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

 

Tell us a little bit about Scrumptious Bakes with Emma? 

Scrumptious Bakes by Emma is based in Odiham, Hampshire. We specialise in beautiful, bespoke wedding cakes, macaron towers and macaron and personalised cookie wedding favours, all made with the finest organic, award-winning and sustainable ingredients.

Our contemporary classic aesthetic is imbued with subtle luxury and timeless style, and we are renowned for our exceptional ingredients and decadent touches.

Four generations of my family have been professional bakers and confectioners, and my mum is a former Michelin-starred chef. As a small child, I fell in love with baking in my grandma’s kitchen, and I take huge pleasure following in my family’s footsteps.

I started my business in June 2018, 16 months into recovery from a life-changing injury that damaged my sacroiliac joints, pelvis, lumbar spine, sacrum and coccyx. As I became stronger and could stand again, baking became a way for me to reconnect with my body, mind and soul. I have always found baking very mindful and easily lose myself in kneading soft dough or gently scooping and folding macaron batter.

Baking for family and friends initially gave me a sense of purpose; a clear, achievable goal and focus, which helped to relieve the trials of chronic pain and rehabilitation. It helped me to re-discover a sense of identity, to feel pride, to feel empowered. It rebuilt my self- confidence.

I found the concept of beginning my own business simultaneously exhilarating and challenging. Stimulating my mind was equally as important to my recovery as each physical step, and dreaming about my business, and how it would look and feel gave me hope and strength.

I am so proud of my business and all it has achieved so far. We have won several awards, and were recently invited by British Vogue to feature in their 2020 ‘Match Made In Vogue’ luxury wedding campaign. I am so excited to keep building on our success, and really looking forward to all that the future will bring.

What made you create these particular looks for your photoshoot and do you have a particular favourite or favourites?

I am inspired by so many different elements when designing centrepieces for our couples. These include: Seasonal, fresh produce; the beauty of the natural world and its tones, colour palettes and textures; the relaxed movement of soft foliage and the subtle beauty and natural cascade of flowers in bloom; and of course, most importantly, couples themselves and their stories.

Each wedding cake and macaron tower featured in the shoot celebrates our unique style; at once creative, unique, irresistibly elegant, mouth-wateringly delicious and thoughtfully designed.

Our contemporary classic aesthetic underpins each wedding cake and macaron tower. Traditional tiered wedding cakes for example have a modern feel with tiers of varying heights, carefully crafted from soft, light sponges and smooth, whipped buttercream, rather than fruit cake and sugar paste. Similarly, deliciously fragrant macarons, a French classic, are filled with indulgent Belgian white chocolate ganache and tower in a contemporary ombré cascade, perfectly complimented by soft, silk ribbon.

It is hard to choose a favourite design, but I love this organic three-tier Madagascan vanilla wedding cake, featured by British Vogue this October.

One of the ways to make your cake or macaron tower a true centrepiece is by extending its lines beyond where you would expect them to traditionally finish, encouraging the eye either higher or lower than it would usually look.

This design does this beautifully, with the delicate, soft ribbon by Eden Blooms adding a touch of subtle, contemporary elegance. By letting the ribbon drape delicately over the edge of the table, the long, tall lines of the cake are naturally elongated. It looks as striking, if not more so, from a distance, and works especially well as the width of the ribbon balances the height of the cake.

I also love the gently textured buttercream ruffles around the top of each sponge, the extra tall tiers, and the intriguing fresh flower cascade. It really is a design that captures the eye and draws you in, just like a piece of art, and I loved working with Hazel of Eden Blooms to bring it to life.

My other favourite design from the shoot is our Callebaut Belgian chocolate wedding cake. It is the perfect size for a smaller gathering of loved ones, and its combination of different height tiers is striking. I also love the contrast of the jewelled tones of its fresh flowers against the smooth chocolate buttercream finish, reflected beautifully by its gold mirror base; such a beautiful and simple way to elevate your cake. It also smelled absolutely amazing!

Tell us about the other suppliers that you collaborated with?  

