Grace and Ollie’s summer wedding in England felt like something straight out of a Jane Austen novel. Surrounded by endless green fields and historic architecture, the weathered walls, arches, and columns were adorned with lush floral decorations, creating a timeless and romantic setting for their unforgettable day.
Location: Alresford, Hampshire, England
Style: Classic, countryside
Time of planning: 15 months
Number of guests: 130
Setting: Ceremony – church, reception – mansion
Season: Summer
Ollie and Grace met as students at Durham University. They were best friends for a year before they realized there might be something more between them. The couple spent many years together, and with each year, their love blossomed. During their summer holiday on the Amalfi Coast, Ollie romantically proposed. Then, the wedding preparations began.
"Ollie surprised me on the balcony of our hotel room right after I’d woken up. He’d managed to arrange a surprise upgrade so that we had a gorgeous view of Positano, and after very quickly saying yes, we were then able to celebrate for the rest of the day and the trip! "
Location & Planning
The couple decided to get married in the Hampshire countryside, where Grace grew up. They chose the summer season because they would like to spend at least part of the day outdoors, enjoying nature and the weather. Grace and Ollie’s main focus was bringing together all the people we love for an intimate, relaxed, fun celebration.
The naturally romantic greenery of around The Grange was a perfect spot for hosting welcoming drinks, and the historical estate itself provided a charming and textured space for the rest of the reception.
The ceremony was held at the St. Jonh the Evangelist church in Northington, as Ollie and Grace deeply value their faith. Both the ceremony and reception shared rich and sophisticated floral decorations, that included even the moss. The flowers were the true highlight of the wedding design, that Hortus Poeticus skilfully arranged.
"Our venue was such a unique space that we wanted the flowers to really shine as the key decorative element, and our florists did such fantastic work in dressing the space so that the flowers felt like part of the building itself. "
Wedding Fashion
The wedding looks of both Grace and Ollie were kept minimal and chic. The bride wore iconic floor-length Vivienne Westwood dress from Browns Bride and Manolo Blahnik buckle heels. Her hair was styled in playful curls, adding a light and airy feeling to the overall look.
"I really wanted to feel completely myself on the day, and couldn’t have been happier with my dress and the entire look. Vivienne Westwood was my dream dress designer, and I knew it was the one as soon as I saw it.."
Meanwhile, the groom wore a sharp custom-tailored suit by Cad & The Dandy and George Cleverley classic shoes. Tiffany cufflinks and Cartier watch elevated his style to timeless and chic. The accent piece was the blue patterned tie, that added English charm to the look and made Ollie stand out.
Ceremony
Ollie and Grace didn’t see each other until they arrived at St. John, the Evangelist church, for the ceremony. Grace looked like a princess on her big day, thanks to the long and sheer bridal veil. “I was running a bit late due to a minor dress hiccup, so there was a bit of stress in getting to the church, but as soon as the ceremony started everything fell into place for us,” the bride shared.
As the couple exchanged vows, the sun shone through stained-glass windows, filling the room with warm golden light. Rich floral decorations in white, pink, and magenta highlighted the romance in the air.
Whilst the service was quite traditional, the couple incorporated a few modern and personal touches along the way. They did it through the readings and the music played by the string quartet.
During the ceremony, as Ollie and Grace signed the register, the string quartet played “Unchained Melody” and “Danny Boy” by Elvis Presley. These two songs were favorites of the newlyweds’ grandfathers, who were no longer with them. Honoring them in such a unique way made the whole ceremony even more intimate and memorable. As Grace and Ollie exited the church, the musicians played Viva La Vida by Coldplay as the final touch.
"That first moment seeing each other at the ceremony was really special."
Moment Alone
Between the ceremony and the cocktail hour Grace and Ollie took a quiet moment to embrace their new status as husband and wife. As they walked through the seemingly endless green land of the Grange, quietly talking, laughing, and kissing, Natalie Wheat from Agnes Black carefully captured every moment of love and connection between the two.
Her warm and candid photographic style perfectly matched the day’s vibe. The photographs radiate golden lights, genuine joy, and love, becoming a precious keepsake for Grace and Ollie. “We regularly find ourselves going back through the entire album. On the day, Natalie was such a calm presence and blended in seamlessly with all our guests, making us feel relaxed during all of the couple and group photos,” the bride shared.
"We love that the photos feel both editorial and stylish yet personal and relaxed too. They perfectly capture the essence of the day, and the atmosphere we hoped for."
Cocktail Hour
The cocktail hour was held in the garden, allowing everyone to enjoy the perfect summer weather before the reception indoors. This part of the event featured a couple of signature cocktails—Negroni from Ollie and Margarita from Grace. Additionally, there were other drink options and numerous appetizers.
The key element of this part of the day was the heartfelt speeches from the newlyweds, which they wished to deliver outside.
"We had our fingers crossed for good weather, as we really wanted our guests to be able to enjoy a drink outside before discovering the unique space on the inside.."
Reception Decor
The reception venue’s unique look was influenced by its weathered walls, arched doorways, old bricks, and high ceilings. The couple took inspiration from these, and the whole space indoors was filled with greenery and flowers.
Bushy floral compositions brought the venue’s look to the next level. Complex and unexpected flower combinations, gentle whites and dark purples, powder pink roses, and green ivy, alongside green tree branches, created a surreal yet beautiful feeling of a blossoming garden indoors.
Cake
The minimalistic and textured tree-tier cake from Little Olive’s Bakehouse was a true masterpiece. The sophisticated red, pink, and white flowers decorated each tier, seamlessly blending with the venue’s interior and floral design. As a modern take on the tradition, the cake was served as the dessert at dinner.
Dinner
The dinner was a warm family event with many heartfelt toasts. The guests were surprised by the decorations, curiously walked around, and explored the venue’s romantic look.
"All of the speeches were deeply touching and memorable, and a real "highlight was dancing the night away with all our guests."
Ollie and Grace knew they wanted live music at their wedding, inspired by the energy it brought to other celebrations they’d attended. A live band was essential for their big day, adding depth and romance to the tradition of the first dance.
The couple entered the dance floor to the tune of “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers, greeted by cheers and applause. The band played tirelessly, and soon, all the guests joined the newlyweds on the dance floor. The night turned into a vibrant, lively party filled with fun and heartfelt memories.
Advice from the couple:
• Planning a wedding around work and general life can be quite stressful, even with the help and expertise of all the brilliant suppliers and teams. We learned that you can never have enough help, so if friends and family offer, do take them up! In general, though, we think it’s vital to set aside time for the planning and general wedding admin so that it doesn’t all creep up on you.
PHOTOGRAPHER Natalie Wheat at Agnes Black | VIDEOGRAPHER Chapter Three Weddings | VENUE The Grange | FLORALS Hoetus Poeticus | MAKEUP Roxi Miller | HAIR Juanita Pineda | STYLIST Sara Kirkby | DRESS Vivienne Westwood from Browns Bride | SUIT Cad & The Dandy | SHOES Manolo Blahnik, George Cleverley | CATERING Becka Cooper | CAKE Little Olive’s Bakehouse | BAND Blue Lion Band | STATIONERY Millie at Papermill Calligraphy & Design | GIFT REGISTRY The Wedding Present Company
