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.

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!

 

Who doesn’t love a crisp Autumn morning with leaves falling, mist lifting, changes in colours, cosy moments, incredible romantic lighting?!  We certainly do; there’s just so much to embrace during this time of year!

We thought we’d share some Autumn wedding inspiration to get the creative energy flowing for couples booked, or looking to book an Autumn wedding.  As always, we’ve shared some rather beautiful images from recent wedding days here at Millbridge Court, and we hope you love all the gorgeousness just as much as we do!

 

L – Holly Rose Photography, Longacres; R – Aurora Grey Photography

 

L –The Springles, Hannah Berry; R – The Springles, Meadowfolk

 

L- Holly Rose Photography; R- The Springles, Meadowfolk

 

L & B- The Springles; R- Alice Cunliffe Photography, Hannah Berry

 

Jonny MP, Jenni Bloom

 

Alice Cunliffe Photography, Hannah Berry

 

T- Alice Cunliffe Photography; L- Jonny MP, Jenni Bloom; R- Holly Rose Photography, Longacres

 

 

Aurora Grey Photography, Bud Flora, Kalm Kitchen

 

L- The Springles, Hannah Berry; R- Aurora Grey Photography, Bud Flora

 

T- Jonny MP, Jenni Bloom Maria Antoinette Cakes; B-Aurora Grey Photography

 

Alice Cunliffe Photography, Hannah Berry

Rachel and Fiyin’s Spring wedding day was so full of love and laughter!  Surrounded by family and friends, they created so many beautiful memories that will be cherished forever.

We caught up with them to relive their special day and give you a glimpse into just how much fun was had, from those loud “Yam Seng” to the incredible traditional wedding attires…

How did you meet and what’s the proposal story?

We met for the first time through mutual friends who invited a bunch of us to a pizza night in Shoreditch. We didn’t actually speak after that until the same friends invited us to a karaoke event, they hosted a year later. Honestly, if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be together!

The proposal happened on our bucket list trip to Iceland. We had just polished off dinner at a restaurant in Reykjavik and before heading back to the hotel we decided to go for a walk around the stunning Harpan concert hall to take some pictures. It was at this time that Fiyin, being the opportunist that he is, decided to get down on one knee and propose!

Why did you choose Millbridge Court?

Initially we didn’t really have an idea of what kind of wedding we wanted, but we came across Millbridge Court online and were really impressed by the aesthetic and how it seemed both modern and classic at the same time. The location also suited us well as we were London-based and wanted it to be easily accessible for our friends and family, but at the same time it was remote enough to feel like a countryside escape. With Rachel being a passionate foodie, the catering was also something that caught our eye from the get-go with impressive menu options offered by Kalm Kitchen.

Ultimately, we are so glad that we went with Millbridge given that from the moment we reached out, they had been really responsive, personable and eager to help which meant a great deal to us, especially throughout the planning process.

What did you love about having a Spring wedding?

Having a Spring wedding was one thing we were set on from the start of the planning process. It’s that time of year when the skies start to get brighter, but it doesn’t get overwhelmingly hot during the day and the sun sets later in the evening. Of course, with Spring comes the blossoming of nature and wildlife, and there was just something so beautiful about the symbolism of new beginnings at springtime which made the idea of having a spring wedding all the more special.

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

We chose Philipa Day as our florist as we loved her organic style using a combination of flowers and colours that perfectly suited the fresh spring theme we were going for.

From the moment we came across Emma Jane Lewis’ portfolio online, we knew that we wanted her to photograph our wedding. Her photos are romantic, candid, and editorial all at the same time and there were so many key moments throughout the day that we’ll always be able to look back on thanks to her.

Our decision to hire a photobooth was a pretty last minute call but might have been one of the best things we decided to do! Picture Blast provided a really easy booking experience and set up on the day without a hitch. Our guests loved taking photos with the fun accessories it came with – and the best part is, the photos were all saved digitally so it was very amusing looking through them all when the link was sent to us!

We made the conscious decision to get our friends and family involved in some parts of the day too. It made the day so much more meaningful knowing some of our nearest and dearest also had a part to play in our big day.

Were there any family traditions that featured in your day?

At the end of the meal, we went around to each table to toast our guests – a Chinese wedding tradition called ‘Yam Seng’ (equivalent meaning to ‘Cheers’ in Cantonese), Rachel’s dad encouraged everyone to raise their glasses and shout “Yam Seng” at the top of their lungs. It definitely brought plenty of laughter and even a little bit of competition between the tables as to who was the loudest!

