April 23, 2021 Wedding Inspiration

English Country Garden Wedding Ideas

When you think of a traditional English garden, what comes to mind? Perhaps sweet-smelling roses, beds of lavender, a freshly cut green lawn or maybe even an archway entangled with climbing flowers and plants?

Bignor Park was the perfect venue to host this outdoor wedding shoot inspired by an English country garden. The privately owned estate is located in the foot of the spectacular South Downs National Park.

With over twenty-five years of horticulture and garden design experience, you can be sure that the gardeners that look after the eleven acres of gardens know how to put on a visual extravaganza. The estate offers splendid countryside views and no traffic noise, making it a tranquil setting for a wedding.

The team made use of the various gardens and the different feelings that they create. They set up the beautiful tablescape in front of the red brick archway that boarders the Dutch garden, providing the wedding party with some privacy and a wonderful backdrop.

The bride and groom posed on the lawn overlooked by Bignor Park House, allowing them space and a stunning visual point for photographs. The simple wedding aisle was set up parallel to the Greek loggia, a covered exterior gallery that is licensed to hold wedding ceremonies.

Bignor Park

Flowers for an English Country Garden Wedding

It was important for the florist Hibbert & Hagström to use flowers that are commonly found in English gardens. Of course, roses are a staple, so several varieties were featured in the different floristry arrangements including Pink O’Hara, Peony Pink, and Romantic Antike. Pale peach lisianthus and lilac clematis were added to the roses, as well as plenty of leafy green foliage.

Midsummer Bridal Bouquet

The bright colour palette reflects the midsummer season. The hours of sunlight are at their peak and flowers are in full bloom, their petals stretched out, revealing their radiant complexion. Nude pink, coral and leafy green are the main colours used consistently, whilst lilac and a rustier shade of coral are used as highlights. Overall, the palette is summery, soft, and feminine. In addition to the bridal bouquet, a semi-circle flower arrangement was made to frame the couple at the top of the simple wedding aisle. The couple would say their vows here and the semi-circle provided them with an intimate curated space to do so. This type of arrangement would also work well if you were hosting in a big indoor area. The arrangement works as a fabulous photographic backdrop too.

Wedding Table Design

To act as a stunning centrepiece for the wedding table, a long floral arrangement ran along the middle of the table. The rest of the table design had a minimalist aesthetic: the drinking glasses and chairs were transparent. The white crockery and pale pink long candles sat at either end of the table.

A Handwritten Note for Each Guest from the Bride and Groom

Long Floral Arrangement for Centre of Wedding Table

Archway overlooking the Wedding Table

Personalization for Your Wedding

Personalization was a running theme throughout the wedding shoot. The pastel-coloured napkins had been delicately monogrammed, and each place setting included a handwritten note from the bride and groom.The personalization continued with thoughtful touches for the bride. As she got ready, she wore a silky robe and garter, embossed with her name and wedding date.The key to thoughtful personalization at a wedding is to have it in small doses so that it comes across as meaningful. The personalized touches that were used in this shoot show how it can be done in a refined and tasteful way and provide the married couple and guests with something sentimental and memorable to take away from the wedding.

Personalisation in Monogrammed Wedding Napkins

Pink and Coral Three Tier Wedding Cake and a Dessert Table

Simon’s Bakery created a contemporary cake that echoes femininity. Choosing a neutral palette, the buttercream brushstrokes create subtle texture upon the cake’s surface. Topped with pink and coral-coloured roses the three-tier cake is timeless and fits within the shoot wonderfully.

Textured Pink and Coral Three Tier Wedding Cake

Just because it’s your wedding day does not mean you are restricted to serving cake only. A dessert table is fun and as the bride and groom you can offer up your favourite sweet treats. Being small, easy to eat and sugary, macaroons are a fabulous addition to any dessert table.

Pastel Macaroons from the Dessert Table

The bride and groom featured in this shoot were a real couple. Throughout the shoot the bride makes several outfit and hairdo changes, ranging from tussled boho waves, to a higher messy bun and a low bun suitable for wearing her veil. Her dresses included an embellished, tie shoulder, V-neck dress which has an A-line skirt with a side split and a tulle ball gown with a vintage style high neck and short sleeves. Each look displayed a completely different dress and hair style, but each were enchanting and romantic.

The groom wore a mauve-wood coloured two-piece suit which complemented the wedding colour palette perfectly. Although he looked smart and formal, his floral printed pocket square, tie and bow tie added a fun and summery aspect.

Groom in Mauve Two-Piece Suit with Bride

Almost Ready! Floral Boutonniere with Matching Bow Tie alongside Formal Shoes

The bride wore our round diamond three stone ring with pear shape diamond side stones. We felt that the shape created by the combination of round and pear shape stones was very feminine and flower-like which suited the theme of the shoot. This ring design suits a central diamond weighing from 0.70 carat upwards. The side pear shape diamonds are always carefully hand selected and matched by our team to suit the size of the selected central diamond.

Three Stone Engagement Ring with Pear Shape Diamonds

Round Diamond Three Stone Ring with Pear Shape Diamond Side Stones

Happy Bride with Small Bouquet

To create a bridal set, we paired the engagement ring with a mirror-polished shaped wedding ring. This style has a band that is 2mm wide and has a gentle dip. This dip elegantly curves around the three diamonds in the engagement ring and the two rings will sit comfortably next to one another when worn together on your finger.

2mm Curved Wedding Ring in Platinum

The groom wore our Brushed Satin Men’s Wedding Ring in Platinum. This style of ring is perfect for any partner looking for something slightly different from the traditional plain band. The band is 5mm wide and had a D-shape profile that has a rounded outside with a flat inside surface. Overall, the ring has a stylish design and can also be made in rose gold, yellow gold, white gold, and palladium.

5mm D-Shape Brushed Satin Ring in Platinum

Overall, this shoot captured the essence of a traditional English garden, outdoor wedding ceremony. The summery and feminine colour palette was reflected throughout every detail and we loved the thoughtful and personalized finishing touches. If you are thinking of embracing the outdoors on your wedding day, we hope this feature gives you lots of inspiration. The weather in England is particularly unpredictable but when the time comes, we hope your outdoor ceremony is filled with sunshine and blossoming flowers.

Credits:

Photography – PHILIPPA SIAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Venue – BIGNOR PARK

Planning – NATALIE ELLEN WEDDINGS

Floral Design – HIBBERT & HAGSTRÖM

Styling – FLEUR & FIG

Make Up Artist – KIMBERLEY LOUISE MAKE UP

Hair Stylist – GAVIN HARVIE HAIR

Stationery – BEYOND V DESIGN

Linen – JUST 4 LINEN

Furniture & Tableware – DUCHESS & BUTLER

Bridal Gowns – MORGAN DAVIES