Very often, simple and elegant is best. Pure white and green foliage are perennial favourites here at Love My Dress, and today they come together in a contemporary, joy-filled day that is sure to fill your hearts with joy.
Please welcome Mr and Mrs Senogles and their August wedding in the Cheshire countryside. On 9 August 2019 primary school teachers Mr and Mrs Senogles exchanged their heartfelt vows in a modern, simple and chic ceremony at Styal Lodge, Styal in Cheshire. With a pure and minimalist theme of white and foliage, their day was full of romance, fairy lights and a few nods to their shared love of gin.
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The couple met during their teacher training courses at university in Sheffield and the groom proposed four years after they got together.
“I moved to Stockport with Jake after finishing off our degrees. We bought a puppy and a house and got engaged. We got engaged on a skiing holiday at the top of the French Alps. Jake had the ring in his rucksack with plastic champagne flutes and a bottle. He got down on one knee after complaining it was all because his ski boot was hurting. I was completely shocked! We then celebrated and drank champagne on the side of the mountain, whilst ringing our family to share the good news.”
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They spent two years saving for, and planning, their wedding day, turning to Pinterest to get inspiration and ideas and asking their talented friends and family to help them with various details.
“We loved Styal Lodge as soon as we walked in; the lights, the wood and, most importantly, it being on a golf course – my husband’s favourite hobby. It had one big room to keep all our guests together and had beautiful outside areas for our dreamy photos.”
“When my veil came out it was a nice feature. My shoes were Rainbow Club from John Lewis. Like my dress, they were plain with just a touch of sparkle.”
“Jill Jones, a family friend, created our invites and place names. Jake’s cousin Abby Chester, who is a graphic design student, designed our bespoke table names and gin-themed seating plan in her spare time.”
The bride’s natural beauty really shines through, and I love her tanned, glowing make-up look, applied by KLMA Makeup Academy. Yasmin Makeup Manchester created her romantic, twisted bun as well as styling the bridesmaids’ hair.
“I wore a Zara perfume that I don’t wear very often. My sister suggested this because she said every time I wore it after it would remind me of the day.”
The bride’s own contemporary and totally gorgeous, figure-hugging gown is an Enzoani design, a brand renowned for their exquisite, hand-crafted gowns. She chose this open-backed gown with its puddle train and bold, floral, lace appliqué at The Dressing Rooms Bridal in Halesowen. As well as being so elegant and fitting her to perfection, it looks incredibly easy to wear and move in.
“I loved everything about the gown. With every dress I had tried on previously, there was one thing I didn’t like. I found my dress online and sought out where it was stocked. Luckily, I come from the Midlands, where my mum and sister still live so it was a win win opportunity.”
“As soon as I tried it on, I knew. I loved the modern lace and the train. I loved how it was tight fitting but still elegant with just a touch of sparkle on the straps. The backless look was definitely something I knew I wanted.”
“I had a great experience with the girls and the independent seamstress at The Dressing Rooms. They were so helpful and I knew I had found the perfect dress.”
The bride travelled to Styal Lodge in her father-in-law’s Jaguar, dressed up with ribbons, before walking down the aisle with her father to the sounds of Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’, covered by Haley Reinhart.
The timber-clad ceremony room looks incredibly magical and intimate with its simple dressing of garlands of fairy lights and loose leaves along the aisle. Its beams were dressed with fairy lights and ivy by Special Days Events and they also had a foliage-dressed arch way for the ceremony.
Mr Senogles opted for a relaxed, country casual look, pairing a tweed three piece suit and braces from Slater Menswear with a crisp white shirt and a statement floral tie from Burton.
His finishing touches were Kurt Geiger monk shoes and a Hugo Boss watch, bought for him by the bride.
“We had traditional vows and Jake’s groomsman read a poem that he had written himself for a personal touch, ‘What is Love?’’“
“Our ten month old nephew wore a little grey suit with a matching bow tie, which my mother-in-law made from a spare tie that Jake wore.”
Another family friend, a jewellery maker in Birmingham, was asked to design and make the couple’s wedding bands.
“We opted for platinum so they matched my engagement ring. I chose a diamond band as my engagement ring is quite simple and they looked lovely together. Jake chose a band with a brushed middle and a shiny edge.”
Fitting in with the foliage theme, the grown-up bridesmaids wore sage green maxi dresses from Little Mistress and the flower girl’s gorgeous little dress was made by the groom’s mother, Collette.
“It was a beautiful tutu with a body suit. She wore a green vine headband and held a little heart-shaped balloon down the aisle. She called it her princess dress.”
All the girls carried wild, opulent bouquets of white blooms and deep green foliage, whilst the bride carried the most divine trailing bouquet, all put together by their talented family friend, Heather.
“I wanted white with lots of foliage and as wild and rustic as possible.”
Wyldbee Photography‘s modern and romantic, fine art style is just perfect for this minimal wedding style, and her portrait shots are too beautiful for words.
“Sophie was absolutely amazing. I chose her just by looking at Instagram and knowing she shot the candid shots I was after. She was so friendly and put us at ease and did the most perfect job. Our photos are incredible and truly capture the whole day. We have had so many comments on how amazing they were. We got a beautiful engraved box with our photos printed and a memory stick.”
For additional reception decor, the couple put together a photo palette with fairy lights and green vines and, instead of a guest book, large wooden J and E initials for their guests to sign. The tables were adorned with the gin-themed table names, plenty of loose green leaves and gin bottles filled with flowers and candles, created by JN Flowers.
“We had an Instax Polaroid frame with guest name tags for them to replace with a photo and an amazing sweet table created by my mum, Denise, who works in the sweet business.”
After the ceremony, the guests and newly-weds relaxed with reception drinks whilst acoustic guitarist and singer Olly Flavell kept them entertained. Styal Lodge has such pretty gardens with masses of greenery and trees, the perfect backdrop for the couple’s romantic portrait shots.
Pink Pepper Kitchen provided the wedding breakfast and the groom’s mother got creative again to make the beautiful, tiered, semi-naked cake.
“Collette has made all of the family wedding cakes. We had a very simple cake with a naked style. It was a carrot cake base (my favourite), with Victoria sponge (Jake’s favourite) in the middle and lemon drizzle on the top.”
“It was rustic and fitted the theme perfectly. It had greenery round it and sat on a giant log slice.”
Band Baker Wicked arrived to play for the evening reception, which the couple began with their first dance.
“It was Oasis’s ‘Let There Be Love’, chosen because it is one of Jake’s favourite bands.”
“When the band were on there was such great atmosphere and it was so lovely having everyone we care about in one place, having such a great time.”
“There was absolutely nothing we would have changed! It was so perfect, even the weather which had thunderstorms forecast.”
Words of Wedded Wisdom
“Start early! Plan and buy as much as you can in the years and months leading up to the big day.”
“Don’t stress about the weather; the photographers can work wonders.”
“Book your venue early to get the one of your dreams.”
“Remember it is your day! Don’t do anything you aren’t happy with just to please anyone else.”
Lovelies, have you fallen in love with Mrs Senogles’ incredible Enzoani gown? You can see more Love My Dress brides wearing their beautiful designs here, and, for more minimal styling inspiration, why not take a look at these weddings too? All that remains for me to say is a heart-felt thank you, Mr and Mrs Senogles, for letting us share details of your wedding day with our readers. And, of course, thank you Sophie at Wyldbee Photography for these glorious photographs.
Ele xx
Eleanor Crossland
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Ele lives in the Lincolnshire countryside, close to the beautiful coast. A qualified Pilates teacher, she loves fitness, yoga, Pilates and has a healthy addiction to baking, writing and travel.