S+R’s English estate wedding at the iconic Aynhoe Park brought together over 120 of their friends and family from both sides of the Atlantic – our British bride and American groom reside between NYC and Miami, so this was a truly global gathering.

As an experienced Cotswolds wedding planner with guests travelling from around the world, we wanted to create a full weekend of celebrations, starting with a smart yet bohemian welcome dinner on the Friday night, with festival touches. We used a fortune teller, glitter face painting, photo booth, retro games and live music to create plenty of talking points for new friends to break the ice.

For the wedding day itself, there was a theme change – the groom adores the sea and sailing (they are now in fact sailing the world for 4 years!) so subtle nods to the ocean were introduced, with an octopus as the hidden motif.

The couple chose to exchange their vows in the local church before guests took red double-decker buses back to Aynhoe Park for cocktail hour on the lawn with a live jazz soundtrack. To surprise their American guests with the quirkiest of British traditions, we arranged for a performance from a local Morris dancer group, complete with a maypole.

After a seated wedding breakfast, His & Hers cocktails were served in the orangery alongside the cake reveal. A live band and DJ kept the energy up on the dance floor, with personalized cocktails and temporary tattoos for some added fun. At the end of the night, the newlyweds surprised their guests with an after-party in the secret underground cellar bar, decorated with sea-inspired props and wave lighting, where they celebrated until the small hours. IV drips and brunch treats on Sunday helped aid everyone’s recovery!

“Words cannot really cover how fabulous The Bijou Studio has been or how grateful we are for all they have done. I could provide you with a near-endless list of practical reasons why you should take them on as your planners. Incredibly organized. Experienced. Well connected. They do everything (literally everything) are creative, adaptable... etc etc. the list goes on.

At the end of the day though, our wedding was magical and The Bijou Studio made that happen. They understood us instantly and recommended so many unique touches that made our day special. They were also a joy to work with; so full of energy and enthusiasm. Neither of us can imagine doing it without them" - S+R

Captured by Taylor Porter Photography

As featured on Over The Moon