Location: Buckinghamshire, England, UK
Setting: A Classic English Stately Manor
Season: Summer
How long did the couple plan the event: 6 months
The number of guests: 80
Wedding theme/style: Royal, timeless, white-tie.
Jessica and Jack’s love story began at the beautiful wedding of their friends, where Jack, the charismatic Master of Ceremonies, caught her attention and their first date got arranged for later that week. Their romance rapidly unfolded, and by the fourth date, they found themselves in Mexico!
Jack’s grand plan to propose turned into a real-life sitcom, when on the first day of their Maldives trip he was tested positive for COVID. After 5-day isolation, a treasure hunt was orchestrated by the hotel, with a buried glass bottle as the prized treasure, a love letter inside, and Jack, on one knee, popped the question. They celebrated in style with a candle lit private chef dinner in a sandpit, because nothing says romance like accidentally eating a bit of the beach!
Beyond the initial spark, both Jack and Jessica had faced challenging times that forged their unique bond. All hardships gave them a unique shared perspective on the shortness of life, inspiring them to embrace each day with spontaneity, to seek fun and happiness.
For Jack and Jessica, life’s challenges became the catalyst for a journey filled with fun, love and resilience. They shared that their mantra now is: “Take nothing for granted and live each day to the fullest.”
Nestled in Buckinghamshire, the Italianate-style mansion Hedsor House, emerged as the dream venue for Jessica and Jack. Despite the only one date available in July, seven months post-proposal, they boldly agreed to reserve the whole mansion and its 13 rooms for their intimate summer wedding. The 18th-century royal residence, once graced by Princess Augusta, Princess of Wales, added a regal touch to their celebration.
Jessica and Jack’s vision was to create an atmosphere of refined beauty, and the choice of a classic country elegant stately manor theme set the stage for a day where style and sophistication danced harmoniously.
The concept of the wedding materialized like pages of Vogue when the couple stumbled upon the exceptional talent of Charlotte Wise, the UK’s top wedding photographer. Charlotte’s fine art, editorial style photography inspired them. On their wedding she seamlessly blended the regal essence with a dash of her editorial flair, skillfully immortalizing every moment in her timeless photographs.
When it came to attire, the couple’s vision drew inspiration from the timeless elegance of the Princess of Wales’ wedding, weaving a royal theme into the fabric of this white-tie affair.
The bride adorned four dresses throughout the wedding day. Each dress brought its own magic to the celebration, weaving a tale of elegance, nostalgia, and joy.
The first, a high necked masterpiece created by an atelier in Barcelona, Spain, intricately laced with inspiration drawn from Kate Middleton — this dress was Jack’s personal favorite.
Adding to the royal vibe, she received beautiful ruby earrings from Jack’s mother and father that were Jack’s grandmothers’. And her grandad gave her ‘something borrowed’ which was her late grandma’s diamond tennis bracelet, lovingly he had already had it sized to her wrist.
The bridesmaids graced the occasion in smoked blush attire, embodying the essence of the chosen wedding theme.
Jack’s look was curated by Oliver Brown on Jermyn Street in Central London. A tailored white tie ensemble was chosen not only for him but also for the entire wedding party. While tradition dictates a single best man, Jack opted for two! To complete their ensemble, the patent leather shoes and accessories were sourced from Ede and Ravenscroft on Savile Row.
Interesting detail that Jack wore cufflinks given to him by Jessica’s mother & father. They were her grandad’s and her dad had worn them on his wedding day. Three generations of wedding cufflinks!
The wedding exuded timeless sophistication with the wedding party wearing the most formal of dress codes. Guests adorned in their elegant evening gowns, seamlessly merging with the ambiance of the celebration.
Amidst the grandeur, exchanging vows became a magical movie moment, reminiscent of the cinematic charm witnessed in famous movies filmed at Hedsor House. With many famous faces such as George Clooney, Tom Hardy, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Johnny Depp having graced Hedsor House before, a touch of Hollywood magic turned the celebration into the sanctuary where the couple’s dreams unfolded.
