February 01, 2023

The 15 most romantic wedding ideas

The 15 most romantic wedding ideas
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Romance is an art form, but with the right ingredients and a sprinkle of magic, creating a romantic wedding is a piece of cake.

Atmosphere is the key word here. But how do you create a romantic atmosphere? You have to work with the senses...

  • Create a feast for the eyes with soft and flowing details, unstructured florals, gorgeous colours and candlelight... Getting the lighting right is key. Nothing is better than the soft glow of candles.
  • Choose scented candles to fill the house with a delicious aroma, this has the added benefit of transporting you right back to your wedding day each time you light the candle ever after! Or scented flowers for a natural and beautiful perfume.
  • Serve rich, decadent and delicious food, and take your time eating it. A banquet fit for gods and goddesses. Champagne or cocktails are the most romantic drink choice.
  • If music be the food of love, then play on! Live music is a must.

Romance can be described as a flow state, a dreamlike quality or a temporary suspension of reality... When planning a romantic wedding you are building a bubble of bliss.

Ready to fall in love all over again? Here are our favourite 15 romantic wedding ideas from real life weddings at Elmore Court to get you in the mood...

1) Romantic wedding dresses

Romance is a bride in French lace, Flowing silk, full skirts, long veils, blush and pink hues, tulle and bows.

But above all other considerations your romantic wedding dress should make you feel like a Goddess.

Here are some of our favourite romantic wedding dress ideas from our stylish brides...

bride with long white veil walking with her new husband
Taylor & Porter
Glamorous bride in lace backed dress getting ready to be married
Gary Nunn
Bride kneeling down to hug a young family member at her wedding
Tom Durn
bride in white dress walking down the stairs of a stately home in Gloucestershire
Rosie Kelly
beautiful bride in a lace dress outside Elmore Court in Gloucestershire
The Curries
bride in a fairly tale wedding dress with a long viel
Antonia Grace Photography
two beautiful brides kissing as they get married at Elmore Court
Rosie Kelly
bride at her festival style wedding with a white lace dress
Harry Michael
bride and groom celebrating their nuptials
The Curries
bride in long romantic veil walking through a walled garden of a stately home in gloucsteshire
Antonia Grace Photography
bride in jumpsuit and long veil walking through the great hall at elmore court
AR Weddings

2) What should a groom wear to a romantic wedding?

Going for the classic James Bond look of sharp suit is the most obvious choice for the groom of a romantic wedding, we also love velvet jackets and the laid back luxe of a casual beige wedding suit too...

Groom and his groomsman throwing snowballs at Elmore Court
Antonia Grace Photography
Bride and groom walking through a lovely walled garden of a stately home and wedding venue in the cotswolds
Pear & Bear
groom and his groomsman lined up outside a stately home in Gloucestershire
Wild Fern
Groom with a huge smile, waiting for his beautiful bride to walk down the aisle in a candle lit great hall of Elmore Court
Tom Durn
bride embracing her husband at a Gloucestershire wedding venue, outside during a beautiful sunset
Jacob Malinski
bride wearing a beautiful laced wedding dress embracing her husband at a Gloucestershire wedding venue
Gary Nunn
handsome groom wearing his military uniform while he waits to get married at a Gloucestershire wedding venue
Antonia Grace Photography
bridal party and grooms party wearing pastel colours at a Gloucestershire stately home and wedding venue
Pear & Bear

3) Romantic wedding flower ideas

Romantic florals are wild, trailing and organic. They're delicate and fragile, or they're decadent, oversized and ostentatious. Due to the wide range of beautiful romantic wedding flower styles right now, they deserve their own section here!

Take a look below for some of our favourite new romantic wedding florals for 2023 and beyond...

Romantic pink wedding flowers in beautiful towers at a beautiful church wedding in the uk
The Curries

Floral towers

We're going to go out on a limb here and say floral towers are the new floral arch.

We're seeing a lot of heavenly unstructured flower towers and we are loving them! As with all floral installations these are such brilliant multi purpose design elements which can be moved from ceremony to reception and as backdrops for your vows and then your cake cutting and many moments inbetween...

Beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony in summer at Elmore Court
Jacob Malinski
Towers of pink flowers with roman columns
The Curries
Large pink flower display next to the aisle of a couple getting married
The Curries
father of the bride walking her into a church wedding in gloucestershire
Binky Nixon

Meadow and aisle flowers

Another fantastic romantic and multi purpose flower installation is the floral meadow. You can line your aisle with meadow flowers which can then be moved to top tables or incorporated into your wedding reception styling

lovely sun lit wedding ceremony in the great hall of a stately home in gloucestershire
Lush Imaging
pink flower welcome display at a wedding ceremony in a stately home
The Curries
lovely display of pink and red flowers down the aisle of a wedding ceremony in a great hall
Lush Imagaing
flower displays at the ends of long tables at a wedding reception party
Albert Palmer

Wild & whimsical

Trailing greenery and unstructured wild floral arrangements are the perfect choice for a modern romantic wedding theme

flowers hanging from a light feature at a wedding ceremony at Elmore Court
Rosie Kelly
rustic wedding flowers on a table display at a wedding ceremony
Rosie Kelly
rustic wedding flowers on a table display at a wedding ceremony in gloucestershire
Tom Durn
rustic wedding flowers on a table display at a wedding ceremony
Tom Durn
pink and purple flowers and candles at a wedding reception party
The Curries

Urns full of flowers

Huge urns overspilling with flowers will never go out of style, it's still one of the most popular floral requests. You can use urns full of flowers to create a grand entrance to the wedding ceremony or reception, or at the end of your wedding aisle 

candles and flowers decorate the great hall of a wedding ceremony at Elmore Court
Rosie Kelly
lovely autumnal boho flower display for a wedding
The Curries

Delicate wedding flowers

Romance isn't all about big statements, if subtle and elegant is more your love language go delicate with your flowers and choose posies, wildflowers or potted plants 

pink and purple flowers in vases at a wedding reception party
The Curries
pink and purple flowers in vases at a wedding reception party
The Curries
rustic wedding flowers on the floor of the aisle at a wedding ceremony
Megan Gisborne
wildflowers in a vase at a wedding reception in a stately gloucestershire home
Tom Durn
elegantly decorated white wedding reception tables
Tom Durn
simple and elegant wedding reception table decorations
The Curries

Wedding cakes with real flowers

Whatever your floral style, don't forget to use them to decorate your wedding cake. There is nothing more romantic than a cake bedecked with real flowers...

white roses around an elegant wedding cake
Rosie Kelly
wedding flowers and cake on a lovely display at a wedding reception
Eve Dunlop
flower display around a wedding cake at Elmore Court
Albert Palmer
pink flowers decorated on a tiered wedding cake
The Curries

4) Candlelit wedding

Is there anything more romantic than candlelight? We don't think so. Here are a few times Elmore brides blew our minds with their atmospheric candlelit wedding ceremonies and receptions.

Pro tip: There is no such thing as too many candles.

a stunning bride admiring the beautifully staled tables at her wedding reception at Elmore Court
The Curries
window framed shot of a wedding reception party at Elmore Court
Gary Nunn
cosy wedding reception with flowers and candles flittering on tables while a band performs with a pink glowing lighting effects
Lush Imagaing
elegant table setting at a wedding reception at Elmore Court, with tables dressed in white flowers with touches of pastel pink
Wild Fern
wedding reception tables styled with tall white candles in copper candelabras
Tom Durn
wedding reception tables styled with tall white candles in copper candelabras
Tom Durn
long and sleek candles flicker on a dressed table of pink and white flowers
The Curries
Guests enjoying a wedding reception in a candle lit Gillyflower at Elmore Court, with tables dressed in pink flowers, candles and place settings
Lush Imagaing
Bride and groom embrace on the steps of a stately home in Gloucestershire, surrounded by glowing candle light and stunning flower arrangements
Harry Michael
three long wedding reception tables in the Gillyflower at Elmore Court, all candle lit and elegantly decorated
Tom Durn
elegant wedding reception table, lit with candles in the gillyflower at Elmore Court
James Fear
candle lit wedding reception with tables dressed with flowers, white linen and crockery
Wild Fern
tall candles flicker on a long wedding reception table, decorated with pink and white flowers
James Fear
bride and groom embracing while they are surrounded by displays of softly glowing candles
Gary Nunn
fairy lights on trees with candles scattered below them, at the entrance to the gillyflower at Elmore Court
Wild Fern
twinkling tea lights lighting up a wedding table with small vases of pink flowers and coolers of wine
Wild Fern
Flower girl posing at the end of the aisle with a stunning display of candles and sculptures behind her
Tom Durn
Bride and groom kissing ion the great hall at Elmore Court after saying I Do, with candles displayed on the floor
Tom Durn
bride and groom walk down a procession of friends and family holding sparklers
James Fear

