A Floaty, Candlelit White Wedding in Beautiful Ruins: Calem & Gabriella

Today’s stunning white wedding was set amidst the Long Gallery’s, ruined walls in the historic wedding venue, Newburgh Priory. With an elegant candlelight theme and white colour scheme – romance inspired brides will be swept away with the sheer gorgeousness of the day.

Words by Gabriella. Images by Divine Day Photography.

I found our wedding venue Newburgh Priory randomly on Google whilst searching for ruins you could get married in – I always knew I wanted something really romantic and candlelit for our wedding venue.

I also wanted a venue that wasn’t overly used as a wedding venue – something that when people arrived it would be special. After going to see Newburgh we totally fell in love and booked it right there and then. It was the only venue we went to see and we are so happy we married there.

I also always knew exactly what sort of wedding dress I wanted, just finding it was the issue because I’m very short (5’2) and every time I went dress shopping nothing looked right… I felt like I was playing dress up.

In the back of my mind I think I knew I would have my dress made for me and when I met Zeynep in her showroom in Manchester, I knew she got my vision straight away and fell in love with not only her work but her also. She designed the dress for me then and there and I was immediately sold.

Calem went suit shopping with his best man and ushers – they made a day of it in the end, and all purchased custom 3 pieces suits from Reiss. This was Calem’s gift to his groomsmen and I must admit they picked very well and all looked so handsome.

My brother ‘gave me away’ and we walked down the aisle to ‘Angel of Mine’. Being at the top of the aisle and seeing Calem’s reaction was by far the most special moment of the day.

I have a phobia of having my photo taken and really hate anything cheesy so choosing a photographer was always going to be difficult. A friend of a friend had recently married and I saw her wedding photos on facebook and fell in love.

After doing a little digging I found Sandra from Divine Day Photography and knew she was the photographer we needed. She was was truly amazing and has this undeniable talent at capturing the mood, beauty and truth of a moment in time.

I knew I wanted the reception in the ruins of the venue so had to locate a clear marquee – as we all know we cant rely on the English weather! After that the decor was all about candles, lots of them everywhere… white flowers and lots of floaty white fabrics.

I have this thing where I needed the wedding cake to have perfectly sharp edges (my friends all laughed at me). I ordered a 4 tier cake in different flavours and the best dessert table I’ve ever seen! I sent Sarah from Blush Cake Company photos of mini desserts from Pinterest and she managed to make all of them – even with my crazy requests of mini cheesecakes, velvet cake, mini smores, Eton mess, doughnuts, macaroons, cookies and cupcakes. You name it, we had it!

I know everyone says it, but take in, and enjoy, every second of your wedding day. Surround yourself with people you trust. Every wedding supplier I booked understood my vision and they made our day perfect – along with my amazing mum who helped so much, and my bridesmaids of course.

Calem chose our first dance song ‘All Of Me’ by John Legend – and that makes it so special to me now. Every time I hear that song, it takes me back to the feeling of our day.

Absolutely loving Calem and Gabriella’s beautiful big day. The venue, her gorgeous lace wedding dress, the predominantly white colour scheme, and all those candles… Dreamy!

wedding credits / photographer: divine day photography / wedding venue: newburgh priory / brides dress: zeynep kartal / grooms suit: reiss / brides shoes: tom ford / hair & makeup: lee rennison-price makeup and ella warner / florist: barbara m clark / wedding cake: blush cake company / event management/stylist:@thisstyle_rocks / decor: hannah @ ambience venue styling