I loved working with Hazel Shaw of Eden Blooms and Anna and Simon Clarke of We Are // The Clarkes on the shoot.

Hazel is an extremely talented and experienced florist, and her Hampshire cutting garden is exceptionally beautiful, brimming with seasonal flowers and foliage. Hazel’s work is truly stunning, and I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Anna and Simon are based in Warwickshire, and produce creative, fun, joyful and honest images and films. Their relaxed approach and light, natural style was perfect for Scrumptious Bakes, and I love how evocative each of the images are. I very highly recommend them too.

We were also grateful to Just 4 Linen, whose beautiful linen and napkins helped to create the perfect backdrop for each shot.

 

Why was Millbridge Court your choice of location?

Millbridge Court is a truly beautiful space, filled with natural light. Its high-vaulted, airy halls with floor-to-ceiling windows and rustic wooden beams provide a stunning neutral backdrop, and the possibilities for styling are endless. Its picturesque surroundings, with lush, green fields, a wildflower meadow and a hidden fern garden create lots of opportunities for photos, and their warm service and can-do attitude echoes our own approach.

Finally, we love how their spaces are designed with current trends in mind whilst respecting the spirit of the past, in much the same way that our fresh and modern designs connect with our traditional baking heritage.

Thank you for hosting us Millbridge Court. We hope to see you soon!

 

… and here are more of Emma’s show-stopping Cakes captured by We Are The Clarkes on Shoot Day!

Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of hosting a super stylish Styled Photoshoot which was conceptualised, organised and designed by Wedding Planner, Natalie Ellen, who teamed up with a host of incredible Suppliers who helped bring her vision to life.

With the full Photoshoot recently having been featured on the hugely popular Wedding Chicks blog, we wanted to share some of the beautiful images from the day with you, alongside a chat that we had with Natalie to find out a little more about the Shoot, the collaborators, her Top Wedding Planning Tips for newly engaged Couples and much more.

Hi Natalie, tell us about you & your wedding expertise…

I’m Natalie and I’m a wedding planner at Natalie Ellen Weddings. I offer bespoke wedding planning for modern, fun loving couples, designed to match your personality and style. My clients tend to be modern couples who are veering away from tradition – they want beautiful, stylish weddings with personal touches throughout and that suits me and my style perfectly!

 

Can you talk us through the concept for your styled shoot and where you drew inspiration from?

This shoot was the result of a first meeting with Poppy from Poppy Wild Floral – we met for a coffee to put a face to the name and to have a good chat about what we do, and within 30 minutes we were concocting our perfect shoot together. Those first scribblings quickly evolved from ‘cool floral installation in modern/stylish space with sage green’ into my favourite mood board yet – Poppy created the most beautiful colour palette to work from and everything went from there – the vision became ‘contemporary, playful with a little edge’ and each detail was designed to bring that to life. It’s always my goal to create something different to provide inspiration for contemporary couples, something people can screenshot or pin to recreate for their own wedding. That part always takes a bit more thought but it’s worth it when you see the idea come to fruition on the day.

 

How did you choose who to collaborate with?

At any one time, I  have a wish list of suppliers I’d love to work with, whether that’s for the first time or someone I keep coming back to because they’re so good at what they do. This shoot was definitely a combination of the two! Working from our moodboard, I selected suppliers who I knew could nail the brief and add their own creative touches. It’s so important to bring on board people who not only ‘get’ the vision, but creative experts who see what you’re trying to achieve and go that one step further. Getting the team right is the hardest part of the planning, but it’s incredible seeing everyone come together on shoot day!

 

What made you choose Millbridge Court as the location for your beautiful Photoshoot?

Millbridge Court has been one of my favourite wedding venues for years! The contemporary style of the space is right up my street and I love how versatile the venue is – there are so many different areas couples can utilise throughout the day, whatever the season! It was a no-brainer to style our ceremony space in front of the beautiful tall windows where natural light beams into the room, those windows alone are such a selling point for couples visiting the venue!

 

Every element of the shoot came together so perfectly, what advice would you give to couples who want to make sure all of the different aspects of their day are cohesive?

