Jane Austen Inspired Wedding
An empire line gown in duck egg blue, a table setting that speaks romance, and a seasonal bouquet that not only looks divine but has an incredible scent, too.
Look to a Jane Austen inspired wedding for elegance and inspiration sure to make your day special in many ways.
Details for a Jane Austen Inspired Wedding
Jane Austen novels are the epitome of romance (in fact, her books are a part of the Romantic literary period), so a Jane Austen inspired wedding is the perfect romantic theme for your big day.
Picture the venue featuring flickering candlelight, tall ceilings, and intricate molding. Tapestries are also fitting for this wedding theme. However, an outdoor garden theme is also the ideal locale to get married if you’re a Jane Austen fan.
Imagine a wedding dress with capped sleeves and lace boots for your big day. Your wedding gown can also feature an empire waistline with lots of lace or chiffon material.
What to Look for in a Venue for a Jane Austen Inspired Wedding
If you really want to go for a true Jane Austen inspired wedding, why not go for a venue that is reminiscent of Chatsworth?
Chatsworth is not only mentioned in the Austen novels, but it is also a real place set in England. Chatsworth has been owned by members of the aristocracy for over fifteen generations. It is home to works of art by Rembrandt as well as pieces of Roman sculpture. Chatsworth has twenty-five rooms in the country house. A 105 acre garden sits on the property, and beautiful sculptures are surrounded by a rock garden and an arboretum.
Chatsworth is also home to a number of tapestries. So, when looking for a venue, look for grand rooms fitting for a regal ball, tapestries hung from the walls, tall windows that allow for plenty of sunlight during the day, intricate molding, and chandeliers.
Colour Palette for a Jane Austen Inspired Wedding
Any pastel colour will fit the colour palette of a Jane Austen inspired wedding. Baby blue, blush pink, and the slightest hint of yellow are the perfect colours for this romantic and elegant wedding.
Although pastel colours make easy choices for the bulk of the colour palette, choosing accent colours for the palette may prove a tad more difficult.
Some brides add a twist to the Jane Austen inspired wedding and add deep, crimson red to the palette, while others add copper. Metals make great accent colours, particularly gold paired with pastels. In lieu of copper, you can choose bronze.
Food for a Jane Austen Inspired Wedding
The typical lunch during the Romantic period for which Jane Austen is famous included cold meat, cake, and fruit. For afternoon weddings, this means that sandwiches, as well as fruit arrangements, would be quite appropriate. Fish was a popular dish during this time period, but many ate roast beef. Vegetarianism was actually quite popular during the Romantic period, so veggie dishes would be a great addition.
However, nighttime receptions call for a sit-down dinner. It’s important to remember that these soirees were a big event, and no expense was spared. In fact, dinner was the biggest meal of the day during the Romantic period.
Main dishes were typically fish, roasted meat, or wild game, such as pheasant. Brides could substitute chicken for the pheasant. Vegetables were usually side dishes, and pudding was a chief dessert of the time.
Wedding Dresses and Accessories for a Jane Austen Inspired Wedding
The Jane Austen inspired wedding dress should be inspired by the Regency style of gown popular during the Romantic period. The gowns often faced an empire-style waistline and soft, romantic fabrics. In particular, chiffon and lace were highly prevalent in these gowns.
You can opt for a train, but it should not be a long and flowing one. Cap sleeves were fashionable at the time as well.
Many times these gowns would be paired with boots. Usually, brides in Jane Austen’s day would opt for a lace boot that reached one’s ankles and a slight heel. However, these dresses also pair with knee-high boots and a taller heel. A totally modern touch is to pair your wedding dress with lovely sandals like the bride in the inspirational shoot did.
Menswear for a Jane Austen Inspired Wedding
During the Romantic period, men usually wore coats that were fitted at the waist but long. They also wore high collars, a top hat, and pants described as close fitting. Some men wore square-toed shoes, but others would wear ankle boots.
With this in mind, grooms and the guys of their party may want to opt for a tuxedo, but in a navy or charcoal grey colour. The jacket should be a waistcoat with a long tail, and the jacket should be fitted at the waist. A top hat is optional, but certainly, Mr. Darcy would have worn one!
Wedding Cake Ideas for a Jane Austen Inspired Wedding
A wedding cake for the Romantic period was often a work of art within itself. This cake had multiple tiers (the more, the better), and it was intricately decorated. One royal wedding cake from this time period is in three tall tiers, coloured antique white, and adorned with gold. The cake is adorned with jewelled decorations, and golden flowers top this royal cake.
Other Romantic period wedding cakes offer three wide tiers with buttercream icing, scrollwork, and a topping of sugar flowers. Those who can decorate the cake so that it appears to be lace will really be playing into the theme.
Ceremony Decor for a Jane Austen Inspired Wedding
While brides should be encouraged to use the features of the venue to their advantage, one addition that you can definitely make to the ceremonial decor of the venue is floral arrangements.
Roses are highly popular during any time period, but they were the most popular flower during Jane Austen’s lifetime. It’s important to remember that during the era in which Austen lived, floral arrangements were an art form. You’ll want to mimic this in your ceremonial arrangements.
The floral arrangement should be large yet elegant. In addition to roses, flowers such as tulips, daisies, and lilies are quite popular. Place these floral arrangements throughout the ceremonial venue.
Reception Decor for a Jane Austen Inspired Wedding
Flowers should also be a focal point for the reception at a Jane Austen inspired wedding. However, you will want to add candles and candelabras to the decor as well.
Dining tables should be set as they would during the Romantic period. Fine China, the finest silverware, and white linens should decorate the tables. Add a centrepiece of the most opulent floral arrangements. The flowers should be of contrasting colours, and be sure to add fillers such as baby’s breath to the arrangement.
