WE’RE golden

Eleanor and Alex styled their day in an oh-so elegant white and gold palette

Images courtesy of CWindle Photos and Alex met on the daily commute, as her office at the time was just down the road from his apartment. Being punctual people and following the same morning routine, they crossed paths quite a few times. One particular day, Alex decided to stop Eleanor on the pavement, much to her delight. “It’s fair to say it was an utter movie moment,” she shares.

Alex proposed in an idyllic spot in Santorini. He’d been carrying the ring around Greece for a while by this point tackling security and hiding it in his bag away from Eleanor. After dinner he lead her down to a beautiful church terrace, asked her to sit down and got down on one knee. It was a huge surprise to Eleanor, which you may not believe if you’d seen her outfit that evening! “I opted for a long white dress that screamed: ‘Make me a bride!’ But yes, a surprise it was, and the absolute best,” she remembers.

The vibe and aesthetic of Homewood Hotel & Spa in Bath matched the couple’s vision for their big day, and a huge plus for them were the rooms on site. So, they decided to make the most of it, hosting an al fresco soiree there the evening prior for close family, friends and guests who’d travelled internationally. Celebrations extended beyond the wedding day too, with the chance to enjoy a delicious breakfast with loved ones.

Read on as Eleanor tells us more about their wonderful wedding, which took place on 22nd July, 2022...

Setting The Scene

Since Alex is half Greek, it was important to Eleanor to reflect this part of his heritage in the day’s celebrations. For wedding favours, the couple chose Greek Koufeta, in keeping with the sugared almond tradition, in gold to complement the palette. They were beautifully presented in handmade white bags, tied with a ribbon.

During the reception guests sat around nine round tables, with the bridal party at a long top table. The plan was presented on a gold-framed mirror with removable acrylic, meaning they could use it again at home post wedding.

The spectacular centrepieces took the form of towering gold candelabras holding an explosion of white flowers. Eleanor explains, “I felt this fitted Homewood’s stunning chandelier room beautifully, which was important to me as I wanted the detailing to come together cohesively.” The flowers were stunningly executed by Laura at Cotswold Blooms – a glorious array of white florals accentuated with sprinklings of gold and tumbling leaves.

The place names were written in elegant script in keeping with the order of service and invitations. A gold seal was included next to each guest’s name and delicately placed with their white linen. The tables were named after wine bottle sizes – Magnum, Methuselah, Nebuchadnezzar, and Salmanazar, alongside Roederer Cristol for the top table. “I asked my talented graphic designer uncle to do a drawing of Alex and I, which we used on our table names,” Eleanor shares.

Food For Thought

The bride’s vision for the big-day bake was for it to include French touches, to honour the other part of Alex’s heritage. Such elements included a traditional croquembouche and a peppering of macarons. She also wanted to tie in the lace detail from her dress and Alex’s tie. “The Cake Architect brought my wishes to life and the taste was divine. We’d opted for salted caramel and mixed berry tiers,” the bride tells us. Eleanor’s father was in the army and worked closely with the Gurkhas, so they opted to use his Gurkha Kukri knife to cut the cake. She continues, “I must also mention our tiered cheese and pork pie cake for the savoury palettes among our guests. This was another showstopper and went down a treat.”

The venue team provided a mouthwatering spread, from confit duck and pork belly, to sea bream. “They were incredibly kind in accommodating our request for tarte flambée for the evening spread, allowing us to bring a slice of Strasbourg to the table, where Alex grew up,” Eleanor says.

Looking The Part

The bride wore the Masazir mermaid crepe dress with a sweetheart neckline from Pronovias’ Eden Collection. “I’d always imagined myself wearing this style, but the detachable Juliette-style sleeves were a huge surprise! They made the dress for me and I didn’t remove them the entire day,” Eleanor says. She completed the look with a cathedral-length veil by Pronovias and crystal encrusted Lottie Blue heels by Freya Rose, painted by a friend with a personal design on the soles.

Alex wore a blue three-piece suit paired with a white shirt and black shoes. His suit was brighter than his groomsmen’s, who also wore light pink lace-patterned ties labelled inside with the couple’s names and wedding date.

The bridesmaids were dressed in elegant floor-length gowns in champagne. Each had a draped back, cowl neckline and extended train. “They looked utterly stunning,” Eleanor remembers. “I’d asked each of them which style they preferred as ultimately, I wanted them to feel sexy and comfortable on the day, and it just so happened that they all chose the same.”

Time To Celebrate

The pair booked a string quartet to perform during the ceremony and reception, who were thoroughly enjoyed by the guests. “I felt they added another level of elegance to the day,” Eleanor shares.

During the evening, DJ Oliver Fatemi played a series of hits and had the dancefloor buzzing until the early hours.

Memorable Moments

Eleanor and Alex’s wedding day was one of only two stormy days during an incredibly hot and dry summer, so they swiftly decided on plan B, and held their ceremony indoors. “The thunder and rain were actually magnificently romantic and dramatic, and cleared up just in time for the reception and outdoor photographs,” Eleanor remembers. “We felt incredibly happy and lucky to have our loved ones all in one room. It really is something rather remarkable when you look back at all the faces staring up at you and see your cousin, next to your godfather, next to your childhood friend.”

Words Of Wisdom

The bride shares her top planning tips: “I highly recommend focusing heavily on the larger elements of the wedding in the lead up, just as much as the smaller things, and relax on the day with the understanding that your wedding venue and team have got everything under control. Working in PR, I like to run the show, but on the day I was fairly Zen knowing they had it all in hand!”

Venue and catering, Homewood Hotel & Spa, Bath, www.homewoodbath.co.uk | Photographer, CWindle Photos, www.cwindlephotos.co.uk

Bride’s dress, Pronovias London | Bride’s accessories, Freya Rose | Wedding rings, Eleanor Corp Jewellery, www.instagram.com/eleanorjoycorp

Hair stylist, Thanasis Karalis at Rene Aubrey Hairdressing, www.reneaubrey.com | Make-up artist, Kate Kelvin Hair & Makeup Artist, https://kkmakeupartist.co.uk | Bridesmaids’ dresses, Jarlo | Groom’s suit, Gabucci, https://gabucci.co.uk | Groom’s shirt, Charles Tyrwhitt Cake, The Cake Architect, https://thecakearchitect.co.uk | Flowers, Cotswold Blooms, https://cotswoldblooms.com | Stationery, Cartalia, www.cartalia.co.uk | Entertainment, DJ Oliver Fatemi | Unity String Quartet, www.unitystringquartet.co.uk

Music equipment, Loud Hire, www.loudhire.co.uk | Tablescaping, Stella Event Hire, www.stellaeventhire.co.uk | The Luxe Collection, https://theluxecollectionuk.co.uk

The Ideal Venue for Wedding Receptions