How to create a stunning wedding in a period country house
I thought it was about time I shared this stunning shoot I styled last summer at the fabulous Thurning Hall. Using Thurning Hall as the inspiration, I created a shoot that showcased the best this venue has to offer. As a stunning period property, Thurning Hall has bags of character, so we needed to create a design that allowed the venue to shine. Laid-back luxury set against an elegant, romantic setting became the core focus for our shoot. The shoot was packed with romance, seasonal flowers, drama and classic elegance. This is the very original mood board I created for the shoot to share with the suppliers: the vision and ‘feel’ for the shoot.
Wedding Flowers.
The shoot began with setting the scene for the ceremony in the Morning Room at Thurning. To create our focal point in the Morning Room, we decorated the fireplace with some stunning seasonal summer flowers (peonies, roses, hydrangeas and jasmine). Myrtle and the Bee did a phenomenal job with the flowers that day, as you can see from the images. The stunning tablescape and oversized, romantic bouquets were so scrumptious!
Bespoke Bridal Designs.
The fabulous Katrine Mogensen, who creates bespoke wedding gowns, supplied the shoot with a selection of stunning dresses. We accessorised the dresses with some stunning jewellery from Liberty in Love; each had an antique style to fit with the period element of the hall. The bridal looks were completed with hair from Tracey and make-up from Lara.
Wedding Cakes and Sweets.
The sweet treats from Sugar Buttons Creative were displayed not only inside the hall on an antique dresser, as a smorgasbord of all things cake, but also on the stunning reclaimed yew tree swing in the walled garden! We even accessorised each place setting on the table with a mini decorated donut.
Wedding Stationery.
The stationery was designed by White Olive, and Jacqui made a beautiful stationery suite, using the heritage of the venue and the colours of the flowers as the inspiration. It is so important to create a link from your stationery through to your actual wedding, and I loved this suite as it reflected the moodboard and shoot design perfectly.
Wedding Table Design.
The tablescape set in the walled rose garden was positioned underneath a beautiful old tree in which we hung a chandelier. The fine tableware was lent by the wedding gift list company, Prezola and included items from Dartington Crystal, Denby, OKA, Monsoon and LSA.
Our Wedding Ponies.
The resident ponies at Thurning made a guest appearance with our lovely models, complete with their flower crowns! I think they topped off the absolutely wonderful shoot!
Wedding Photographer.
Benjamin Mathers, our photographer, fit the fine art style of the shoot we were aiming for with his photography style of capturing images in natural light.
Special thanks to our models, Cathy and Hollie, George and Kitty.
Wedding planning in Norfolk, Suffolk and East Anglia
I've been planning weddings and celebrations across East Anglia since 2012, with particular experience in marquee weddings, private estates, countryside celebrations, dry-hire venues and wedding weekends.
I work with a small number of couples each year, providing calm, experienced support from the earliest stages of planning through to the wedding itself.
If you're considering working with a wedding planner, you can explore my Full Wedding Planning or Weekend Wedding Planning services.