Our first dance then featured the two of us in traditional Yoruba wedding attire which were custom made for us in Nigeria. We danced our way into the reception hall surrounded by friends and family before our Nigerian guests sprayed us with cash – talk about a grand entrance!

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

The food was absolutely incredible. It was one of the things our guests kept bringing up as a key highlight from the day; from the canapés to the bountiful sharing platters and the late-night snacks, it was all so delicious and beautifully plated. Hats off to the Kalm Kitchen team for doing such a fantastic job!

Favourite part of your wedding journey?

The day itself! The planning process was tough at times and there were days when we were both questioning “is this really worth all the stress?”, but when the day came, all of that faded away as we were surrounded by the ones we love and were reminded of what the day was really about.

Any words of wisdom for future couples?

Throw any expectations you have for the day out of the window and just focus on being present and making the most of it. Find five minutes for just the two of you together to take everything in and appreciate the moment. This might be the only time you’ll see all your loved ones under the same roof, and it flies by much quicker than you’d think!

Spring is very much upon us with the welcome sight of snowdrops and daffodils popping up in the garden, however, with a small sprinkling of snow set for next week we just had to share details from Lauren & Craig’s March wedding last year.

How did you meet?

We met on social media (very 21^st century).  Craig’s first message to me was ‘You are one spicy tomato!’ and I immediately knew he was the one for me, haha!

We love this!  How did you know we were the right venue for you?

We looked at quite a few venues, hoping to find somewhere that looked beautiful, calm and just felt like us.  We saw a lot of lovely places, but none that felt right… It was Craig who found Millbridge Court online and as soon as we stepped foot in the door, we knew straight away that this was where we wanted to get married.  The layout was perfect, allowing guests to flow throughout the space, the overall vibe was stylish, relaxed and effortlessly beautiful.  All of our guests have since told us how amazing they thought the venue was.

What inspired your day?

Originally, the wedding was supposed to be at the end of December, so we knew we wanted a whimsical, winter theme.  We also love a party, so we needed to ensure there was amazing food, ample drink and great entertainment.  Although COVID forced us to move the wedding to March, it was still perfect, as we ended up having both beautiful sunshine and then snow! You can’t make this stuff up.  The food was also spectacular, Kalm Kitchen really do take tasty food to a whole new level, it was so delicious!  We honestly, couldn’t have asked for a more amazing day.

 

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

We are not ashamed to say it was not shared at all, haha!  I (Lauren) love to organise events, so to organise my own wedding was so much fun!!  Craig’s involvement was letting me run with my ideas but then reigning me in when I got too carried away.  He did, however, choose most of the food options, which could not be faulted.

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

Millbridge Court already had a list of the most wonderful suppliers, so our balloon decorations Bubblegum Balloons, the singer (Thom Music) and the DJ (Farnham Sound and Light) were booked using their recommendations.  They did not disappoint; they were so great to work with and the end results were far better than we could have ever imagined.

Kalm Kitchen are the sole caterer and we can absolutely, see why, the food is like a piece of art.  And tasted insane!  It also compliments the style of the venue perfectly and the staff were just amazing.

We just loved Joanna Nicole Photography, the finish to her photos was exactly what we were looking for and she understood what we wanted out of them.  Natural, warm and full of love.

Our florist Fabulous Floristry by Carla came recommended to us by some friends who had used her for their weddings too.  Carla was also incredible, we still have our flowers to this day, dried and beautiful.

We found our Photo Booth, Photobot.Co. at a wedding show, we felt they were just something a little bit different and the guests loved it!

Luckily for me, my sister-in-law is a makeup artist and hair stylist, so this was a no brainer, but, what made it so special, was The Loft… What a truly lovely place to get ready the morning of the wedding.  Another reason why Millbridge Court stole our hearts.

 

Tough questions, favourite part of your wedding journey?

Wow, this really is tough.  We loved every single part of it, including the planning, weirdly enough.  However, if we had to choose, it would have been Thom Music, who is, by far, the best event singer we have ever come across.  Not only can he sing and play the guitar like a musical genius, he read the room so perfectly and played the songs that suited the vibe.  When I tell you the crowd went wild for Thom, that is an understatement!  Before the main course was even consumed, people were dancing around the room having the time of their lives!  Honestly, we are still having people tell us it was the best wedding they have ever been to.

