Swanton Morley House & Gardens

A fabulous, festive micro wedding

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We were delighted to host Emma and Chris’ micro wedding just days before Christmas. With a slight chill in the air but with some lovely winter sun this small wedding was filled with elegance, love and emotion with a touch of Christmas sparkle too.

2020 was not, of course, an easy time for anyone to plan their wedding but Chris and Emma decided to make the most of the situation and planned a small wedding ceremony with their beautiful children and close and family all playing a special part.

Emma looked stunning in her sequinned wedding gown with gorgeous kimono sleeves. She was accompanied by her bridesmaids who wore gold sequinned gowns and flower girls who wore the prettiest cream dresses. Chris wore a three piece suit with the couple’s boys wearing matching mini versions but then they had a very important job – to accompany Mum down the aisle!

Whilst this was a micro wedding, Emma and Chris still wanted to marry surrounded by beautiful flowers and decorations. We were delighted to decorate our Ceremony Room with large arrangements of dried flowers and foliage in shades of whites, golds and olive greens. Emma’s florist created beautiful bouquets for Emma and her bridesmaids in similar shades and the boys wore complimentary boutonnières.

After the ceremony, it was time to capture some amazing photographs and film of Emma and Chris and their family in our gardens and grounds. As a small wedding Chris and Emma were able to spend extra time on couple and family shots which is not always possible with a traditional wedding.

There were so many special touches included in this micro wedding. Emma, who owns Gatsby and Grey Candles , blended a special fragrance for some bespoke candles which were placed around the venue. When smelt again this fragrance will rekindle memories of their special day – how wonderful!

With many congratulations again to Chris and Emma and wishing you a lifetime of love, health and happiness!

Wedding images by kind permission of Cara Zagni Photography

Wedding videography: Mike Savory, Venue flowers by Swanton Morley House , Bridal flowers by Charlotte Staff Flowers

Love wins, with this small but perfectly formed wedding ceremony!

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We were delighted to host Graham and Theresa’s beautiful wedding ceremony on a very hot day in July.

As for many couples who were planning on getting married in 2020, Graham and Theresa faced many hurdles but, we were so pleased that with flexibility and adjustments (some very last minute!) they were able to final say “I do” surrounded by close family and friends with the most beautiful of ceremonies.

Theresa loves flowers and wanted our Ceremony Room to be filled with an abundance of blooms so it looked like being in a garden. We were happy to help! With all flowers and foliage cut from out gardens we were able to create displays bursting with fresh greens, blues and whites. The large heads of hydrangea “Annabelle” together with blue agapanthus, verbena and phlox provided a summer garden feel and were complimented by Theresa’s garden gathered bouquet.

The wedding guest list may have been smaller than originally hoped for but, Theresa still wore the most beautiful wedding gown and looked stunning. Graham chose to wear a traditional morning suit proving that small ceremonies can still be filled with tradition and wedding style.

Graham and Theresa chose our small wedding ceremony option and whilst a normal drinks reception was not possible due to restrictions, they were able to enjoy our gardens and grounds after their ceremony. There were speeches outside (socially distanced!) and lots of gorgeous images were captured by Lucy from Lucy Lloyd Photography .

Whilst the main celebrations may be hold for awhile we were so pleased that Graham and Theresa could continue with their wedding ceremony as planned. We wish them all the very best for their future life together.

Images by kind permission of Lucy Lloyd Photography . Ceremony chair hire by Anglian Elite

Small Weddings and Ceremonies in Norfolk

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In light of current events, we understand the shift in desire for smaller weddings. We have always offered small weddings but are now delighted to offer a ceremony only option as well.

Both options allow for wedding ceremonies in either our ceremony room, which can be set out to accommodate smaller guest numbers with intimate style, or, outdoors in our gardens. We have various locations outside, including a rose-covered pergola and woodland glade, which are perfect for a romantic ceremony.

Despite being smaller in size, we understand how important each wedding is for every couple and strive to help perfect their special day. Our small wedding and ceremony only options allow time for preparations, drinks and refreshments and an opportunity for photographs in the gardens. Those choosing a small wedding may also decide to include a wedding breakfast in our courtyard marquee and evening reception.

  • Ceremony Only Norfolk
  • Norfolk Small Weddings
  • Small Weddings Norfolk

Small Weddings

Small weddings, taking place on Wednesdays or Saturdays, may have up to 60 guests for the ceremony and afternoon reception. For small weddings on Saturdays, couples have the possibility to add an evening reception, with 20 additional guests.

Ceremony Only

Our ceremony only option takes place on Wednesdays, however other days, including Saturday, may be available. Couples have the option, for a smaller ceremony or even an elopement, with guest numbers up to 20, or a larger ceremony, for guest numbers up to 60.

Our small wedding and ceremony only options offer couples the chance to choose an affordable and relaxed celebration, without compromising the very special feeling of their wedding.

For more information visit either our Small Weddings page or Ceremony Only page. If you would like to book a viewing or require any further information, please visit our contact page. For full details of booking a registrar please visit Celebrate in Norfolk.

Wedding day inspiration at Swanton Morley House

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We were delighted to welcome a number of local wedding suppliers for an elegant photoshoot at Swanton Morley House and Gardens to showcase lots of wedding day inspiration. The overall feel for the shoot was natural and minimalist and was designed and photographed by Cara Zagni Photography.

