Valentine’s day commemorates the season of love; what better way to celebrate than to reminisce with some of our gorgeous couples who truly felt the love on their wedding day.

Grab a cup of tea and join us as we wander back to some of those magical moments. No two weddings are the same at Millbridge Court, just as no two couples are the same, but the memories and joy will forever align.

From all of us at Millbridge Court, we hope you feel the love this Valentine’s Day, in whatever shape or form that may be.

 

T – VLA, L – Alice Cunliffe Photography, R – The Springles

S & M – Married at Millbridge December 2023

We held our wedding at Millbridge Court just before Christmas, and the team could not have been more accommodating, helpful, and generally wonderful from start to finish. It’s a beautiful venue and the team are genuinely so invested in you having the best day. Huge thank you to the Millbridge team for everything!

L –  Carrie Lavers, TR – Jonny MP, BR – Catherine Carter Weddings

N & A – Married at Millbridge September 2023

We recently married at Millbridge and in the words of every single guest – the best wedding they’d ever been to!

It’s easy to be biased at your own wedding but the team at Millbridge Court made everything run so smoothly. Their professionalism is second to none and they were so friendly and informative throughout the whole process from our first viewing to even the day after when I thought I’d lost my wedding shoes! I really couldn’t relate to anyone who said they were stressed during the planning phase because Millbridge had it so in hand, and the members area of the website made our lives so easy – even down to choosing suppliers like make-up artists and DJs.

The venue itself lends itself so beautifully to indoor or outdoor weddings and we got to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Arbour for our confetti toss despite having an indoor ceremony. We loved the close knit feel of Millbridge, even down to having our closest friends and family stay at Millbridge and breakfast the morning after, which was such a nice touch to be able to catch up and talk about everyone’s favourite moments of the day (and drink lots and lots of coffee).

I cannot thank Shelby, Chloe, Hayley, Caroline and all of the other wonderful members of staff who made our day so perfect enough for their hard work.

Whilst I could ramble on forever about how perfect our wedding day was, I’ll stop here but if you’re looking for a venue, Millbridge is the one.

L – Kit Myers, R- The Soul of my Lens

R & E – Married at Millbridge August 2023

WOW! We had the most incredible wedding day at Millbridge Court and cannot fault the staff throughout our planning process and on the day. Everyone was so friendly, helpful, and made sure that we didn’t have to lift a finger on the actual day – they made us feel so calm. The food was incredible (thank you Kalm Kitchen!!) and our suppliers were fantastic. Although they do this daily, we felt so special and like we were the only wedding that week. Everything was so personal, and they thought about every little finishing touch. Without a doubt the best day of our lives!

T – Alice Cunliffe, B – Frankee Victoria

I & D – Married at Millbridge August 2023

Having our wedding at Millbridge Court was the best decision ever!! All our guests were full of compliments about how beautiful the venue was and how smoothly the day ran. Throughout the planning of our wedding, they were always really helpful and quick at responding. On the day and the morning after they were so kind, supportive and helpful. Thank you!

T – VLA, BL – Catherine Carter Weddings, BR – Kit Myers

C & B – Married at Millbridge June 2023

Millbridge Court was actually the first venue we looked at and we fell in love with it instantly. From the gorgeous green outside space to the wonderful bridal loft, it feels like you’re stepping into a gorgeous warm welcoming country home. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful this venue was and how it perfectly complimented us as a couple. The pictures speak for themselves!

The Millbridge team are incredibly attentive and helpful, even though they are communicating with hundreds of couples they made us feel so special and as if we had their undivided attention at all times – all the way from the open day through to our wedding day. Same goes for their caterers Kalm Kitchen – their food is as beautiful as it is delicious, and they helped us so much through all the selection processes and overall set up of our special day.

We can’t thank the Millbridge team and Kalm Kitchen enough for all of their help.

TL – Kerry Ann Duffy, TR – Rebecca Searle, BL – Catherine Carter Weddings, BR – Kerry Ann Duffy

S & D – Married at Millbridge April 2023

Millbridge Court is such a stunning venue, and we are so lucky we were able to host our wedding there. The grounds are so beautiful and colourful, it didn’t do the pictures justice! Everything has such a personal touch it really makes you feel at home. To the entire team at Millbridge Court we want to thank you for being so friendly and helpful throughout the entire process and as well to the team on the day. You really made it special, and we wish we could repeat the day all over again. We truly were sad to leave the following day (especially the gorgeous hideaway cabin) and hope we can visit again very soon!

