Softly Draped in Springtime

The shoot took place at the breathtaking Swanton Morley House & Gardens, a Norfolk gem with its stunning, well-established grounds. The gardens are home to over 100-year-old rhododendrons, flowering camellias, and an iconic cherry blossom tree that added real magic to the shoot. With its beautifully curated landscaping and romantic corners, the venue offered a timeless, seasoned backdrop, full of natural texture and colour. It was the perfect canvas to bring our vision to life.

The styling combined the elegance of an English garden in spring with abstract touches and a subtle nod to Japanese design. The shapes and structures of the arrangements, particularly the natural arch of flowering branches and the placement of blooms in woven baskets, brought a sense of sculptural artistry while still feeling effortless.

We embraced a soft, romantic palette of mauves, lilacs, soft blush, creamy whites, and pops of warm pinks and plums. These tones were drawn directly from what was blooming in the garden itself. Seasonal spring blooms and flowering shrubs and trees, such as lilac, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons, camellias, and tulips, allow the florals to feel truly grounded in time and place.

The shoot was full of quiet, beautiful moments, but one that stayed with us happened during setup. As Katy was arranging the baskets beneath the cherry blossom tree, a gentle flurry of petals began to fall, landing softly around the flowers. Without hesitation, we agreed to leave them exactly where they were. That spontaneous touch perfectly captured the spirit of the day – romantic, serene, and deeply connected to the season.

With the styling, we hoped to achieve a softness through the layers of natural fabric for the main ceremony backdrop. Creating loops, pools and folds around a frame became the base for the flowers to grow against. We adorned the blossom tree with fabric to provide the drama behind our ‘post-ceremony’ station, featuring confetti baskets and parasols, a stacked pink champagne tower atop a scalloped, layered cloth, and seating for two.

The flowers were created by Katy of Bracken & Twine, a Norfolk-based wedding florist known for seasonally inspired, natural floral displays. Katy specialises in creating textural, garden-led designs that embrace movement, form, and the shifting beauty of each season. Her work for the shoot centred on capturing the essence of spring, utilising carefully chosen seasonal blooms to reflect both the landscape and the story they wanted to tell.

We wanted to demonstrate how embracing the outdoors can create memorable moments for guests throughout the day. British garden weddings bring such charm, and through consistency and small details that complement your styled areas, it begins to make a significant more statement- difference to the overall feel of the day. Choosing seasonal flowers and foliage that have been grown on the grounds of the venue brings a genuine harmony to the design, as well.