Forever Fall
An elegant wedding weekend at Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk
NYC couple Cleo and James entertain a lot, so they knew exactly what kind of celebration they wanted to reflect their personalities. Something that felt like home, yet elevated. A weekend of festivities, not just one day that passed by in a flash, and for their wedding celebration “A really elegant black tie dinner that didn’t feel too fussy or overly formal. With lots of beautiful lush flower arrangements and tons of candles to add to the ambience”.
Set on a stunning private country estate: Wilderness Reserve in Suffolk, a location chosen for the contemporary luxury accommodation for their 150 guests offered by the cottages, barns and farmhouses all within walking distance of one another. The heart of the estate, Sibton House, is a Georgian country house designed by the celebrated architect Decimus Burton, which became the muse for our design. Inspired by the Chinoiserie paper in the drawing room we created an understated yet elegant design concept, infused with autumnal and organic influences.
To welcome guests to Sibton an informal BBQ dinner was hosted in the Walled Garden to a backdrop of contemporary music and warming firepits. Inspired by Kinfolk suppers, the focus was on simplicity, intimacy and really tasty food. Guests dined on a delightful feast, created by Norfolk catering team Julie Abbs, who designed an incredible menu to celebrate the flavours of the local area. Highlights of the menu included a lemon & rosemary marinated brochette of chicken and a red cabbage & celeriac slaw with sumac & coriander yoghurt, amongst other delights.
Our bride wore a bespoke gown by edgy NYC label Houghton NYC for a classic silhouette with modern touches and Manolo Blahnik pumps. Whilst the groom looked dapper in his bespoke black-tie tuxedo. Cleo enlisted the support of hair and make-up artists to the stars: S J Wai and Snowden Hill to help her create her classically understated look.
Given the limited ceremony capacity at Sibton House, we secured a local Church for their ceremony, dressing the space with beautiful wooden furniture and overflowing floral displays for an enchanted feel. Transporting guests on an old London Routemaster bus, a real hit with their US guests, whilst our couple traveled in style in a vintage Austin Healey.
Afterwards guests enjoyed Americano and St Germain cocktails in the historic surrounds of the house, with gentle music floating in the background from a contemporary string quartet. Before moving to the Papakata Sperry tent for dinner by candlelight, chosen for it’s graceful elegance and ability to accommodate our 150 guests for both dining and dancing.
The tent was transformed into an organic oasis by Swallows and Damsons who filled the space with lush and natural botanical elements, such as a wildflower meadow entrance, overhead botanical chandeliers and an array of other installations, creating a magical feel. The dining experience was set on long banquet tables with warm wooden chairs and a deep saturated-blue linen, offering a moodier feel. Tables were filled with low-level florals and an abundance of twinkling candlelight at varying heights. Settings were beautifully laid with bespoke chargers, elegant glassware and handwritten menus and place cards by NYC calligraphy artist Emily Snyder.
Guests dined on another superbly crafted menu with potted Cromer crab and local smokehouse salmon to start, followed by family-style platters and a choice of griddled steak, with a cinnamon, cumin & paprika rub dressed with a warm spiced baba ganoush & shaved chicory. Or Cleo and James’ own recipe, marinated chicken with harissa & preserved lemons dressed with spiked tomato compote with fresh coriander, served with terracotta pots of straw fries with smoked salt & gremolata. The food was an instant hit with guests with them commenting all night long how superb the feast was.
Guests danced the night away to the sounds of Atlantic Soul Orchestra who had everyone on their feet for their high energy performance. Whilst resident mixologists kept the cocktails flowing for our ‘Manhattan’ loving crowd. The fun didn’t end there though, as the band’s final set concluded, guests were enticed outside to create a sparkler walkway for our couple. Cleo and James led their guests down a candlelit pathway to where the after-party awaited. The Sibton House cellar was transformed into the chicest of nightclubs, filled with hundreds of candles and a superstar DJ spinning the tunes into the early hours.
To ease those sore heads, a late brunch was held the next morning in the fine surroundings of Sibton House before guests jetted off home.
Photography by: David Jenkins
