What we love most about Chelsea and James’s wedding in the English countryside is how simple, chic and traditionally English it all is. They planned with a focus on locally sourced and artisan produce, utilizing locally grown wildflowers, regionally sourced items in the menu, and locally produced cheeses. Chelsea knew that she didn’t want to lose the magic of the picturesque event locations themselves – the medieval St. James’ church for the ceremony and a beautifully rustic barn at Mickleton Hills Farm for the reception were both chosen carefully for that reason. With Once Wed Preferred Vendor Jessie Thomson taking care of their trans-Atlantic planning, the beautiful details of this day are surely something to take inspiration from.
More from the event planner, Jessie Thomson:
When I was first introduced to Chelsea and James I knew their wedding was going to be beautifully simple and chic – together they had already launched Pacific Northwest design brand Grain, a sustainability focused design company launched after they’d been spotlighted as part of New York Design Week.
This couple chose to host their marriage celebration in the idyllic English countryside town of Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds, where Chelsea’s grandparents had lived while she was growing up and where she spent holidays as a child. A place of many fond family memories, but not without it’s difficulties – namely planning a wedding from abroad with rather a large time difference!
For the reception dinner, Chelsea opted to have two long parallel tables sat beneath draped garlands of hand-harvested foliage that had been hung in the main barn the day before. The table settings were kept simple with lavender and rosemary, and hundreds of candles which I lit before the guests arrived.
A giant chandelier and yet more candles were the only accessories to the dance floor in the evening – their first song was Johnny Cash and June Carter’s If I Were a Carpenter. Such sweet lyrics for the sweetest couple.”
Wedding Co-ordination & Styling: Jessie Thomson Weddings & Events | Photographer: Ben Blood | Ceremony Venue: St James’ Church | Reception Venue: Mickleton Hills Farm | Bridal Gown: Alice Temperley | Groom Suit: Paul Smith | Florist: Lisa Drinkwater | Stationery: Willis Hoke (friend of the bride & groom) | Catering: James Nixon | Hair: Muse Broadway | Makeup: Nathan Thomas (friend of the bride and “man of honor”) | Hire Items: Plato Hire | Wine & Glasses: The Grape Store | DJ/Soundsystem: Deckstar Deluxe
