Cain Manor Whimsical Winter Wedding: Sarah & Jonathan

After declaring WINTER IS HERE earlier in the week with this gorgeous (yet sunny) Game of Thrones bridal editorial – winter really is here as today we are featuring this super sweet whimsical winter wedding.

Sarah and Jonathan tied the knot on a magical, frosty winters day at Cain Manor in Surrey. Sarah looked sensational in a two-piece bridal ensemble from Needle & Thread which she accessorised with an adorable pair of irregular choice shoes, a floral adornment (that she totally nails with her short hair) and a snuggly warm pashmina.

I’m all kinds of in love with this winter wedding and think you will be too!

Words by Sarah. Images by Nikki van der Molen.

We married in a beautiful church in Surrey, St Mary Oatlands. After an early 10:30 ceremony we spent the rest of the day at Cain Manor. And what a beautiful location it is!

The interior is made up of wooden beams and views of the Surrey hills can be seen out the windows. Very little decoration was needed, as it was so beautiful on its own.

proven supplementsWe were so lucky to have the most beautiful lighting on the day, the light was golden and the world frosty and it made for the most magical setting. Everyone felt so cosy in the manor!

My dress is actually not a dress…. it is a top and skirt made by Needle and Thread! I wore a lovely pair of Irregular choice shoes and a dusty rose coloured wool wrap from LK Bennett and a simple pair of earrings from Links of London.

We all did our own hair and makeup and I loved it! My cousin did my makeup and to be honest I didn’t do a thing to my hair! I just wetted down a few strays in the back and stuck on the flower crown!

After some deliberation and a few last minute decisions, the suit we decided on was a slim DKNY suit from Moss Bros, a white patterned tie for the groom and the same tie in purple for the groomsmen. Jonathan wore a pair of black shoes from Clarks.

Sonning Flowers did all our bridal flowers and they did them beautifully. Just a heads up for anyone wanting a wedding between Christmas and New Year, quite a few flower suppliers are closed! So be aware and communicated well with your florist!

Sonning Flowers did such a good job even when a number of the flowers I wanted were not available.

Jonathan proposed on a golden summer evening in June on a cliff on the coast of Falmouth, Cornwall. We went for a coastal walk right after I had returned from a trip up country.

The views are breath-taking on a normal day but it was all the more special getting engaged in the town where we met and the cliff that we had so often walked together. The ring was custom made by Willows Jewellery in Falmouth.

Our photographer was Nikki Van Der Molen and we had a second shooter as well (Monika Szolle). I cannot speak highly enough of Nikki! She was just amazing, we met with her twice before the day and went over what we like and didn’t like and what photos we really wanted.

We wanted to capture the joy of the day and she did just that! She was calm and everyone seemed to feel comfortable even with the camera around. We are so incredibly happy with the result! The photos really do bring out the feeling of the day, pure bliss!

I know weddings are often meant to be big parties but we wanted something warm, cosy and relaxing. We knew that Christmas time would be busy anyway and us being from Canada and South Africa we had family coming from abroad so we just wanted our guests to feel relaxed, loved and appreciated.

We focused on how we wanted the day to feel rather than loads of decorations and little details. It was important for us to have those we loved and cared for around and for us to show how much we loved them and to thank them for the support they had given us.

It is hard to choose just one defining memorable moment from the whole day as it really was such a wonderful day. A moment for us both is when we said our vows to each other, it is in that moment that you commit entirely to each other, it had this feeling of sacredness and absolute significance, but in the most wonderful way.

Another moment was just stepping back for a moment during the drinks reception to look and see all those I love that had come to support, encourage, and celebrate with us. What a wonderful thing it is to have people that give up so much and care so much for you.

One last moment was the weather! When we got to the reception venue the grass was white with frost, the sun low and golden, and misty fog hung in the trees, it was breath taking to behold and nothing I could have thought to wish for. Don’t get me wrong, it was cold!… but it was completely magical.

If we could impart any words of wisdom we would say. Don’t worry about the details, I was told that so many times and I didn’t really listen, listen though! The details are not worth the stress and even if it doesn’t go according to plan, no one will mind because the joy of the day overshadows everything that could go wrong.

Don’t worry about what people will think, they will just be happy to be there to celebrate with you. On the day put other people in charge of what needs to happen so that you both can just enjoy the day. One last thing, take moments throughout the day to stop and look around, the day goes by so fast.

My wonderful Mom made five bundt cakes! Five! We decided on the flavours and then tested them all in the months before the wedding. The flavours were Walnut Spice, Earl Grey and Orange, Vegan Lime Raspberry, Gluten free Walnut Spice, and Chocolate Vanilla Marble. We wanted everyone there (with all the different dietary requirements) to get a slice of cake!

On the tables, we had jars of sweets and our favours were little Kilner clip jars filled with Jasmine, Earl Grey, or Chai loose leaf tea. Both of us are huge tea lovers!

I am so in love with this magical, cosy winter wedding, and doesn’t Sarah look amazing in her beautiful needle and thread bridal separates?!

wedding credits / photographer: nikki van der molen / wedding venue: cain manor / brides skirt and top: needle and thread / grooms suit: moss bros / brides shoes: irregular choice / bridesmaid skirt and top: needle and thread and zara / florist: sonning flowers / catering:cain manor

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