I’m feeling excited today – there are new projects bubbling away behind the scenes – a much needed creative distraction from all the lobbying and campaigning of recent months – though this continues, with great passion, through What About Weddings.
One of our projects will see our Little Book Wedding Directory taken to the next level in terms of design and functionality. I’m so proud of our Little Book and the wedding suppliers and venues we support through it – the challenges they’ve had to face in 2020 have taken them to places they never imagined they’d be back at the start of this year. And yet they still continue to produce really considered, creative content like this to inspire couples looking for beautiful spaces to celebrate their wedding day.
Hampton Manor + Follow
And so it is with a real sense of pride and solidarity that I get to shout about one of our existing and much loved Little Book Wedding Directory members today, the splendid Hampton Manor. Hampton Manor is a breathtaking country house wedding venue and foodie hideaway situated deep in the West Midlands.
Words from Fjona Hill at Hampton Manor, follow. Fjona is not only Hampton Manor’s Creative Director, but a talented visual artist too – who was photographer on this editorial team.
“Our 19th century, 19 bedroom country house is a place where contemporary style and historic character sit side by side. With our Michelin-starred restaurant and its organic-growing Walled Garden, the spirit of this house is refined yet down-to-earth. Inside the grand walls, home comforts and a warm family welcome create laid-back luxury for the modern couple.”
“We’re family owned and family-run, shaped by a hub of young creatives – craftsmen and women, chefs, artists, designers, bakers and sommeliers.”
“Our house belongs to the couple who savour the beautiful details of life and want to share them. Our couples continue to return year after year to relive their memories in a place they now call home.”
“Our 45 acre estate and historic manor house are created for the foodie couple. As a Michelin starred house, we are always in rhythm with the seasons.”
“Whilst vibrant reds and oranges normally steal the show at autumn, we leaned away from the more classic colours to explore autumn’s earthier sister in working on this editorial.”
Free from fuss and formality, this is a house you can call home. Curl up on the sofa in the parlour, get competitive over the old bar billiards table in Fred’s, discover new tipples at the Maker’s table and sip cocktails to your favourite vinyl.
With their gourmet context, Ava Event Styling took harvest as their inspiration – hops, wheat and barley were our ingredients for this shoot where the wedding feast is never far from our guests’ thoughts.”
“The bleached highlights. alongside those of ruscus and bunny tail grass, gave inspiration to our story of ‘blonde autumn’.”
A lovingly restored country manor, refreshingly reimagined. We have fifteen individually designed rooms and a cottage with 4 bedrooms for friends or family to gather. The house embraces its arts and crafts history with a fresh and modern touch. Our guest accommodation is rated 5 star Gold by the AA.
“These were paired with the muted tones of toffee roses, copper chrysanthemums and brownie miscanthus, dried poppies and alliums for our restrained colour palette.”
“Ava Event Styling created a trellis structure around the central table, creating a striking way to draw focus to a central ‘top’ table.”
“The table was heavily layered using cheesecloth, muslin, rattan place mats, wooden and stoneware plates.”
“Following on from the trend for ‘concrete’ finished cakes, Ben The Cakeman decided to progress that idea on and created a cake designed to reflect a rust-effect finish to complement the autumn season.”
View Hampton Manor’s Little Book listing
The cake was finished with a lace applique design akin to that which you find on a traditional wedding dress. Ava Event Styling then dressed the cake with a cluster of fresh flowers from the floral ingredients.”
“With such subtle colours as our backdrop, the dresses from Cicily Bridal were allowed to take centre stage. Lucy from Cicily Bridal selected dresses from from Charlie Brear and Willow by Watters.”
Annabel
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Annabel is the founder of Love My Dress. She lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, two daughters Eska and Leanora and three dogs. She is passionate about photography, supporting women in business and in life, and is in her element being surrounded by nature and the countryside.