When it comes to a Manor House wedding, it’s all about the spirit you inhabit it with. Michelle & Oli eschewed the orthodox, bringing a refined edginess that stood up boldly against the  December dark. The candlelight drew everyone together, warming guests up to mark the moment with the tattoo artist.

What made you chose Hampton Manor?

We visited a few places, but nothing felt quite right, and we’d kind of given up hope. Then one day, I decided to check out the Hampton Manor Weddings website. Oli had taken me to Hampton Manor for my birthday the year before we got married. We had lunch and absolutely loved it, but at the time we hadn’t considered it as a wedding venue.

At our showround, we were greeted by Fjona, who talked us through everything Hampton Manor’s history, the interior design, the food, and most importantly, what our wedding day could look like. We loved that the Manor was close to where we lived, meaning guests wouldn’t have to travel far, and the fact that we’d have exclusive use of the venue meant we could truly make it our own. The beautiful surroundings and décor were already a huge draw, and when we found out the wedding breakfast would be by Stuart Deeley at Smoke, we couldn’t resist.

We booked our date there and then, toasted with a glass of Nyetimber, and went home buzzing with excitement (and with the gorgeous William Morris wedding planner in hand!)

Tell us about the inspiration for the styling of the day.

From the start, we wanted our wedding to be intimate, luxurious but with an alternative twist, which was no easy feat!

We envisioned the cosiness of a winter celebration, with the glow of candlelight and the magic of the festive season. We wanted the day to feel romantic and personal, with plenty of meaningful touches that reflected who we are, both individually and as a couple.

Hampton Manor was the perfect venue for this. We’d seen how beautifully it was decorated for Christmas the year before and knew the festive décor that is just stunning, would complement our vision of alternative black tie, with flouncy white florals, ribbons, bows, and an all-out glam dress code.

I adore flowers, and when I stumbled across Roxie from Rox Florals, I knew I’d hit the jackpot. We clicked straight away, and she understood my vision straight away. We met at Hampton Manor, and she helped me curate the look of maximalist luxury, adding her own creative flair to tie everything together beautifully.

One of our ideas was to make the wedding breakfast feel like an elegant dinner party. We chose a U-shaped table layout to create a sense of connection, so everyone felt included and involved. It was important to us that our guests felt part of our day, sharing amazing food, in a stunning setting, with great music in the background. And it was perfect.

What was your favourite moment?

Wow, the whole day was incredible, but a few moments really stood out to me.

Seeing Oli at the end of the aisle, looking so handsome and just focussing on him the entire time that was amazing. Another special moment was my friend reading “Mouthful of Forevers” by Clementine von Radics. It gave me all the feels!

And one of the most unique memories,  Oli and I getting tattoos together! I had our birth flowers, and Oli had our wedding date inside a vintage-style heart.

What made you fall in love with your dress?

I leaned heavily on Pinterest during wedding planning, creating a vision board for every part of the day, including one just for dresses and accessories. I knew I wanted something simple (for me!) and with sleeves.

My first stop was The Bridal Boutique. What stood out about Alena Leena’s dresses was how customisable they were. I could choose from a variety of sleeve options, all beautiful, but the pleated tulle sleeves stole my heart. The contrast between the structured bodice and soft tulle felt so elegant.

Madi, at the Bridal Boutique, suggested a two-tier veil from David’s Bridal. It had ruffles that perfectly complemented the dress and added just the right amount of drama. I had it customised by Stitched Up Bridal with “Everything led to you” embroidered around the edge in delicate white script, a perfect reflection of how I feel about Oli.

What would you say to couples thinking about Hampton Manor?

Go and see the venue for yourself and meet the lovely team.

What really sold Hampton Manor to us was that the whole place just feels like love. It’s hard to explain, but there’s a warmth to the Manor and the people who work there. Of course, it’s beautiful in its own right, but what we really loved was how much room there was for individuality. It gave us the freedom to create a day that truly reflected who we are.

Any words you’d like to share about your suppliers?

Music plays a huge part in our lives; we both have varied tastes, so we knew we needed a musician or band who really understood our vibe.

We searched through loads of “alternative” bands, but most felt super cheesy—and that was not going to work for us. Then we found Lily Kerbey. Not only does she sing songs that cater to many an elder emo, but she also has the most incredible voice. She learned a few specific songs that were really special to us, and being able to hear them live on the day was amazing. Our guests were blown away.

In the evening, we chose Benny Smyth to DJ, as a former DJ at Snobs in Birmingham we knew he would be a great fit for our wedding!

Instead of a traditional videographer, we chose a content creator, and it felt like a more relaxed way to capture our day. Mel from MB Weddings and Events was an absolute gem. She made everything feel magical and gave us some truly beautiful content to remember the day by.

We also chose Marylin from Marylin Denise Photography to capture the day. Her work is such a vibe! To be honest, we were feeling a bit anxious about being photographed, but meeting Marylin for an engagement shoot beforehand helped massively. She used to work in the wedding industry before picking up a camera, and you can really tell, she just gets it.

Our beautiful white, three-tiered Lambeth cake was created by the incredibly talented Emily at Boho Bakehouse. She even surprised us with a mini version that featured fondant models of our two dogs, Elsie and Luna! For the cake cutting moment, we displayed it on a stunning concertina plinth, with florals and a fabric backdrop featuring Lana Del Rey lyrics (yes, music is a big deal to us!).

Fabric signage @betsy.designs ⁠
Stationery @thecraftylab.co.uk