Lucy & Adam: Laidback Autumn Wedding at Alfriston Gardens

We knew we wanted an autumn wedding and also that numbers would be high! So, we were looking for somewhere with lots of indoor space in case it rained (which it did!), on-site accommodation, and set in beautiful natural surroundings.

When we first visited Alfriston Gardens, it was undergoing renovation, so it was essentially a building site. However, the team was fantastic, and we trusted their vision for the venue. We were one of the first weddings there after they reopened. We particularly loved the features of the old, original barn where we had our ceremony, as well as the beautiful shepherd’s huts and hotel rooms where our friends and family stayed.

We leant into the season with our colours – a mix of olive green, burnt orange and pale pink. We tried to minimise our environmental impact where we could – Lucy’s veil, bag, and some of our bridesmaid dresses were second-hand, and we hired suits for the groomsmen. When we bought new, we tried to ensure they were things we would wear again or could be resold or repurposed.

Much of our jewellery consisted of items we already owned, including a few pieces from Monica Vinader, such as Lucy’s earrings and one of Adam’s rings. Something really special that we did was to melt down a few pieces of family jewellery we had inherited that weren’t being worn, and used the metals and diamonds in our wedding bands and Lucy’s necklace.

Top tip – marry a designer! Adam designed all of our stationery and signage for the big day, which felt really special – we now have it framed in our flat. We wanted it to feel playful and incorporate things that are special to us, like our whippet, Rodney, and the park bench Adam slept on after our first date (a story for another time).

We wanted the styling to feel laid-back yet elegant, reflecting our personalities. We had minimal, mismatched posy vases on the tables, bunches of gypsophila hanging from the beams, and a neon sign behind our top table (which is now also hanging in our flat).

We had Bulb make our bouquets and buttonholes, and we absolutely adored them! We loved the wild, uniqueness of her designs and the unusual flowers she used, and she understood our vision so well.

Lucy’s mum and friend Sally did an incredible job sourcing the rest of our flowers, which they arranged into urns, pew ends and posy vases for our dining tables.

Lucy’s mum is an exceptional baker, so there was no question about who would make the cake. We wanted it to look rustic and straightforward, then we stuck some Polaroids, taken at our legal ceremony a few days before, on top!

Black Pepper Hospitality provided our catering, and they were extremely accommodating to our preferences. We started by sharing plates of bread, cheese, and charcuterie, as we thought they’d be a good way to get people chatting and interacting over dinner. Then we had delicious, hearty pies as our main, and wedding cake for dessert.

Adam already knew The Chamberlins, and we loved their photography style, so that was another no-brainer. They were an absolute dream to work with, and on the day, they were so much fun and the ultimate hype gang. We couldn’t be happier with our photos, and particularly love the bathtub shots from the evening.

Probably being on the dancefloor, belting along to our live band, and there being people you love everywhere you look! Lucy remembers thinking, “This is the best moment of my life!”.

That and whizzing around the venue on Adam’s Vespa, which The Chamberlins also got some epic photos of.

Don’t sweat the small stuff – we spent hours and hours trying to decide which ribbon to buy for the signage and pew ends! On the day that didn’t matter at all, and we just loved getting married and celebrating with everyone we love.