Inspiration

Prepare to fall head over heels (and down a rabbit hole) with this English countryside wedding, inspired by the story of Alice in Wonderland. American couple Allie & Justin fell in love with each other at the same time as falling in love with England, so there was only ever one place where they were going to start their happily ever after. Babington House is a stunning venue, and allowed the couple to host a four-day celebration for their friends and family, including a welcome brunch and farewell BBQ, as well as plenty of time to kick back, relax and enjoy the weekend (oh hello Cowshed spa!). With travel having been a cornerstone of their relationship, I love the compass motif incorporated throughout, and can't get enough of the beautiful blooms, which are playful, wild and whimsical. Loose yourselves in this one, lovelies. It's enchanting.

Inspiration Behind The Styling

We were inspired by Alice in Wonderland and the movie Moonrise Kingdom. We wanted our wedding to feel adventurous and magical. From the moment our guests arrived, they were greeted with a custom tote bag with goodies inside, including a custom map designed by Meticulous Ink. We also worked with Athena and her team to create a compass motif throughout our wedding designs, nodding to our sense of playfulness and adventure. At each place setting we had a compass that guests could take home. Babington House is a stunning venue and didn’t need much styling. Stylish Entertainment created custom lighting for both our wedding day and welcome BBQ, and Passion made custom wooden signs for different spots across the property.

Allie & Justin

English Countryside Wedding

There is something so romantic about an English countryside wedding, and every element of this day at Babington House ticks the country garden box beautifully. As Americans, this was technically a destination wedding for our delightful couple, and Allie & Justin admit they used RMW to get inspiration for their English countryside décor and styling, which is music to our ears! Their Alice in Wonderland theme is whimsical and charming, and has a personal meaning to this lovely pair, Justin having proposed at Port Meadow, Oxford, a stunning stretch of common land along the River Thames which inspired Lewis Carroll's beloved book. With fabulous florals, designed to be loose, textured and slightly wild, and the enchanting outdoor setting, we are sure Alice herself would have fallen down any number of holes to score herself an invitation to this celebration (we certainly would).

Advice For People In The Throes Of Planning

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or to get your friends and family involved in unique ways. I was so worried about burdening people during the planning process, especially since we were having our wedding abroad, but I learned that those who love you are eager to help and want your day to be perfect and worry-free. Assigning roles or allocating specific tasks is something I would recommend; from having a time tracker to someone making sure everyone has food and drinks throughout the day, every element can be overseen by someone who genuinely wants to help. We also asked two of our dear friends – one who is a comedian – to MC our wedding evening, and it is one of my highlights from the night.

Allie & Justin

Do you love the fairytale feel of this wedding as much as we do? The English countryside is an excellent source of inspiration for themes and colours, as Allie & Justin demonstrate delightfully. For further ideas of how to incorporate a natural aesthetic into your big day, our latest styled shoot at Hampstead Heath will have you dreaming of dancing around meadows and spending time in the sun with your loved ones. Which sounds pretty perfect to us.

Victoria Honan

Written by Victoria Honan

Venue: Babington House | Dress Designer and Veil: Kate McDonald Bridal | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Groom's Suit: J Mueser | Hair: Abigail Costanza | Make Up: Lisa Caldognetto | Florist: Passion | Chef/Cake Maker: Chef Neil Smith | Entertainment and Lighting: Stylish Entertainment | Stationery (Custom Maps, Menus, Ceremony Cards & Seating Chart): Meticulous Ink | Stationery (Invitations): Minted | Wedding Planner: Sage & Flo | Videographer: Together We Roam

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