mayfair

Dress: Jesus Peiro (bespoke) @jesuspeiroofficial at @morgan_davies_bridal

Shoes: Aquazzura @aquazzura 

Bridesmaid’s dresses: Six Stories @sixstories

Groom outfit: Suit Supply (bespoke) @suitsupply

Florist: Bud Flora @bud_flora

Music: Blue Topaz Strings @bluetopazmusic & Camille Rose @camilleisabellarose

Tableware: 34 Mayfair @34mayfair 

Stationery: Paper Grace @papergraceuk

Wedding website: The Knot @theknot

Cake: The Pink Cooker @thepinkcooker

Photographer: Agnes Black @agnes.black

Assistant Photographer: Rebecca Emily @rebeccaemilyphoto

Wedding rings: Taylor & Hart @taylorandhart & Cartier @cartier

Hair and Makeup: Portraits Bridal @portraitsbridal

Bridesmaid gifts: Gigi & Olive @gigiandolive_

Planning, Design and Co-ordination: Pink Palms @pinkpalmsevents

Confetti: Your Confetti @yourconfetti

Related Article: Inside: A Spectacular Wedding In West Sussex

The post Inside: A Romantic Black-Tie Wedding In London appeared first on The Wedding Edition.

As for the engagement, the couple went to a gorgeous Shepherd’s Hut in the country with its own wood-fired hot tub and pizza oven. Once they had finished their pizza, Ed took the plates inside, and Mollie stripped and got into the hot tub. When Ed came back out, he looked slightly confused and wasn’t quite as enthused as she’d imagined he would be. He went back inside for a few minutes, and their song came on. She thought it was a coincidence, but he walked towards the hot tub with the ring and got down on one knee. She was completely shocked and sprung up from the water, only for Ed to run around trying to find a towel for obvious reasons. Her friends say if anyone was going to be naked when they got engaged, it would be her.

I knew I found ‘The One’ 

The Alexandra Grecco Marcelle gown was the first dress I saw on social media and completely fell in love with. Lovely Bride is the London stockist so I booked an appointment, and I knew the minute I put it on it was the one. I love anything with a square neck, and combined with the floral embroidery, a fitted bodice and tulle skirt it is complete heaven.

We chose to get married at…

We knew we wanted an outdoor style summer wedding as we’d picked June to get married. Hadsham Farm is a beautiful lakeside Tipi wedding venue located in a secluded Cotswold valley in north Oxfordshire and we completely fell in love with it. As the venue is quite rustic, I knew I wanted to make the inside feel elevated to counterbalance that – Pinterest is a godsend.

The most enjoyable moments of planning 

I sourced everything myself and laid out all the tables with the help of family and friends the day before, which I actually really enjoyed doing––seeing it all come to life was so rewarding. We named the tables after islands Ed and I have sailed to. The two large flower rings that were decorated with foliage and disco balls were perhaps my favourite part of the aesthetic. 

The best part of our day was….

The best part of the day was our church service. It was absolutely beautiful. My auntie sang as I walked down the aisle, my best friend Ella sang during the service and my Grandpa played the organ. The love in the room was palpable. Maybe I’m bias but I’d also say another highlight was the surprise father daughter dance to MC Hammer’s ‘Can’t Touch This’…

Food highlights

For the food, we decided on sharing platters. We had a charcuterie board for starter and spatchcock chicken, summer salads and crispy potatoes for main. Ed’s mum and sister made the wedding cake and a load of delicious brownies for dessert.

For our honeymoon we chose…

For our honeymoon we did a four-week trip around Columbia and Brazil, but went 7 months after our wedding. Going away in January and leaving cold and wet England behind is my new favourite thing to do! It was such an adventure and an experience I’ll never forget.

My top three tips for any couple would be.. 

My first tip for any couple would be to delegate tasks amongst your closest friends and family, especially if you don’t have a wedding planner––it really takes the pressure off. Also, take advantage of their skills! My extremely talented sister hand painted a floral border for the seating plan (pictured above). Try not to sweat the small stuff and remember why you’re getting married. I got so worried about the weather leading up to my wedding, it caused me to have a fair few sleepless nights. It ended up raining most of the day and I didn’t even care.

If I was able to do it all again… 

If I was able to do it all over again, the one thing I would change is not getting a videographer. Apart from that, we have no regrets!

List of suppliers

Venue: Hadsham Farm @hadsham.farm.weddings

Caterer: Kemp & Kemp @kempandkempfood

Dress: Alexandra Grecco @alexandragrecco

Bridesmaids: Chi Chi London @chichiclothing

Groom outfit: Casely-Hayford @caselyhayfordlondon

Florist: Flowers by Kirsty @flowersbykirsty

Tableware: Helen Millot @helenemillot_decor

Stationery: Papier @papierweddings and @odeccalligraphy

Photographer: Rosie May Kelly @rosiemaykelly

Wedding rings: Madison Jewellers Hatton Garden @madisonjewellers

Hair & Makeup: Branka Vorkapic @brankamakeup

Gift list: The Wedding Shop @theweddingshopuk

Bridesmaid gifts: Abbott Lyon @abbottlyon

Related Article: The Best Wedding Venues In The Cotwolds

The post Inside: A Charming Wedding In The Cotswolds appeared first on The Wedding Edition.

