Anything But Ordinary: A Vibrant Sunset Wedding at Combermere Abbey

The idea that two people are connected by a here is a beautiful concept called the "invisible string", the idea that two people are connected by a thread of fate long before they ever meet. For Alex and Dylan, this couldn’t have been truer.

Despite their parents having been in the same form at school and the couple attending the same parties growing up, it wasn't until Alex took a university job at her mum's workplace that the string was finally pulled tight. The rest, as they say, is history (and includes a hilarious first date where Dylan accidentally invited Alex, then a vegetarian, out for steak!).

When it came time to plan their wedding at the iconic Combermere Abbey, they knew they wanted to break the "cookie-cutter" mould. Their vision? Fun, bold, and bright.

Setting the Scene: The Glasshouse at Combermere Abbey

Choosing a venue like Combermere Abbey provides a stunning canvas, but for this couple, the floral design was the heartbeat of the day.

"The flowers were the starting point that made everything else fall into place. We chose muted stone suits and a minimalist satin gown specifically to let the flowers pop."

A Palette Inspired by Wearable Art

The inspiration for the wedding’s colour story came from an unexpected place: the bride’s favourite handmade jewellery brand, Wolf & Moon. Embracing their motto "Anything but ordinary," we drew from pink and orange acrylic flower hair combs to develop a "Sunset" palette that felt modern, artistic, and deeply personal.

To ground these bold hues, we leaned into Alex’s absolute favourite bloom: Sunflowers. Because Dylan buys her a sunflower bouquet every year for her birthday, we knew these had to be the stars of the bridal bouquet.

Conscious Beauty: The Story Behind the Blooms

They say it takes a village to raise a family, and it takes a whole community of "flower folk" to make a wedding truly bloom. For Alex and Dylan, we curated a conscious blend of seasonal British-grown stems and ethical imports. Behind every flower, this "Sunset" palette had a story of local passion and environmental care:

• Vibrant Zinnias & Velvet Celosia (Shropshire): Grown with sustainable practices to ensure every stem was as kind to the earth as it was beautiful.

• Bold Dahlias (Cheshire): Cultivated with immense passion by four of our favourite local Cheshire flower growers.

• Sunflowers (Lincolnshire): Nurtured on a family-run farm alongside hedgerows and wildflower margins—a true haven for local wildlife.

• Hydrangeas (Norfolk): Glasshouse-grown to provide the essential volume and "natural beauty" texture required for high-impact design.

• Marigolds & Limonium (The Netherlands): Conscious Dutch imports hand-selected to provide that rich, luxurious depth and signature "sunset" zing.

  
  

The Showstopper: Asymmetrical Floral Pillars

For many of our couples, a ceremony backdrop is a lovely addition. For Alex, it was a non-negotiable. Rejecting the traditional full arch, we designed large-scale, voluminous asymmetrical floral pillars (often called a "broken arch") to frame the entrance to the historic fruit maze at the Combermere Glasshouse.

This installation was a true labour of love and a masterclass in collaborative floral design. Supported by two wholesalers and five growers, my incredible team (Ruth and Jude) and I brought this vision to life. The pillars transitioned throughout the day to serve as the perfect frame for:

• The Ceremony: Creating a breathtaking first impression and a stunning backdrop for the "I do" moment within the light-filled Combermere Abbey Glasshouse.

• The Wedding Breakfast: Transitioning the installation to frame the couple during their heartfelt speeches, ensuring every photograph captured the sophisticated, floral-led aesthetic of the reception.

  
  

The result was a floral installation so captivating that guests bypassed the photo booth, choosing instead to use our pillars as their primary backdrop. Even when the British weather turned to rain, the radiant 'sunset' hues brought a sense of warmth and sunshine indoors and in a true nod to our sustainable sourcing, we even had a few local bees pop by the Glasshouse to say hello!

Working with Jacqui O: A Collaborative Vision

As a floral designer, my goal is always to take a spark of an idea and refine it into a masterpiece.

"What sets Jacqui apart is how she genuinely cares about getting it right for you," the bride shared. "She doesn't just execute your ideas; she refines them with her expertise. Seeing my vague idea of 'bright and colourful' evolve into something so tailored showed her skill."

From liaising directly with the venue to minimise stress, to sending "sneak peek" previews the day before, we ensured that the floral process was as joyful as the day itself.

Advice for Future Couples

Looking back on their magical day, the couple has one piece of advice for those currently planning their North West wedding:

Trust your suppliers. "Don’t sweat the small stuff. If something goes wrong, roll with it! Perfect days usually don’t make the best memories—it’s the moments of laughter and the people you're with that count."

Captured by a Storyteller

A bold wedding requires a photographer who understands light and emotion. The couple chose Andrew Keher, whose relaxed and artistic approach perfectly captured the vibrancy of the flowers and the genuine joy of the day.

Dreaming of a bold, artistic floral vision for your Combermere Abbey wedding? Whether you want a sunset-inspired palette or a dramatic floral installation that reflects your personality, I would love to help you bring it to life.

Click here to get in touch and let’s start planning your floral story.