If, for you, Autumn weddings are synonymous with reds and oranges, it’s time to think again. Today’s October wedding drew on rich yellows and golds for a fresh, bright look that was still warm and cosy, reminiscent of Autumn. Let’s take a closer look.
Please meet art director Calum and TV producer Adrianne, who wed at Yorkshire’s Middleton Lodge on 1 October 2021. With its incredible, blooming gardens and contemporary country decor, it made a perfect backdrop for their elegant, relaxed celebrations. The couple found both Middleton Lodge and their photographer, Jessica Williams Photography, through Love My Dress.
Photography Jessica Williams Photography
The couple are both from the North West of England and met through their work. After six years together, Calum proposed in London.
“Even though we both work in advertising, we actually met working in retail. Calum had a Monday to Friday internship at an advertising agency and worked weekends at the store where I was the womenswear manager.”
“We’d been together six years by the time we got engaged. Calum and I went for dinner at the Hoxton Hotel in Shoreditch. The hotels are a favourite of ours and they all have an analogue photo-booth in reception – like the ones all over Berlin, where we went on our first holiday together.”
As is tradition, we went in the booth after dinner and as the flashes were going off, Calum pulled out a ring and asked me to marry him. My screams of, ‘Oh My God” and ‘Yes’ are forever captured in the printouts. We were engaged for two years before we got married so loads of time for planning and saving!”
“The original budget was £35k with a £3k contingency, which we ended up spending. I kept a meticulous spreadsheet, but I guess because the money was there, we used it.”
Calum is a talented designer and created the modern stationery suite himself.
“The inspiration came from his love for typography and clean minimal design. The colours were on theme with the rest of the styling. We wanted all the stationery on the day and our invites to be elegant, playful and non-traditional.”
“We placed a drinking game on the back of the food menu to spice up the speeches and curated a Spotify playlist for the wedding, which you could scan from the menu.”
Happily, Calum and Adrianne’s wedding date was unaffected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We decided to get married in October as we both love that time of year and all of the colours, so we wanted the colour palette to reflect the warm autumnal tones. We wanted to strike a balance between elegance and fun, reflecting our creative personalities, and for day to feel as relaxed as possible.”
“We were so incredibly lucky that we got to have our original date and have everyone there as originally planned. However, there was a lot of prepping for alternative scenarios, and we actually had a contingency plan in place to still marry on that date.”
“There was huge sigh of relief for both of us when the wedding restrictions were finally lifted and we knew we were on track to have our day as we originally intended. For the few weeks before the wedding. we practically went into isolation in fear of catching Covid and missing our own wedding.”
Time to talk about the bride’s beautiful choice of bridal separates; an elegant, chic slip with an ethereal, long-sleeved, silk organza over-layer. It was from The Own Studio.
“I tried on every style of dress possible, mainly because I was finding out what suited me. I really wanted a contemporary, silky wedding dress with sleeves.”
“After many trial and errors, I visited The Own Studio with a very clear brief of what I knew worked for my height and body shape. Their collection had everything I wanted: a sustainable ethos and modern, super-stylish designs that were also effortlessly timeless.”
“I didn’t take anyone with me as I didn’t want to put my mum at risk travelling down to London while Covid cases were so high. Jess and Rosie were so incredibly helpful talking me through the different dresses and acted as videographer for my mum on FaceTime so she could see the dress from every angle.”
“I went for their Amalfi slip dress paired with a silk organza overlay with bell sleeves. I added a chapel-length tulle veil for some drama for the ceremony and I removed the overlay top for the evening. I loved the idea of layering and that my dress had three different looks across the day.”
“The dress is made from the softest silk crepe and fitted to my body perfectly. I didn’t want anything structured so I could move freely and dance the night away. I also got one of their oversized shirts to wear while getting ready and I had it personalised with our wedding date.”
