When modern styling meets a truly historic backdrop… there really is nothing better. Today’s shoot comes from the heart of Oxford, with a super creative collaboration of wedding suppliers who transformed the space into something truly special. Thank you lovely Katie (Katie Lou Weddings) for sending in this submission for our blog – we are in LOVE with this look! There’s a full supplier list just below. Over to Katie!
I am lucky enough to be a preferred supplier at the Bodleian Library @bodleianlibrayweddings and have wanted to create a serpentine tablescape under the intricate gothic vaulted ceiling for some time. The wedding team were the best and gave me free rein, working alongside a five star team of suppliers – the shoot was taken to the next level and I was utterly delighted with the photos and video.
Bodleian Library wedding supplier list
Venue – https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/venue-hire/weddings
Planner and stylist – https://www.katielouweddings.com/
Tablescape and set up – https://www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk/
Florist – https://www.fabulousflowers.biz/weddings.htm
Photographer – https://poppycarterportraits.com/
Videographer – https://bylumiere.co.uk/
Hair and makeup – https://www.rachaelcapocci.com/
Dress – https://kyhastudios.com/ from https://elliesanderson.co.uk/
Tux – https://www.reiss.com/mens
Cake – https://www.theprettycakecompany.com/
Stationery – https://www.luccastudios.co.uk/
Lighting – https://www.regencychandeliers.co.uk/ and That Event Company – https://www.that-event.com/
Chandelier stands – @weddingmetalart no website
Tableware and chairs – https://www.options-greathire.co.uk/
Serpentine tables – https://eventhireuk.com/
Linen – https://www.just4linen.co.uk/
Models – @danielle_sewell33
The theme of the shoot was modern city chic with a black and white colour palette and hanging chandelier lights to create a modern, elegant style.
The groom and bride are a real couple @danielle_sewell33, the bride wore the stunning, Phoebe by @chosenbykyha from @elliesaundersonbridal a structured minimalist dress with tulle off-the-shoulder sleeves and with a large bow at the back.
Makeup was kept natural with hair in a chic updo with @oxfordshirebridalhairandmakeup signature Hollywood waves to the front section and elegant hair accessories @thebobbypinuk. The groom looked dashing in @reiss white tie, a gorgeous white velvet jacket and black bow tie.
The florals @fabulousweddingflowers were breathtaking and continued the monochrome colour palette on both the tablescape and in the bouquet of delicate white anemone with dramatic black eyes, graceful yet so eye-catching.
A bespoke stationery suite from the talented @lucca_studios gave a refined and romantic feel from the initial floral crest and handwritten calligraphy envelopes and ribbon to the frosted acrylic signage and modern hanging material table plan.
The cake @theprettycakecompany was a three tier masterpiece with different textures and finishes complete with large black bow.
The hanging chandeliers were the showstopper. Like many I have seen gorgeous pictures from Crescent Moon Events and this was the luxury look I was after an affordable rate. @regencychandeliers from Cheltenham have recently started rental pieces and Aurelin set in antique brass gave the wow I had lusted after. @weddingmetalart made bespoke stands to hold the chandeliers which worked perfectly over both the serpentine and round tables and now available to hire. Huge thank you to Matthew from Fabulous Flowers for going above and beyond in his courier services and making the chandelier dream a reality.
The tablescape was a joy to work on with beautiful textured linen from @just4linen and gorgeous furniture, crockery, cutlery and glassware from @optionsgreathire. The meteor plates made the table pop with its hand painted finish and 24 carat gold mesh, the plates worked perfectly teamed with modern black neo cutlery. The fabulous @oxfordfinedining team had the patience of saints getting the linen to hang right on the serpentine table and put together the champagne tower which added a modern twist to the day.
Separate photographer @poppycarterportraits and videographer @bylumiere teams worked together with the gorgeous light beaming through the high windows and captured the essence of the day perfectly and the stunning architecture in and around the library. (We’ll publish the amazing video on our instagram today!)
