Ellen & Dave: A Country House Wedding at Davenport House

With its soaring ceilings and historic grandeur, the Great Hall hosted the wedding breakfast, proving once again why this Shropshire country house is one of the finest around—imposing yet utterly inviting, effortlessly elegant without trying too hard.

Classic in style with sentimental moments woven throughout, Ellen and Dave’s spring celebration perfectly balances grandeur with warmth and an open-hearted welcome. Folks, if that sounds like your kind of wedding vibe, consider this the perfect inspo.

When my husband proposed, he surprised me with a holiday on the Isles of Scilly. We got engaged in a teepee he bought and put up, so when we saw the teepee in Davenport House’s gardens, we fell in love with the venue!

We loved that Davenport House has both beautiful interiors and exterior grounds, and we were so fortunate on our wedding day to have the ceremony and reception outside, which allowed for a brilliant indoor and outdoor flow of guests enjoying the house and its stately home grounds. For the reception, we could move into the grand Entrance Hall for a champagne tower, followed by guests enjoying garden games including Jenga and Connect Four outside and an ice cream truck. In the evening, we had stone-baked pizzas in a teepee and sparklers with the English country house backdrop to finish the night. We were exceptionally fortunate to have a fantastic team at Davenport guiding us throughout the day, ensuring we were in the right place at the right time!

My wedding dress was from Shropshire Country Brides. This was my third visit to a bridal shop, and although I felt I knew exactly what I wanted, the exceptional staff at Shropshire Country Brides showed me otherwise. I went in for a long-sleeved, high-neck dress and left with a sleeveless, sweetheart-neck gown. They showed me exactly what I wanted, not what I thought I needed. I wore my grandma’s single pearl necklace, a simple and elegant piece.

My bridesmaids wore waterfall dresses in olive-green satin, which I chose because I love natural tones. My husband and his groomsmen wore navy blue suits from Peter Posh paired with brown shoes.

The vibe of our day was very classic, with a relaxed atmosphere. It was set in a country house in Bridgnorth, which suited us well, having enjoyed numerous trips to National Trust properties. The white and pink flowers flowed effortlessly throughout, from the gardens where we had the ceremony to the house. There were lanterns and candles on the steps leading up to Davenport and on the house’s staircase, creating a beautiful, relaxed atmosphere.

Running alongside our classic theme, I walked down the aisle to Pachelbel Canon in D. This provided a quaint and calm atmosphere for both of us to take a breath. Walking back up the aisle, we chose the very upbeat ‘I’m Yours’ by Jason Mraz, which we have both enjoyed for years. Upon entering our wedding breakfast, we decided on ‘I’m a Believer’ by the Monkees. We were thrilled that everyone was singing along, creating a relaxed atmosphere for guests to enjoy themselves.

Our florist was GingerLily. Based in Bridgnorth, they were very familiar with decorating Davenport House. The white and pink flowers flowed from the gardens where we had the ceremony to the house, creating a beautiful indoor-outdoor flow.

The cake was made beautifully by The Sugar Cart. It was a three-tiered buttercream cake adorned with roses, which complimented our flowers.

We were fortunate that Davenport House provided exceptional catering and a champagne tower and ice cream cart, which the guests enjoyed on the lawn.

Finding a photographer was no easy feat. After extensive online research and speaking to multiple photographers, we came across Laura Rosemary Photography, a photographer based in the Southwest. Her documentary-style photography approach felt natural and suited us as a couple. After speaking to Laura, she immediately put us at ease. We were thrilled with the photos she captured of our day: natural, meaningful moments between our guests.

It is hard to pinpoint a favourite moment from our day as we both have fond memories. For my husband, it was watching me come down the aisle – the weather had fortunately shone for us, and he loved the dress I had selected!

For me, the speeches made by my dad, husband, and best man were the most moving —I certainly wasn’t the only one who cried! They had all put so much time and effort into their speeches, which was humbling and beautiful.

Also, between getting engaged and getting married, I wrote letters to my now-husband each month, detailing our wedding planning and expressing my gratitude for him. I placed the champagne cork from when we got engaged and some other sentimental items in an engraved box and gave them to him on our wedding day, which was very special.

Our advice for couples planning their weddings is to have vendors who have worked together before, as this makes the day run seamlessly. Our photographer, Laura Rosemary Photography, recommended Blossom Wedding Films, and they worked so well together on the day.

On the day itself, relax and enjoy the day as much as possible, as it goes by so fast. It’s a day for both of you to enjoy, love, and look back on with fond memories. We loved having our wedding outside in nature, soaking up the sun and enjoying the splendid grounds.