Okay, okay - so we don’t technically refer to the third season as ‘Fall’, here in the UK, but it works for the title of this belated blog post, so we ran with it. What’s more, it perfectly sums up Rachel and Andrew’s wonderful wedding, which we had the privilege of hosting back in October.
The bride and groom, seen here stealing a kiss under amid the autumn hues, decided to work the seasonal oranges, browns and greens into their Big Day’s colour scheme.
Behold: the eye-catching rust-coloured ties and natty pocket squares worn by groom and groomsmen, which lit up their midnight blue Hawes & Curtis suits, and matched the stunning orange-rose buttonholes created by Jo Drake of Clock Dandelion fame.
The bridesmaids, meanwhile, couldn’t help but share (steal) the groomsmen’s limelight with their simple, subtly varied, and effortlessly elegant dresses from the Maya Collection.
But for all the beauty of the bride and groom’s besties, all eyes were on Rachel, who lit up our Ceremony Barn with a stunning Watters Wtoo number, imbued with intricate laced floral motifs. Her bouquet, again the handiwork of Clock Dandelion, brimmed with dahlias, roses, dill, snapdragons and achillea.
Rachel walked down the aisle to the mellow sounds of trio Free to Roam, who performed from our Ceremony Barn’s newly renovated mezzanine. It makes for quite the stage, if we don’t say so ourselves!
We loved the little details from this wedding. Case in point: the orange dahlias tied to the end of each row of chairs in the Ceremony Barn. A small, thoughtful touch, which created a big impact.
Much to the jubilation of their guests, Andrew and Rachel were pronounced man and wife in front of our iconic fairy light cascade, flanked by pedestals of liquid amber, beech, roses, dahlias and carrot flower.
The stunning colour scheme, created by Clock Dandelion, was rounded off in the Cow Stalls, where the mangers were lined with yet more dahlias, beech, oak and liquid amber.
After drinks in the Courtyard, guests were shepherded into the Grain Shed, where long, rustic dining tables, hired in from All Things Borrowed, set the scene for the wedding breakfast.
Guests were wowed, as always, by the fine fare served by Hog & Apple, but special mention must be made of the three stunning cakes baked by Rachel’s friend Gayle. The three flavours were lemon and elder flower, white chocolate and orange, and good ol’ Victoria sponge. And even the boards upon which each cake was served had significance: the wood platters were crafted from wood chopped at Gayle’s boyfriend’s family farm. (By Gayle’s boyfriend, we hope.)
As is customary in these parts, Rachel and Andrew engaged in a 'first dance’ and were duly mobbed by over-excited friends and family members - signifying the start of the evening’s merrymaking and…
… providing ample opportunity for obligatory selfies.
“We fell in love with the venue when we first saw it but it was even more magical seeing it on the day when it looked so beautiful and twinkly! Oliver, Laura and Sharon were amazing throughout our planning and on the big day. We had the most wonderful day at the Normans and our family and friends loved it too.”
SUPPLIERS
BRIDE'S DRESS Watters Wtoo
BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES Maya Collection
HAIR Jules Daniels
MAKE-UP Craig Parkinson
CATERER The Hog & Apple Food Co.
FLORIST Clock Dandelion
GROOM'S SUIT Hawes & Curtis
PHOTOGRAPHER Lumiere Photographic
Thanks to Lumiere Photographic for these wonderful shots of this autumn wedding with serious wow-factor!