This image by videographers Lumiere; all other images by Poppy Carter Photography
Happy spooky weekend, my lovelies! I hope you all have fabulous plans and wonderful outfits! As the end of October festivities kick off, we’re thrilled to be sharing Candy & Sam’s Victorian gothic inspired Hallowe’en wedding, sent in by luxury wedding planner Elegante by Michelle J.
The styling is as beautiful as Hallowe’en ever saw. The tables glisten with candles nestled in sumptuous floral arrangements. The stationery is exquisite: vintage Hallowe’en in style with moons and stars… and Love Potion alongside bottles of ‘Poison’ on the tables! Candy is just stunning and Sam her perfect handsome groom – and the atmosphere of the day is joyful, exuberant and full on party vibes!!!
Words: Elegante by Michelle J.; photography by Pippa Mackenzie
Upon approaching St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, the grandeur of the architecture takes your breath away. Towering above you on your approach, the Victorian inspired building was once said to be “too beautiful and too romantic to survive” – Sir John Betjeman. This venue is so much more than where the Spice Girls filmed “Wannabe”.
Upon meeting Candy & Sam they were quick to tell me how much fun Hallowe’en was for Candy growing up with parties year after year and, when Sam moved to London to start his career, they made sure that Hallowe’en became “their thing”. With so many of their friends marrying over the Summer, Candy & Sam wanted to not only incorporate their favourite holiday into their wedding, but they also wanted to stand out from the crowd. Enter Candy’s vision of a Hallowe’en inspired wedding.
One thing to note here, well, the only thing to note here is that this wedding didn’t encapsulate Hallowe’en as we all know it. There were no orange pumpkins, no dress up boxes or apple bobbing; Candy & Sam had their hearts set on a Victorian inspired Gothic wedding to stand out from any other event they had attended that year. Candy recalls “We picked The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, because we loved the gothic feel and beautiful architecture inside and out. It made the perfect setting for our Hallowe’en inspired wedding”. Bringing this vision to life with Candy & Sam was inspiring from the get-go, especially because Candy is a creative director at a creative agency; I had my work cut out for me and I couldn’t wait to dive in.
Candy saw the Chuppah for the first time as she walked down the aisle and they’ve both commented on how the ceremony was their favourite part of the day. Artistically Twisted pulled out all the stops and the Chuppah was definitely a talking point for the rest of the day! Candy comments “I don’t think I could have imagined a more perfect Chuppah if I tried!”. Candy walked down the aisle to Boi Beshalom and Sam and his family were serenaded by the Totem choir to “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, a touching nod to Sam’s relationships with his parents and his upbringing in Liverpool. Personal touches such as this truly inject your personality into your wedding and is a reminder as to why everyone is here. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Candy & Sam wrote their own words for the Ketubah, as prompted by their Rabbi; their personalities shone through making the ceremony incredibly special for all those present.
As with every wedding, securing the right suppliers I key and we hit the jackpot with the likes of photographer, Pippa MacKenzie, florist Artistically Twisted and the finest entertainers in the industry, Totem. Every supplier was integral in bringing this vision to life and ensuring it remained classy and true to Candy & Sam’s vision. I sourced the linen from 88 Events in Scotland, the tableware from Options Great Hire, and cutlery from Duchess & Butler and worked closely with Artistically Twisted to bring the table scape to life. We added pops of red and glitters of gold along the black tables, focusing on the theme of a medieval banquet.
Whilst the venue (The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel) boasts grandeur and brilliance, we didn’t want this to overpower the day; with such an impressive venue it is the smaller details that will be the talking points for your guests. We incorporated nods to Victorian Gothic detail throughout the day, such as Candy’s glittering hair and moon hair clips that shimmered under the Chuppah, more on this later. Other small touches that really elevated the space was the stationary by Suzanne Oddy and “poison bottles” of red cherry sours as favours. Tying these aspects into the day was seamless as I followed and built on Candy’s vision and mood boards.
