The quiet elegance of English Weddings – an elopement at home

Published by Claire Gould on May 4, 2019May 4, 2019

alternative vintage bridal style with Courage and Dash Photography (25)

Hey beautiful! Welcome to the long weekend! Are you up to anything lovely this weekend? I’ll be up in the Lake District while the sun shines, I think! Before I go… a fabulous elopement shoot which is food for thought as well. This is from lovely Courage & Dash – and I adore the quietness and beauty of it all.

We are inspired by the quiet elegance of English weddings, particularly casual, homely ones which feature personal touches, particularly English antiques and trinkets. We enter the day at the point where the couple is pausing to catch their breaths and reflect: the newly-married couple is back at the family home, spending some quiet moments together and soaking in the day.

The colours are muted, the feel is peaceful. It is right after the wedding ceremony, and just before the evening’s intimate celebrations. Set in the couple’s home, which is a beautiful English period property, the bridal portraits capture the couple sharing jokes on the sofa, taking a walk in the garden outside, whispering love notes by the French windows.

The rich William Morris floral wallpaper and linen form a delicate backdrop and set off the simplicity of the bridal outfits. The wedding day is dotted with treasures and heirlooms; the brides wear delicate, bespoke, handmade headpieces and crowns, the veil is hand-dyed, the engagement ring is a family antique from the 1930s, the dresses are vintage. Each bride wears headpieces from two different designers: Ebony wears a crown with an amethyst centre stone, while Soph’s crystal and bead headdress complements her family ring. The elements create a carefree feel; the brides are unhindered by convention.

The dining room is the setting for an intimate elopement dinner, moodier in feel, but as eclectic and bohemian. The place settings are made of amber agate slices, hand-lettered in gold; each guest has a hand-painted, watercolour cookie favour. In the middle of the dining table towers a lush centrepiece, brimming with foliage and pops of burgundy flowerheads. There are trinket boxes overflowing with sweets: decorated doughnuts and macarons and shortbread biscuits.

The cutlery, crockery, and glasses are also family antiques. Everything adds to an elegant yet homely feel. The wedding cake is multi-tiered, and has been hand-painted in a watercolour style, echoing the colours of the dining table and bridal bouquets. There are gold accents to match the calligraphy and add warmth to the day’s colour theme. The cake is topped with flowers from the bridal bouquet – orchids and deep velvet red roses, and rich green vines. Other flowers include ranunculus, astrantia, antirrhinum, hellebores, and eucalyptus. In keeping with the theme of florals, the stationery suite features floral vines, wrapped with vellum, giving it a modern feel.