Are you planning an autumn wedding that brings all the warmth of a pumpkin spice latte and wraps around you like a warm cashmere jumper on a chilly afternoon? Well buckle up because I have a luxe jewel-coloured palette, elegant styling, florals to die for and an incredible wedding cake that looks like an antique vase of flowers!

Set within the beautiful Victorian glasshouse at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire, this beautiful wedding brings all the luxurious cosiness of a candlelit retreat; a haven where our newlyweds enjoy an intimate meal and raise a toast while the rain pitter patters against the roof and the skies darken outside.

Stunning antique vase wedding cake with handmade flowers

Autumn wedding inspiration at Le Manoir au Quat'Saisons Oxfordshire

Sustainable wedding styling

Set amongst the bountiful fruit and vegetable gardens of this Michelin-starred venue, I wanted the styling to celebrate the abundance of the season and echo the Eco-friendly ethos of the Chef Patron, Raymond Blanc, by using organic and seasonal local produce.

Seasonal fruits can be found throughout the styling: fresh figs, golden apples, amber plums and pears and ruby grapes tumble across the table and feature throughout the hand-painted watercolour stationery, complete with a beautiful watercolour painting of Le Manoir, and bespoke velvet napkins and groom’s cravat and handkerchief.

Autumnal wedding flowers

The statement florals that decorate the glasshouse are breathtaking and seem to embrace the space to create a cosy haven and bring the outside in. The lush arrangements feature English-grown flowers with large jewel-coloured chrysanthemums, roses and blousy hydrangeas that nestle within foraged foliage and crab apple branches, as if they have grown straight out of the ground.

The wedding cake

Inspired by the still life paintings of the Dutch Masters, my wedding cake design was the starting point for the whole concept of the shoot. It took seven long days to make, each flower and piece of foliage hand crafted from edible wafer paper, and the gold vase was made entirely from cake, carved and hand-painted to resemble the patina of aged gold and garnished with handmade shiny red grapes. All day long I had to explain that it was indeed a cake and not a real vase of flowers...the best kind of compliment of all!

Cocktail hour

I absolutely loved this beautiful set-up in the Victorian Glasshouse for cocktail hour! The gorgeous jewel tones of the floral backdrop, the velvet soft furnishings and warm candlelight created a luxurious and cosy space for our couple to enjoy a glass of champagne with a slice of their wedding cake. Creating these intimate moments allows you to take a breather from the constant activity of the wedding day and capture some memorable time together to take it all in.

Vegan bridalwear

Luxurious and sustainable, the bridalwear we chose for the shoot had to reflect the stylish, modern bride and it was these beautiful pieces by Nepalese designer, Sanyukta Shrestha, that totally hit the mark. Made with organic and vegan materials, Sanyukta hasn't comprised on quality or beauty.

For the 'day' look we went for the exquisite backless Aurelia gown with its delicate peplum and lace detail and for the evening cocktail hour, we selected these beautiful wide silk Kadapul trousers with pockets (swoon!) paired the delicate Michelle top; all 100% vegan fibres. The look is finished with a pop of teal in her satin bridal shoes and amber and green jewelled earrings.

The modern look is complemented by elegant Hollywood waves and understated make up for the bride whilst the groom goes classic with a black tuxedo. The perfect look for such a prestigious luxury setting amongst the Oxfordshire countryside!

Tips for styling an Autumn wedding:

Create a vibe not just a look! I wanted the styling to not only look beautiful but to create a feeling: luxurious yet cosy, warm and homely...a candlelit haven where you would like to retreat to for an intimate meal and raise a toast while the weather does its worst outside. Hygge at its best!
Avoid the clichés. Not an orange pumpkin in sight on this shoot but it could have been very tempting to create an autumn wedding that was full of the obvious autumn fayre to the point where it resembled a tribute to Halloween. However, in my quest to always show something different, I was very conscious that I wanted the warmth of autumn but translated into something elegant rather than overly novelty. This is why I switched up the colour palette to include jewel tones and upped the luxury with carefully chosen details, luxe materials and top-level florals.
Rain can be your friend! Despite my fear of wet weather on the day, I can say in hindsight that we were lucky to have rain as it added to the cosiness inside, just going to prove that weddings really don't need fair weather to be beautiful. Lean in to the seasons and make the most of what they have to offer.

The incredible team of wedding suppliers:

Shoot concept, planner and cake: Terre et Lune Cake Design

Venue: Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons

Photographer: Nicola Dawson Photography

Videographer: Fox Films Videography

Floral Designer: Fall Into Flowers

Stationery & Bespoke Fabrics: Anna Jayne Designs

Interior Styling & Prop Hire: Copper & Carlyle

Tapered candles: Ester & Erik

Bridalwear: Sanyukta Shrestha by Love and Loved Bridal

Bridal earrings: Fiona Lucy Bespoke

Hair & Make-Up: Rachael Capocci