As the nights are drawing out, and lighter evenings are coming, we wanted to inject a little pop of colour into your wedding flowers inspiration and talk all things floral trends for 2024. We caught up with some of our lovely floristry partners for an insight into their world!

We asked Camilla Creations:

What is your favourite display to create?

I adore creating table flowers, specifically bowl arrangements. They work perfectly for both round and long tables, and are the perfect choice for impact without becoming over powering to the room, or impairing guests’ view and interaction.

Favourite flower?

This changes with most seasons, and it’s almost impossible to pick one! If I really had to choose, it would be sweet peas. They are so delicate, with the most divine scent. I use them as much as I can when they are with us between the Spring and Summer.

Any tips for couples looking to book a florist for their big day?

My first piece of advise would be not to enquire with too many florists, as it will quickly become overwhelming. Look through your venue’s recommended suppliers and chose no more than 3 florists whos style align with the vision you have with your date. My second piece of advise would be to not base your decision on the cheapest quote received, but on the proposal that has you the most excited, and the florist who you feel you can trust to not only deliver what you desire, but exceed your expectations!

We asked Hannah Berry Flowers:

What do you see being the biggest trend of 2024?

Colour! Clients are being braver and choosing bolder colours to work with which excites me a lot! Maybe inspired by the release of ‘Barbie’ last year or ‘Peach Fuzz’ – the Pantone colour for 2024. We have lots of  colourful weddings this year!

What is your favourite flower?

Now this is a hard one! It really depends on the season … I adore a delicate Galanthus Nivalis aka a Snow Drop. One of the first flowers to pop up after a long dark winter and there are so many different varieties. When you take the time to take a closer look at them, you really appreciate their delicate flower form and pure white colour.

A close second is a woodland Digitalis aka a Fox Glove. A tall, charming and some what magical flower form in pretty colours – I just adore them.

Do you have any tips for couples when they are choosing their florist?

Create a mood board of inspiration and have a list of desired floral items you can share with your floral `designer. This will really help them understand and develop personalised designs that reflect your ideas. If you have a budget in mind for florals, its important to share this information too. This will allow them to be honest with what they can achieve and help guide and suggest designs that will create the biggest impact on the day.

We asked Bloomantic:

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

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

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

 

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

S & M – Married at Millbridge December 2023

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

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

N & A – Married at Millbridge September 2023

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

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

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

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

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

L – Kit Myers, R- The Soul of my Lens

R & E – Married at Millbridge August 2023

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

T – Alice Cunliffe, B – Frankee Victoria

I & D – Married at Millbridge August 2023

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

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

C & B – Married at Millbridge June 2023

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

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

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

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

S & D – Married at Millbridge April 2023

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

M – Alice Cunliffe

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

What first made you fall in love with photography?

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

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

What made you decide to work in the wedding industry?

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

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

How would you describe your style of photography?

Photos with feeling!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good energy and trust! This is all I need!

What do you love most about Millbridge Court?

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

Meet Grace!  She’s been a Millbridge Court partner for just over a year now and every time she is here at the venue, we are in absolute awe of her floral gorgeousness. The rustic designs, use of natural foliage and our shared love for Autumnal floral installations – we just had to share some of Grace’s recent work – simply stunning!

How would you describe your style of floristry?

Romantic, feminine, elegantly wild, unconventional and artistic.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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