Intimate winter wedding inspiration at Thicket Priory

Looking for inspiration for an intimate winter wedding in the UK? Well my darlings, look no further, because I have a treat for you. The images which follow have been especially curated for couples seeking a refined, luxurious, style-led wedding.

Intimate winter wedding inspiration

For couples who are planning an intimate winter wedding, small in scale doesn’t have to mean small in imagination. In fact, a petite guestlist can allow you to go big on the elegant details that will make your day a showstopping experience for you and your love.

If the sumptuous details from this inspirational day have you drooling, check out the credits below to see which creatives could create your dream intimate winter wedding day.

The background

The incredibly talented floral designer behind Fox and Flora, Kelly, invited me to be part of a photoshoot at Thicket Priory in North Yorkshire. It would take place in February and, refreshingly for a winter wedding inspo shoot, there wasn’t a scrap of maroon velvet in sight. When I saw the list of creatives involved, I must admit that my heart did flutter a little.

Amongst the stellar rollcall was Jo Malone London, who provided the project’s signature scent, and Kamila Nowak, the Queen of effortlessly chic photography. Needless to say, this was a project I had to be part of.

The brief

Along with wedding planner Marcia Fernandes, Kelly brought a beautiful concept to fruition.

Their starting point was to be inspired by light and love, connecting human aesthetics tastefully with atmospheric elements befitting the season. To quote from the creative brief, “Striving for a fashion symbiosis of shadows, architecture and light, still life and movement, this editorial shoot is created for the modern couple looking for romance without fearing winter.” The colours would be whites. The mood would be modern, ethereal and calm.

If that doesn’t sound dreamy enough, Marcia and Kelly found a flawless venue to provide the backdrop, Thicket Priory in North Yorkshire.

Intimate winter wedding at Thicket Priory

The venue

Thicket Priory is an ethereal country house surrounded by idyllic grounds, just a stone’s throw from York. A Victorian architectural masterpiece, it was built by Edward Blore, who is known for having completing the design and build of Buckingham Palace. That’s right, the official royal residence itself.

What I love about this place is how peaceful it is. It’s hardly surprising to hear that it was sealed off from the outside world for decades, as it was home to an order of nuns. Now it’s been carefully restored to create a chic exclusive-hire wedding venue, which is quite possibly Yorkshire’s best kept secret.

Exquisite winter wedding details

The details

Alice and Wesley, our models for the day at Thicket Priory, are a real life engaged couple. The cozy glances between them and relaxed romance of the venue were one hundred per cent authentic. This made the mood during our mini ceremony profound.

As a wedding celebrant, I have seen time and time again the power of two people in love standing together and sharing vows. This day was no different. Alice and Wesley’s quiet passion for one another was such a pleasure to witness. Wesley’s nervous waiting at the front of the ceremony space, and his face when Alice arrived, were priceless.

A picture says a thousand words, so there’s nothing left to do but let the images speak for themselves. Do let me highlight some gorgeous details, which I’m sure you wouldn’t want to miss:

The day was exquisitely scented by Jo Malone London
Dominique, the artist behind Poppy Pickering Cakes, designed the stunning four tier cake
Alice’s gowns and accessories were from Ghost Orchid Bride bridal boutique in Hull
Finally the delicate stationery was by award winning stationer, Lucy McSpirit Design