Bright Ideas for a Summer Wedding
Above images: Liberty Pearl Photography, Jay Stone Photography, The Lucky Sixpence
Summer is a season synonymous with weddings. Sunshine, stunning flowers and simply superb colour schemes are just some of the things that come to mind when you imagine this time of year. It is certainly clear to see why this is a popular choice amongst couples. Using data from the Office of National Statistics, Tina Reading, Editor of Ultimate Wedding Magazine found that July and August were by far the most popular months to get married.
Choosing to hold your summer wedding at The Duke is always going to be a wonderful experience whatever the weather. There are so many options to make your day as beautiful and unique as you, while soaking up the summer sunshine both outside and inside the historic hotel.
With the buildings stunning spiral staircase, beautiful floor to ceiling windows letting in the late evening sunshine, and exquisite period architecture, it is not surprising that couples fall in love with the venue as soon as they step inside the iconic revolving doors. At the Duke there are a variety of ceremony and reception rooms to accommodate small intimate elopements to larger weddings of over 220 people, and everything in between. Whatever you are looking for, there is sure to be a room to suit you!
Here are some images from our recent Tea Party styled shoot in our Restaurant with Agata from UpArt Photography. The cascading flowers and delicate china epitomises summer. To view full details from this shoot, click here to view our blog post.
Above images: UpArt Photography
Flowers can make a huge difference to a wedding and can be the perfect way to add a splash of colour to your big day. Pretty bouquets with bright punchy pastel colours can make the perfect bridal bouquet, with smaller matching bouquets for bridesmaids. For a co-ordinated look, how about matching button holes for guests tied with twine. This can add an elegant feel, whilst putting a twist on traditional pale pastels.
Above photos: Hannah Burnett Florist
A wedding dress is totally unique and should make you feel amazing! With so many stunning gowns to choose from, have fun trying everything on – after all you want to make the most of being the bride! Here are a selection of beautiful elegant gowns from a fabulous array of designers. Take a look at Christine Trewinnard Couture‘s designs, she even has jumpers available that can be fitted to your dress for when you want to pop to the Hoe but don’t want to get chilly while getting that perfect photo. Whatever you opt for there is always a space in the hotel that will show off your gown to its full potential (front and back!) and of course popping over to the park next door will allow those diamante’s to sparkle to their fullest.
As for bridesmaids, we simply love when the dresses and bouquet seamlessly coordinate with your day, as shown below.
Above photos: Liberty Pearl Photography
Above images: Christine Trewinnard Couture
To complete your look, beautiful jewellery is a must! The Lucky Sixpence create bespoke pieces that are not only gorgeous, but are handmade and totally unique. Here are a selection of images of their most recent work. We love Janie as she can craft anything and loves what she does, that passion is clear in her bespoke pieces.
Above images: The Lucky Sixpence
Following the ceremony is the perfect time for a confetti shot, one of our favourite moments of the day! Choose from a variety of locations including on our stunning listed staircase with your guests above you or on the front steps with the confetti floating in the summer breeze. We all know that the great British weather can be a little unpredictable at times, so why not add colourful confetti to proceedings for a burst of colour. It’s great fun and makes a fantastic photo!
Above images: Image 1 Liberty Pearl Photography; Image 2 Jay Stone Photography
Guests will have the opportunity to mingle whilst enjoying a selection of our delectable canapes, they make the perfect tasty treats. Add a glass of Pimm’s for a fruity summer drink that your guests can enjoy whilst you have photos with your loved ones.
If you are planning on making the most of the sunshine, Plymouth Hoe is the perfect setting for some outdoor photos with breath-taking views of Plymouth Sound. Why not hop on a vintage bus or your choice of transport to take you up there – take a moment out of the celebrations to focus on each other and pose around Smeaton’s Tower, with one of the finest waterfronts in the UK! To ensure your guests stay cool, provide pretty umbrellas and fans on those really warm days! The park next to the hotel makes a lovely setting for photos and is the perfect place if you wish to have photos with the hotel in the background! Our stylised shoots showcase this perfectly.
Image 1: Liberty Pearl Photography; Image 2: Toby Lowe Photography; Image 3 Martyn Norsworthy Photography
If the rain should pour our Iconic Tower provides the perfect setting for a quiet moment together, with a fabulous staircase to create some unique images. Whether you are inside or outside the hotel – you are bound to find and create that perfect wedding image that you are looking for.
Image 1: Norsworthy Photography; Image 2: Jay Stone Photography
Continue the floral theme throughout the day with cascading floral centre pieces in your chosen colours. As with the flowers, a splash of colour can look perfect for a summer wedding. Combine this with the hotels stunning candelabras for an elegant feel. For a shabby chic reception, pair cream vases and jugs with an assortment of jars which can be filled with your favourite flowers.
Above images: Come2Gether Weddings
The colour palettes are endless for a summer wedding, with a wide variety of flowers in bloom. How about a fusion of pinks teamed with metallic to create a timeless yet sophisticated look.
Stationery is an important aspect of a wedding and can be a great way to add colour into your day from the initial invitations. For the day itself, coordinate your stationery, highlighting colours from your chosen scheme to create an elegant look that your guests will remember.
Above images: Anon Design
Now for another of our favourite parts of the day, the wedding cake. Need we say more, our mouth is already watering… We know that the team at Cut Me Off a Slice don’t just create visual cake masterpieces, but they also taste AMAZING! We have been lucky enough to sample a few – just for research of course!
Above photos: Cut me off a Slice
Entertainment is an important element of a wedding, and helps to keep guests occupied. If you are looking for something your guests will remember, how about a live painting of the day? We have shared our love for the wonderful local artist Charlotte Atkinson several times now, after all, her work is just sensational and deserves celebrating! Charlotte offers a bespoke service whereby she paints the wedding as the day unfolds in front of her. This is something that you can treasure for years to come. She even paints you and your guests in, creating a unique piece of art to treasure for generations.
Above images: Charlotte Atkinson Art
If you are looking for a classical form of entertainment that your guests are sure to love, a pianist may be just the thing. When you book your wedding under the Mayflower or Grand Duke package, you will receive the services of our talented pianist. Imagine walking down the aisle with your favourite song playing softy in the background, or perhaps whilst you and your guests enjoy canapes.
The Carlton Big Band are the perfect evening entertainment and are sure to have all your guests on their feet! The 10-15 piece band play a variety of music including swing, Latin, jazz and classic pop to suit all occasions and is made up of four saxophones, three or four trumpets, a keyboard, bass guitar and drums.
Above images: Image 1 Liberty Pearl Photography; image 2 Andy Tucker
With a variety of Reception rooms available, we are able to tailor each of our packages to suit you, ensuring your day is everything you hoped it would be and more. At the end of the night, your guests can make their way up the stairs to one of our 72 individually styled bedrooms where they can enjoy a good night’s sleep. The following morning, wake up to a fully cooked English breakfast surrounded by friends and family. You could even take advantage of our Writing Room, and use this as your own private breakfast area for your friends and family. Our dedicated Wedding Coordinator and red carpet entrance add the finishing touches to make a Wedding at The Duke of Cornwall Hotel truly magical.
For all enquiries, please contact Toni by phoning 01752 275861, or emailing t.mcguire@thedukeofcornwall.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing how we can make your dream day a reality.