4) Tied up with a bow

There is something super romantic about ribbons and bows. Maybe it's because it reminds us of gifts? Whatever it is you seem to agree as ribbons and bows are popping up in lots of your weddings.

red bow between two columns of a porch at a wedding venue in Gloucestershire
Jacob Malinski
bride in her white wedding dress with na long train
The Curries
pearl handbag for a wedding at Elmore Court
Wild Fern
two brides under a magnificent tree at their summer wedding
Rosie Kelly
simple display with a heart and flowers at a wedding ceremony at Elmore Court
The Curries
pink and purple wedding bouquet
The Curries
Bride and groom embrace next to steps of a stately home in Gloucestershire
Wild Fern
groom embracing bride in her lovely white bowed wedding dress
Wild Fern
happy bride clapping at her wedding ceremony
Naomi Kenton
classic car at a wedding ceremony
Tom Durn

5) Last Supper

This is something we do here. The night before your wedding day, gather your nearest and dearest for a 'last supper' it really is extremely atmospheric and a wonderful chance to reflect before the big day

Table setting with a last supper wedding menu
Wild Fern
candle lit table setting in the great hall of Elmore Court with an impressively tall Christmas tree
Wild Fern
stunning table setting with candles and flowers in the great hall at Elmore court
Wild Fern

6) Champagne wedding ideas

Whether you're starting the day sipping it in your dressing gown or in the bath, hosting a lavish outdoor drinks reception with a champagne tower on the lawn, or raising a toast in the cosy drawing room there is no doubt the golden bubbles of champagne is the most romantic choice of wedding drink.

Wedding cakes, cheeses and tower of champagne glasses at a wedding reception int he Gillyflower at Elmore Court
Tom Durn
grooms party wearing funky dressing gowns on the morning of the grooms wedding, all drinking champagne
Rob Tarren
groom toasting with friends and family at the reception of his wedding at Elmore Court
Tom Durn
Bride and groom enjoying a glass of bubbles in an elegant room of a stately home in the Cotswolds
The Curries
excited bridal party toasting with champagne while posing next to a copper bath at Elmore Court
James Fear
Champagne reception drinks in the drawing room of a beautiful stately home in the Cotswolds
Tom Durn
bride wearing a feather boa holding a glass of champagne while posing in a dark and moody shot
AR Weddings
bridal party in pink silk pyjamas, in an elegantly decorated bedroom, toasting with mini bottles of champagne
The Curries
Bottles of champagne cooling on a table setting, in preparation for toasts at a wedding reception
Wild Fern

7) Confetti

Confetti?! Surely it's a given at all weddings right? Well we definitely think it should be (the biodegradable kind only)

There are lots of different types of romantic sustainable confetti; dried petals, rice, biodegradable paper confetti, and they all float, fall and fly differently. It's worth having a think about this before the big day.

And once you've chosen your confetti style, have a think about how you'll display and hand it out to guests. There is something incredibly romantic about confetti laden baskets, paper cones and tiny little envelopes...

happy couple walking down the aisle with their friends and family throwing confetti over them
Gary Nunn
brides wedding dress with confetti on her wedding dress train
Eve Dunlop
guests throwing colourful confetti on the newly wed couple outside a stately Gloucestershire home
4 baskets of flower petal confetti, sitting on the wooden floor of a stately home and wedding venue
Jacob Malinski
happy couple outside a church after getting married with their friends and family throwing confetti over them
Tom Durn
guests throwing colourful confetti on the newly wed couple at Elmore Court
guests throwing colourful confetti on the newly wed couple at Elmore Court
guests throwing colourful confetti on the newly wed couple as they walk outside over a beautiful stately home front lawn
Albert Palmer
biodegradable confetti, rolled in cones made from the pages of old books
Rosie Kelly
order of services for a wedding, surrounded by stunning pastel flower petal confetti
Gary Nunn

8) Fairytale details

Slipping off to change your dress at midnight, using columns, arches and twinkling fabrics are all some of our favourite ways to incorporate fairytale details into a romantic wedding.

