What better spot for a history-loving couple to wed than at Henry VIII’s summer palace?! That’s exactly what Natalie, a project manager, and Samson, who works in architecture, did when they opted for Hatfield House as their venue, and we are LOVING IT! Between the stunning 15th-century building and the manicured knot gardens, this venue’s got serious wow factor.
And so does the couple’s chuppah, a wooden structure covered in soft white blossoms (also, how romantic is it that the chuppah aisle was lined with flowers and lanterns?!). And we love that the chuppah canopy was made by a friend, who quilted a design that will be turned into a family tree – and also a family heirloom for Natalie and Samson’s own future children to marry under one day.
Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Luz did the most amazing job capturing the photo and video, as always. The groom, who works in architecture, was especially drawn to the fact that the Luz team bring their own architecture backgrounds to their photography style – and the rest is history!
Natalie and Samson had The Matzoh Boys as their band – whose lead singer is the incredible Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Jonny Mosesson – and the band brought their trademark soulful sound to the day.
A Venue with History
Natalie, the bride: We got married at The Old Palace, Hatfield House. Samson and I planned everything leading up to the day ourselves, which included the venue search. Hatfield House was the first venue we saw, and we found ourselves comparing every venue thereafter to it. That’s how we knew we had found the right one. The venue itself is steeped in history. It is King Henry the VIII former summer palace, and the location that Queen Elizabeth I found out that she would be queen. We both love history.
The space itself was incredible. The manicured knot gardens together with the 15th century building meant that the beauty was truly something spectacular. Being Australian, my aim was to pick a venue that our foreign guests would be ‘WOW’ed’ by. I think we achieved that aim!
The team at Hatfield House Hospitality were another massive selling point. They were kind, professional and engaged. I would recommend them to anyone.
All in the Details
Everything about our wedding was us! The wedding vision was born from Samson’s creativity, while working with the vendors, and the planning came from Nat. For the theme, we wanted our wedding to show off the very best that venue had during the spring time. It was all about the details. For example, the entire building is covered in wisteria and bursts with lilac (which happens to also be Nat’s favourite colour). So the colours were black, white and bursts of lilac.
The table decorations were like being in a garden, with a long line of potted plants, wood and flowers in jars. Our chuppah was covered in white blossoms everywhere, which looked magical being outside in the grounds. at everyones seat, names were made from wood, to go with the room which had wooden beams across the ceiling.
We knew the kind of band we wanted, the kind of photographer and videographer we wanted, the atmosphere we were driving for, everything. I think that was both the best (and most stressful!) thing about the wedding – it was truly identifiably us.
Electronic Invitations
Because we were about 40% internationals at our wedding, we designed everything to be electronic for everyone. Samson designed our wedding logo (a flower made from an N and S) and the invitation too that went from our wedding email address, while Natalie designed the website that contained all the information for the day, RSVP transport, accommodation etc.
Hair + Makeup
I needed to have something that allowed my veil to clip in, and I knew I didn’t want a full up-do hairstyle. So I went for a half up half down. For makeup, I don’t like heavy makeup on me, and so Elina my makeup artist did long lasting natural bridal make up. I loved it!
A David’s Bridal Dress
My dress was purchased from David’s Bridal in Watford. It was a strapless sweetheart neck a-line. I am not much of a ‘girly girl’ but I knew that for me ‘less is more’.
I had been to these boutique stores in Central London, and I just couldn’t find want I wanted. I went into David’s Bridal and said to the shop assistant ‘please find me a plain dress that suits my figure which I can add detail to’… and that is exactly what she did! So I added this beautiful bow to the back of my dress, and a beaded belt that went around the centre. It was perfect for me. I must say, I owe a lot to Eric who did the alterations for my dress. I liked his honestly, and perseverance to add the details I wanted.
Accessories
My veil was one of my favourite parts of my outfit. It had a lace trim and went down to the floor. It was the first veil I tried on and that was it, I was in love. I felt like a princess in it. Around my neck I wore my mothers pearls and likewise wore her diamond and pearl drop earrings. I wish I could say there was a reason I picked pearls, but really I just think they are classy and classic.
Kitten Heels
Kitten heels, cream with a pattern on the back of them. I LOVED my wedding shoes. They were the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn to a function.
The handsome groom
Samson looked amazing. He wore a white jacket, white shirt and black trousers. He completed the outfit with satin slip on shoes, one of our wedding kippot and a button hole that was a mini bouquet which directly matched mine.
Bridesmaids in Black
I wanted to ensure my bridesmaids felt comfortable on the day of the wedding. It was a priority for me. I loved the look of black and white. I was in white, so I wanted them in black… and I wanted them each in a dress that they felt the best in. I requested midi length and a bit of detail on it. Their bouquets were white.
Chuppah
The chuppah itself, we saw a visual of it somewhere else and loved it and wanted to take some of that to replicate. The canopy, we wanted it to represent a tree that we could then turn into a family tree, becoming a family heirloom for years to come.
