Black-tie Hannah and Brad’s timeless wedding at Sopley Mill combined classic décor, stunning attire and riverside romance Images courtesy of Clearly Wild Photography These lovebirds met at college in 2014 and were far more interested in each other than in their course! Fast forward through the years and Brad popped the question in July 2023 while watching the sunset on a beautiful beach in Kos, Greece. Of course, Hannah said “yes,” and together, they planned the most beautiful celebration. SETTING THE SCENE Sopley Mill was the perfect venue for their big day. Nestled in the gorgeous English countryside with a river running through the grounds, it offered countless photographic hotspots and calming settings to reflect the day. The couple opted for a blacktie theme, classy and classic against the countryside backdrop. Once they decided on the theme, the décor fell into place. The bride comments, “Our flowers were all white, with deep green foliage. We also wanted to keep our décor classic, with fairylights and clean-cut lines.” They incorporated signage with flower arrangements, a white carpet lining the aisle and beaded charger plates to make the table settings ‘pop’. “We also featured a lovely ‘pimp my prosecco’ station set along the river, and were lucky enough to have gorgeous sunshine,” says Hannah. Most of the stationery she made herself, discovering a new hobby along the way. The centrepieces doubled as aisle displays, cleverly moved after the vows to get the most value for money! FOOD FOR THOUGHT While getting ready in the bridal suite, the wedding party enjoyed prosecco alongside a delightful platter of croissants, granola pots, cheeses and hams to keep everyone going. The canapés went down a treat with guests, including beetroot and goat’s cheese with crumbled pistachio, jerk chicken with mango and halloumi with yoghurt and pomegranate cups. For the wedding breakfast, guests had a choice of starters: barbecue Korean pork, chicken Caesar salad with a fresh hen’s egg or burrata with tomato. Each person also received a personalised menu card that doubled as their place name. For mains, the options were roasted cauliflower steak, grilled steak with peppercorn sauce or chicken wrapped in Parma ham, all served with seasonal vegetables and delicious potatoes. Guests still talk about the evening food! The lovebirds served a rustic lasagne with homemade garlic bread outside under the sunset by the river - it was gorgeous! LOOKING THE PART The bride’s dress was Ortensia by Maggie Sottero, which fit like a glove. “It was the first dress I tried and I fell in love; the veil really brought it to life,” says Hannah. “I tried on a few after that, but they didn’t come close!” Brad wore a stunning black tuxedo with a velvet jacket. “We chose the large Tom Ford-style bow tie and shiny black shoes to make the look stand out,” says the bride. His outfit featured Belgravia velvet and obsidian with a black scoop waistcoat and trousers, a marcella shirt, a black bat-wing bow tie and a white satin square. The groomsmen also wore black tuxedos but not velvet, so the groom would stand out. Their outfits included jetblack three-piece suits, marcella shirts, black bat-wing bow ties and white satin squares. The couple gifted each groomsman a pair of cufflinks as a wedding present. The bridesmaids wore black, with the maid-of-honour in a satin dress from Six Stories and the two other bridesmaids in chiffon gowns from Ever Pretty. TIME TO CELEBRATE To entertain guests, the couple hired a live singer for the ceremony, who performed while guests took their seats outside against the glorious backdrop of the River Avon. She then sang the bride down the aisle and throughout the ceremony. Later, she switched to more upbeat music, turning the wedding breakfast into a lively, interactive celebration. “This was unexpectedly our favourite part of the day,” says the bride. A memorable highlight was the couple’s sausage dogs, Ralph and Rocky. “They can be noisy, so they didn’t come to the ceremony… but they did arrive in their little black tuxedos as our additional groomsmen to meet the guests and have photos with us,” says Hannah. By the end of the day, it wasn’t just a wedding but a celebration of love in its most effortless form. Surrounded by friends, family and the natural beauty of Sopley Mill. BLISS REAL WEDDINGS 23
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