graphic made for Pinterest showing the wedding tablescape against a background of the marble fireplace, with pedestal arrangements to either side of the table.

Looking back to February, I had the pleasure of organising and directing an elegant styled fine art wedding editorial at Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham based on the idea of a wedding at a French winter palace.

The venue itself boasts an impressive Grade-I listed Baroque-decorated room called the Octagon Room, which is licensed as a registry offices, and dates to the 1720s, and lent itself perfectly to a fine art style wedding. It was designed to entertain illustrious guests such as Queen Caroline, consort of George II.

A portrait photograph of the exterior of the Octagon Room at Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham, London. A brick building with ornate windows and a green-painted wooden door which is perfect for a fine art style wedding.
A fine art style wedding breakfast table in white linen with a blue table runner, green and white flower arrangement, set on a black and white checkered floor in the Baroque Octagon Room at Orleans House Gallery.

Elegance, timelessness and joy were all bywords I sought to capture in the European-inspired design – bringing in French blue tones, sparkling glassware and a gold-trimmed table added a levity and sense of festivity to this wedding scene. Rose & Mary’s intricate floral arrangements added to the whimsy of the event, and featured anemones, roses, muscari, eucalyptus, hydrangea and hellebores for an enchanting seasonal winter floral arrangement.

A fine art wedding flat lay photograph showing the blue and white wedding invitation suite on a blue background, featuring blue silk ribbons.
The bride wearing a sparkly blue fine art wedding gown, with a gold floral headband.

With the final days of winter apparent, it seemed the perfect moment to create a joyous, sparkling scene to celebrate the final ‘hurrah’ of the winter season before the days started to get longer.

Our bride delighted in the pampering hair and make-up provided by Jen Hawkins HMUA, and her look was set off by jewellery from Emilia Rae bridal, and hair accessories from Honey & Ember.

A winter seasonal floral arrangement featuring hydrangea, hellebores, eucalyptus, roses and anemones.
The bride holding her bouquet featuring anemones, roses, eucalyptus, hellebores and muscari. She is wearing a sparkly pale blue wedding gown and pale blue block heels.

The inspiration behind the shoot was actually my former co-ordination clients – they had a destination wedding, and I was saddened to hear that the client’s older relatives weren’t able to travel long distances any more and couldn’t attend the wedding. It got me thinking about bringing a destination wedding ‘home’ – and that’s what I set out to achieve with this
editorial. Capturing the feeling of an old world European destination wedding and transporting the ambience to London was the ultimate goal.

The bride and groom exiting the Octagon Room to the outside of the building, being showered in confetti. The groom is wearing a tuxedo with a buttonhole. The bride is smiling in a pale blue gown.
The bride's blue gown hanging in a window, with her shoes and bouquet displayed beneath.

The delicate scalloping of the bridal gown by Needle & Thread London echoed the scalloped edges of the menus and stationery, designed by Hannah at Knock Knock Penny Studio, which also complimented the beaded surround of the charger plates from The Luxe Collection. Heavy, textured linens from Just 4 Linen gave the tablescape the perfect foundation.

The pastel blue shade of the gown further picked up the classic Wedgewood blue of the trinket box wedding favours, sat neatly at each guest’s place setting. The classic block heels by Harriet Wilde complimented the ‘something blue’ thread running throughout, and ensured that our bride was happy and comfortable without sacrificing an ounce of style!

An overhead view of the fine art wedding tablescape featuring blue and white floral crockery on white charger plates, white tablecloth, blue table runner, gold cutlery, gold-rimmed glassware, brass candlesticks with ivory candles and seasonal winter flowers.

Debbie Greenwood Ceremonies lent on her expert prose-writing skills to deliver a charming ceremony, and this fine art wedding editorial was captured perfectly by Desiree A. North, as lead photographer for the shoot, ably assisted by Veronika Joy Photography as her second shooter. Brad and Grace Keeley of Keeley Wedding Films created the most beautiful film to serve as a memento of the special moments we all experienced on the day.

The bride and groom are partaking in a ceremony with the celebrant, who is dressed in a midi blue dress, with a large window in the background.
The groom smiles as he awaits his bride.

Dolce Lusso Artisan Cakes crafted an exquisite 5-tier cake for the occasion, replete with handmade sugar flowers and specially made bon-bons, topped with gold-leaf, and packaged with pure silk bows.

The 5-tiered fine art wedding cake set on a round table against a large window. The cake features white sugar roses and has blue and white tiers.
Gold-leaf topped bon-bons on glass cake plates.

The day was rounded off with beautiful couple portraits during the beloved golden hour, and the happy couple toasted one another with a decadent champagne tower.

The bride and groom kiss in the golden light.
The bride and groom pour champagne into the top of a champagne tower in the reception room.

To see one of our real couple’s wedding at Orleans House Gallery, view our portfolio here.

The ornate blue and gold baroque ceiling of the Octagon Room at Orleans House Gallery.
A black and white photograph of the groom kissing the brides neck in the reception room.
A close up of the champagne tower on top of an ornate gold-framed mirror.
A landscape photograph of the bride and groom holding hands, featuring the brides bouquet of roses, hellebores, muscari, anemones and eucalyptus.
A close up of the blue Wedgwood trinket box fine art wedding favours resting upon the menu at each guest's place setting.
The bride and groom dancing in the Octagon Room at Orleans House Gallery, underneath a large fine art style golden chandelier.
A black and white portrait of the bride and groom being showered in confetti following the fine art wedding ceremony.
The groom kissing the bride's hand during golden hour.
The bride and groom seeing the fine art wedding reception table for the first time.
A bridal portrait featuring a full-length image of the bride in her ankle-length sparkly pale blue wedding gown, holding her bouquet during golden hour.
A close up of a fine art style stone putti cherub reclining on the mantlepiece of the Octagon Room.

Suppliers:

Creative Director, Planner & Stylist: By Grace Weddings – @bygraceweddings

Lead Photographer: Desiree A. North Photography – @desireeanorth

Second Photographer: Veronika Joy Fine Art Photography & Film – @veronikajoyphotography

Wedding Videographers: Keeley Wedding Films – @keeleyweddingfilms

Venue: Orleans House & Gallery, London, UK – @orleanshousegallery

Bridal Hair & Make-Up Artist: Jennifer Hawkins Hair & Make-Up Artist – @jenhawkins_hmua

Florist: Rose & Mary Florists – @roseandmaryuk

Cake: Dolce Lusso Artisan Cakes – @dolcelussocakes

Celebrant: Debbie Greenwood Ceremonies – @dg_ceremonies

Stationery: Knock Knock Penny Studio – @knockknockpennystudio

Linen: Just 4 Linen – @just_4_linen

Tableware: The Luxe Collection – @theluxecollectionuk

Bridal Shoes: Harriet Wilde Shoes – @harrietwildeshoes

Bridal Hair Accessories: Honey & Ember – @honey_and_ember

Bridal Jewellery: Emilia Rae Bridal – @emiliaraebridal

Bridal Dress: Needle & Thread London – @needleandthreadlondon