Sarah & Marc
This wedding bursts into bloom with burgundy flowers and gold details for a glamorous Lake District wedding
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Andy Hook,
silvertreeweddings.com
10 years after first falling in love, Marc and Sarah said “I do” in the stunning setting of the Lake District. “Marc asked me to marry him on New Year’s Eve, just before midnight. The ring was a diamond-encrusted, platinum band with a brilliant-cut centre stone and two pear-shaped side stones – so much sparkle!”
The bride sought out the expert help of Angela Vickers to create her custom-made dress.
“Angela designed my dress to encompass the glamour and glitz I had dreamed of within a figure-hugging, fishtail gown.”
“It was made from tulle and French lace and featured oxidised Swarovski crystals. I have never felt so special as when the moment of truth arrived and I could finally try my dress on!”
Sarah styled her bespoke gown with a crystal-adorned veil, crystal tiara, also from Angela Vickers, and her late grandmother’s pearls. “My shoes were my something blue. I chose a pair by Manolo Blahnik in royal blue satin.”
“My shoes were inspired by the pair Carrie wore for her wedding in Sex and the City!”
Marc looked every bit the dapper groom in a Lanvin dinner suit, purchased from Harrods in London. “He looked incredibly handsome in a perfectly tailored suit and the midnight blue was a nice twist to ensure he stood out from the groomsmen, who wore black.” A hand-tied Tom Ford bowtie provided a polished finish.
Four bridesmaids and one flower girl attended Sarah down the aisle. “My adult maids wore Ghost dye-to-order dresses in ‘Orchid Bloom’, wearing the ‘Salma’ and ‘Claudia’ styles. I bought them each a rose gold charm bracelet from Thomas Sabo to say thank you for joining me, which they wore with a rose gold hair comb and rose gold heels.
I’d never had my makeup applied professionally before, but the team from Jenn Edwards & Co. were an absolute wonder! They were so caring and warm and made me feel so confident. I opted for a subtle smoky eye, soft pink Bobbi Brown lipstick and a voluminous, vintage-inspired hairstyle for drama.”
The couple tied the knot with a Lake District wedding, held at Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel in Windermere.
“We selected instrumental music for the ceremony, played by a string quartet. I walked down the aisle to Christina Perri’s ‘A Thousand Years’ – I was so nervous I wouldn’t have made it without my brilliant dad supporting me every step of the way. We also had ‘Canon in D’ played for a traditional element. My two lovely sisters read a moving verse from Louis de Bernieres’ ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’.”
Guests were treated to a traditional seated wedding breakfast, with a choice between meat and fish menus. For dessert, everyone’s choices were reunited with a sticky toffee pudding with ice cream, in a nod to the dessert’s Lake District heritage. “Almost all of our immediate family gave speeches.”
“My bridesmaids’ speech was particularly memorable, because they used flashcards of photos from our childhood to accompany it!”
Sarah and Marc were inspired by both secret garden styling and the glamour of the Gatsby era, also wanting to pay homage to the autumn season. “We kicked off the theme with our stationery, which I created,” says the bride. “Our invitations featured six inserts and were themed with bold blooms and stag emblems. We used Cards and Pockets for the belly bands, pockets, wax seals and printing.”
Gold sequin table cloths, chair covers and candelabra hired from Ambience Venue Styling alongside a gilt framed mirror, upcycled by the bride into their table plan, added a touch of glamour to the venue.
“The real focal point of our Lake District wedding were the flower arrangements. They filled golden bowls and were surrounded by candles and antlers.”
“Tracey Campbell of Campbell’s Flowers achieved the almost impossible by creating our stunning and vast floral scheme for the day. I wanted the autumnal outdoors of the Lake District to pour into our venue with glamorous and rich colours and earthy moss textures. The team created an almost fairytale feel by creating miniature landscapes in bell jars and cascading candelabra displays, floral frames for the doors and trailing, textured bouquets.”
The couple’s cake maker, Joanna Rose Cakes, also took inspiration from the flowers. Four tiers of lemon, Champagne and strawberry, traditional fruit cake and raspberry and white chocolate fudge layers were decorated with lace detailing and sprays of sugar flowers.
“Our guests loved how much entertainment we’d organised for the day!”
“During the canapés and Champagne reception we had a magician circulating, whom the children followed in amazement and the adults watched in awe. A solo violinist played during the wedding breakfast, before a live band had everyone dancing for the evening. We also had a vintage taxi photobooth and fireworks.”
“Don’t sweat the small stuff and enjoy your day exactly as it happens – it won’t matter if a few details don’t go to plan.”
Suppliers
VENUE Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel, Windermere
DRESS Bespoke by Angela Vickers, Nottingham
BRIDESMAID DRESSES Ghost
GROOM Lanvin at Harrods, London
ACCESSORIES Angela Vickers, Manolo Blahnik
HAIR & MAKEUP Jenn Edwards & Co.
ENTERTAINMENT The Funtime Frankies, The Endymion String Quartet, Darius Electric Violinist, Av’ A Go Booths, Ian Lavin Magician, Phenomenal Fireworks Ltd
FLOWERS Campbell’s Flowers, Sheffield
CAKE Joanna Rose Cakes, Denby Dale
HONEYMOON Kuoni