The bride wore strappy gold sandals from Gucci and added a pearl handbag from & Other Stories. Her jewellery was minimal, just a pair of Maison Sabben earrings from The Mews Bridal, gifted to her by her parents, and her mum’s gold bangle Gucci watch from the 1980s.
Becca Hunton styled the bride’s hair into relaxed, flowing waves and her make-up was subtle and fresh.
“We loved the idea of a scent forever reminding us of our wedding day. Calum had Tom Ford Oud Wood and I had Slow Dance by Byredo.”
The bridesmaids wore elegant wrap gowns in mustard yellow from Mango.
“I initially wanted to get all different bridesmaid dresses in autumnal tones but as soon as I found these in Mango, they were so perfect I decided to get a matching set. They suited all my bridesmaids’ body shapes and skin tones beautifully. I thought they all looked incredible.”
The couple wed against the backdrop of the grass and flower floor arch and Adrianne walked down the aisle with her dad.
“All the songs we selected for the day meant something to us. For example, the song I walked down the aisle to, ‘Latch’ by Sam Smith, is a popular wedding song, but the Disclosure version was on repeat in the retail store when we first met.”
The ceremony as led by Richmond council and included promises written by the couple. Adrianne and Calum were keen to make the ceremony their own with some other personal choices, too.
The beautiful October sunshine allowed the newly-weds and their guests to gather on the walled garden lawns for post-ceremony drinks and photographs before moving back inside for the wedding breakfast.
“My favourite part of the day was the non-stop laughter and running around the garden while Jessica snapped away. Just being on Cloud 9 with my new husband all day was just the most incredible feeling.”
Every beautiful detail, as well as the couple themselves, was captured by photographer Jessica Williams.
“With both of us working in a creative industry, choosing a photographer was high on the list of importance for us. There are so many amazing photographers and we wanted someone who had an artful, elegant and timeless style, nothing too alternative or traditional.”
“Middleton Lodge supplied all the food and drink. They were incredibly accommodating, I have a gluten and diary intolerance and they made me a gluten and dairy-free sticky toffee pudding with vegan ice-cream for dessert. It was out of this world.”
“I did a bride speech as I was determined to stand up, have a voice on the day and not to stick to tradition. I do not like public speaking at all but a friend told me I could stand up and cry and everyone will applaud, so I tried not to overthink what I was saying or if it was funny enough. I did get a few laughs and I was really proud of myself for doing it.”
The couple’s first dance was ‘Beyond’ by Leon Bridges.
“Calum selected as it reminds him of me. We then had a confetti cannon and the DJ got the party started! It was such a euphoric moment with all our favourite people dancing around us.”
“We got uplighters and disco ball props for the evening party from Wedding Venue Lighting.”
As well as saxophonist Jonny Ross Music and DJ, the couple also had an analogue-style photo-booth from Photoautomat.
“It was inspired by our engagement story and our love for photo-automats in Berlin.”
“We ditched traditional favours and had a cocktail hour instead. We got personalised, gold mirror drink token charms made from Laser Made Occasions. They were a last-minute idea and they turned them around in a few days.”
Words of Wedded Wisdom
“All the clichés are true. You will have the best day of your life and it will go so fast you wish time would stand still so you can float on that love high forever.”
“I had a clear vision of how I wanted the day to look. Instagram, Pinterest, and wedding blogs were great tools to get inspiration and finding suppliers.”
“Things might go wrong (fuel shortage, Covid, family drama, you name it!) but focus on what you can control – getting yourself up that aisle into the arms of your love. Everyone will be rooting for you and wanting you both to have the best day possible, so hand everything you can over on the day and enjoy every single blissful second.”
Such lovely words of advice, Adrianne, thank you so much. Please accept our congratulations on your marriage and thank you for sharing it with us. It’s been a joy to see how you tailored the day to yourselves. Jessica Williams, I’ve loved seeing your work again so thank you for sharing it here today.
For more autumnal wedding inspiration, please check out this selection.
Ele x
Credits & Thanks
Eleanor Crossland View all Eleanor’s articles
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.