Here are some of our favourite fairytale inspired wedding moments of recent times...

three tiered wedding cake on a roman column with beautiful soft pink flower arrangements at the base
The Curries
Newly wed couple kissing on the porch of a cotswold stately home in Gloucestershire
Antonia Grace
a tower of pink and gold wedding chocolates and bouquets of flowers in the Gillyflower
The Curries
Bride and groom sharing a quiet moment together after getting married at a stately home in Gloucestershire
The Curries
Groom carrying his bride while they kiss on the dance floor of their wedding reception in a soft pink glowing light
Harry Michael
bride and groom enjoying and dancing at their wedding party and reception in the gillyflower at Elmore Court
Harry Michael

9) Create intimacy

Your wedding day will be a whirlwind of fun and friendly faces, make sure you build in lots of little moments of connection between you and your beloved. Some of our favourite ways to add intimacy are:

  • Personal vows: Write your own vows and be as heartfelt and honest as you can. Lots of couples worry about how they'll feel reading their vows in front of an audience, but the reality is always the same: as soon as you look into eachothers eyes you will feel as if you're the only ones in the room.
  • Unique ceremony ideas: Make your ceremony truly reflective of you as a couple. Do not get swayed by tradition or 'rules'. Loving cups, walking down the aisle together and music or readings by family are all lovely ideas. (If you'd like more unique ceremony inspo- take a look at this journal post)
  • Couples shoot: Don't skip this! Even if you're not keen on being in front of a camera. Use your couple photography as an excuse to go off on your own, have a smooch, a little debrief, a dance under the trees, a walk through the grounds or a cuddle in the walled garden... 
  • Outfit change: Sneak off together at some point during the reception. Rip each others clothes off and re-dress, entering to a round of applause. What's not to love?!
two beautiful brides embracing in a greenhouse of a walled garden, with pumpkins and plants all around them
Rosie Kelly
a groom carrying his new wife outside of s stately home in Gloucestershire
Tom Durn
two beautiful brides dressed in white sharing a special moment
Naomi Kenton
Cool bride and groom wearing sunglasses while walking through a meadow at sunset
Jacob Malinski
two brides holding hands and staring into each others eyes on a beautiful summer day
Naomi Kenton
groom kissing his new wife on the steps of Elmore Court in Gloucestershire
Antonia Grace Photography
two lovely brides in a walled garden of a stately home in gloucestershire
Rosie Kelly
groom carrying his bride across a beautiful countryside lawn with trees in the background
Taylor & Porter
candle lit pose with a bride and groom kissing outside a stately home and wedding venue in gloucestershire
Harry Michael
black and shite shot of a Groom carrying his new wife outside a stately home in Gloucestershire
Tom Durn

10) Read the signs

Neon wedding signs are perfect for a modern romantic wedding theme

beautiful newly wed couple sitting in front of a neon sign while gazing into each others eyes
The Curries
Neon all you need is love sign set against a backing of roses
James Fear
Crazy in love neon sign at Elmore Court
James Fear

11) Getaway cars

The most romantic form of wedding transport has to be a vintage vehicle. Extra points for ribbons attached!

Newly wed couple arriving at Elmore Court in a snazzy classic car
Mcgivern Photography
Cool vintage busses parked outside the Coach House at Elmore Court wedding venue
The Curries
beautiful bride being driven away in a classic car after getting married at Elmore Court
Taylor & Porter
Classic car outside Elmore Court waiting to pick up a newly married bride and groom
Tom Durn
Classic car at Elmore Court, a stately home and wedding venue in the Cotswolds
Tom Durn

12) Pink & red wedding theme

Our favourite romantic wedding colour scheme right now has to be pink and red. It's fresh, modern and playful with just the right amount of romance. 

Here are some ways you can add touches of pink and red to your day

Bride and groom posing for a red and white themed wedding, with bright red high heels and a bouquet of red flowers
Laura Martha Photography
Bridal party all in beautiful red dresses sitting on a sofa in a stately gloucestershire home
Wild Fern
Bride with heart sunglasses carrying a lovely colourful bouquet
Harry Michael
bowl of pink and red wedding flowers
Jacob Malinski
white wedding cake with red, pink and white flowers
Laura Martha Photography
Bride sipping champagne next to a display or red, pink and white wedding flowers
Laura Martha Photography

13) Outdoor ceremonies

An alfresco wedding has to be one of the most romantic ceremony choices.

