English Countryside Elopement Inspired By the Old-World

English Countryside Elopement

Elopements have a special loveliness about them—the idea that two people so perfectly matched cannot bear to be anything but one any longer! They have a romantic ease and simultaneous bravery about them which speaks to romantics and adventurers alike. It’s this sort of breathless beauty which brought today’s feature to life, and the result is a sweet love story of Austen proportions!

Words of inspiration from photographer Michelle Whitley:

“My inspiration for this photoshoot had been an elopement story I wrote of a man and woman who fell in love on her father’s farm in the old-world English countryside. I was honored to have Aimee of A. Griffin Events join me in bringing this vision to life. We used it as an opportunity to rethink the rustic, rural wedding design. I love pieces that tell a story and this is one of the draws of the rustic style. However, I also crave a hint of splendor at a wedding – elements that declare the day is special, personal and unique. I was drawn in to Darnall Colonial Farm, which dates back to the 1770s, for its golden cornfields of Autumn and distinctive buildings aged with time and character. We utilized the pre-existing, raw elements of the venue to refine the age of the story and keep consistency of the timeline…”

Old-World Elopement Inspiration English Countryside Elopement

“Inspired by the sunlight bouncing off the golden cornfields of fall, we designed this elopement to look both elegant and at ease in its natural surroundings. Because Darnall Colonial Farm is a property dating back to 1770, we specifically wanted to honor the history of the location with modern touches for today’s stylish couple.

We started by focusing on modern elements like a couture gown from Elaya Vaughn, an asymmetrical crystal and pearl necklace from J’Adorn Designs, and a raw gemstone in a hand-forged ring duo from By Angeline. Each of these are less-traditional elements chosen for the unique, personal touch they contribute.”

English Countryside Elopement Old-World Elopement Inspiration English Wedding Inspiration

“To complement the rustic setting, we selected Old World elements like the Villeroy and Boch gold-edged china, hand-dyed velvet ribbon courtesy of Torn and Tied, and vintage furniture from Something Vintage. In a true “modern meets Old World” moment, a vintage sweetheart table held a three-tiered cake adorned with gold flecked snowberries and blackberries layered above a watercolor ikat wash in more purple and blackberry tones. Nothing compares to the beauty of the golden sunlight as it caught the edible gold leaf on the cake sitting patiently under a cloud of greenery hanging between the trees.

In choosing color for the shoot, we pulled from the season and surroundings. Lush ferns and greenery adorned the hillsides of Darnall Colonial Farm, while figs, blackberries, and plums grew in the gardens. Gold accents came not only from the cornfields, but also from the early fading leaves and the golden-hour sunlight.

The invitation suite perfectly blended the Old World and modern elements by incorporating beautiful and soft calligraphy with a blackberry-inspired watermark and initial. The serendipitous bleeding of the watercolor initial on the insert and envelope complement the structured type and script of the invitation.”

English Wedding Inspiration English Countryside Elopement