Wedding Inspiration
This dog friendly wedding at Brympton House In Somerset reflects the couple’s Scottish heritage
Step into Kirsty and James' Summer manor wedding, where an understated, elegant aesthetic meets joyous ceilidh dancing.
10 min read
Our real wedding inspiration section is packed with wedding photos and unique ideas from couples to help you plan your own special day. In this feature we talk to Kirsty & James about their 'old romantic country style wedding'.
The magnificent Brympton House played host to Kirsty and James's utterly charming manor house wedding. Blending the rustic picturesque qualities of the venue with cherished Scottish traditions, the couple's dream of an 'old romantic country style wedding' blossomed into a celebration brimming with personal touches and heartfelt moments. We asked the couple to talk us through every carefully considered detail, from beginning to end. From the elegant wedding stationary, to the incorporation of their beloved dogs, and even the pieces from their wedding gift list that now make them nostalgic for the day.
Kirsty & James on wedding planning...
Reflecting on their special day and the wedding planning journey, Kirsty shared this thoughtful advice: “The most important thing is to remember why you’re doing this – it’s about the love you share and committing to a life together. Don’t get caught up stressing over the details; the more you trust your instincts and avoid overthinking, the more authentic and meaningful everything will feel.”
On their wedding stationery....
The wedding stationery, designed by Lilac and White, perfectly complemented the couple’s vision of an understated, elegant, yet meaningful aesthetic. “Paula from Lilac and White included a sketch of our venue on the invitations, which added such a special touch,” Kirsty shared. Each invitation was hand-tied with soft blue silk ribbons, adding a personal detail and echoing their chosen colour palette. Lilac and White also created the menus, place cards, thank-you notes, and the signage featured throughout the day.
On their wedding venue…
Kirsty and James embarked on their journey to "I do" with a clear vision. As Kirsty shared, “We wanted to get married in an old romantic country style wedding and were looking for the perfect manor house in Somerset." Brympton House, a beautiful Grade I listed historic manor nestled in the serene rolling hills of Somerset, provided the ideal backdrop for their dream day.
"Another important aspect when it came to our decision on how to choose a wedding venue was that we’re huge animal lovers, so it had to be pet-friendly — we wanted our guests to be able to bring their pets!” The presence of beloved canine companions added an extra layer of joy to the celebrations. “We had dogs there on the day, which brought so much fun — I even ended up with a cute paw print on my dress, which I have a beautiful photo of,” Kirsty fondly recalled. “Of course, if it had happened earlier in the day, I might have felt differently,” she laughed, “but to me, it really captured the joy and magic of it all.”
On their wedding decor...
When it came to wedding decor inspiration, Kirsty aimed to create a day that felt light, romantic, and representative of the connection she shares with her partner: “I wanted the day to reflect the magic, ethereal feeling, as that’s how the love I share with my partner has always made me feel.”
This idea came to life through lush floral arches made with a mix of greenery and classic white hydrangeas. The same soft and elegant look continued onto the wedding tables, where gold candle holders were paired with simple white roses to create a clean, refined setting.
On their wedding cake...
The three-tiered wedding cake by Sugar Plum Bakes also carried through this thoughtful aesthetic. “I asked for the cake to somehow look like it was floating, dancing, and free — and Vanni from Sugar Plum Bakes managed this PERFECTLY,” Kirsty excitedly recalled about their wedding cake, which was so elegantly finished with pale blue icing sails around it
On their Scottish heritage...
A meaningful part of Kirsty and James’s day was honouring their Scottish heritage. “We’re both Scottish, so it was important that our wedding included as many Scottish elements as possible, such as bagpipes and ceilidh dancing,” Kirsty explained. “I think the mix of influences made our wedding feel quite personal and distinctive,” she added, noting how the sound of bagpipes brought a powerful sense of nostalgia. “Bagpipes playing as guests arrived and again as we entered the ballroom as a married couple for the first time was probably our favourite memory,” Kirsty recalled. “Hearing them really heightened the overwhelming sensation of excitement and nerves, especially when getting ready to walk down the aisle. Knowing that all of our favourite people were outside, listening to the same music, was truly unforgettable.”
On James' suit...
James looked dapper in bespoke trews, an ivory waistcoat, and a navy jacket by Andrew Brookes. “Wearing his family tartan was important to us, so we based our blue colour theme on it, incorporating it into various details throughout our wedding day,” Kirsty shared. His polished black shoes were from Joseph Cheaney & Sons.
On Kirsty's dress and accessories...
For her bridal look, Kirsty chose the timeless Valentina gown by Israeli bridalwear designer House of Flora. “It was the perfect dress for me — simple yet timeless. The long train and flowing fabric added just the right touch of drama,” she shared. After a lengthy search, she discovered the gown online and connected with Heart A’Flutter wedding shop in East London, who arranged for the designer to send it over. “I knew as soon as I tried it on that this was the one I’d been waiting for. I didn’t have an emotional moment, but I instantly felt like a more elevated version of myself.”
Her dream wedding shoes were Jimmy Choo's Sacora 85 Lace heels, which she described as “timeless and elegant, with the lace adding a bit of extra interest.” She wore Akoya pearl earrings and a matching necklace — a modern twist on a classic look, with the necklace shortened for a contemporary feel. Pearls were subtly featured throughout her wedding accessories too, from the dress buttons to her Anya Hindmarch clutch and the single pearl on her shoes. Torn between sheer and lace gloves, Kirsty opted for sheer during the day and switched to lace Self Portrait gloves for the evening, loving the unexpected way they echoed her shoes. Her veil was crafted by bridal designer Fran Rios, who also expertly altered her gown.