M – Alice Cunliffe

Eloise and Mitch recently became a Millbridge Court Partner!  We loved working with them throughout the 2023 season and so we wanted to catch up with them to give you a little glimpse into the world of a wedding photographer.

What first made you fall in love with photography?

I have always adored photos. Being able to have a glimpse into my family’s life before I even existed is magic. I love to be able to look back on memories and moments. Photography gives us the opportunity to pause time, capturing unique instances that would otherwise pass by in a blur.

The excitement stems from knowing that every photograph tells its own story, revealing emotions and experiences that words often fail to capture adequately. Each photograph is like opening a door into another world brimming with nostalgia and joy. In our fast-paced lives, having the ability to document and preserve these memories brings me happiness.

What made you decide to work in the wedding industry?

I always loved the idea of being in the wedding industry and it all began when I started working for a venue as a wedding planner! I was so young; I took a few years out to go travelling and this is where I met Mitch. He was an established filmmaker in the music industry and the creative element really intrigued me.

We first met in September and then moved in together February. When you know, you know! After a few years, our perspective shifted from living for the weekends to cherishing each moment. We realised that true happiness lay not in accumulating possessions but in cultivating meaningful experiences. We found ourselves yearning for something more meaningful and purposeful in our lives. Our shared experiences and deep conversations made us realise that true fulfilment came from pursuing our passions which was telling visual stories through photo and film. We went with this gut feeling and we started ‘Eloise and Mitch’ which really is the best thing we have ever done!

How would you describe your style of photography?

Photos with feeling!

To be a good photographer, I believe you have to be very empathetic. It’s about immersing yourself into the world of your subject and truly understanding their emotions, their struggles, and their joys. It allows you to connect with people on a deeper level, gaining their trust and enabling you to capture raw, authentic moments that resonate.

Our ethos is “It’s about beauty in the passing moments.” Being able to read between the lines, anticipating what might happen next. The ability to understand others’ perspectives creates photos that truly mean something.

What is your favourite part or parts of a wedding day to capture?

I love looking out for moments with meaning and joy! Every moment is so special on your wedding day and it’s such a pleasure to document. A moment that tends to be filled with joy is just after you have said “I do”.

What top tips and advice do you give to couples ahead of their wedding day?

Remember it’s a celebration of your love. Try not to get too caught up with “trends” and “what your wedding should be”. Your wedding should feel personal to you both.

Be present and just have the time of your life!!!

Can you share some of your favourite moments from your Millbridge Court couples?

There are so many to choose from! A moment that springs to mind is Louise and Jacks’ Day, it was torrential rain, and we all ran outside with umbrellas and embraced that moment. It was so romantic and fun which in turn created some of my favourite images.

Apart from your camera’s, what other things can you not go to a wedding day without?

Good energy and trust! This is all I need!

What do you love most about Millbridge Court?

The venue is just beautiful. The way that the team ensure that the day runs seamlessly and how they are always thinking about the little details. I love how there is room for everyone to get ready at Millbridge Court and how they have a beautiful hideaway too for the evening of your wedding.

The 2024 wedding season will soon be upon us, and for all you 2024 brides, the dress may be the one of the next big things on your list of to-do’s! We wanted to catch up with some of our partners and talk about all things bridal trends.

We asked Bridal Indulgence:

What do you see as the biggest trends for 2024?

Minimalist elegance: clean lines, simple silhouettes, and understated details have been popular in wedding dresses. Minimalist designs often feature sleek fabrics, such as satin or crepe, with minimal embellishments.

Statement sleeves: dramatic sleeves have been a prominent trend, with options like fitted sleeves, puff sleeves, or bell sleeves. These statement sleeves can add a touch of romance or vintage charm to a wedding dress.

Bows: who doesn’t love a bow? From a small bow that works as a finishing touch to a big dramatic bow that is the statement of your dress; they’re feminine and fun and we’re loving them!

Non-traditional colours: while ivory remains a classic choice, some brides want something a little more non-traditional like blush, champagne, or even bold hues like black or blue. These unconventional colours can add a unique touch to the wedding dress.