It can be so difficult to take a step back to see the whole picture when you’re planning all the little elements of your wedding, but my advice to couples would be to not let the little things overwhelm you. Always start with an overall vision of what you’re trying to achieve and with each decision, reflect back on your Pinterest board or moodboard and think ‘does this fit with what I want our day to look/feel like?’ You might find that the answer is no, but if you LOVE an idea then you can absolutely adjust your vision to suit – use it as a guide but don’t let it stress you out if you go a little off piste. It’s your day!

 

Are you seeing any trends emerging for 2021-2022 weddings?

This is a tricky question to answer right now because we’re potentially talking about a post-coronavirus environment. As we continue getting used to this strange situation we’ve found ourselves in, I’ve noticed people really prioritising quality time with their loved ones – it’s saddened me so much that people have had to dramatically reduce their guest numbers but it’s seen a rise in truly beautiful intimate ceremonies and I think some couples have started to consider a smaller celebration as a result.

In terms of design trends, I’d say we’re definitely seeing a steer towards what I’d call ‘the new pastel’ – brides are opting for dusky pinks, sage greens and subtle peach tones in their bouquets, with plenty of beautiful foliage to add a natural, wild feel to their day.

I’m hearing more and more couples talk about the desire to go local with flowers & produce, with many actively trying to create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly day, whilst also supporting smaller local businesses after such a hard hit this year.

Perhaps not so much a ‘trend’ but something I’ve really noticed in planning weddings for next year is that couples are less afraid of shunning traditions and doing things their own way – whether that’s a favourite food van instead of a sit-down dinner or a joint speech from the bride & groom, this is something I love as I think it’s so important to really personalise your day!

 

What are your 3 Top Tips for planning a successful Wedding?

Firstly, always remember this is your day and it should reflect you as a couple. Forget what you ‘should do’ and focus on what you really want!

Secondly, planning a wedding is hard work! Accept help from friends and family or consider bringing on board a wedding planner to make it a stress-free process.

Lastly, take inspiration from everywhere – interior & fashion trends, the seasons, places you visit, foods you love. And remember to think of all the senses! Scent in particular can evoke such strong memories so think about finding a special wedding scent, or dotting your favourite candles around the venue. Those smells will always bring you back to your big day!

 

*Click here to see the full feature of this Photoshoot on Wedding Chicks*

The Team:

Planning & Design- Natalie Ellen Weddings

Shoot Assistant- Kelly Amy Events

Photographer- Philippa Sian Photography

Florist- Poppy Wild Floral

Floral Assistant- Anthology Floral Design

Stationery- Made by Wood and Wood

Cakes- Anna Lewis Cakes

Hair & Makeup- Hannah Monk Hair & Makeup

Hair & Makeup Assistant- I Do Bridal Services

Hair Accessories- Lilley Studio

Model- Georgia Dispenza

Rentals- Hire The Look

Ribbon & Styling Fabric- PomPom Blossom

Table Linen- Just 4 Linen

Wedding Dresses- Morgan Davies Bridal

 

(Top to Bottom- The Springles | Kirsty Mackenzie Photography)

Upon setting foot in Millbridge Court you are welcomed into our stylish front lounge with oversized sofas and a log burner, this makes for a wonderful place for guests to relax with a glass of something delicious in hand throughout your day. This space transforms in the winter months as the venue takes on a cosy and romantic personality with the roaring fire and flickering candles a plenty.

 

(Top to Bottom- Kirsty Mackenzie Photography | Clara Cooper Photography | Philippa Sian Photography)

(Left to Right- Clara Cooper Photography | Julie Michaelsen Photography )

Drawing you towards the heart of the building is a stylish mirrored lounge, ideal for those needing a rest from the dance floor! We have eight boutique hotel bedrooms, as well as The Hideaway which is set within the grounds of its very own secret garden. After a wonderful night’s sleep guests return to the lounge, where just past our marble island is a private breakfast room ideal for that all important coffee and much needed catch up on the night before.

 

(Top- The Springles | Bottom- Philippa Sian Photography)

(Left- Julie Michaelsen Photography | Right- Dominique Bader Photography)