Gemma and Adrian's Spanish Influenced Wedding at Cooling Castle Barn

When we first met the lovely Gemma and Adrian, they were very clear about what they wanted and with Gemma being English and Adrian being from Spain, they wanted a mix of both cultures within their wedding. Lights were a key point for them and they also wanted colour in their flowers. They are a very handsome couple and have such lovely taste that it was always going to be a wonderful wedding.  They even managed to bring across a touch of Spanish Sun for the not so great English Summer!

Gemma had chosen a really unusual and gorgeous gown using bias pleating and a very different and beautiful neckline.  She looked amazing in it, and is happy for us to share the photos she has sent so you can see the overall look.  Her hair also looked fantastic and very flamenco inspired.  Gemma was clear from the start that she wanted to carry a fan bouquet and hence we designed a bouquet that resembled a fan, and yet included a mix of ivory, lime green and orange flowers (orchids, roses, santini and carthamus).  Though we say it ourselves, it was very lovely and very different.

Gemma's bridesmaids wore long jade green and blue chiffon maxi dresses and each carried a fan Gemma and Adrian bought in Spain for them.  What was also lovely was that each of the Senoritas (unmarried ladies) at the wedding had a fan provided for them as part of their place setting with instructions as to how to carry them to indicate availability or interest.  What a fantastic idea and a great talking point.  All place names were also Senor, Senora, Senorita or Chica which again showed the Spanish influence to great effect.

For Adrian's buttonhole, we chose a burnt orange rose with lime green santini and backed with a variegated ivy leaf.  We then chose hot pink roses (Purple Power) for the rest of the boys again with a splash of santini and foliage. 

For the ceremony, we provided a colourful and exotic low arrangement for the celebrant table, giving a hint as to the reception flowers in the adjoining barn.

As Gemma and Adrian had 12 tables as well as the top table, we decided we would do half the tables with a tall martini vases, and the remainder with a low mirrored cube, giving a more varied and interesting look to the Barn.  We also added lights to the beams in a zig zag fashion rather than dress every beam.

The tall martini vases were filled with fairy lights and lime green sisal and had a large striking arrangement of roses, anturium, curcuma, celosia, protea, carthamus, santini along with palms and aspidistra leaves.  We then hung lanterns over the side of the vases at eye height, each with a battery operated tealight inside.   They looked lovely but boy were they tricky to lift onto the tables...!!

The lower cubes had a hand-tied arrangement of flowers as used in the martini vases, and each was contained in a hidden aqua pack making them ready made gifts for selected guests. 

We then provided a full, exotic and colourful arrangement for the top table with additional foliage and flowers draped along the length of the table and falling gently forwards.  We also added additional lanterns and tealights to tie in with the rest of the room.  Finally we added a celosia to each place setting as we thought they looked a little like a floral fan in their own right!

We loved the colour, the tablenames (Spanish Festivals), the favours (Spanish Turron), the fans and the exotic blooms we could use.  Most of all we loved working with Gemma and Adrian, who are one of the easiest and most straightforward couples to work with.  They look stunning and above all, extremely happy and in love...we hope they have a fabulous life together.