On Kirsty's wedding scent...
Adding to the heartfelt moments of the wedding morning, Kirsty received a personal bridesmaids' gift to the bride.“I was given a sentimental gift from my bridesmaids – a beautiful Jo Malone London perfume engraved with my new married initials, KB,” Kirsty fondly recalled. “It was so special because they knew I had struggled to find a perfume I truly loved for the day, and now this scent will forever remind me of it.”
On the bridesmaids' dresses...
The bridesmaids wore soft duck egg blue Maids to Measure dresses, each selecting a style that complemented their individual personalities. “Each chose their own version to suit their unique style, and they wore bracelets I gifted them that morning,” Kirsty explained.
On the food and drinks...
Kirsty and James were thrilled with their caterers, the French Kitchen. "They did an incredible job in every way," Kirsty praised. "They served delicious canapés during our drinks reception, as well as our main wedding meal – everything was just spot on" “Our wedding drinks were supplied by the Bacchus wedidng bar team, who served cocktails and champagne during the reception and continued to serve drinks late into the evening,” Kirsty added, highlighting another key element of their perfect day.
On the speeches...
The wedding speeches were undoubtedly a highlight of the day, filled with emotion and heartfelt sentiments. For Kirsty, the groom’s speech stood out as the most special moment. “James was extremely emotional – something that took me by surprise,” she shared. “His words were meaningful, but the emotion behind them was so powerful. I could feel the sincerity and depth of everything he said, and the fact that he was able to express this in front of so many people made me feel even more honoured to call him my husband.”
On the evening entertainment...
Kirsty and James transformed the vibe for the evening of their wedding by moving the celebration to the venue’s charming Stables. Guests left the main house with sparklers, walking through lantern-lit grounds to a cosy courtyard where drinks were waiting and the cake was served on platters. “It felt like a whole new part of the day,” Kirsty shared. A fire pit surrounded by deck chairs and fairy lights created the perfect relaxed atmosphere. Acoustic guitarist Mark Lewis kicked things off with chilled classics, before Prescott Entertainment's DJ got the dance floor going inside. “The layout worked so well — some guests danced all night, while others found comfy spots to chat and enjoy the music,” Kirsty said.
Even a bit of rain didn’t dampen the mood. With twinkling lights, great music, s’mores by the fire, and late-night sourdough pizzas from Little Green Hut, the evening felt warm, fun, and full of unforgettable moments.
On the wedding gifts that help them remember their special day…
“Moving into our first home together just a few months after the wedding, the arrival of our Wedding Shop gifts couldn’t have been timed better,” the couple said. “It made the process of making our home feel even more meaningful.” They choose gifts that truly reflected them and included a thoughtful mix of items — from artwork to practical kitchen pieces. Here are some of their best wedding gifts that remind them of their wedding day and the guests who bought them:
Borough Set of Martini Glasses, LSA International
“The glasses we received from LSA International have been used for many celebrations since. They have a delicate look to them, but are high quality and stylish. I never realised how much I would love having martini glasses!"
Gold-Framed Abstract Picture, luna Home
“The abstract picture has been one of our favourite gifts. We had a large blank wall in the main part of our house and no idea what to put there. This picture fits perfectly — it looks as if it was made for the spot, framed beautifully by two wall lights on either side."
Portobello Set of Dinner Plates, The White Company
“All of the Portobello range has been a godsend. We finally got rid of mismatched plates and bowls and now have a beautiful, cohesive set — plates, bowls, serving dishes — that we can proudly display."
Cowley Table Lamp, The White Company
“We’ve received lots of compliments on the lamps already. The linen shade is stunning and, by happy coincidence, perfectly matches a large standing lamp we already had.”
Egyptian Cotton Super King Duvet Cover, The White Company
“We finally have enough beautiful bed linen to not stress when we have guests — no more worrying that the only nice set is the one our cats haven’t destroyed!”
Vanita Vase, Nkuku
“I get a chance to appreciate the Nkuku vase every day as it sits on our kitchen island, currently filled with blueberry stems. It’s so beautiful and one of those pieces that brings me joy every time I see it.”
On why they chose The Wedding Shop...
For Kirsty and James, simplifying the gifting process for their guests was a key reason they needed a wedding gift list “We wanted to take the stress out of people having to choose something,” they explained. “It can be hard enough to find the perfect gift for one person, let alone a joint one!” Kirsty added, "We also wanted to reflect what our wedding day was all about: embarking on building a life together. For us, creating a beautiful, safe home where we both feel ourselves is a central element of this, and The Wedding Shop provided the best inspiration for this."
One feature they particularly appreciated was the option for group gifting. “I really valued this,” Kirsty explained, “because I didn’t want anyone to feel pressured by price. Adding it to our list allowed guests to contribute in a way that felt comfortable for them.”
“Our wedding guests loved the gift list experience and found it really helpful,” the couple noted. “Several even said it helped them discover things they wouldn’t have found otherwise! The Wedding Shop website was easy to use and made the whole process seamless.”
Thank you to Kirsty and James for sharing their wonderful wedding day with The Wedding Shop. All wedding images were provided by the couple and photographed by Alex Wysocki Photography.
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