Detachable elements: wedding dresses with detachable elements, such as removable skirts, sleeves, capes, or overskirts, continue to be a popular choice. These versatile designs allow brides to have different looks throughout their wedding day, without spending out on multiple dresses.

What is your favourite look?

That’s really hard to narrow down just one look! But we’re currently loving how brides are switching up their look throughout the day with same dress with detachable sleeves, straps, and overskirts.

 

We asked The Farnham Boutique:

Give us a little insight into the designers you are stocking this year?

We have 4 designers at The Farnham Boutique, and each brings something different to the party. Made With Love brings contemporary, sophisticated elegance. Madi Lane brings romance. Evie Young boasts drama and Dama Couture has a bohemian coolness that we are so excited to introduce in 2024!

Veils – yes or no?!

YES! Veils add something quite spectacular to your photos (especially when the wind blows) and of course to your dress. It’s all about picking the right one. We love a long plain veil for that dramatic look!

What is your absolute all-time favourite look?

It’s so hard to choose as it changes all the time. At the moment we love the plain, fitted dress but it all depends on who wears which dress. Every bride is so unique, and the dress has to reflect that.

We asked Sophie Rose Bridal:

What do you think the biggest trends for this year will be?

It’s all about the sleeves! Long sleeves, puff sleeves, detachable sleeves, they’re all back and I’m VERY happy about it. I’m not a big believer in trends when it comes to wedding dresses, as I think it’s about simply wearing an outfit that makes you feel truly you and your most beautiful self, but I find sleeves often help women feel so much more comfortable and confident, so I’m all for it.

How would describe your collection for the upcoming year?

 I’ve just released the Studio Collection, which is a collection of dresses that have an edge of simplicity but still with a romantic, relaxed feeling. I think women are realising more and more that there aren’t any ‘shoulds’ when it comes to bridalwear and wearing what makes you feel most comfortable is what’s important. More intimate weddings are also becoming more popular, and I think the Studio Collection suits that really well.

Any tips for brides looking for their dream dress?

Take time to research where you’re going to book an appointment to try on dresses. If somewhere resonates with you and they have the style that excites you, then they’re the places to go. I’d also suggest going with only a couple of people maximum. Choosing your dress can only really be your decision and having lots of voices as part of that decision can be very overwhelming and confusing! There will be plenty of fitting appointments that your special people can be a part of if you wish, so you can still have them as part of your dress experience.

 

Our Details Date Nights here at Millbridge Court are fabulous evenings we always look forward to.

Once our couples have booked their wedding day with us, it is their first opportunity to come back and see the venue, not only dressed for the first time, but to speak to a handful of our partners and start getting inspired!  Excitingly, we got to showcase our brand new wood fired pizza this year, with Kalm Kitchen firing up the oven for our couples to enjoy a slice.  It is safe to say, they are delicious!

Having hosted the last one of 2023 just a couple of weeks ago, we wanted to look back at the fun we had along with thanking the amazing talent that helped make the evenings a success!

 

T – Eden Blooms, Sarah Legge; R – Philippa Sian Photography; L – Kalm Kitchen, Philippa Sian Photography

 

L – Camilla Creations, Philippa Sian Photography; R – Kalm Kitchen, Sarah Legge; B – Hannah Berry Flowers, Lucca Studios, Jonny MP

 

L – Le Papillon, Sarah Legge; R – Lulu’s Cake Kitchen, Sarah Legge; B – Gable & Grain, Sarah Legge

 

T – Kalm Kitchen, Philippa Sian Photography; L – Anna Lewis Cakes, Poppy Wild Floral, Philippa Sian Photography; R – Kitty Joyas, Catherine Carter Weddings

 

T & L – Sarah Legge, Gable and Grain, Topiary Tree by Carrie Macey; R – Poppy Wild Floral, Lou Paper, Philippa Sian Photography

 

L – AV Entertainment, Sarah Legge; T – Kalm Kitchen, Catherine Carter Weddings; B – Sarah Legge, Eden Blooms

 

T – Kalm Kitchen, Sophie Duckworth Photography; L – Kalm Kitchen, Sarah Legge; R – Kalm Kitchen, Sophie Duckworth Photography

 