Outdoor Wedding Ideas for a Jane Austen Inspired Wedding
The Jane Austen inspired wedding is the perfect theme for a garden celebration. Thinking again of the arboretum at Chatsworth, an outdoor wedding in a manicured garden is the perfect setting.
One nice touch would be to utilise an old mantle that has been removed from a home and repurposed. Add dripping floral garlands to the mantle as well as candles for a real romantic effect. The Jane Austen inspired wedding is perfect for a late afternoon wedding or early evening event with the sun going down in the background of the beautiful trees of the garden.
Pantone’s serenity with a jane austen twist
From Goose & Berry Weddings – “When I discovered that one of Pantone’s colours of the year was Serenity, I knew I wanted to curate a look for this particular colour theme. Not only is it a beautiful pastel tone, it works so well all year round; for cool winter weddings and soft pastel spring and summer ones. It gives you the ‘something blue’ and is incredibly calming, delicate and outrageously pretty, whilst maintaining that elegant feel. Can you tell I’m a fan of this colour!?
In large this is due to my love of all things Jane Austen and Georgian. The Serenity blue was a popular choice of colour in fashion and interiors in Georgian times and with this is mind, I set about creating my ideal Serenity wedding with a Georgian twist!”
From Goose & Berry Weddings – “I happened to stumble upon the most beautiful venue whilst searching for a client. Cornwell Manor is a picturesque Cotswolds manor house near to Chipping Norton. They have just relaunched their ballroom, which is painted with a delightful Duck Egg blue, which paired with Serenity perfectly. Intricate earnings and details around the ballroom, with huge windows lifted the room and draws you in. It really is a peaceful and serene space. Surrounded by a stunning walled garden to one side and sweeping grounds and gardens, with a walk down to the church to the other, it’s the perfect setting; one that you can just imagine Jane Austen describing in one of her novels.
With this being the ideal location for the shoot, the dream team on board came together marvellously. Superstar photographer Kate Nielen captured the most breathtaking images, setting the scene so well and creating a serene and romantic set of photographs. Fine art, light and dreamy!”
“The most romantic florals were crafted by Fiona Perry. The look she has achieved with seasonal florals; peonies, ranunculus, lisianthus, lily of the valley, delphiniums and blossom are quite heavenly, as was the scent. Used to add to the romantic and create layers and texture on the bouquet, buttonholes and Tablescape were the finest of ribbons from Lancaster & Cornish, paired with the wonderful muted grey runner by Kate Cullen.
The stationery suite by Paperknots added a touch of the luxury and elegance, with its pastel blues and greens and patterned paper which matched the ballroom so well and hints of fruit paired with the fruit that helped style the table.”
“Melissa Woodland Cakes made this absolute masterpiece of a wedding cake. The blue colour highlighted the serenity tone and the lattice work, added that extra something! Finished with delicate and pretty sugar flowers and real ranunculus it highlighted the pale blush tones in the florals and added to the romantic feel of the shoot.
I had such fun creating the Tablescape, alongside Kate. It needed to be elegant, refined and romantic, but with a little twist and layered look to add a point of interest. The combination of blues, greys, greens and blush tones added dimension and depth to the colour scheme. The mother of pearl cutlery was just fabulous and I have fallen a little in love with it. The colours in the pearl reflect the colours throughout and enhances the elegance of the Georgian era. I paired items from my own collection to that of Couvert Hire who have a wonderful selection and dressed with Louis chairs that hinted to the style of Georgian times it created the most heavenly of tablescapes.
I couldn’t help but add a touch of Jane Austen and ‘Sense and Sensibility’ just happened to be one of the first books I remember reading at school, so I couldn’t not feature it!”
“The inspiring Chantal Mallett had just finished designing the perfect dress and of course I had to feature it. Stunning silks and satins in a gorgeous duck egg blue and empire line fit sat dreamily on our beautiful model Charlotte, who fits Chantal’s gowns so well. It flows and moves so calmly and elegantly. Understated, elegant, but with a beautiful detailing and finish. Worn with these amazing Emmy London shoes (I’m purchasing) and with the on-trend pom pom and a stunning sparkly headdress by Victoria Millesime and jewellery by Arabel Lebrusan, it creates the most dreamy and romantic look. Super luxe and high-end. Elegant, refined and so classy. The hair and make-up by Patricia Soper and Mel Kinsman was natural, but in keeping with the look and with a nod to Georgian style, with hints of colour around the eyes and lips.
The overall feel and style of this shoot is for one of romance, elegance and serenity, which is exactly what I feel the Georgian era, particularly represented by the Jane Austen novels, is and indeed what the colour Serenity should embody.”
Credits: Photography: Kate Nielen Photography // Styling & Coordination: Goose & Berry Weddings // Floral Design: Fiona Perry Floral Design // Makeup Artist: Mel Kinsman Make Up Artist // Hair Stylist: Patricia Soper Make-up and Hairstyling // Bridal Wear – ‘Contessa’ Dress: Chantal Mallett Couture Bridalwear & Accessories // Bridal Shoes: Emmy London // Jewellry: Arabel Lebrusan Jewellry // Headpiece: Victoria Millesime // Cake: Melissa Woodland Cakes // Stationery: Paperknots // Lace & Ribbons: Lancaster & Cornish // Grey Linen Table Runner: Kate Cullen // Rentals (Crockery, Cutlery, Glassware, Linen, and Napkins): Couvert // Rentals (Chairs): Academy Furniture Hire // Model: Charlotte Godfrey // Venue: Cornwell Manor in the Cotswold Hills in the district of Oxfordshire, England.