A Relaxed Rustic Country Tea is one of three wedding inspiration shoots organised by member Val at Benessamy Weddings & Events to showcase the versatility of Bawdon Lodge Farm both as a country farm wedding venue and as a marquee wedding venue. The inspiration for this theme was the natural rustic charm of afternoon tea on an English country farm.
Everything from the bleached pine sweet heart table informally dressed with burlap runners, gorgeous mismatched china and informal linen to the ‘vintage meets rustic’ inspired Polka Dots & Pinstripes stationery. Afternoon tea would not be complete of course without delicious scones and cakes for all to enjoy!
The hay store ‘theatre’ provided a small “off centre” stage for the couple to relax and enjoy a little time to themselves before a refreshing glass of homemade lemonade from the outdoor drinks station.
Comments from some of our fabulous team….
“Inspired by Vintage Afternoon Tea we wanted to create a rustic look with simple burlap table runners, mismatched china, and soft hues of blue and pinks. Capturing all of the charm of an English Afternoon Tea, this shoot is relaxed, subtle and oh so pretty” - Darby & Joan Vintage
“We used a combination of Peonies simply complimented with wheat to give the soft romantic blooms a rustic edge. Hydrangeas also featured heavily which we love for their informal, soft look. Clouds of Gypsophila were also used, along with scented lavender.” - Tineke Floral Design
“With a distressed, mottled and stripey background, we chose our Polka Dots & Pinstripes range of wedding stationery to complement the rustic style of the shoot. This typographically-led design uses various fonts in block sections to highlight key information about the day. The stationery suite is made up of matching materials such as natural kraft envelopes and uncoated papers, bound with rustic and stripey twines.” – Paper Knots
“We were keen to feature wedding dress designer Sassi Holford at Bawdon Lodge Farm photo as we felt it was the perfect venue to showcase the Best of British. All of Sassi’s gowns are designed and handmade in her studios in Taunton, Somerset by her very talented team. As well as this we felt that her gowns exuded the classic country style with a contemporary edge that we were aiming for. We also chose British headdress designer Polly Edwards as her stunning creations complement Sassi’s gowns perfectly. We decided on lace as it’s vintage but contemporary at the same time – a really big story for next year’s collections too. ‘Ingrid’ by British Designer Sassi Holford, is a dreamily romantic gown in all-over lace that suits the venue’s relaxed rustic feel. The tiny shrugette with its pretty satin bow gives a stunning back view for the ceremony but can be detached later to reveal a whole new strapless look for the evening. ‘Ingrid’ speaks for itself, so we styled it very simply with just a few flowers in the bride’s hair.
The more formal ‘Ellie’ also by Sassi Holford. has a gorgeous lace bodice and a waist sash detail with a touch of sparkle. The full skirt of silk organza is soft and romantic but glamorous enough to make any bride feel special. We prettied it up still further with the amazing ‘Ellie’ lace shrug and Polly Edwards ‘Oasis’ headdress and the result was a perfect combination for any country wedding” - Giling & White Bridal
” We opted for large heated rollers to give a softer, relaxed texture. Body and movement without too much structure. Then gently pinned up following the hairs natural shape. Lifted gently from the face to add a little height but allowed to cascade at the sides. So that as the day wears on, it just relaxes a little rather than totally collapsing - and with the simple addition of the flower it instantly adds a country chic style. The Inspiration being relaxed and carefree with no maintenance or worry throughout the day. Yet able to stand a hot summers day or any other elements the English weather might bring!” - Alison Jenner and Cristina Lazarotto
Team credits
Venue: Bawdon Lodge Farm
Planning and Co-ordination - Benessamy Weddings & Events
Photography -Lumiere Photography
Styling: Darby & Joan Vintage and Fabric Theatre
Flowers: Tineke Floral Designs
Stationery: Paperknots
Wooden Signage and table numbers: Delightful Living
Furniture : The Country Home
Dresses and Accessories: Giling & White Bridal
Menswear: Christopher Scotney
Hair Stylist: Alison Jenner
Make up Artist : Cristina Lazzarotto
Models – Jack Stovin, Charlotte Wood
