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This stunning Ardington House summer micro wedding in Oxfordshire has got to be one of the highlights of my 2022. Or the last two years! If I start counting from the time when Ashlyn first got in touch with me.
Ashlyn and Hunter initially planned to get married in the autumn of 2020. But 2020, as we all know, was a crazy year. It was such a stressful time for them to plan a destination wedding, especially remotely from the US. Over a span of two years, it was heartbreaking to see how Ashlyn and Hunter went through THREE stressful postponements.

But you know what they say? Third time’s a charm! And thank goodness they got Jeni (Vanilla Rose Weddings) to help them plan the wedding this time. Jeni’s not only a calming presence. She’s also an expert when it comes to planning English garden-inspired weddings. I knew from the moment she got involved that Ashlyn and Hunter were in good hands.




AN ARDINGTON HOUSE SUMMER MICRO WEDDING
Two years later, Ashlyn and Hunter finally tied the knot on a very special weekend. Their third wedding date ended up coinciding with their tenth anniversary of dating and the Queen’s platinum jubilee. The rest of the UK was all busy celebrating the Queen’s platinum jubilee in London. But Ashlyn and Hunter? They finally had the quintessentially English micro wedding of their dreams with 15 of their family and closest friends in the Oxfordshire countryside. And I couldn’t be more delighted that I was there to capture their special day for them.

A DREAM MICRO WEDDING IN AN OXFORDSHIRE COUNTRY HOUSE
I remember feeling so excited when Ashlyn first talked about their small and intimate wedding plans. There’s only one thing I love more than capturing a wedding. Capturing a micro wedding, of course!
Over the years, intimate or micro weddings have become my absolute favorite. I love seeing couples celebrate their love with only their families and closest friends. The celebration is more heartfelt, everyone just relaxes and focuses on enjoying the day. With big weddings, the couple can sometimes spend much of their time greeting their guests and hosting. And the risk is that they don’t get to enjoy their day or even eat their wedding meal.








A QUINTESSENTIALLY ENGLISH CELEBRATION IN A GEORGIAN MANOR
Ashlyn and Hunter are both horticulturists who met while studying abroad in the UK. So, it’s no surprise that they wanted a wedding that reflects their love of botany and the English countryside.
Can you see how that’s reflected in every element of their Ardington House summer micro-wedding?
The shady spot under the willow tree where they chose to say I do. The seasonal floral arrangements they asked Nicola (Foxgloves & Roses) to create for them. Their beautiful wedding breakfast table was set up outside in the South-facing English garden area. Everything was perfect, including the glorious sunny weather on their wedding day.






What a lovely wedding it was. Everyone enjoyed themselves and really had a good time. And guess what Ashlyn had to say about having me at her Ardington House micro wedding!
Kind Words:
“Cristina is the best wedding photographer! As an American couple getting married in the UK, we appreciated her top-notch communication and her overall support of us throughout the planning. She went above and beyond to help us through several Covid-related postponements, and she readily gave us amazing advice when it came to other elements of the wedding planning as well as general travel recommendations. We felt immensely supported by her throughout the entire planning process.
On the day of the wedding, she was as kind, professional, and flexible as one could ever hope for on their big day. We also did a creative shoot the day before our wedding, and it was so much fun! Some photographers are unwilling to veer from their personal style, but she was very happy for me to give my creative input and work collaboratively to tell a story through pictures. All of the photos we received were outstanding. Her compositions and editing are impeccable. We can’t recommend Cristina enough. Her professionalism, skill, attention to detail, and unwavering kindness are unmatched.”
Read the rest of Ashlyn’s feedback here:

CREATIVE TEAM:
Wedding Planner: Vanilla Rose Weddings | Photographer: Cristina Ilao | Videographer: Jake Burgess | Venue: Ardington House | Caterer: Fingers and Forks | Florist: Foxgloves and Roses | Hairstylist: Rachel Mulford | Tableware: The Luxe Collection | Linens: 88 Events Company | Cake base: Dolce Lusso Cakes | Cake sugar flowers: Ashlyn Morgan | Celebrant: Wild and Oak | String Quartet: Estilo String Quartet | Stationery: Caboodle Weddings | Shoes: Something Bleu | Dress: Savin London
LINKS:
Ashlyn and Hunter’s wedding featured on Ruffled Blog
All About Intimate and Micro Weddings
Destination Wedding Guide