thornbury castle summer wedding inspiration

After standing witness to countless weddings over the years, Thornbury Castle underwent a stunning refresh on a bright summer morning. I’m so proud to say that I had the honour of being the first to capture it.

Thornbury Castle 16th century architecture with green foliage and formal gardens - English Tudor castle, hotel and wedding venue in Bristol England - Photo by Cristina Ilao

Classic Bridal look: Bride is wearing a simple silk and tulle summer wedding dress with feather details; Bridal bouquet is a bunch of seasonal British flowers with David Austin roses; backdrop is a white medieval door with black antique hinges, a brick wall covered with Annabelle hydrangea - Photo by destination wedding photographer Cristina Ilao

As I travelled from London and made my way down to Thornbury, I couldn’t help but feel excited. This 16th-century English castle is steeped in rich history. Once the residence of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Thornbury Castle was passed down to generations of notable kings and queens including Edward VI and Queen Mary Tudor. I was curious to see how luxury hotel group Relais & Châteaux modernised Thornbury Castle’s wedding offerings while ensuring it stays true to its colourful Tudor heritage.

Two tier water foundatin with flowing drops of water and green shades of foliage in the background - Photo by Cristina Ilao

Thornbury Castle 16th century grand entrance gate - English Tudor castle, hotel and wedding venue in Bristol England - Photo by Cristina Ilao

This delightful summer wedding editorial at Thornbury Castle is the brainchild of Olivia, Cotswolds wedding planner and owner of Host Weddings and Events. Olivia’s brief was a classic and quintessentially English summer wedding inspiration embodying Thornbury Castle’s new offerings brought to life by a talented team of wedding creatives.

THE ENGLISH ROSE

You simply can’t think of a Tudor Castle without imagining it surrounded by gardens filled with fragrant English roses. After all, the Tudor rose is the traditional symbol of England. With a shared love for all things quintessentially English, the glorious British countryside and the rich history of Thornbury Castle, our team created this summer wedding editorial focused on a classic theme, “The English Rose”.

Handmade paper full stationery invitation suite set including rsvp card, information, return and main envelopes; styled with roses and seasonal British flowers - photo by UK and France destination wedding photographer Cristina Ilao

A STUNNING SUMMER WEDDING AT THORNBURY CASTLE

The brief was all about designing a timeless English wedding inspiration. Elegant, romantic, and whimsical. So for this summer wedding inspiration at Thornbury Castle, we went for soft pastel hues with gold metallic accents elevated with an abundance of seasonal British flowers.

Thornbury Castle in Bristol England is a 16th English Tudor castle shown here styled for a summer wedding with a flower arch filled witrh an abundance of British seasonal blooms; Classic Bridal look: Bride is wearing a simple silk and tulle summer wedding dress with feather details - Photo by Cristina Ilao

For the bridal look, it was important to personify the English Rose. So, we opted for a classic natural and fresh look with rosy, pink tones and a dewy glow. The bride’s lush locks were styled into loose waves and finished with a delicate hair garland from Hermione Harbutt. For the bridal outfit, a simple white a-line dress finished with feathers and a matching pair of Emmy London heels did the trick.