They went on a road trip around Scotland in the summer of 2021. Their last stop was Isle of Skye and they visited a place called Fairy Pools. The couple decided to stop and take in the beautiful scenery. Indiya sat on a rock and saw Matt rummaging through his backpack. She asked if he was okay and he said he was looking for a chocolate bar. Indiya was confused as he had already eaten three! Turns out Matt was getting the ring out of his bag and there he was on one knee!

The best part of our day was….

Everything. There is nothing better than being surrounded by your closest friends and family. We even added a little magic to the party with a magician. Definitely a must if you fancy a little sparkle! I hired Vince for my 21st birthday, it was really special to have him back on our wedding day. 

We chose to get married at…

We got married at St Paul’s Church in East Molesey. It was perfect and was a short walk to The Mitre down the Thames. We were lucky with the weather in November so our guests took a nice stroll after the ceremony.

We had our wedding breakfast and celebration at The Mitre – Hampton Court. We actually went there for our anniversary the year before. Little did we know that this would become such a special place for us. Matt and I wanted something that would replicate an intimate, magical dinner party.

We hired the orangery and terrace which was beautiful. The terrace had just been made into a winter wonderland which was great timing!

I knew I found ‘The One’ 

Andrea Hawkes is a must for any bride. The service and care they provide is incredible. I felt so special every time I went to visit. 

I always dreamed of designing my own wedding dress and that’s exactly what I did with the lovely Siobhan and Rebecca. From Andrea sketching my vision to piecing together each little detail of my dress- the process was so special. I’ll forever be grateful. 

I always loved the idea of a high neck and statement sleeves. My inspiration came from Spanish bridal designers. I can’t remember how I stumbled across them but their creations are so beautiful (Castellar Granados). 

The most enjoyable moments of planning 

We met some really lovely people along the way. Our food tasting was definitely a highlight. It also meant that Matt and I got to spend the evening together getting excited about what was to come.

I also loved designing the flower arrangements and putting together all the bouquets the night before our wedding. I did this with my bridesmaids and would highly recommend. It’s lots of fun! I also made our confetti using large pale pink roses. We found that the bigger the petal the better! 

We also sourced all of the candles, ribbons and made our own table names. We used corks that we had saved from special occasions and printed pictures of us in countries that we had visited as our table names. Such a fun thing to do and was also sentimental. 

The hardest part of planning was… 

Nothing was difficult. We had such a fun time planning the day. 

Food highlights

There were too many wedding menu highlights. The food at the Mitre is unbelievably delicious! To start we had either tuna bang bang salad or creamy buratta. For our mains we had sharing platters of grilled Atlantic lobster and beef ribeye steak. All of our friends and family were taken away by the quality.   

Finally desert was either ‘boozy’ strawberry eton mess or chocolate torte. My goodness it was delicious.

Our first dance song 

Was to September – Earth Wind and Fire. This song is very special to us. 

My top three tips for any couple would be.. 

Embrace the whole adventure. 

Doing things yourself can help to minimise costs and also make the experience more personable. Don’t be scared by the prospect of this, I promise it’s really fun. 

Remember what’s important to you and don’t be swayed by lots of different opinions. Stick to your gut and your decisions will be easy! 

Finally – smile always, you’ve met your soulmate and get to spend the rest of your life with them! 

For our honeymoon we chose…

We decided to go on a mini moon before heading on our Honeymoon in January. We went to The Pig for our mini moon, we absolutely love it there. It’s a great UK staycation. 

We went to South Africa for our honeymoon and travelled the garden route, it was absolutely beautiful. Cape Town, the vineyards and down to the best beaches. Highly recommend. 

If I was able to do it all again… 

I wouldn’t change a thing. After all, I got to marry my best friend. 

List of Suppliers:

Venue: The Mitre, Hampton Court @mitrehamptoncourt

Caterer: In house – The Mitre 

Dress: Andrea Hawkes @andrea_hawkes_bridal

Evening dress: Rat and Boa @ratandboa

Bridesmaids: Ghost @ghostfashion

Groom outfit: Velvet Jacket – Reiss @reiss , dress shirt and trousers – Moss Bros @mossbros . Shoes – Barker

Earrings: Monica Vinader @monicavinader

Florist: Covent Garden Flower Market @marketflowers (we did it ourselves) 

Tableware: The Mitre  + The Prop Library @the_prop_library

Photographer: Caitlin and Jones @caitlinandjones

Wedding invites and order of service: Papier @papier

Makeup: I did my own 

Hair: Lucy St John @lsjhairbeauty

Magician: Vince Spade @vincespade

Band: Soulshine Band

Gift list: The Wedding Shop @theweddingshopuk

Honeymoon: Thames Travel @thamestravel

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Allegra (33) and Nick (42) Shephard both work in financial services. The couple met online through Hinge and Nick proposed at the family’s favourite viewpoint just behind Hedsor House on New Years Eve in 2021.

