From our first conversation with Kate, there was never any doubt in our minds that her wedding was going to be rather stylish; after all she was a beautiful English girl living in the States, working as a publicist in Los Angeles and Jon, her husband to be was a Californian surfer and film producer.

Having chosen The Manor House Hotel at Castle Coombe for their destination wedding in England, Kate booked one of our partial planning services to pull everything together for their beautiful Autumn wedding in The Cotswolds. We were recommended to this gorgeous couple by our friends at Weddings by Nicola and Glen who, as always, captured the wedding day perfectly.

Pre Wedding Party

The American tradition of a pre wedding party is something that we love – bringing all guests together for the entire wedding weekend is extra special, especially when guests are flying in from all over the world. Kate and Jon chose the local village pub, The Castle inn in Castle Coombe, as the location for their pre wedding dinner. Guests loved the traditional English pub, especially at the end of the evening, when it was just a short walk back to the wedding venue!

Outside Ceremony

We love the freedom of an outside ceremony and were thrilled when Kate and Jon chose the riverside as their idyllic ceremony location. The Bybrook river meanders through the manor house grounds and under an old stone bridge in the hotels beautiful gardens and was a fabulous choice for their woodland inspired ceremony. Their rustic outdoor wedding included wooden benches, log pew ends with candles, cascading greenery and two oversized asymmetrical floral structures by Flowers by Passion which framed the couple at the end of the aisle and created a focal point, in between which they said their wedding vows.

Wedding dress

The main reason that Kate didn’t want a traditional bridal bouquet was because she didn’t want to cover up her gorgeous wedding dress, which was a stunning beaded wedding gown from Pronovias. Bridemaids wore navy dresses with faux fur wraps and had floral wrist corsages instead of carrying bouquets and the berry reds, jewel tones and metallics looked incredible teamed with the blue dresses and the grooms blue suit.

stunning beaded wedding gown from Pronovias

Wedding day styling

It was really important to our bride that her unique creative flair was incorporated throughout the day. Not only did she design a woodland inspired ceremony on the river’s edge and make all of the wedding day stationery herself, Kate was insistent on a few other points: no white flowers, no bridal bouquet and she wanted to do her own wedding day make up as her signatory lipstick was a must! The styling for the reception combined modern botanical inspired details including ferns, succulents and geometric edges with feathers and berries. Rather than traditional vases of flowers, Kate chose succulents and greenery spilling out of low, vintage metallic pots and geometric vases.

it is really important to add your own unique personal touches into your wedding day and Kate did this effortlessly; she wanted to create a wedding with a wild autumnal feel that broke with tradition, whist including some chosen traditional elements too!

Following the wedding breakfast, guests enjoyed an evening party with live music from The Fortunate sons, with the incredibly talented Alex Koronka. Following the romantic first dance, the groom hit the floor to perform the worm, before excited guests joined the couple on the dance floor and then the party really started and continued into the early hours!

Wedding weekend

The following day, guests joined Kate and Jon for their son’s Christening and a post party brunch, a perfect end to a gorgeous weekend of celebrations.

We are honoured to be recommended by The Manor House in Castle Coombe and would love to hear from you, if you are looking for a Cotswold wedding planner to helping you to plan your perfect day.

If you are looking to plan a wedding in the Cotwolds, call Jane on:

Gloucestershire Cotswolds Wedding Planner – 01452 302797

London Wedding Planner – 0203 701 4016

Mobile – 07917 273180