A Wedding at a Georgian Mansion in London’s Countryside

Set within the manicured gardens of a grand Georgian mansion dating back to 1166, Alex and Peter’s regal ceremony exuded timelessness in the English countryside. Native wildflowers lined the emerald grassy aisle and simple white seating was placed in a rectangular formation within the geometric-patterned hedges. Enveloped in 100 acres of tranquil parkland, the Buckinghamshire estate’s imposing facade stood strikingly as the minimally adorned ceremony unfolded. Guests played a round of the quintessentially English game of croquet in the garden afterwards.

The reception was held inside Hedsor House where the grandiosity of the manor’s interiors were softened with ethereal floral installations and elegant tablescapes.

The timeless English garden wedding was beautifully captured by photographer Flora & Grace.

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Our Story

Names / Alexandra (Alex) & Peter

Location / London, England

Wedding Date / July 7th, 2023

Guest Numbers / 85

Budget / $150,000

How We Met

Alex & Peter met while starting their careers at a software company in New York City. They were assigned to the same team and even ended up at neighboring desks. Their friendship was forged over the course of two years working side by side. And the rest is history.

Our Engagement Story

Peter was raised by his family in the UK, where they still live today. Throughout Alex and Peter’s relationship, it became a tradition for them to visit his family for a few weeks over Christmas and New Year’s. While visiting, Alex always talked about one day exploring The Cotswolds – a group of quintessentially English villages of golden stone and rolling hills. After 5 years together, Peter decided he would pop the question during an “impromptu” trip out to The Cotswolds over the holidays. They spent the whole day wandering through winding roads of the small towns, shopping, and soaking up the charm of the countryside. They checked into their hotel and headed up to the suite where Peter proposed.

What we love most about each other…

Alex loves Peter’s loyalty, humor, and ability to connect with people. She knows she can always depend on him and loves getting to witness the relationships he has with family and friends. Peter loves Alex’s silliness, generosity, and positive outlook on life. She always helps him see the silver lining in any situation and can boost his mood with just her smile.

The Setting

Wedding Location

The couple chose to marry in the UK given Peter’s tie to the country. Alex and Peter decided to base their guests in West London, with the Welcome Party taking place in the city at an old judge’s house turned restaurant known as Sessions Arts Club. Their wedding was held at an estate in the countryside known as Hedsor House. Hedsor is an Italianate-style country house overlooking the River Thames dating back to 1166. The couple chose these locations to give their guests the best of both worlds between city chic and the quintessential English countryside. The ceremony took place in the manicured gardens of the estate’s south lawn, overlooking the rolling hills of the valley beyond. And was followed by a lively cocktail hour, intimate dinner, and dancing all throughout different areas of the estate.

Aesthetic

The couple envisioned their wedding day feeling organic, timeless, and unique. They wanted to play into the natural beauty of the venue and ensure nothing felt overproduced, allowing the charm of the English countryside to transport their guests to a different place and time. Wildflowers, natural textures and fabrics, and fun surprises like a croquet course and a unique seating chart all played into the excitement and ambiance of the event.

Preparation

Alex, her 6 bridesmaids, mother and mother-in-law got ready for the day in Hedsor’s bridal suite overlooking the gardens. They relaxed while getting their hair and makeup done. Peter and his groomsmen got ready in another portion of the house before heading out to the south lawn for some drinks and photos.

Alex & Peter Wedding

Photography & Videography

The couple chose Flora & Grace, an iconic duo from Germany, to do both their photography and videography for the weekend. Alex and Peter were both drawn to the way Flora & Grace captured such candid moments in their catalog. The couple wanted to be able to relive their wedding day through the emotion in their photographs rather than posed photos. The couple also felt that having their photography and videography streamlined by the same team would allow that organic touch to flow through all their content and have a similar feeling.

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Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

The couple wanted their ceremony to feel as though their guests were naturally a part of the surrounding garden and to do something unique when it came to seating. Simple, white garden chairs were organized in a rectangular shape around the couple, making it feel like they were being hugged and surrounded by their loved ones on all sides. The aisle in the middle was lined with wildflowers that seemed to naturally grow up from the ground, framing the couple in the center of the group.

Reception Décor

Alex & Peter decided early on in their planning that they want to keep their décor simple and classic in order to not distract from the natural beauty of the venue. They continued the theme of wildflowers scattered in an undulating line down the reception tables, along with whimsical, creamy linens, textured plates, and pale candles to help create an intimate ambiance. Natural wood was also scattered throughout the day as showcased by the bars and the seating chart station.

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Wedding Planner & Stylist

Alexis and her team at Willow & Oak were an invaluable part of the couple’s wedding planning journey. Willow & Oak did everything from design and styling to planning and execution – pulling off a weekend that Alex & Peter could only have dreamt about on their own. It is safe to say that this wedding would not be what it was without them at the helm, guiding the couple every step of the way to bring their vision to life.

Flowers

The couple decided to partner with Aesme Studio, a sustainable floral company founded by two talented sisters, located in London. The idea was to keep the florals as natural and wild as possible, using what would seasonably grow in the UK throughout July in neutral, pale colors. Alex’s bouquet and bridesmaid bouquets were all unique, with different types of flowers used for each to create a more natural effect, as if the bouquets were plucked from a garden.

