With the warmer summer days coming to an end, and the cosy autumn nights here to stay for a little while, we wanted to take a minute to reflect on what a wonderful season we have had.  We feel so lucky to have been a part of so many beautiful celebrations and we cannot thank our couples enough for choosing Millbridge Court!  We are very excited to see what the next few months bring and look forward to hosting our beautiful winter weddings…

But before we get too excited about the festive period, we couldn’t not share a day full of so much colour, love and the most stunning hand crafted dress!  L&A’s celebrations were nothing short of the perfect Spring day!

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

We met at medical school 9 years ago. We were living in the same flat in the halls of residence. We were really good friends, and then eventually got closer and started dating – Adam came to meet my parents before Christmas! I took Adam to one of the nearby country parks by the sea, and we had a really lovely time, and it was beautiful. Adam took me again 7 years later, but this time popped out a ring! A really beautiful proposal, with just the waves and sunshine to witness it!

Why did you choose Millbridge Court?

We got warm, friendly vibes when we visited. We loved the décor, and the outside ceremony area was stunning. We could imagine it well and it was always a dream to get married outside with lots of greenery and flowers! Living in England though, we were very much aware that it might rain, but loved how Millbridge were so flexible with deciding on inside/outside on the morning of the wedding. The wedding hall is also beautiful, with high ceilings and so much natural light!

What did you love about having a Spring wedding?

The outside ceremony 100% – we were SO lucky that on the day it was super sunny, honestly very blessed! The garden and the flowers were looking stunning outside too and the guests could all hang out and have drinks outside too.

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

We chose Gill Pike for our flowers – she was suggested to us by Millbridge but also, we loved her style. She was very friendly and personable when we met her, and we loved how chilled she was. When we talked about our ideas, she always kept in mind our budget and made sure we kept within. The flowers were beautiful – she killed!

Botanico cakes by Naomi was our wedding cake designer – again she delivered so well, made a scrumptious cake that all the guests complimented, and managed to create a stunning cake with her intricate flowers.

The band that we had were called Slingshot – we loved their music list and the sound of them, and they had amazing reviews. They absolutely smashed it – all our guests were up on the dance floor and asking for their contact numbers by the end too!

The wedding dress was by Sophie Rose Bridal – she did the best job of creating Lynnie’s dream dress, we could not have asked for more. She was so personable, and her studio was such a welcoming environment.

We had photography and videography done by VLA. They are a married couple who have worked a lot at Millbridge – they are very passionate about their work. They captured so many magical moments, and created a beautiful wedding video that we still love to watch.

The wonderful Stephanie Dorelli was in charge of making Lynnie look her absolute best on the day. She had a trial arranged a few months beforehand, and Stephanie’s studio created the most relaxing and friendly atmosphere for having a pampering day. Lynnie was quite anxious beforehand because she had had a previous experience of where she didn’t look herself after having make up done for her. So it was really reassuring when Stephanie asked for Lynnie’s pictures beforehand so she knew what look she normally went for so that on the day, she would still look like herself, just a very glowed up version! Stephanie did the best job with the make up, but the hair was the best part – she created the most beautiful whimsical look with braids and a flower crown – it was even better than we had imagined. She also offered to help with our bridesmaids’ hair and helped pin in flowers and do the finishing touches which was really appreciated – thank you!

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

Not really, we always Imagined an outdoor wedding with lots of flowers, people dancing and enjoying themselves. I think the weather was very much the biggest factor in this, which was out of our control. However, we knew that If it was bad – we would still have had the incredible indoor area. Millbridge were so thoughtful and considerate about everything, nothing was a chore!

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

One of our groomsmen had a few too many drinks and had to have the microphone taken off him. He was getting a bit too risqué with his announcements – this made us laugh a lot and is a story we reminisce on when talking about our wedding day!

For both of us, the moment we saw each other, as Lynnie walked down the aisle was one of the best moments of our lives. It was emotionally overwhelming, with so much happiness, seeing all our loved ones and each other. The beautiful outdoor setting made it even more joyful, everything just coming together and feeling so perfect, It was amazing.

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

Lots of Lynnie’s family had flown over from Myanmar. We weren’t sure if they would be able to make it. We haven’t been able to see them for around 4 years because of COVID and then the political situation in their country, so to have them there was incredibly special.

When we first met at university, we were put in a flat together with 4 other people. All of us are still friends 9 years later, and all of those original flatmates were at the wedding.

Favourite part of your wedding journey?