Any words of wisdom for future couples?

Having planned a wedding the one time, by no means makes me an expert, but just to remember this is your day.  I completely understand wanting to make sure your guests are happy, but you are never going to please everyone.  The more people you ask for advice, the more confused you are going to be.  So just do what you want, make this a day all about you and your partner.  Your guests will just be so happy to be there and will have a great time regardless.

We first met Dan & Alex in February 2019 and after many postponements, we are beyond thrilled to say we finally hosted their special day in August this year!

With creative input from Alex, who sparked the big ideas, and Project Manager, Dan, taking the lead on the organisation, we knew the day would be carefully curated with every detail given thought.

We caught up with them to share with you a little glimpse of their journey.

Let’s start at the beginning, how did you two meet?

We met at Southampton University – Alex used to be in the musical theatre society alongside one of my housemates and so I got dragged along to watch their version of ‘Wicked,’ it was there I first laid eyes on Alex and knew I wanted to meet him properly!  Once we’d started talking, we very quickly became inseparable.

So when you had decided on forever, why did you choose Millbridge Court?

Millbridge Court was actually the first venue we visited.  We loved it straight away, the high glass fronted ceremony and reception rooms, the grounds, the staff, the relationship with Kalm Kitchen and the fact it lends itself to your own styling suited us perfectly.  Though as we were yet to see any other venues in person at this stage, we held fire on a booking and continued with other viewings.  At each venue we found ourselves constantly comparing back to Millbridge Court, or looking for ways to reshape how that venue worked to make it more like MC and so quickly realised that it was the one for us!  It couldn’t have been a better decision as everything came together even more perfectly than we could have hoped.

We loved working with you on your wedding journey!  Tell us a bit about what inspired your day.

As a same sex couple, we knew there were elements of the day that weren’t as traditional as you may see at other weddings.  We wanted to make the day our own while nodding to tradition where we felt we could – for instance, we each had three ‘Groomsmaids’ and our Mums walked us down the aisle.

The food was a big thing for us and the highlight has to be our starter.  We got engaged in Hong Kong and wanted to include an element in our day inspired by the city.  Kalm Kitchen created a Dim Sum dish which was absolutely delicious and something our guests really enjoyed, especially as it was a little unusual for a wedding breakfast!

We tried to give some thought to the little details that could make the day feel a bit different to weddings people had been to before (no easy task as people are so creative and have thought of almost everything!).  We managed to include a sky banner, timed to go over during the drinks reception which made for some amazing photos, and with the money paid being donated to charity, it was a win all round.  A ‘Lip Sync For Your Life’ sign complete with 5 toy microphones was also great fun in the evening and helped people get even further into the party mood!

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

We found the MC recommended suppliers list and attending the ‘Details Date Night’ so useful, it’s where we met a number of our suppliers!

Our florist, Alice at Meadowfolk, did an EXCEPTIONAL job!  The installation at the end of the aisle was absolutely stunning and everything she did exceed our expectations.  On top of this, she was also the most lovely, calming and reassuring person to have involved in the day and came up with so many of the ideas we managed to include.

Matt Tyler is the most incredible photographer and we never had the slightest doubt in him capturing photos we would love.  We were introduced to him by some friends who had booked him previously and we felt there was no comparison between his work and any others we looked at.  He was also a remarkably calming presence on the day.

Kate and Dave were the most incredible duo, who played during our ceremony and drinks reception. We deliberated for a LONG time over the song to walk down the aisle to and had toyed with ‘Two in a Million’, but worried a song by S Club 7 would come off as a bit cheesy – Kate sang it beautifully and the acoustic version they put together was perfection.  With people not quite able to place the song but loving the meaning behind the lyrics – exactly what we hoped for!

Forever Cakes designed and delivered the most incredible, delicious 5 tier wedding cake.  Karl at Moment Weddings captured the perfect video of the day so we can continue to relive it in years to come.  Simon Alexander entertained the guests with magic during the drinks reception (and got RAVE reviews from our guests!).  Caz Watts designed all our stationary and had so much patience as we made (a rather high number of) tweaks!  We found Bubblegum Balloons‘ ceiling installation in the dining hall a brilliant way to fill the space with extra colour and their team are also incredibly friendly.  Farnham Sound & Light helped us with the personalised dance floor, putting the ‘logo’ of our names across a vinyl print for some special photos during our first dance.  Our DJ was recommended by Jonny Ross Music, DJ Freddy de Lord got the music spot-on and his sax sets went down an absolute treat!