Ceremony
The ceremony was the part of the day we loved the most. The food, and the party – that is for everyone else. But the chuppah, that’s the time for the bride and groom to share their love with each other and everyone there. It was cold and cloudy up until the minute that we stepped out from the badeken room, suddenly the sun came out. We couldn’t believe it.
The chuppah aisle was lined with flowers and white lanterns, which led up to a wooden chuppah covered in white blossoms. The canopy was made by one of Natalie’s close family friends, who quilted a design that will be turned into a family tree for our children to be married under one day. Our ketubah was hand scribed on parchment, with 6 flowers motifs (3 British, 3 Australian), to represent our heritage.
Our music choice
We had a mix of Jewish and non Jewish songs to walk down the aisle. For example, the bride walked down to ‘Mi Adir’, but the procession walked down to ‘The Way You Look Tonight’.
This is what continued throughout the night. The Jewish dancing in the first set was crazy. It was so much fun! very much upbeat. The next two sets were both non Jewish mixed in with some Israeli music every now and then. This was because of the crowd. We had the full spectrum of people at our wedding from non Jewish and their first Jewish wedding, to rabbis. We wanted to be all inclusive. We chose our band because they could do both really well, and they did not let us down!
Our first dance was sung by one of our amazing band members, who was a gospel singer. It was ‘At Last’ by Etta James.
Flowers
Unlike most couples where the bride is heavily involved in the flowers, in our case it was the groom! The florist said she had never worked with such an engaged groom before, and loved it. We had a mixture of flowers from hydrangeas, to lilac, anemones to roses all in the colour theme of white, black with a pop of lilac.
The groom and groomsmen’s button holes were a replica of the bridesmaids and brides bouquets, but in a mini form. they were quite something! the table centres, as noted above, was like a garden going down the centre of the table, with potted plants and flowers in jars.
To bring a bit of Australia into everything, eucalyptus leaves were throughout, even emphasising the international element of the couple through the flower decorations. Alina from Flowers by Alina, and her team – they were incredible. We loved working with Alina.e
Photographer and videographer
We don’t even know where to start. Luz were the very first vendor we chose. It all started with a meet up in Eat by Tottenham Court Road Station, and we were impressed from the minute we sat down. The fact that the Luz team includes architects appealed to Samson too (who works in architecture) and I had heard nothing but amazing things before meeting them. They were definitely the right choice for us, and were so much more than photographers and videographers for us.
Pinata Cake
This was another one of those things that we designed ourselves. Samson surprised me on the day of the wedding by bringing out a pinata cake (which he made!) filled with sweets that we smashed at the wedding! He did this because it was Cinco de Mayo!
Entertainment
As interesting a name as our band, The Matzoh Boys, had, we had heard the lead singer – Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Jonny Mosesson – and his soulful voice was incredible. He put a set together of amazing singers, with his already awesome band. They were fantastic! It was important to us that we had a live band on the night and we are so happy that we did. Together with this, we had a photobooth, which was a converted black taxi turned into a photobooth. This was mainly a novelty at first for the foreigners attending, but ended up being a hit of the night!
Favours
Natalie being Natalie, everything needed to have a practical purpose, even the party favours. Everyone’s name places, were their name carved out of wood which they could take away with them as a gift.
A wedding about us
Our whole wedding was personal and core to us as a couple. We tried to include our friends and family as much as we could. It was really important to us as a couple that we were able to make the wedding about us, and about the people that were there with us. Because we designed the wedding, everything from the chuppah structure to the canopy, ketubah to the flowers, the pinata cake to the speeches, the venue to the party favours – were things that we wanted to be special and unique.
But something that people will definitely remember about the day were our MCs, Joni and Bec. They turned the entire MC experience into a big musical number with dress ups. Amazing! The bride and groom did a speech together, and as all weddings have something that goes wrong, the bride lost her speech on the day of the wedding. This meant jotting down some ideas on an iPhone and pretty much winging the whole thing!
Our favourite things about the whole experience was twofold. Firstly on the day, the chuppah ceremony. That part of the day felt like it was just for us. It was our moment as a couple. On the morning of the wedding, Natalie wanted to move it inside, and Samson insisted it had to be outdoors. The sun came out as the bride and groom exited the badeken room to the chuppah. It was the most moving and beautiful time, a moment of the wedding ill never forget how I felt.
The second part was sharing the week before and after with family and friends. We had so much time, and felt so much love. I will never be able to show the level of appreciation that I have, for those that came from abroad, and those that showed us such happiness during the happiest time for us.
Honeymoon in South America
We haven’t gone yet, but we will be going to South America. We are planning to go in December/January 2020.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
If you are anything like Samson and I, you struggle to let go of things that aren’t going to plan. Let go on the day. You have to, and if you don’t it will be the thing you wish you had done. It’s about you and it’s a day where that is okay. Let it be able you and just embrace the day as it happens.
Natalie & Samson’s little white book
Photography and videography – Luz Weddings {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Venue – Hatfield House
Bride’s dress – David’s Bridal
Flowers – Flowers by Alina
Band – Matzoh Boys
Photo Booth – Coco Photo Booth
Ketubah artist – Yolanda Productions
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