The best part of our day was…

Walking into our champagne reception hand in hand as Mr and Mrs Shephard. Into the beautiful galleried central hall of Hedsor to our friend Nuala and her band singing “Just the two of us” with all of our friends and family. 

We chose to get married at…

Hedsor, with our ceremony in the gorgeous 13^th century church on the estate followed by our reception in Hedsor House. Hedsor House has been in the Shephard family since 1932, and not only was Nick’s father born in the house, both of his brothers more recently married there and Nick was the third and final brother to tie the knot at the family home. 

I knew I found ‘The One’ when…

I bought the first dress I tried on, but spent 8 months changing my mind. A week before the wedding, the dress finally fitted me exactly how I wanted it to! I probably spent more on alterations than I did on the dress…but it was totally worth it.   

The most enjoyable moments of planning were…

Hosting a (boozy!) wine tasting at our home where we had both families trying out 15 different wines hosted by our excellent wine supplier. A perfect way to break the ice and introduce our families.

The hardest part of planning was…

Practicing our first dance. Nick would be the first to admit he has two left feet, so we enlisted a little bit of help from a wonderful dance instructor called Eloise at Dance Attic in Fulham. 

Our wedding menu highlights were…

The whole locally sourced menu. From the lamb 3 ways from Hambledon valley, to the Hedsor honey praline made on site by the Hedsor bees, we were really proud to be able to use all British produce, alongside 2 delicious English sparkling wines.

Our first dance song was…

A modern version of the classic love song “Can’t take my eyes off of you (I love you baby)” – we chose Lauryn Hill’s cover version to appeal to our young and old guests. 

The best accounts to follow on Instagram for big-day inspo are…

All of the wedding photographers. Following these gives you all the inspiration you need, from florals to dresses to tablescapes! 

The best person to follow on Pinterest for bridal inspo is…

Hedsor House! Being our venue, it was so useful to see their posts of previous weddings and ideas. It’s particularly helpful to see previous brides and bridal parties on site at the place where you will marry – it makes it so much easier to imagine how your own day will go. 

My top three tips for any couple would be…

Get a videographer if you can stretch your budget. When you watch it back and see your guests laughing and dancing, and the jokes during the speeches, it really brings the whole day back to life. You can truly relive your wedding again and watch moments that you may have missed in real time. 

Plan your big honeymoon for 3 months after the wedding and take a simple short trip straight after. You will be absolutely exhausted – taking a long-haul flight and doing activities will be the last thing you want to do. Doing it this way also means you won’t get the “wedding blues” as you’ll still have so much look forward to.

Don’t have your ceremony too early in the day. We had ours at 2:30pm and this meant we had plenty of time to relax, get ready and truly enjoy the morning without a rush. If you start too early, people will overdo it too soon – especially if you plan to have a free bar! 

For our honeymoon we chose…

We took a mini moon straight after the wedding to eat pizza and drink wine on the Amalfi coast. Our honeymoon 3 months later started with a safari in South Africa and drinking wine in beautiful Franshoek, followed by 6 nights in the Seychelles. We felt our honeymoon had to be a once in a lifetime trip, and it’s not every day you’ll get to see a pride of lions in the wild! The Seychelles honestly felt like we had arrived in paradise, it was perfect. 

If I was able to do it all over again, the one thing I would change is…

Keeping our evening party to one room. We made the mistake of having 4 different areas open after dinner and this meant our dancefloor wasn’t always as packed as we would have liked. Keep your guests close to you and create one room full of everyone for the best atmosphere and buzz. Make sure your lights are low as well for the best effect! 

List of suppliers  

Venue:  Hedsor House  @hedsor

Caterer:  Melissa Webb  @melissawebb_ltd

Dress:  Mathilda Rose @mathilda_rose_bride

Bridesmaids:  Babaroni  @babaroni.co.uk

Groom outfit:  Suit Supply @suitsupply  & Favourbrook @favourbrook

Flower girls & page boys:  Next @nextofficial 

Florist:  Lavender Green @lavendergreenflowers

Tableware:  Couvert @couverthire

Stationery:  Freya Deabill @deabillandquince

Photographer: John Nassari @johnnassari

Videographer: John Nassari @johnnassari

Wedding rings: Rennie & Co @rennie_co_london

Makeup:  Jo Adams @hmu_atelier

Hair: Jo Adams @hmu_atelier

Gift list:  The Wedding Present Company @weddingpresentco

Bridesmaid gifts: Personalised gift boxes from Etsy @etsy filled with pyjamas, slippers, earrings, nude underwear and pale pink robes to wear as we got ready

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