May 08, 2024

An Elegant Spring Celebration

Leana Catherine Photography

Who doesn't love an elegant affair? We're going back just over a year ago to reminisce on this gorgeous Spring wedding!

Rhian & Paul had a 2-day celebration with just over 80 of their nearest and dearest. Their wedding commenced in April with a style of traditional, classic and modern twist.

It was a beautiful day and we're so glad we can look back on it with all of you! If you're looking for some elegant and timeless wedding inspiration... you've come to the right place.

So... How did you meet?

Paul and I were very good friends. We worked together at a barrister's chambers in London. We actually used to sit opposite each other. We would often go out for lunch together and go to gigs in small music venues after work.

I don't think either of us realised at the time that our friendship would grow into a relationship. One year, Paul took me on a surprise birthday trip to Venice and whilst we were there he asked me to be his girlfriend.

Tell us the proposal story!

We had planned a holiday to a beautiful vineyard in Salamanca, Spain. It's called Hacienda Zorita. Paul and I love Spanish food, wine and culture. Unbeknownst to me, before we arrived, Paul had been in touch with the vineyard and arranged several experiences for us to do while we were there - wine tasting, balsamic vinegar and olive oil tasting and tour etc.

On arrival, he had asked the staff to tell me the spa was under repair so that I wouldn't book anything myself!! On our second night, he had arranged a private dining experience in the wine caverns. It was very romantic - a candlelit dinner, just the two of us. We talked for hours and after dinner, Paul got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. The sommelier then brought in a bottle of pink bubbles to toast!

The next morning, Paul had arranged for us to have a day at the vineyard's spa. It was perfect.

Leana Catherine Photography

Why Elmore?

When planning our wedding, Paul and I were living in London, my family were in Wales and his family were in Essex. We decided we wanted a venue that everyone had to travel to and had enough space for our closest family to stay.

It had been a long day of my dad driving us to different venues with nothing really ticking all the boxes. We almost decided not to visit Elmore due to all the travelling but thankfully my dad encouraged us to go and visit. As we got to the gates of Elmore Court we all turned to each other and said this might be the one.

Kat met us at the impressive entry to the main hall. She was so welcoming. The court itself is absolutely beautiful and grand but there is also a real warmth and Team E have a wonderful way of making you feel like part of the Elmore family. We fell in love with the whole ethos of Elmore Court and immediately booked a 2 day slot in April 2021.

Where did your wedding inspiration come from?

Paul and I love traditional, classic styles with a modern twist. Paul also enjoys gardening. We often find ourselves wandering around national trust gardens, on long walks in the country side and looking for hidden treasures in antique shops. So a lot of our inspiration came from there.

Flowers and foliage were a big inspiration for us. All our tables in the Gillyflower were named after flowers. Our top table was forget me not in memory of my Nan who we lost to Alzheimer's. When we attended our first open day at Elmore, Amber of Amber Persia had designed the set up in the main hall and her style was exactly what we had envisioned. When I had an initial conversation with her, I said that we wanted our guests to feel like they were walking into a spring garden. Amber was a huge help bringing our vision to life.

We loved your stunning gown how did you choose this look?

Because of our long planning process and delay, my dress-shopping experience was not a straight forward one! I initially fell in love with a Dando London gown that I had seen when scrolling through Instagram. It was exactly what I was looking for- a long train, off the shoulder, simple but with a little glitz and glam. I felt like a bride as soon as I stepped into it.

However, by the time our 2023 wedding date came around, I was questioning my choice. A lot had changed. Paul and I welcomed our daughter, Martha, to the world in December 2021 and my body shape was different, my confidence had dropped and I felt that maybe my dress was a bit over the top. My mum convinced me to go dress shopping for a second time. We went to a lovely shop, Eva Ashley, where you could buy dresses off the rack. This gave me the option to try different styles and see how they felt. There was one dress that fitted like a glove. It was a Kenneth Winston dress, completely different to the Dando London one. It was fitted, plain at the front but it had the most beautiful beaded detail at the back. It felt elegant and timeless.