Now onto the party, and what a party it was! With Totem at the helm I knew guests would be on their feet all night and I wasn’t wrong. From touching ceremony music to outbursts of Sister Act during dinner and disco lights galore late into the night, this wedding was a real “Thriller” (sang by the band as all the guests started mimicking all the moves!). Candy and Sam remember the dancing during dinner as being “outrageous in the best way possible”; the band, guests, bar staff and team couldn’t keep still and dance-offs were a regular occurrence! Late into the night we welcomed Roseanna Velin to get everyone into the Hallowe’en spirit with incredible face painting and artistic make up. This was a Hallowe’en party for the ages.
Every element of the wedding perfectly paired with the theme of a Hallowe’en wedding, and not a pumpkin in sight!
Planning: Elegante by Michelle J
MUA: Sophie Fleur Beauty
Hair: Hair by Slo
Dresses: Sassi Holford
Bar: Jonny Cocktail Events
Catering: Adam Nathan Catering
Ceremony: Hebrewear and Chana
Rabbi: Rabbi Paul Glantz
Face Paint: Roseanna Velin MUA
Band: Totem
Florals: Artistically Twisted London
Videography: AK Films
Photography: Pippa Mackenzie Photography
Production: Powerhouse Hire
Rentals: 88 Events; Duchess & Butler; Options Greathire
Stationery: Suzanne Oddy Design
Venue: St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
Planning: @elegantebymichellej
MUA: @sophiefleurbeauty_mua
Hair: @hairbyslo
Dresses: @sassiholford
Bar: @jonny_cocktail_bars
Catering: @adamnathancatering
Ceremony: @hebrewear and Chana
Rabbi: Rabbi Paul Glantz
Face Paint: @roseannavelin
Band: @totemsuperstars
Florals: @artistically_twisted_london
Videography: @akfilmsweddings
Photography: @pippamackenzie
Production: @powerhousehire
Rentals: @88eventscompany @duchessbutler @optionsgreathire
Stationery: @suzanneoddydesign
Venue: @stpancrasren
We’re thrilled to be sharing a stunning luxury wedding shoot with you today. The florals are exquisite, the styling impeccable with such wonderful attention to detail. Lovely Michelle from Elegante by Michelle J sent this Jewish wedding inspiration our way, and we were instantly smitten with the floral styling and summery, romantic vibe of the day. Hylands House is a gorgeous venue, a gem hidden away in Essex and one we’re delighted to be featuring here on English Wedding again.
Lovely Michelle has shared some insights into the concept and styling of this inspiration shoot, which we’re so happy to be able to share with you below. I’ve a feeling you’re about to fall in love with some of the incredible suppliers involved – the images are by talented Jewish wedding photographer Claudine Hartzel, floral styling is by the incredible Gabriella Shemtov Floral, stationery from amazing designer Dimitria Jordan. We LOVE the cake by the Honey Bee Wedding Cake Company – it’s such a graceful design with classic gold accents. There’s a breathtaking film of the day by Confetti & Silk, which you can see below. The bride wears a stunning Ersa Atelier dress from bridal boutique Morgan Davies Bridal, with a super elegant up do by Cass Rizzuto and naturally beautiful makeup by Katy Angelidi. The chuppah is from The Happy Chuppah People (well of course!), with key hire items provided by Judaica purveyor Contemporary Judaica. Adding to the magical vibe of the day is harpist Noa Davies.
This shoot was previously featured on Smashing the Glass
Hylands House Wedding- Jewish Inspiration from Goldhanger Films on Vimeo.
Words by Michelle at Elegante by Michelle J
The Venue
I came across Hylands Estate in Essex during the pandemic, whilst using my time to explore new venues and suppliers. I honestly can’t believe that it has escaped the radar for Jewish weddings. It ticks so many boxes for Jewish couples who are based in London, Essex or the South East of England.
