Childhood sweethearts Lloyd Vandike and Stephanie Smith chose to tie the knot at the fabulous Regency style property owned by Olga Polizzi, known as Hotel Endsleigh, near Tavistock in Devon.
When you come down the mile long drive to the hotel you realise just how special it is.
Situated in the Tamar valley overlooking the river across to Cornwall the property is surrounded by 108 acres of landscaped gardens, rolling hills and woodlands, the atmosphere instantly takes hold and you immediately relax in this verdant secluded setting. Lloyd and Stephanie wanted their guests to enjoy a weekend of country pursuits with the boys trying their hand at clay pigeon shooting and the girls reveled in a pampering session.
Photograph supplied by Hotel Endsleigh
When a Bride first contacts me I like to encourage them to create a mood board (only if they’re feeling creative).
The mood board is the perfect tool for identifying a Bride’s personality her style choices and colour preferences, here details of the outfits are outlined, quirks highlighted and significant information about the couple uncovered. Hurrah for Pinterest! This has now made this part of the planning so much easier to see at a glance helping the floral planning process run smoothly right from the start.
For Stephanie the Hydrangea was the key and she came ready with the most lovely ideas and together we made this garden flower shine – literally.
Stephanie on the Parterre.
Photograph by Andrew Coulter
The Hydrangeas colour beautifully highlights the Bridesmaids dresses.
Photograph by Andrew Coulter
For the gift table Stephanie gave me a stunning picture of a present made from flowers. An elegant method of identifying the gift table these lovely arrangements were made up purely of Hydrangeas and the outcome is understated yet clear.
The gift table.
Photograph by Amanda Randell
Lloyd had seen a design that I had made that appealed to him that was different, that incorporated the Hydrangea and would add ambiance to the tables. Tall and medium height cylindrical vases were chosen filled with sand, shells and water. Hydrangeas were then submerged and weighted down and across the top of the water floating candles were placed. When lit the whole vases shone giving the humble Hydrangea their day in the limelight.
Submerged Hydrangeas lit with floating candles.
Photograph by Andrew Coulter
Stephanie and Lloyd understood the ambiance created with the candlelight and continued the theme with a bonfire outside the stable room where the reception was held and lanterns glowed to show the guests from the courtyard to the hotel.
A warming bonfire in the stable courtyard.
Photograph by Andrew Coulter
Stephanie and Lloyd’s choice of venue was part of the overall ambiance they wanted their guests to enjoy. The flowers gave the feeling that they were picked in the garden that morning and added to the elegant and relaxed atmosphere that allowed everyone to concentrate on enjoying themselves.
- The table decorations were all about candlelight and they were filled with different height glassware. The taller vases not interfering with the view across the table by being only filled with water and not placed too close together. Lit submerged vases are very popular in America at the moment and even sport lampshades on the top.
- If you haven’t discovered Pinterest already I thoroughly recommend you explore this social media tool – it’s really simple to understand and the best way to collect information on your wedding, and the perfect way to share your wishes and desires with your suppliers.
- Are you having difficulty settling on one colour? Why not go polychromatic (that’s all the colours to you and me), and is visually stunning. I look forward to sharing a spring wedding where the Bride does just this.