We used various locations at Swanton Morley House and Gardens, including our Ceremony Room and various areas in our gardens. There were lots of dried flowers and grasses, natural linens and ribbons and the most beautiful wedding dresses and bridal jewellery. The shoot also included delicious wedding cake ideas, gorgeous wedding stationery and elegant bridal hair and make-up. Enjoy!

The flowers

“When deciding what flowers to use for this shoot we wanted to try and match the tones from the decor. For the bouquet and arch, we used a variety of gorgeous dried flowers and grasses with a hint of ivory and burnt apricot which reflected the wicker details from the table and the terracotta tones from the stationery. For our installation above the table, we used all dried flowers and foliages. We wanted to keep the colours warm but not orange. Instead, we chose to work around burnt apricot, caramel and coffee tones throughout the shoot.” – Cara Zagni Photography

The wedding dresses and bridal make-up

“Amy from Adella Bridal provided two beautiful dresses for this modern shoot; the Jesus Piero style 115 from their 2020 ‘Cala’ Collection with a beaded tulle crop top and guipure waistband with flowing silk voile skirt, and the Theia Couture ‘Jean’ sleeveless satin slip mermaid gown with a plunge v-neckline. Both gowns are divine, but the clean lines of the slip dress make this gown the perfect minimalist wedding dress allowing Brooke from Boho Beauty Box and Beverley from PS With Love to complete the bridal look with fresh, glowy skin, a traditional high bun and delicate, feminine accessories. Less, sometimes, really is, more. ” – Cara Zagni Photography

The wedding stationery and textiles

Jenna from Wonderland Invites wanted to hone in on the colour palette and create something both minimalist and in keeping with her aesthetic. She loved creating the wreaths, which featured both watercolour dried and fresh foliage and flowers. She also included simple line drawings of wheat sprigs to tie back to the modern harvest theme of the shoot. MiaSylvia focuses on ethical, sustainable and organic textiles for the eco-conscious. Each piece of fabric seen has been ethically sourced and hand-dyed by Mia. Mia uses 100% natural and hand foraged ingredients to dye with. From soft pinks dyed with avocado skins to the peach napkins dyed with cherry wood. Each colour is bespoke and personally curated for your special moments.” – Cara Zagni Photography

The wedding cakes

“Emma from Buns of Fun created two cake looks. The first look: Our vanilla and coconut tall cake featured smooth and textured buttercream, wrapping the vanilla bean layers in a ‘hug’ style with rougher free edges. Ardorned with a simple large Alium seed head and smaller florets of seeds underneath the cake stand to create movement. The second look outside: Our vanilla and coconut tall cake with smooth and textured buttercream and a gathering of dried grasses and herbs, topped with dairy-free white chocolate and gold leaf wave.” – Cara Zagni Photography

The team

With many thanks to all our suppliers who were involved in this shoot. We hope it has provided some beautiful wedding day inspiration. To visit Swanton Morley House and Gardens for a private viewing please use our contact form to book an appointment.

Spring Wedding Flowers

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It may be cold outside but we were delighted to have so many beautiful Spring flowers in our Ceremony Room this week. These gorgeous designs would be perfect for decorating any Spring wedding from the Ceremony space to styling the wedding breakfast tables.

Using a mix of vessels filled with greenery from our gardens, lots of Spring flowers were also added to create a romantic style. Spring offers an abundance of flowers to choose from for weddings and many have an incredible scent too. We chose baby pink tulips, hyacinths, spray roses, viburnum and hellebores and added lots of texture with a variety of foliage and trailing ivy.

The look was completed with lots of tea lights and elegant tall candles. We also added a table runner and pretty ribbons to add to the romantic feel. To create some height we used branches and added trailing ivy and suspended this above the ceremony table. We love this spring garden inspired look and are always happy to assist our couples with their styling plans for their wedding day.

If you would like to discuss your wedding plans with us, please do get in touch. We look forward to welcoming you!

Christmas Wreath Workshops Norfolk

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Our beautiful Christmas Wreath Workshops at Swanton Morley House, Norfolk are now available to book. This year, we are delighted to welcome Katy from Bracken and Twine Flowers who will be teaching this year’s workshops. Katy, a Norfolk-based independent florist, will be sharing her natural and beautifully romantic style of floristry with our guests.

Guests will be able to create Christmas wreaths using a wide range of flowers, foliage and dried materials. We also include a breath taking array of other natural materials including pinecones, herbs, berries and seed heads. All foliage is cut from our gardens, ensuring a fresh, eco-friendly and bountiful supply. As a result, all our guests are able to get creative and make full lush wreaths. There is so much more to our Christmas wreath workshops than holly!

Our Christmas Wreath workshops will also focus on using sustainable floristry methods. This means that we will not be using florist foam but natural moss based wreaths. We also have Winter Wreath workshops available covering techniques for making stunning wreaths using only dried materials. A perfect Christmas wreath for those looking to get ahead and bang on trend.

Swanton Morley House will also be offering elegant Christmas bouquet and stunning table design workshops over the festive season. We can say with certainty that our workshops provide guests with a wonderfully creative experience.

The location

Swanton Morley House is located in the heart of Norfolk making it the perfect location to meet for our Christmas workshops. Our workshops are based in our beautifully converted barns. All guests have a substantial work area with all flowers and foliage set-out in our covered courtyard. We also offer a warm and friendly welcome to all our guests with wonderful hospitality. This all makes for a lovely start to the Christmas festivities.

Contact

For full details about our upcoming Christmas wreaths workshops, please visit our workshop website at Norfolk Flower Workshops or contact us on 01362 637828.