The whole process was very enjoyable, from booking the venue to picking the flowers. But it was really nice to see how it all culminated on the day, walking into the venue and seeing all the wonderful flower arrangements and tables set up was an incredible feeling. But most of all when we saw each other for the first time on the day as Lynnie walked down the aisle. That was the best part of the whole journey.

Any words of wisdom for future couples?

Start by giving yourselves plenty of time to plan – we had 2 years from getting engaged to getting married, and it meant we had time to enjoy the whole planning process rather than having to rush to get things organised. Then, on your wedding day, make sure you take some time for yourselves to absorb everything. It is one of the best days of your life, but it goes so quickly and you want to savour it as much as possible.

We are always so excited to receive a gallery from The Springles, and with the autumnal light hitting just right, we simply had to share a snippet of Maya & Adam’s wedding day from October last year.  From the bohemian dress from Farnham Boutique to the tables adorned with mini white pumpkins the day was such a pleasure to host.

How did you meet?

We were introduced by our mutual friend Hatice at University.  Adam studied Forensic Computing and I studied Musical Theatre – so definitely not in the same buildings!

Why did you choose Millbridge Court?

By the time we visited Millbridge Court we had seen around 8 venues.  We wanted a space that was light and airy with beautiful countryside surroundings.

The thing that stood out most was the attention to detail and support from staff on the day!

We love the attention to detail from your day! What was your main inspiration?

We absolutely wanted to capture the autumnal time of year throughout our day.  Adam proposed outside our first home just after Halloween, so there were pumpkins everywhere.  Once we found our florist we knew these had to be incorporated in our decorations.

 

Who took charge of the planning or was it a shared experience?

It was definitely a shared experience, which was lovely as we both had equal input into our day.  We booked Millbridge just before the first lockdown so we spent a lot of hours in Pinterest!

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

We had an amazing team of suppliers; we chose the majority as they felt they could deliver our theme.

Our florist was Alice from Meadowfolk.  I had scoured through Instagram to try and find a florist who had that calming Boho vibe.  Alice was so excited by our theme of using pumpkins, music and cricket throughout the day.  She came up with so many ways to subtly add these touches.

Our photographers were The Springles (Kat & Ash), what a fantastic duo!  They captured every special moment from our pre-wedding shoot to the day itself.  They were both so helpful from start to finish.  Their style is what made us want to instantly book after a visit at Millbridge.  It’s autumnal dreamy vibes.

Most people think I was crazy for doing it, but I made our wedding cake.  I run a baking business called Sass&Bake and I couldn’t imagine anyone else making it.

Wow, Maya you are super talented!  If anyone needs an excuse to get some deep dish cookies on order, do it now!

Tough question, favourite part of your wedding journey?

We both loved our ceremony (of course) as we incorporated so many special things to us.  From readings that childhood friends wrote, to our grandparents favourite songs as we walked down the aisle.

But our absolute favourite part of the day was during our wedding breakfast.  I think a lot of couples will tell you how fast the day can go.  Just after starters At Last by Etta James was playing in the background.  We both instantly welled up as our son was born to this song.

 

Any words of wisdom for future couples?

Enjoy yourselves and make sure you take a few moments in the day to soak it all in, but you’re safe hands with the fantastic Millbridge & Kalm Kitchen teams.

1. How did your passion for floristry come about?

As a child, I spent most of my time outside – building fairy houses, climbing trees, picking bunches of wildflowers and making ‘potions’ from crushed up rose petals. I remember knowing the names of trees and flowers before I could even begin to spell them – so floristry & a love for nature has always been a huge part of my essence.

  

2. When did you setup MeadowFolk & what was it that drew you to the Wedding Industry in particular?

I set up MeadowFolk after working in an awesomely creative florist shop for a year – because I realised how much I loved the process of communication with the bride and groom, and bringing their flowery visions for their wedding day to life. I also wanted to be able to grow flowers specifically for each couple – so I bought a field and started growing flowers full time to use in weddings I was working on in 2015. By 2019 I was so busy with the wedding floristry side I didn’t have the time to grow flowers on such a big scale anymore – and so I sold the field last year & downsized to growing flowers right outside my workshop which is much more manageable & means I can simply nip outside to select stems for a wedding as and when I need em! The wedding industry is an awesomely friendly thing to be a part of – we all just LOVE celebrating love!

