THE FOODIE WEDDING

Why Hampton Manor?

There are so many reasons! We had a wonderful experience celebrating Danny’s birthday at Hampton Manor. So when we realised you offered weddings, we immediately enquired. We are very foodie people — we don’t do gifts for birthdays, we do Michelin stars instead. So we loved all that the estate had to offer on that score and felt really confident our guests would enjoy an amazing dinner on the day of our wedding.

The staff are so passionate about what they do. Oh, and we love that it’s not “just” a wedding venue. The team don’t turn them over every day, so our wedding felt very special to the people working it, as well as to us.

On the day itself, the team were absolutely fantastic. They provide a wedding co-ordinator all day, who helped guide the guests and managed all the little details. I was so glad of this as I don’t know how it would have worked otherwise.

We also stayed in the Manor’s Cottage the night before. It is so gorgeous, we want to live there!

Flowers for autumn

We opted for dark moody colours to reflect the time of year (autumn) with aubergine, wine, burgundy, and then added white and blush to keep it light. We had a lot of natural muslin and foliage, together with black candles, which added to the darkness and again was more us than a typical wedding.

Our florist was Green and Wild. They were amazing and they pulled it off even though I was a bit absent during the planning due to my work!  I adored the large floral installations in the Birches (our ceremony room) which we transferred to The Courtyard, the beautiful orangery. They were quite different to anything we’d seen before, drawing on the time of year, a bit edgy but retaining elegance.

Styling an Orangery wedding

I would say our theme was edgy elegance. We took our inspiration from our home and the aesthetics we love. We live in a converted mill with exposed brickwork and industrial-looking influences so we wanted to incorporate those into our day. So we chose the Manor’s long wooden tables and leather chairs, which were very us and equally weren’t too ‘wedding-like’.

What words of wisdom would you share with brides set to marry?

Sophie: Try not to compare yourself to others and images you see online. Stay true to you and your style – your wedding day only needs to be a true reflection of you as a couple, because everyone is there to support you.

Danny: My top tip is just to spend the extra money if you can! If you’re quibbling, just do it, because we haven’t regretted a penny. We upgraded to the seven-course tasting menu plus cocktails for everyone at cocktail hour and it was absolutely worth spending that bit extra.

Also, have fun and don’t stress – if anything goes wrong you won’t even notice. Nothing bothered me on the day. It’s about celebrating your love, not about what it all looks like. Your guests will remember how they felt much more than the colour of a napkin!  It is so easy to get sucked in but if you concentrate on what means the most to you, you can’t go wrong.

Planning an autumn wedding?

If you are, like Sophie & Danny, musing over an autumn wedding, we’re here to guide you.

When you’re thinking about autumn, seasonal adaptability is the key to the British weather.

Whether you catch the golden light of the autumn wedding months or whether the great outdoors is being a bit more British, a manor house wedding sets the scene for the most beautiful photos, come sun or rain. Our Manor House interiors reimagine the country house with the best of British. With a nod to William Morris and a celebration of modern craftmanship, every corner blends contemporary style with a timeless backdrop. Cosy spots by the roaring log fires, a games room where the laughter peels, a library bar that echoes the cocktail vibes of the most social of bars.

Our Courtyard for your wedding meal is an orangery style glasshouse, nestled into ancient stone walls. With the sky above you, your day will be filled with light, with views of the clocktower and trees turning to russet above.

Supplier Love:

Photos: Winnington & Coe

Flowers: Green & Wild

Dress: Yolan Cris at The Wedding Club

Music: Nero String Quartet

The Aching Bones

Invites: Paige & Co

Menus: Love Letters by Lillie