Wedding Ideas

Laura & Nicholas

Santorini, and their favourite areas of the island, inspired their theme for table names as that was where they were engaged in September 2008.

The Proposal

Nick proposed to Laura at sunset, overlooking the volcano of Santorini. It was a surprise at the time but definitely one that Laura was hoping for!

We celebrated by walking to the local taverna and drinking the local beer over dinner!

The Wedding and Reception Venue

We had visited one other venue prior to Gaynes Park but after endless negotiating and feeling like it was their day rather than ours, we decided to look at Gaynes Park. We loved it from the moment we saw it, but left it one week to think about it and then said yes! Gaynes Park ticked every box for us. It was modern, yet old-country looking and classically chic. From the first time we visited, the team couldn’t be of anymore help! Angela and Jane are fantastic and made sure the whole process was as smooth as possible. The lambs in the field on the approach to the barn was also a selling point!!

They booked Gaynes Park 15 months in advance.

Wedding guests enjoying the sun outside the Orangery at Gaynes Park – venues in Essex — © Jeff Ward Photography

“It was modern, yet old-country looking and classically chic.”

Bridesmaids

Laura’s bridesmaids wore matching cappuccino satin dresses with specially made sashes to match Laura’s dress colour. They all had a beautiful bouquet of cream roses with diamanté finishing.

Bridesmaids in the gardens of Gaynes Park wedding venue — © Jeff Ward Photography

The Men

Nicholas and his best man wore brown suits, pink shirts and cappuccino ties to match the bridesmaid’s dresses. They had a pink avalanche rose buttonhole too.

Your Dress, Accessories and Flowers

Laura’s dress was beautiful. The corset style top was encrusted with gems and closely fitted. It then developed into a long, champagne colour train. With the dress, Laura wore a friend’s diamond earrings and matching necklace as her something borrowed; both simple and elegant to complement the dress. Her bouquet was a large feast of all of the roses used on the day – amnesia, avalanche, old dutch etc. The colours all complemented and brought together the colours from the main arrangements and bridesmaids.

Bride with ruffled wedding dress and groom in gardens of their wedding venue in Essex — © Jeff Ward Photography

Close-up of pink rose bouquet for Spring wedding — © Jeff Ward Photography

The Transport

Laura had a chauffeur driven Mercedes Viano to collect her and her bridesmaids early to take them to Gaynes Park to get ready.

The Decorative Touches

The Orangery was decorated with 2 large rose arrangements – these were later used for the entrance to the barn and very similar to Laura’s bouquet. They also had a small chair arrangement for both Laura and Nicholas’s chairs – these were wooden hearts with a small rose arrangement dangling from them. Confetti spilled across the ceremony table. In the barn, beside the table centrepieces, they had a large wooden heart tied to each of the four pillars which contained a rose arrangement.

Their table centrepieces were thin, tall glass vases. The bases contained pink blossom, spiralling up them and on top lay a large arrangement of roses. Confetti was scattered around the bases too.

Tall vases for flower decorations at Gaynes Park – barn wedding venues in Essex — © Jeff Ward Photography

Wedding guests enjoying the reception at Gaynes Park – wedding barns Essex — © Jeff Ward Photography

The Cake

Their cake was made up of 25 cup cakes – all different sizes and flavours, underneath a three tier (2 tiers vanilla and the top fruit) cake. The top had a large iced rose and the individual cakes were all decorated differently.

Best Part of The Day

The whole build up, to walking up the aisle and then seeing each other! The speeches and being able to hear our loved ones talk about our relationship was very special too! Every moment was a joy!

Black and white photo of bride and groom listening to reading – venues in Essex — © Jeff Ward Photography

Wedding Planning Tip

ENJOY IT! We spent 10 minutes to ourselves in the evening and sat in the gardens together, looking up at the stars. It was a perfect moment and gave us time together. Even when you are getting ready in the morning, just take your time and enjoy it – it all counts towards the wedding day.

Suppliers

Photography :	Jeff Ward Photography
Cars :	Chauffeur One
Cake :	Zoe Clark Cakes
Stationery :	A Bespoke Design