We love how, despite looking at real weddings every single day, we still come across ones that aren't quite as they seem.

When I first glimpsed at Claudia and Laurence's country manor garden wedding, I loved it for the gorgeous attire and classic English styling. Then I looked a little closer.

Not only is their wedding elegant, and stylish, but it's also utterly cool and entirely personal too, with literary references and 1920s touches at every turn.

Fabulously styled by Clare of Whiter Than White Weddings and captured, so beautifully, by the wonderful Ann-Kathrin Koch Photography, Claudia and Laurence's wedding was spawned from their love of literature and careers in publishing.

The historic and beautiful Bath was the perfect backdrop for their own love story, with a ceremony in the Holburne Museum, and reception in an Indian-style marquee on the grounds of Sheldon Manor.

With bridesmaids in blue (something we don't see enough of in my opinion!) and wearing a dreamy strapless Jenny Packham wedding dress, Claudia made such a beautiful bride. While Laurence was a dashing leading man, in a three piece suit and silk silver bow tie.

Personal, stylish, and oh-so-romantic, this beautiful 1920s garden party wedding is a real page turner!

Wedding Day Snapshot

Scroll down for the stunning photographs by Ann-Kathrin Koch Photography, and read Clare of Whiter Than White Weddings ' notes on a how it all came together.

The Styling

The styling for the day was based upon a Gatsby 1920s Summer Garden party. As the couple work in publishing and are avid book readers we also incorporated details from this theme throughout the day. Dusky Wedgwood blues were mixed with blush pink, cream and lavender shades. Flashes of black and white ran as a thread throughout the styling details mainly through the signs, labeling and branding. Dazzling gold and silver tones were used as highlights throughout, adding a hint of that Gatsby glamour.

The Confetti

Home-grown dried lavender from Claudia's parents garden was gathered and used to fill handmade paper cones made from pages of The Great Gatsby.
For cocktail hour, the pavilion tent was transformed into a glamorous and decadent bar. Gold and white chevron table runners were draped over the bar and mercury glass candles twinkled against vintage glass decanters set on antique silver trays. Wine and Champagne was chilled in ice filled ornate silver buckets filled with flower heads. In- keeping with the Gatsby vibe, an original 1920s mirror (from EBAY) was lettered to display the drinks menu and a twenties globe table lamp lit up the bar.
Clare (from Whiter than White Weddings) designed bespoke monogram bookmarks for our guests. Each table were given a different quote from a great book or author - A sentence from The Great Gatsby, Jane Austen or Shakespeare was typeset along with their name and table number. Every bookmark was tied with silk ribbons and strung across a wooden frame covered in pretty English garden flowers. The guests were invited during the drinks reception to find their bookmark and also take them away as a little memento of the day!
A row of elegant glass chandeliers were strung from the ceiling to add a hint of glamour. Eclectic clusters of silver mercury glass candle votives were mixed amongst cut-glass vases overflowing with English garden flowers.
An antique writing desk was hired along with a vintage typewriter to create a unique 'writers' corner' within the pavilion tent. Clusters of antique books, papers, twenties memorabilia, old ink pots, flowers and frames were all displayed. Messages and words of wisdom were typed or hand written on old postcards and pegged up on an old wooden frame suspended above the desk.
At each place setting dried lavender was hand tied in clusters with silk ribbons, pretty tags and twenties-style menus. Be inspired by more vintage style weddings.
On the tables, the numbers were each displayed in different typography held within antique 1920's silver frames, collected from antique markets and Ebay. Guests were invited to take comical Victorian twenties masks for dance floor silliness! Flapper girls entertained guests with dance classes and performances throughout the evening.

To keep guests warm, dusky blue pashminas were placed in vintage wicker picnic baskets, reminiscent of the baskets used at 1920s summer garden parties.
Twinkling candlelight illuminated the steps and secret pathways at dusk. The candles along with strings of white fairy lights created a magical setting as the sun set.

The Cocktails

Escort Cards & Table Numbers

Decorations & Place Settings

The Guestbook

Isn't it gorgeous? I love all the bar adornments, and the writer's desk guest book is such a fun idea, I bet a lot of couples will want to borrow that one for their own big day.

Thanks so much to Ann-Kathrin Koch Photography and Whiter Than White Weddings for sharing this roaring 1920s wedding with us. And of course, congratulations to our fabulous couple, Claudia and Laurence!