A Secret and Magical Autumn Wedding in the Woods…

wpid315673 Autumn outdoor quirky vintage wedding courteen hall 052

With a palette rich in Autumnal colours, the creative team who worked on this inspirational set of photographs wanted to set the scene of two lovers escaping to a secret and magical place – somewhere where there are no formalities and a sense of the wild, rustic adventure – where you might spy the fairies and pixies who have came out to play if you tread carefully enough.

I don’t often share styled shoots on Love My Dress®, and it’s really only because so many of them I feel don’t fit a clear brief or present a coherent offering in terms of inspiration and styling suggestions, but there was something about these images that I rather fell for.  The combination of the cheeky fox, exquisite Claire Pettibone lace (provided by the fabulous Serendipity Brides) and the woodland backdrop – but then I’ve always been a sucker for red hair, floral crowns and Juliet cap veils 🙂

Photography Copyright (c) 2014, Light & Lace Photography

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

Photographer Jo of Light & Lace Photography talked with me about how these images came to be – she worked with a really super creative team, each contributing member of which is listed at the end of this feature.  Their venue was the historic Courteenhall.

Courteenhall is of a small enough scale to ensure that the atmosphere remains relaxed and homely with a beautifully rustic feel.  There are so many interesting and unique features at this special wedding venue, ranging from the classical, striking entrance hall with dramatic cream Doric columns through to a wild, whimsical garden where you can sit on a tree swing to escape and watch the natural beauty pass by – it is here that we set the scene for our secret wedding breakfast, using the magical Arboretum. It felt like no one knew about it – it was our adventure.”

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

The creative team behind the shoot worked to mix elements of long standing English traditions with more quirky and unique detail that they hope will inspire the modern day bride.  I love all the thoughtful detail – the fox curled up on the table, the place settings intricately carved from leaves, the moss strewn over the table and ivy entwining the chairs and table.  The scene presented suggests it has only just been discovered – secret for years, a place full of magic and potential adventure.  Just wonderful!

The Courteenhall estate has been scarcely altered since it was built in 1791 and is a beautiful example of a neo-classical English country house.  It has been home to the Wake family for all of its life. To many, it is unknown and members of the public rarely visit. It is set deep into a private Estate and is surrounded by over 100 acres of lush parkland.  Immediately surrounding the house are pretty formal gardens and a relaxing water feature.  Courteenhall is also home to an internationally renowned Arboretum with over 250 rare species of trees.”

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

The wedding breakfast table made a fascinating portrait!  You could stand and observe this special creation for an age and keep discovering little hidden extras; the peaches in the mismatched tea cups, the fox’s watchful eye, natural woodland moss and ivy strewn in key places, the stunning (and delicious!) naked cake made with lemon drizzle sponge, rhubarb and strawberry buttercream and adorned with rhubarb stems, peaches, woodland animals, freshly picked hellebores, rosemary and sage and finally the mushrooms topped with foxes hidden in the woodland.  Magical!”

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

“We staged the secret ceremony in Courteenhall’s internationally renowned Arboretum.  There was a distinct feeling of free spirit where anything goes’, that evolved magical, creative and exciting ideas.”

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bridecourteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

courteen hall, autumn wedding, autumn bride

Huge thanks to the full creative team listed below for looking to Love My Dress® to share these images, but especially to the very lovely Jo of Light & Lace Photography for her patience and being so absolutely lovely to deal with.

Have a very lovely Saturday everyone,

Love Annabel xx

 

Photographer – Light & Lace Photography
Venue – Courteenhall 
Wedding dress – Claire Pettibone via Serendipity Brides
Production Assistant – Hannah Stocker
Director of Art & Hair / Makeup – Beauty Angels
Hair / Make up Assistant – Jacqui Bell
Women’s Stylist – Lucy Herrick
Men’s Stylist – Barrington Ayre
Venue Stylist – Not Just For Hire
Florist – Manic Botanic 
Cake maker – Goodys Cake Company
Vapour pipe – Vape Emporium
Models: Zoe Tinkler + Paul Barkshire

Annabel

Annabel View all Annabel's articles

Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.

4 thoughts on “A Secret and Magical Autumn Wedding in the Woods…

  1. So wonderful to see all our hard work finally on show for the world to see. A great team and a great shoot. Proud to have have been a production assistant on this. Not only that but my drink stirrer flags have been used in some of the shots. HAPPY HANNAH. x

  2. Lovely wedding shoot and great inspiration for my wedding next year. I was just wondering where the large silver vase centrepiece is from as I’m looking for something very similar.

    Thanks 🙂

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