We are so excited to be able to hold outdoor weddings all over our grounds and gardens now! Some options for your outdoor ceremony are:

  • Walled garden wedding
  • Getting married under an ancient beech tree
  • Ceremony on the Cedar lawn
  • Outdoor wedding with water sculpture backdrop

But the possibilities really are endless, get in touch for more inspiration and info on planning an outdoor wedding

outdoor wedding ceremony next to a magnificent tree on the lawn of stately home
Jacob Malinski
outdoor wedding ceremony next to a magnificent stately home on the lawn in summer
Laura Martha Photography
outdoor wedding ceremony next to a magnificenttree on the lawn in summer
outdoor wedding reception styled like a summer music festival
Alister Freeman
outdoor wedding ceremony next to a magnificent stately home on the lawn in summer
Jacob Malinski
outdoor wedding banquet in the walled garden of a stately home in gloucestershire
Laura Martha Photography
outdoor indian wedding ceremony next to a magnificent stately home on the lawn in summer
Jacob Malinski
cool outdoor wedding next to a fire pit at sunset
Jacob Malinski
guests enjoying a fire pit and marshmallows at an Elmore Court wedding
The Curries
outdoor wedding reception drinks in summer at Elmore Court
Lush Imaging
outdoor wedding reception drinks in summer at Elmore Court
Antonia Grace Photography

14) Music is the food of love

Live music is a real must to create atmosphere. The most obvious choices for romantic weddings are strings, harp, piano or gospel choir but who's to say what feels romantic to you; go with your gut and play on.

A string quartet playing beautiful music at a Christmas wedding drinks reception at Elmore Court
Wild Fern
A string quartet playing at an outdoor wedding reception in the Cotswolds
Eve Dunlop
A musician playing a bright red keyboard next to an impressive fireplace at a reception at Elmore Court
Tom Durn
newly wed bride and groom dancing to a brass band on a beautiful lawn at Elmore Court
Albert Palmer
beautiful bride at the end of the aisle in a stunningly lit church, with singers in the background
Harry Michael

15) Bridal accessories

If you're the kind of bride-to-be who has an undying love affair with shoes or bags you'll know why we've included accessories in our romantic round up...

stunning wedding accessories on an antique table along with pearl adorned heels, wedding rings, handbags and a bouquet of flowers
The Curries
bride wearing lace wedding dress, holding hands with her newly wedded husbands hand in a golden lit meadow
Antonia Grace Photography
Moody shot of a bride sitting on a sofa with a long and flowing veil
AR Weddings
stunning bridal accessories including heels adorned with pearls, sweet fragrances and a lacy wedding garter
Mchendrys Photography
Bride and groom embracing outside of the Gillyflower at Elmore Court with flower arrangements in the background
The Curries
Stunning bride putting on bright red high heels as she gets ready for her wedding
Tom Durn
Bride and groom entering their reception party at Elmore Court with all their friends and family cheering
Antonia Grace Photography
wedding heels and handbag with white bows
Taylor & Porter
bride in bright red heels with a white dress, holding pink, red and white bouquet of flowers
Laura Martha Photography

16) Pretty in Pink

What colour bridesmaids dresses should you choose for a romantic wedding? Why PINK of course!
Pink can be cool and edgy, soft and whimsical, bold and fun or pretty pastel shades... It is such a versatile colour for all seasons and goes so well with many colour combos.

Some of our favourite colours to pair with pink are:

  • Pink and red (all time favourite)
  • Pink and sage green
  • Pink and white
  • Shades of pink (pink just goes so well with pink!!)

Take a look below for some of our favourite pink bridesmaids moments...

Bridesmaids sitting in front row of wedding ceremony in pink and red dresses holding pink bouquets at Elmore Court
Albert Palmer
Bridesmaids wearing pink dresses with strawberry pattern holding pink bouquets to the camera at a cool wedding
Albert Palmer
Bride with bridesmaids in pink and white patterned dresses pose outside mansion house wedding venue
James Fear
Bridesmaids and flower girl in pink dresses walk down the aisle in beautiful mansion house wedding venue
Mchendrys Photography
Bridesmaids and bride in romantic pink dresses holding bouquets with ribbons in front of beautiful mansion house wedding venue
Mchendrys Photography
Bride in dress with huge bow and bridesmaids in pink dresses figure hugging with backs to the camera in front of stately home wedding venue
The Curries
Fun bridal party photo of bridesmaids in pink silk dresses holding up bouquets and bride laughing sitting on red velvet sofa in a stately home wedding venue
James Fear
Bridesmaid in pink silk dresses walks down a floral aisle in beautiful mansion house wedding venue
James Fear

We hope you enjoyed our round up of some of the most romantic wedding ideas we've seen at our gorgeous wedding venue. We certainly enjoyed reliving them!

If you'd like some more pink and red inspo or romantic styles, take a look below for some juicy related reads.

Love always,

Team E

xxx

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