Alicia from Blush and Bloom Floral brought Jessica’s floral enchantment to life. The grand floral arch she crafted was a whimsical masterpiece, radiating romance and drawing inspiration from the lush beauty of the English garden.
The tables were designed with Georgie Goodman who helped the couple to decide on a classic gold and ivory color scheme. The gilt edged glasses tied in perfectly with the serving plates, vases and menus designed by Sinead, the founder of Studio 70 six.
For the reception, the bride changed to her second, a dreamy off-the-shoulder Mikado silk creation by Pronovias, her personal favorite, fulfilling her childhood dream of embodying a Disney princess.
Impeccable gastronomic delights awaited guests, skillfully orchestrated by the exceptional team at At Home Catering, known for hosting dinner parties for famous footballers, including the likes of John Terry.
Amidst the celebration, the couple took a moment to stroll through the manor’s grounds.
For that Jessica changed to her third dress, which was a captivating vintage 20s-style hand beaded cape gown. It was a showstopper, evoking the glamour of a bygone era.
As the sun set, its warm light cast a golden glow over the estate, creating a perfect backdrop for their photographer to capture these intimate moments.
The cake was created by the very talented Jade Ripley alongside the florist Alicia. It was a 7 tiered ivory rose masterpiece, inside was a classic sponge and strawberry jam filling. It was cut with Jack’s great Grandfather’s ceremonial sword – Joseph Archer Smith, who was an Officer in the Royal Navy during the First World War.
The wedding favors were limoncello shots, paying homage to Jessica’s best friend Renee, with whom they met over the shots over a decade ago. They decided to kick off Jessica’s next chapter the same way they started the last – with a shot! “Because, let’s be honest, nothing says “new beginnings” like a tiny glass of Italian limoncello!” – said Jessica.
For the party, Jessica was wearing a short dancing feather dress from Self-Portrait in Sloane Square, which added a playful touch, ensuring she could twirl the night away with whimsical grace.
The Function Band, led by Dan Rosen, energized the wedding with their dynamic performance, encouraging guests to stand on their chairs in a burst of joy and song. Their six-piece ensemble, featuring talented vocalists and musicians, set a lively tone for the evening. Adding a personal touch, the Giardino Strings quartet played the “Succession” theme, Jack’s favorite TV show tune, on the outdoor terrace, enriching the celebration’s ambiance.
The day ended with a father-daughter dance that turned out to be the ultimate surprise. Jessica’s dad secretly had chosen and worked with the band to recreate the song ‘I’m So Proud’ by Boz Scaggs. After years of waiting to hear those words from her dad, the song hit, and her eyes filled with happy tears, and everyone witnessed their heartfelt moment.
Advice from the couple:
• Create a master spreadsheet! Table plans, seating for ceremony, menus, invite list, email addresses and phone numbers of all of your merchants, timings of the day, song preferences, photo lists etc! It can be sent to all of your contractors for a seamless day where everyone knows where each person should be and when.
• Delegate Tasks. Don’t hesitate to delegate responsibilities to bridesmaids, ushers, family, or wedding professionals. It lightens the load and allows everyone to contribute and keep everyone feeling involved!
• Be open to last minute adjustments and have a flexible mindset. Not everything may go as planned, and that’s okay. It’s the unexpected moments that often make the day memorable and it’s the people at the wedding that make the wedding! Not the details!
• Celebrate YOUR Way. Your wedding should reflect you as a couple. Don’t be swayed by others’ opinions. Personalize your celebration to make it uniquely yours and don’t listen to any negative Nellys!
PHOTOGRAPHER Charlotte Wise | VIDEOGRAPHER Daniel Bruce | VENUE Hedsor House | FLORAL Blush and Bloom Floral | CATERING At Home Catering | MUAH Maira HMUA | DRESS Self-Portrait, Pronovias | SUIT Oliver Brown | SHOES Ede and Ravenscroft | MUSIC The Function Band, Giardino Strings quartet