- A historic stately manor house, filled with a rich history, yet beautifully and sympathetically restored and renovated in recent years
- Set in acres of the most beautiful grounds
- A permanent Pavillion which can seat up to 300 guests with a stage and dance floor
- Available for dry hire with your own caterer – perfect for kosher catering
- Very accessible, just 45 minutes from North London and even closer for those based in Essex (it is in Chelmsford)
- And finally, a highlight for any couple is their spacious wedding day getting ready “accommodation” which includes a bridal suite, a bridesmaids’ suite with stations for hair and make-up and a groom’s suite
The Styling Concept:
All the couple shots from this shoot showcase the spectacular outdoor setting and the beautiful interiors. Claudine Hartzel and Confetti and Silk Films have captured the venue in all its glory.
For the ceremony and wedding dinner we chose to highlight two very different indoor event spaces. For the Chuppah, we chose the Banqueting Room, a rich luxe traditional space featuring a red textured wall covering and the most beautiful blue and gold ceiling.
In contrast, the Terrace Room, where we hosted our wedding dinner, is a calm oasis with a muted green colour palette, masses of natural light and the feeling of “bringing the outside in”.
As with any wedding, it was important that the design presented a cohesive look across the two very different spaces and for this I relied heavily on Gabriella Shemtov whose florals take your breath away.
In Gabriella’s words…
When collaborating on this shoot, Michelle and I agreed that we wanted to achieve a light and airy, unstructured, meadow like aesthetic. We planned to use a lot of foliage with touches of flowers. This would tie in beautifully with all the accessories Michelle had already selected to compliment the beautiful rooms at The Hylands Estate. We really wanted to maximise on how stunningly they have been decorated, each so different from the next.
The chuppah flowers in particular were designed to lead your eye up towards the magnificent blue and gold ceiling in the Banqueting Room. Rather than dressing the chuppah with the flowers at the top of the canopy, we decided to create a winding effect from the base upwards, as the ceiling really does speak for itself and we didn’t want to distract from its beauty.
I decided that I would use an abundance of British grown product from local flower farmers as the product lends itself much more to a dainty English garden look, and the flowers are naturally more variegated in colour. In addition, it is always nice to buy from and support small London based businesses, especially those who have been hit hard by the pandemic. While the product is overall more expensive than growers abroad who work on a much larger scale, there is something so unique and beautiful about British grown products bought in season.
For reference some of the flowers and foliage we used are listed here, though this is by no means a conclusive list: Asparagus Fern, Grasses, Daucous, Bupleurum, Euphorbia, Hesperis, Snapdragos, Pansies, Sainfoin, Orlaya, Ranunculus, Foxgloves and Roses. Our colour pallet was greens, whites, creams, soft pinks and red.
In addition to the usual floral items for a Jewish wedding – chuppah, dinner tables, bouquet and buttonhole – we also decided to make a feature of the fireplace in the Terrace Room. Gabriella created a magnificent floral installation, which not only set the scene for the wedding reception, but also provided a glorious backdrop for the bedecken and then the wedding cake.
Further Details:
The chuppah itself was supplied by The Happy Chuppah People. Their Primrose Hill wooden chuppah fitted the room exceptionally well.
Our Judaica for the Chuppah including the tallit, kippah, ketubah and wine cup were supplied by Contemporary Judaica.
Additionally, we decided that the room lent itself perfectly to including a harpist and we were delighted to showcase Noa Davis as part of this shoot, who played for both the Chuppah and the wedding dinner.
We dressed our dinner tables with tableware and glassware supplied by Options Great Hire and linens by Just 4 Linen.
Also on the tables were menus and table numbers designed by Dimitria Jordan who also designed the invitation suite and escort display which featured bookmarks.
We included a wedding cake by Essex based wedding supplier the Honey Bee Wedding Cake company.
Fashion was supplied by Morgan Davies Bridal, Harriet Wilde shoes and Impeccable Menswear and Rockman Jewellery. Our model bride was dressed in “Dotterine by Ersa Atelier”.
Make up by Katy Angelidi and hair by Cass Rizzuto
