Theme your Wedding – British Garden Party Ideas & Inspiration

If you love London (and in fact Great Britain) as much as we do, why not theme your Wedding Day with the best of British summer style! There are so many wonderful venues to choose from in London including many iconic locations, or some lovely old English pubs or restaurants along the River Thames. Alternatively you could opt for a more ‘British Garden party or Manor House’ theme and choose from one of the many beautiful Country Houses, Gardens or Castles across this glorious country – you could even have your wedding at Downton Abbey itself…Highclere Castle!

_0197055 Highclere Castle wedding via Ryan Browne Photography

Perhaps serve Pimms & afternoon tea style canapés for your drinks reception; maybe even have some lawn games outside like croquet or bowls as a bit of entertainment for your guests. Then, for your wedding breakfast this gives you a chance to choose your favourite British dishes to share with your guests. Starters for example maybe potted shrimp, Welsh rarebit or smoked salmon & dill, followed by beef wellington, roast partridge or pork belly for the main, and then how about a lovely summer berry trifle, rhubarb crumble or Eton mess to finish off your fabulous feast! And for your toasts you could all enjoy a glass of wonderful British sparkling wine like Nyetimber Classic Cuvée.

Wedding-Croquet via Heavenly Blooms blogpvintage-dish-host-afternoon tea - honeybeevintagebridal.com

Bride & Groom Style – look for a wedding dress by a British designer like Ian Stuart, Jenny Packham or Suzanne Neville, and for the Groom treat yourself to a tailor made suit from Savile Row, or go all the way with a traditional morning suit, top hat & tails!

Crystal1-via IanStuartBridal.com    gracie_suzanneneville - via SuzanneNeville.com    Wedding suit via theweddingdresser.com

Colour schemes of romantic pastels or fly the flag by using bright red or royal blue as your ‘pop’ of colour! Use candelabras as your centrepieces to add a touch of vintage elegance and work with your venue’s décor, you could drape pearls from them or wrap flowers around them to beautiful effect – or maybe vases of colourful summer wild flowers to bring your garden theme to the tables. You can then carry your colour scheme & theme through to your wedding cake with flowers, or maybe even some iced bunting to decorate! If you are looking for something a little more unusual why not opt for a ‘naked’ (no icing) Victoria sponge cake.Wedding planning blue ceremonyWedding planning London Decorvic sponge - via vintageandcake.co.uk

An idea for table names and stationary theming could be to use classic books by British authors as your table names like The Secret Garden, Sherlock Holmes, Sense and Sensibility – or tables named after your favourite authors. You could then find some lovely antique versions of the books you have chosen to put out on each table instead of a name card! Another idea would be to name tables after places you both love, or sticking with the Afternoon Tea theme, you could name your tables after different types of teas eg Darjeeling, English Breakfast, Earl Grey and use pretty antique china for your seating plan. Following on from this idea with perhaps tea inspired favours, a mini cupcake for your guests to enjoy with their tea or coffee, or even a personalised bookmark for your guests to take home!

book-cover-table-names-wedding-theme - via imbueyouido.comwcupcake favurs - via weddingideasmag.comLondon Wedding Planner table plan

All of these little details really do make a difference on your Big Day, and remember to make it personal and add hints of your own style, personalities & theme into all the elements – you’ll feel like Lord & Lady for the day!

 

Photo credits in order: Highclere Castle by Ryan Browne Photography, Wedding Croquet via Heavenly Blooms blog, Nyetimber via nyetimber.com, afternoon tea reception via honeybeevintagebridal.com, wedding dresses via SuzanneNeville.com & IanStuart-Bridal.com, suit via theweddingdresser.com, floral tables via Daniel Faoro Photography, ‘Naked’ Victoria sponge cake via vintageandcake.co.uk, book cover tables via imbueyouido.com and cupcake favours via weddingideasmag.com.