Inspiration

We are utterly obsessed with this magical matrimony, which truly is romance made real. The Riding School at Calke Abbey, a National Trust property in Derbyshire, is a stunning no corkage wedding venue with high ceilings and exposed brickwork, which Megan & Kurt style superbly with soft drapery, fairylights, pretty florals and the pièce de résistance: a moon gate altar. Megan's must have - ghost chairs - have set our hearts aflutter here at RMW (we totally get why they were top of her wishlist), and just when we thought this wedding couldn't get any better we spy leather jackets, a doughnut wall and a glitter bar. Do not miss groom Kurt with a sparkly blue beard!

INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING

 

"The style of the wedding stemmed from two things: my dress and shoes, and the fabulous Victoria ghost chairs we hired from Premier UK. I had fantasised about the chairs since the moment we booked The Riding School at Calke Abbey. The flowers and stationery all took shape around these elements, and Maria’s Flowers and Laura Elizabeth were incredible from start to finish. My dad made the donut wall on a perspex sheet to match the ghost chairs, and Laura personalised it for us in keeping with the theme of our stationary. We also had a glitter bar and photobooth, which kept our guests entertained all night – and is something they still talk about now!" - Megan & Kurt

Moon Gate

Elegant, ethereal and oh so enchanting: Megan & Kurt's floral moon gate altar adds oodles of romance to the rustic Riding School setting. Magic seems to seep out of the moon gate, creating a ceremony setting that is modern yet timeless, and with the hanging drapery and fairy-lit ceiling adding extra softness, Megan glides down the aisle as if on a cloud. This celestial setting is further enhanced by the gorgeous ghost chairs our bride had her heart set on from day one; keep an eye out for the photo of the guests at the wedding breakfast looking like they're floating in mid-air. Magical.

FAVOURITE MOMENT OF OUR DAY

 

"When I walked into The Riding School, filled with friends and family, it was overwhelming to see the way everything had come together. All of our suppliers worked seamlessly to ensure everything was perfect, and our photographer, Matt Horan, made sure every photo we could have dreamed of being taken was taken. It didn’t even feel as if he was there as a vendor; he just felt like one of the guests! We were also really pleased with all the ‘little’ things that were so worth thinking of and arranging: the bridesmaids' leather jackets, glitter bar, doughnut wall, details in the stationary, floral moon gate and photobooth were all huge parts of the day." - Megan & Kurt

Behind every wedding is a team of suppliers, delivering your vision and ensuring you enjoy your day, your way. For this reason, it is so important that you source suppliers who suit you; what is perfect for one couple may not work for another. Megan & Kurt used both Instagram and our own handpicked supplier directory, The List, to narrow down their options, before chatting to all contenders for a few minutes to really get a feel for whether they understood their ideas - and, crucially, were as excited about them as they were. For further advice on how to choose and work with wedding vendors, check out the latest episode of our podcast, in which RMW's very own Alice - and new husband Ben - reveal all about planning their own wedding.
Victoria Honan

Written by Victoria Honan

Venue: The Riding School, Calke Abbey | Dress Designer: Suzanne Neville | Overskirt: Pronovias | Bridal Boutique: The Wedding Club | Bride's Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids Dresses: Next | Cake: Rubylous Cakes | Flowers: Maria's Flowers | Hair: Ferne Alexandra | Stationery: Laura Elizabeth UK | Band: The Distractions Band | Decor and Hire: Distinct Events | Gift List: The Wedding Shop | Honeymoon: Kuoni | Glitter Make Up: Sparkle Squad Events | Photobooth: Silver Trailer Photobooth | Victoria Ghost Chairs: Premier Events

Inspirational articles you may also find useful