L – Bridal Indulgence, Philippa Sian Photography; R –  Creative Spark, Philippa Sian Photography; B – Laura Paper Hearts, Sophie Duckworth Photography

 

Farnham Boutique, Sarah Legge

 

T – Little Steps, Sarah Legge; L – Lucca Studios, Jonny MP; R – Poppy Wild Floral, Lou Paper, Philippa Sian Photography

 

L – Kalm Kitchen, Sophie Duckworth Photography; R – Love from Lila, Sophie Duckworth Photography B – Hannah Berry Flowers, Lucca Studios, Jonny MP

 

The warm, sunny days seem like a distant memory after the frosts and teeniest sprinkling of snow we had yesterday!  But as we cosy up by the log burner with a cup of hot chocolate for the next few months, we just had to share details of Alex and Alex’s August celebrations to take us back to those summer evenings.

Tell us a bit about yourselves – how did you meet and what’s the proposal story?

We met at New Year’s Eve party 12 years ago when we were both at school – for the proposal, we went on a long weekend for Lex’s birthday back in March last year to Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds. The proposal wasn’t without a few attempts – the initial plan was to propose to her whilst on an early Sunday morning walk but the opportunity didn’t arise, and after an activity packed day, I eventually popped out the ring and the question whilst we were enjoying a bottle of champagne on the terrace of our Airbnb before dinner!

Why did you choose Millbridge Court?

Millbridge Court was the first venue we looked at in person and we fell in love with it straight away. We weren’t really interested in a traditional wedding in a Church and whilst we both loved the barn style, we also wanted something with a modern touch.

From the outside, Millbridge is quite understated – it looks like an extremely well presented house from the road. However, once you walk down the steps into the main area, you’re struck by the most amazing layout – two wings with extremely high ceilings and enormous glass windows that really fill the venue with light. The flow of the wedding venue also works incredible well and with a summer wedding in mind, we absolutely fell in love with the outside courtyard, garden and ceremony area!

We did see a number of other venues (predominantly in the Cotswolds following our engagement) but none of them could match the wow factor that we experienced when first visiting Millbridge

What did you love about having a summer wedding?

We loved the idea of having a summer wedding as we felt we could really utilise all the amazing space that Millbridge has to offer – the main building and the outdoors areas allowed the wedding day to flow so naturally. The ceremony area in garden was also a special place to get to say our vows, and we received so many compliments about how stunning the ceremony was.

Aside from the venue, it goes without saying that we both love summer and so having the opportunity to celebrate our day with family and close friends in the sun outside with some Aperol Spritz seemed like the perfect situation!

Tell us more about your suppliers and why you chose them.

As soon as we came across Eloise & Mitch’s Instagram and website (including their portfolios) with their natural and candid style, we immediately knew that we wanted to have them photograph our wedding and we feel incredibly lucky that they were available! The way Eloise captures photos is so special – she is so incredibly talented and made us feel so comfortable. We absolutely cherish the memories that she has been able to capture for us and will continue to do so – we’ve received so many comments on our photos and how she interacted with our guests, and we will definitely be using her again when an opportunity arises!

We chose Adam Sayer (London Piano Man) as our musician after being invited to a close friend’s wedding the previous year and watching him perform his sets there. He just knew how to read the room and what to play to get the guests up on the dance floor, which is exactly what we wanted for our wedding! During his sets, he also welcomes loads of song requests from guests and is able to play them flawlessly!

For our wedding flowers, we wanted quite a simple theme. We went with Holly and the Dragonfly (Holly and Laura) as our florist as throughout the whole planning process, they made everything so incredibly easy. When we talked about our ideas, they always considered our budget and made sure we kept within it, especially with ideas about how we could reuse arrangements throughout the day. When we finally saw them come to life in the day, the arrangements completely wowed us, especially the set up in the outside ceremony area and the bridal bouquet!

Did your vision for the wedding change over the planning process?

Not really, we always chose Millbridge Court with the intention of a summer outdoor wedding and we were lucky enough with the weather to be able to capitalise on this! The one thing that we did change was our view of the late night food during the planning process. In-between us choosing the venue and our wedding day, Millbridge decided to install an outdoor pizza oven. As self-confessed pizza lovers, once we saw this, we immediately knew that we had to have pizza as our food option in the evening and it’s safe to say it did not disappoint!

