The history: This shoot was a romantic summer wedding in the South Wales countryside, mostly inspired by the venue. The key elements were large flounced skirts, straw hats and flowers. The concept was to create a romantic country wedding that would fit different budgets. The use of local Welsh suppliers was also important.

The site: The impressive Penpont house on the banks of the Usk in Wales. This privately owned Grade II listed house is one of the most spectacular country houses in Wales. In addition to the respectfully restored 1666 home, this beautiful property is blessed with sprawling lots, extensive lawns, the old Victorian rose and walled gardens, waterfront and forest paths, and the amazing Green Man Maze.

The vibes: Rustic, wild and romantic with Cottage core Vibrations. This wedding is a celebration of summer and all local things. The embroidery on one of the bride’s outfits gives the table landscape and the dessert table a romantic mood and a luxurious farmhouse atmosphere.

The details: The color palette used was blush pink, apricot, white, green, and light blue. It was important that all elements used were very subtle nuances so that none of the colors overwhelmed or washed out each other. For example, the pink skirt had to complement the flowers so that they would not compete with each other. A purple and plum colored bouquet was used with one of the other outfits. The flowers used were all grown locally, some of them from the walled organic garden of Penpont house. The flowers used were grown for their fragrance and uniqueness, as many of the varieties are not available at normal flower wholesale markets.

Tips & highlights:

• The shoot took place in the summer, so the flowers were dictated by the season. However, you can achieve a similar look with other British flowers in the fall and spring. The florist, Queen of the Meadow, For reasons of sustainability, no floral foam and plastics are used in the arrangements.
• A large straw hat is a must as it goes with any large frilled skirt or dress.
• To recreate the table landscape, old bottles and earthenware with individual flowers in them can be used, which are accentuated by blue and white tableware and naturally woven placemats for a soft vintage feel.

Suppliers

Florist: Queen of the Meadow // Photographer: Kate Richards Photography // Venue: Penpont house // Cake: Miss Havisham’s cake // Wedding dresses: Wax flower bride // Groom’s suit: Hanson the clothes people // Venue stylists: Megan and Claude // hair: Jayne Shelley // MUA: Charlotte Raine // Stationery: Abi Lewis Design // Models: Tom and Jess