I debated what dress I would wear right up to the last hour before the wedding and I just couldn't let go of my original dream dress so I wore the Dando London dress down the aisle and partied the night away in the Kenneth Winston dress.

My veil was extremely special. Handmade by Sophie Raval, it was a cathedral length veil with hand sewn flowers and a little forget me not hidden in the design.

On the morning of your wedding, how did you feel?

The morning of the wedding absolutely flew by but as we weren’t getting married until 2pm it was very relaxed. My bridesmaids, mum and I had a lovely breakfast in the coach house before Katy Pheiffer and Andrea Luella arrived to do our hair and makeup.

The nerves started to creep in when we moved over to the bridal suite to get dressed. We opened a bottle of bubbles, put on a girly Spotify playlist while we waited and had a dance and sing along.

Leana Catherine Photography

How did you find the planning of your wedding?

Our wedding planning process was a very very long one. It started in 2019. We were excited and felt organised but then everything changed when the country went into lock down. We can't thank Kat enough for the support she gave us throughout the whole process. It was stressful and we desperately just wanted to be married. We held strong right until a few weeks before our wedding date. We then had to face reality as, if we did go ahead, we would only be able to have around 6 people attend. We wanted our family to be able to enjoy our special day with us so we decided, reluctantly, to postpone.

Thankfully Elmore had a long Thursday available in April 2023 and we immediately called all our suppliers who were all very understanding and available on the new date! Once we made the decision, there was a huge weight lifted and we could feel excited about the planning process again.

Tell us about the ceremony?

It was the most breathtaking, wonderful moment. Walking through the doors of the main hall and seeing all our family and friends there to witness our wedding after four year of planning and anticipation.

Nerys Clark played James Bay's "Wild Love" on the cello as I walked down the aisle with my dad. I couldn't stop smiling at Paul standing at the top of the aisle looking back at me.

Talk us through the drinks reception?

Finally time to let our hair down a little. We hired some fun vintage garden games from Every Event Hire. We also arranged for Pitch up and Play to set up a little corner for our mini vip’s. Both went down a treat!

Both Paul and I like gin so had arranged for Elmore to supply a gin bar. Nerys Clark also played some upbeat music on her electric cello.

What was your food of choice?

The food exceeded our expectations. Our guests still talk about it now. It was so tasty! We opted for arancini starter, roasted chicken breast as our main course and creme brûlée for desert.

Leana Catherine Photography

What was your reaction to your reception at the Gillyflower?

During our drinks reception, Paul and I took a moment alone to have a first look at the Gillyflower. It was simply stunning. We love the organic feel of the building and the big glass windows that look out onto the meadow. Amber really did bring the outdoors in with armfuls of spring flowers and foliage.

She also sourced twisted long stem candles which added to the softness and romantic feel of the room. This was mirrored in the cake designed by Bespoke Bella cakes which sat upon a vintage dresser supplied by Locate to create. We also hired some vintage sofas and chairs from Locate to create which made the space feel cosy and was the perfect space for our guests to rest their feet after dancing away on the dance floor.

First dance choice?

The song we chose for our first dance was Sam Cooke's Nothing can change this love. We adored this song!

Leana Catherine Photography

What were your wedding highlights?

There were so many highlights. We loved the transformation of the main hall and the Gilyflower. Entering the Gillyflower as husband and wife dancing down to the top table to This will be an everlasting love while our family and friends all cheered was definitely a moment we will always remember!

Any tips for couples currently planning their wedding?

Take time to research and build relationships with your suppliers. You will put a lot of trust in them and it's so important to feel comfortable with them and know they will bring your vision to life.

When your day finally arrives, take a moment with your partner and look around. Take everything in as it is a day you will want to remember for the rest of your lives.