Are there any memorable anecdotes from the day you could share?

Seeing Lex for the first time before she made her way down the aisle was both an emotional but incredibly happy experience and one that I will never forget for the rest of my life. I remember us both being quite nervous throughout the ceremony as we both don’t massively tend to enjoy being the centre of attention, however once we were pronounced husband and wife, it felt like we were suddenly able to relax. Walking back past all our close friends and family with confetti was such a special occasion.

On a funnier note, we had some welcome drinks in Farnham the day before the wedding with close friends and family. Lex, as the bride, was naturally allowed to escape relatively early on to ‘rest’ before her big day but I was unfortunately cornered and stopped from leaving by some of her family and friends. I woke up feeling absolutely terrible but miraculously recovered well before the ceremony. Somehow, rumours had gotten back to Lex, who quizzed me when signing the marriage certificate!

Tell us something that we wouldn’t know about your day from the pictures.

Being England and peak summer, it is obviously natural for the weather to not be straightforward and for it to be the biggest unknown factor. Despite the glorious sunshine displayed in our photos, there were some incredibly nervous moments throughout the week building up to the big day as it was pretty much torrential rain until Saturday evening. We therefore thought our dreams would be scuppered for the Sunday but fortunately, we got so incredibly lucky with the sun.

Favourite part of your wedding journey?

For us, it was amazing to see how everything that we had been planned over the previous 12 months culminated into a truly magical set up on the day – from the floral arrangements, to the food and from the outdoor ceremony to the evening dancing. It was especially memorable to see the venue we fell in love with filled with all our closest friends and family enjoying themselves.

Any words of wisdom for future couples?

The day itself is such an unbelievable day and will forever be one of the best days of our lives, but in contrast to the year of planning, it does go by so quickly! In the lead up to ours, people had given us advice to make sure that, at some point during the day, we took some time to ourselves to just absorb everything and spend some together away from socialising with all your family and guests. It was such great advice that I would wholeheartedly recommend every couple do the same!

 

The Loft is the perfect space to start your wedding day in luxurious comfort! With mirrors a plenty, a crystal pendant light, six individual Makeup Stations, an elegant seating area and a private changing area, this room has all you need.

VLA Wedding Photography 

Clockwise- Clara Cooper Photography | The Springles | VLA Photography

The crown jewel of the room is the one way window, which allows excited members of the Bridal Party to a sneak peak of the ceremony hall in its various stages right up to the guests taking their seats in anticipation of your entrance.

 

Clockwise- Lucie Watson Photography | The Springles | Philippa Sian Photography

(Title Image by Razia N Jukes | Below Images by Philippa Sian Photography)

Our Boutique Hotel has nine bedrooms in total, seven in the main house and one in The Lodge, an amazing cottage that we have here at Millbridge Court; all of these room are exclusively yours to book for your nearest and dearest on the night of your Big Day. A continental family-style sharing breakfast is available for all guests in a private Dining space before check out the following morning, allowing time for that much needed catch up.

Last, but definitely not least is our final Bedroom, The Hideaway, a secluded wooden cabin, tucked into woodland and reserved exclusively for the couple on the night of your wedding. Walking through the private gates and beyond the secret fern garden leading to the front door (another amazing location for photos!) you will find your own secluded hideaway for the evening, complete with roll-top copper bath and a veranda overlooking the neighbouring countryside.

Throughout April, there was something rather exciting going on at the end of the Millbridge Court grounds. After months of planning, landscape gardeners got to work planting Laurel hedging, ferns & installing an incredible pair of vintage gates in front of our Bridal Suite, the Hideaway… & now that all of their hard work is complete, we’re excited to introduce to you all, The Hideaway Secret Garden!

A botanical sanctuary just beyond our flower meadow that creates that extra bit of magic & privacy for our couples on their Wedding Day & the morning after the celebrations. A tranquil & peaceful space to be able to enjoy all to themselves.

We hope that all of our MBC Couples love it just as much as we do! Here are a few sneak peeks to give you a taster of whats beyond the gates. Xx

And we love that we have already received pictures of photographers using the Secret Garden as a backdrop for gorgeous couples shots… here are L&S captured by The Springles last week.

And J&T captured beautifully by Joanna Nicole Photography earlier in May!

We can’t wait to see many more over the course of the Summer!