 

3. How would you describe your style of floristry?

My style of floristry is closely linked to the seasons, wildly romantic & meadow-esque

 

4. What can couples expect when they choose you to create their dream Wedding Flowers? 

I create a moodboard & bespoke quote for each client after some initial emails so that they can really begin to see what their wedding florals will look like. We then meet up to chat all things flowery & I bring a bag of treasures for them to see in person (candlesticks, vases, ribbons etc.) Next time we meet is on their wedding day, but I’m always available to email.

 

5. What do you love most about what you do?

Showcasing how beautiful mother nature is by bringing flower filled magic inside to celebrate LOVE!

 

6. What top tips & advice do you offer couples along the way & are there any Tips you would give to Millbridge Couples in particular?

Be clear about what you don’t want in terms of flowers/colours – sometimes this can be more helpful to florists that knowing what you do want.

Bouquets can always be reused for top table or cake table decoration. I encourage bridesmaids to ‘hunt the vase’ for their bouquet, as I leave vases for them in areas that need an extra floral touch.

Candles & foliage can transform a space into something beautifully magical – simple, but really effective if you’re on a tight budget.

When it comes to creating an abundant table set up, more is definitely more.

  

7. What do you love the most about Millbridge Court?

How flexible the space is – it lends itself to both the rustic, wild vibe – but also the more elegant/luxe vibe too!

 

8. Do you have a favourite installation or setup that you’ve done at Millbridge Court so far?

For sure Louise & Tim’s wildly bohemian & autumnal macramé archway. They’re brief of ‘just go wild’ is the BEST thing a client can say to me! (And you can find a selection of The Springles images from L+T’s stunning Autumnal Wedding Day below.)

 

9. What floristry trends are you seeing for 2021 & beyond

Seasonality & sustainability is becoming a real focus for couples now. With many coming to me because they love that I grow my own flowers and buy from local flower growers too – 2020 has taught us a whole bunch – one of them being how important it is to support local, small businesses.

 

10. What are your three favourite industry professionals/ brands to follow on Instagram?

@FloretFlower – flower farm for endless flower growing inspiration

@Lavendersflowers – florist over in America…colour combo queen!

@Wedhead_london – husband & wife furniture/prop hire duo of dreams.

 

Photography: The Springles, Wedding Cake: Dotty Rose Cakes

 

Over the years, we have seen Millbridge Court transformed in so many breathtaking ways, whether that be through stunning florals, creative styling, balloon installations, opting to have alternative chairs, tables and linens, to list but a few.

A popular way for couples, Florists and Stylists to get creative in the Barn’s has been by utilising our shelves and pegs which feature in both the Ceremony and Dining Barn. Throughout the seasons, we here at Millbridge Court style the shelves with three tall glass bottles which have an individual flower placed in each of them and for some Wedding Days, particularly those with a neutral colour palette, these are left in situ throughout the celebrations, however we also see couples choosing to style the shelves in a way that ties in to their style and vision for their day. This might simply be by replacing the flowers with the type and colour of blooms that feature in their floral scheme, or it might be by adding flowers, plants, lights alongside the bottles, by hanging jars, ribbons etc from the wooden pegs or by removing the bottles altogether and adding abundant arrangements or cascading foliage. We have even seen some couples adding shelves in order to create a continuous arrangement down the entire length of the Barn.

For those of you still planning your Big Day, we thought we would share a handful of images showcasing the multitude of ways previous MBC Couples have styled the shelves in order to hopefully provide you with some wonderful inspiration.

Happy browsing, lovely readers! Xx

Eddie Judd Photography, Jay Archer

(Top & Bottom Left) Philippa Sian Photography, Blush Floral Design, (Bottom Right) Nataly J Photography, Bloomantic

VLA Photography, Hannah Berry Flowers

 (Top) Sophie Duckworth, Hannah Berry Flowers, (Bottom) Chris Morse Photography, Lisa Lusbin

VLA Photography, Hannah Berry Flowers

(Top Left) Miss Gen Photography, Eden Blooms, (Top Right) Amy James Photography, (Bottom Left) Philippa Sian Photography, Blackberry Bloom Flowers, (Bottom Right) Charlie Davies Photography, Eden Blooms

Kerry Ann Duffy, BloominGayles

Philippa Sian Photography, Jay Archer

(Left) Philippa Sian Photography, (Right) Jamie Dunn Photography, Lavender Hill Company

Stylish Wedding Photography, Kate Avery Flowers

 (Top) Philippa Sian Photography, Boutique Blooms, (Bottom) Philippa Sian Photography, Jay Archer

 (Top Left & Right) Philippa Sian Photography, Fairy Puff Flowers, (Bottom) VLA Photography, Topiary Tree by Carrie Macey