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Stationery

The couple wanted their invites to convey a simple, yet unique feel, bringing in the charm of the English countryside. They used textured paper with ripped edges, twine and a custom envelope lining of a watercolor flower field. All other stationery throughout the day was kept neutral, using pale colors, whimsical text, and custom drawings.

Favors

The couple knew they wanted to do something unique when it came to the seating chart for dinner. They created an interactive cart, where guests could come to construct their own fresh scone with cream and jam. They could also find their table number, which was attached to a small bottle of homemade strawberry jam that guests could take home.

In addition, the groom’s family gave out what is called a Koufeta, as a nod to their Greek heritage. The favor is a bundle of 5 Jordan Almonds – the hardness of the almonds represents endurance, and the candy coating represents the sweetness of the married couple’s life ahead.

Lastly, the groom’s mother surprised Alex & Peter (and all of their guests) with a copy of a custom-made receipt book, filled with dozens of recipes and photos submitted by the couple’s family and friends. It was one of the sweetest gifts they have ever received and is something they will be able to look back on forever in commemoration of their wedding.

Cake

The couple chose a simple lemon curd and buttercream cake adorned with pressed wildflowers. They had a private cake cutting where they were able to steal a moment for just the two of them during such an exciting and overwhelming day.

Food & Beverages

Food and beverage was on the top of the list of priorities for both the bride and groom. Guests were entertained with a cocktail hour on the south lawn, laced with delicious, bite-size canapés, wine, and signature cocktails like dirty martinis and a traditional English Bramble. After cocktail hour, the guests were ushered into an intimate dining room flanked by two long tables for a sit-down, 3-course dinner. The guests had a selection of three different entrées, along with an heirloom tomato + burrata starter and an orange almond cake with Greek yogurt ice cream for dessert. The couple wanted to incorporate a simple yet accommodating menu to ensure their guests felt full and satisfied. After dinner, the guests were ushered through the house to the dance floor and surprised with trays of delicious espresso martinis to help keep their energy up throughout the party!

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“The idea was to keep the florals as natural and wild as possible, using what would seasonably grow in the UK throughout July in neutral, pale colors.”

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

Alex wore a custom dress by designer Lihi Hod, purchased at a small boutique in New York City known as Spina Bride. The dress was a simple silk fabric and form-fitting. It incorporated an off-the-shoulder neckline and sleeves to showcase a chic, timeless look. For shoes, Alex wore a simple, satin slingback pump from Badgley Mischka.

Bridesmaid Dresses & Shoes

Bridesmaids chose whichever dresses they felt comfortable in, allowing each one to be unique with different patterns, textures, and fabrics. There was mix of solids and floral patterns, all in vibrant colors, mimicking the feel of a garden.

Wedding Rings, Jewelry & Accessories

The bride and groom both opted for simple, gold bands to exchange during the ceremony. Alex’s engagement ring is an oval cut solitaire diamond, fitted with compass prongs on a thin gold band.

Alex wore drop-pearl earrings by Monica Vinader and a cathedral-length veil by Daphne Newman, keeping her look minimal and elegant.

Hair & Makeup

Alex wore her hair down with loose curls, not straying far from what she would typically wear in order to feel like herself on the day. She opted for a ‘glowy’ make-up look incorporating lots of blush, simple eye-shadow and a nude lip.

Groomsmen Attire

The couple decided they wanted their wedding dress code to be Black Tie, therefore all the groomsmen wore black tuxedos for a chic, timeless look.

Alex & Peter Wedding

The Details

Honeymoon

The couple honeymooned in Puglia, hitting small coastal towns, soaking up the sun, eating pasta and swimming in the crystal-clear sea. For anyone traveling to Puglia in the future, they recommend visiting the towns of Ostuni, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Lecce and Otranto.

Alex & Peter Wedding

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Wedding Songs

Ceremony Song: Here Comes the Sun, by The Beatles

After Ceremony Song: There She Goes, by The La’s

First Dance: You Send Me, by Aretha Franklin

Entertainment

The couple opted for a string quartet to play during their ceremony and cocktail hour in the gardens, along with a live band for dancing during the reception and a DJ for the after-party. The couple curated a playlist of songs from all different decades and genres providing a fun, upbeat list to entertain all guests throughout the entire day.

Celebrant

The couple chose one of Peter’s best friends to officiate their wedding. He knows the couple extremely well and has witnessed their relationship grow over the years.

Readings

The couple decided to write their own vows and had the bride’s sister recite a reading titled ‘Thoughts in a Garden’ by R. Gerhardt, which was a perfect metaphor about how a marriage needs to be nurtured and cared for in the same way as a garden.

Alex & Peter Wedding

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“They continued the theme of wildflowers scattered in an undulating line down the reception tables, along with whimsical, creamy linens, textured plates, and pale candles to help create an intimate ambiance.”

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

A standout moment for the couple was the cocktail hour hosted on the south lawn. Alex & Peter will never forget seeing all their guests basking in the summer heat, sipping cocktails, playing croquet and engaging in a quintessential garden party reception as the sun began to set.

One thing I wish I knew before I started my wedding plans…

Everything will work out as it’s supposed to. It is easy to get caught up in the chaos and little details that come with wedding planning, but be sure to take a step back and enjoy the process (even when things go wrong), because this only happens once and you will miss it once it’s over!

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