At Gosfield Hall, the ambiance, the aesthetics and the mood are perfect for a Jane Austen themed wedding. This winner of Wedding Ideas Magazine ‘Best Wedding Venue’ 2011 and Essex Wedding Awards ‘Wedding Venue of the Year – Heritage’ 2012, is full of pure Georgian charm. Gosfield Hall is decorated with beautiful classical motifs throughout, and an abundance of luxurious furnishings – Austen style at its finest. The grounds are gorgeously manicured and there is a newly licensed carriageway, ideal for a fairytale arrival, worthy of a Jane Austen novel .
A Jane Austen wedding is your chance to go completely romantic, and to immerse yourself in a deluge of rose-tinted splendour. On their blog post, Bloom Nation breaks down the theme, giving comprehensive advice on what to look for. “Jane Austen was a writer of her times but, yet, somehow her characters have taken on new life in the modern age. Women and men, young and old, seem to recognize something of themselves in those long-ago lives, even if they are far different from their own.” Indeed, Austen’s appeal is far-reaching, so a wedding structured around this theme would delight all who attend. “Women, especially, recognize that combination of strength and femininity, working within and around strictures that Austen’s female leads display—and this is one thing that can be brought out in the wedding theme. Lace-covered dresses, sheer veils, and delicate pearls or diamonds that showcase the feminine, but don’t override the strength and sensibility of the styles chosen, or the flower and other displays.”
There are two ways to implement this theme, either going for a quintessentially aristocratic style, as we see in many an Austen novel; or creating something a little more laid back, a little more “country maiden” shall we say. The latter was explored during a shoot, featured in Green Wedding Shoes, and let’s just say, that if you desire to have your wedding at the carriageway, this is the perfect fit. The stylist chose to forgo the stuffy costumes and groomed lawns in favour of clean, outdoor elegance, in GWS’s words “this is a wedding Mr. Knightley, Emma Woodhouse and Kate Middleton would be delighted to attend.” So the ethereal look, with an essence of rural delight, can take your Austen theme into an entirely different dimension.
For the bridal look, there’s no better muse than the bewitching Elizabeth Bennet. Her grace and exquisite style is the epitome of 19th century elegance. Bennet was the inspiration behind Annalise Harvey’s one-off creation for the Jane Austen Festival. Harvey’s creation was featured in Wed Magazine. “A reflection of all that she finds inspiring in 19th century style, Annalise designed ‘Lizzy’ with a modern Elizabeth Bennet in mind, blending layers of delicate silk, dainty floral detailing and an empire line cut, which echoes the era perfectly. The dress is accessorised with a bespoke lace headpiece created by Holly Young in collaboration with Annalise, heirloom coral jewellery, fresh, pretty make-up and a modern, flowing take on a 19th century hairstyle.”
So, with Gosfield now set as your venue, the bridal style sorted and the decorations all secured, it just leaves those personal additions to make it just right. Some heart garlands made from pages of Austen novels is a unique touch, also try having some confetti made of the same. This will surely prove a dreamy affair.
