We asked seven experts in the wedding industry - from florists and stationers to candle makers and bakers - for their top tips to help our couples at The Old Vicarage who feel overwhelmed by design decisions.
When asking couples what brought them to The Old Vicarage, we find that overwhelmingly the response relates to the canvas it offers. Mixing timeless period features and contemporary design, with a soft colour palette of calming hues, our venue can be whatever you need it to be.
While we love to see our couples go wild and experiment with new wedding trends, add colour and flair, decorate with hanging fabric drapery or create meadow aisles, we totally understand that these decisions can feel overwhelming. With so much to choose from and so many inspirations out there, the world being your aesthetic oyster can even stunt your creativity with a case of designer’s block, instead of encouraging your imagination to run free.
But, don’t worry - for times like this, we can take it back to basics. So, what’s the golden rule when it comes to choosing the design elements of your day? Always plan according to the space; we want to enhance the bones of your venue, not overwhelm, crowd or cover it up. For our couples who love the everlasting elegance of The Old Vicarage but do want to bring some character of their own we thought some ideas along this theme might come in handy, so we’ve spoken to experts in the industry and asked them the big question - what would they do with The Old Vicarage?
From florists with ideas on flower varieties to choose and arrangements to create, to bakers with a vision for the most stunning way to display your cake, to photographers who can help you out with getting the perfect shot, these wedding suppliers and friends of The Old Vicarage offer their eye and expertise to help you get the most out of our venue.
Whether you’ve already booked with us or you’re still thinking about your venue choice - or heck, you’re getting married in space a similar size or style, we hope you love these ideas from the best in the business.
Lynn Shapiro, founder of Lynn Shapiro Photography
Lynn is an award-winning, London-based photographer perfect for modern couples looking for a place where contemporary style and utter romance meet.
"The Old Vicarage has so many lovely features that it can be a little overwhelming when planning where to concentrate your photography time, but my advice is not to skip the bedroom. The hotel’s Bridal Suite is gorgeous and lends itself beautifully to bridal portraits. These will usually be taken in the morning before the ceremony, so nominate a bridesmaid to clear any getting-ready clutter away and to be on watch to make sure your outfit is sitting just right and there’s not a hair out of place. I would recommend being totally ready (room and all) for when your photographer arrives to make the most of your time with them, especially as these morning shoots move relatively quickly so being prepared before their arrival helps the process run smoothly."
Nikki McKinney, founder of The Bell Jar Flowers
One of our favourite local florists, we've worked with Nikki on many weddings at The Old Vicarage and love her seasonal, delicately wild style.
"I’ve worked with The Old Vicarage multiple times and for me, the venue has the feel of a luxurious, calm country home. Its signature style is intimate, beautiful and pared-back so you don’t need to overdress this venue and actually, the subtle magic of a neutral, but personal, backdrop is that it allows the florals to shine. I would advise creating arrangements that show off the shape and form of your flowers such as adding one or two taller stems into the arrangements in your colour palette. Think ruffly, peachy-blush ranunculus in spring, perhaps periwinkle blue cornflowers in summer, dark chocolate cosmos in autumn (which really do have a chocolate scent) or inky black-centred anemones in late winter. And really, a couple of taller stems in each arrangement is enough to catch the eye and give extra depth and resonance. For example, If you think of a single red poppy in a field of grass it really stands out. Even an all-white wedding colour palette can be brought to life against a subtly muted backdrop by adding a few taller bouncy white cosmos stems to each bowl or vase."
Ella, founder of ellastrations
Look to Ella for chic wedding stationery that sets the tone for your day - from the first thing your guests see through the post, to the menus on the tables.
"To mirror the subtle, neutral tones of the interiors at The Old Vicarage, I would create a stationery concept with undertones of modern luxury using printing techniques such as blind embossing and hot foiling. I would recommend keeping the design simple across your invitations, menus, place cards and seating plan, but using a gorgeous, contemporary serif typeface as a nod to The Old Vicarage’s exclusive, refined aesthetic."
Bianca Newton, Glass & Wick
Dreaming of scenting your venue for the big day? Glass & Wick offer in-house consultations for your and your partner - and there's bubbles, too!
"At Glass & Wick, we are huge advocates for scenting the special occasions in our lives, and your wedding day is one of the most special of all! Scenting special events like this is the most wonderful way of capturing the memories of the day, bottling them up ready to be unlocked and re-lived whenever you desire, whilst really elevating the experience of your loved ones too. Our advice to couples looking to scent their wedding venue is to first look at the size and layout of the space to find a perfect balance of an aroma that is impactful, without overpowering.
“The most effective way to achieve this is through layering various products. At The Old Vicarage we would strategically place burners with wax melts at key points in the different rooms as they provide the strongest scent throw. This can then be complemented by candles on tables, mantles and windowsills to bring that comforting glow and a subtle infusion of a secondary scent that sits perfectly alongside another. Taking your styling and wedding decor into consideration is crucial - as you’ll want to ensure that the placement of any scented products sits beautifully alongside. In our experience, the inclusion of scented candles really elevates your tables and shows a great deal of attention to detail on your special day."
Clare Ellen, founder of Clare Ellen Studio
Clare is a talented baker and cake designer who specialises in contemporary, artful cakes to take your dessert game to the next level.
"The Old Vicarage is a beautifully designed space; stylish, elegant and considered. I would use that inspiration for the design of the wedding cake, using a tall yet contemporary shape and a refined white finish. To decorate, I'd create handcrafted white sugar petals for a feel of artistic luxury. In terms of placement, I think it would look stunning to position at the end of the corridor with The Old Vicarage’s gorgeous soft drapes behind, giving a beautiful romantic backdrop. I always recommend looking at the cake table as a whole, and not just the cake, and adding a few considered elements like taper candles to frame the cake can elevate the whole space."
Becky, founder of Elder & Wild
Becky has her own cutting garden on the outskirts of Nottingham and offers couples totally seasonal, English blooms, either by arrangement or in buckets to create your own designs.
"The Old Vicarage has a plethora of features to highlight with floral arrangements and installations, but personally I wouldn’t overwhelm the space as it’s so beautiful already. There’s so many ways to go from maximising on the light in the conservatory to focusing on dining and making the tables feel really full. But, while taking part in the open day I chose to flower the staircase and I loved the effect that created. Even if you don’t want to spend too much of your budget on the staircase, you could create an arrangement in a footed bowl and place it on a plinth which would look lovely there. I would advise going for something quite wild and voluminous to take up some of that walk-through space."
Sophia Alexandra Photography, Frances Day Bridal
Sophia Abbott, founder of Sophia Alexandra Photography
Sophia's dynamic perspective on wedding photography focuses on movement, energy and playfulness for modern couples.
"When working with a wedding venue, I like to identify the key features of the space and work with couples to make the most of these areas. We’re so lucky with The Old Vicarage because of its history and period architecture, it’s brimming with beautiful features to highlight. One of my favourites is the grand doorway at the front entrance - it’s such a wow moment. My advice to couples would be to utilise that space and get some images sitting on the front step, laughing, kissing and engaging with each other in a playful way. You could put your wedding handbag next to you on the step too which looks really cute, or place your flowers on the ground next to your feet, to bring in different elements of your aesthetic."
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