There were so many people involved in bringing the day to life, too many to list here but everyone did such an incredible job and we could not be more grateful for their efforts.

 You both looked absolutely fab!  Tell us about those suits…

We were SO happy with the way our suits turned out!!  They were made by King and Allen, a tailor we’d both highly recommend.  We felt in safe hands from the start as they had a 2-Groom wedding section on their website.

Again, looking to keep certain traditions in place, we didn’t want to see each other in our wedding outfits until the ceremony itself.  To make sure the colour of our outfits complimented each other, we visited and selected the cloth for each suit together – no one would want to see clashing suits on the day!  Once we’d picked the cloth, we followed the rest of the journey separately, visiting for fittings and adjustments at different times.

The lovely thing about having them made for us was choosing the extra details, like the bolder patterned linings and having our new surname sewn into each jacket!

Tough question, favourite part of your wedding journey?

Oooh this is an interesting question!  It actually has to be the week before the wedding, being in that bubble knowing the big day is finally approaching (we’d had nearly a 4 year wait… thanks COVID!).  I had heard from a number of people that the days ahead of the wedding could be stressful and so we were determined to be in a position that would allow us to enjoy that special time.

In the months ahead of the wedding, we worked through the ‘to-do’ list, making sure something was done every couple of days to really spread out the tasks.  It meant by the time we were a week away from the day, all we needed to do was pack and get ourselves to Surrey!

The morning of the wedding day was equally relaxed and full of excitement with Charlie (from MC) doing an *EXCEPTIONAL* job at looking after us and taking care of everything to allow us to just get ready and enjoy our time.

Any words of wisdom for future couples reading this?

We would have to say spread your to-do list over time.  It made the build up so much more enjoyable and avoided any last minute stresses.  Make sure you also plan the day for you and don’t get too caught up in what other people want/think.  While you want the guest to enjoy themselves, they will do exactly that just by seeing how happy you are on the big day.

 

We have waited so long to finally be able to host our Details Date Nights (since November 2019 to be precise) and last month the wait was finally over!

It has been such a joy to welcome back our newly booked Couples and for them to be able to meet and chat to a selection of our super talented Millbridge Court Partners whilst also getting to see the Halls transformed with beautiful displays, tablescapes and installations and being able to enjoy tasty Kalm Kitchen treats and signature drinks. It’s the perfect way to start getting inspired and begin to visualise how your very own special day might look!

Below we wanted to share with you all some of the breathtaking details from our Date Night on March 9th where we were so lucky to have all of these incredible MC Partners joining us:

~ Photographer ~

Matthew Lawrence Photography

~ Florists ~

Hannah Berry Flowers (Ceremony Hall florals)

The Topiary Tree (Dining Hall florals)

~ Stationery ~

Deabill and Quince 

~ Cakes ~

Le Papillon 

Forever Cakes

~ Lighting ~

Creative Spark 

~ Videography ~

W 4 Wedding Films

~ Hair and Makeup ~

Rosie Hart Stylist

Sharon Roberts

~ Wedding Attire ~

Bridal Indulgence 

~ Music ~

Thom Music

Keep scrolling to see lots of wonderful Millbridge Court Wedding Day inspiration!

 

It’s difficult to put in to words quite how excited we were to once again be hosting our Dinner Date Night’s here at Millbridge Court!

To see the Venue spring to life with a flurry of activity as we prepared to welcome back so many of our Couples over the coming two evenings was so wonderful, and although the setup had to be different in 2021 our individual sweetheart tables made for a very special and intimate Dining experience for everyone that joined us.

As ever, we had a team of incredible MC Partners using their talents to make the evening extra special for our Brides and Grooms. Eden Blooms created stunning florals for each table, Era Calligraphy made exquisite name cards, Creative Spark setup light installations in both the Hall and the Atrium where we showcased our new Pimm’s Drinks Station, Stella and Fly Music serenaded everyone so beautifully on both evenings and Kalm Kitchen brought together the entire vision on top of serving utterly delicious dishes from start to finish. Thank you also to the wonderful Kit Myers for capturing everything so perfectly!

We are already so excited for our upcoming Dinner Date Night’s and can’t wait to see more of you back at Millbridge Court but for now, here is a glimpse at last weeks gorgeous setup! Xx

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