Inside: A Cool-Girl Take on the English Country Wedding

From connecting as teenagers and a proposal at home surrounded by rose petals to a bold celebration at Northbrook Park, step inside Rianna Faye Austin and Jordan Austin’s English country wedding.

The story so far

We met at secondary school. Jordan was the classic older-year crush I never imagined would notice me, but he did. Our first date came when I was 16 and he was 17, newly armed with his driving licence and only one CD in the car, which he played on repeat the entire night. We dated through our teens, and by March 2022 we had bought our first home together.

Fast forward to October 2023, when we had a holiday to the Dominican Republic already in the diary. The night before, I rushed home from having my hair braided, nails and brows done, only to find rose petals scattered outside our front door. I thought a neighbour had dropped them until I stepped inside and saw our hallway lit with candles and filled with photos of us through the years. The trail led to the living room, where Jordan was waiting on one knee.

I was sobbing too much to hear his speech but the ring said everything. Designed by Jordan himself, it is a delicate gold band with a marquise diamond centre and pear side stones. To be proposed to in the home we built together felt deeply personal, even if I was in my most unromantic tracksuit.

Venue

We chose Northbrook Park in Farnham, Hampshire. With 160 guests by day and 50 more at night, space was essential. I knew from the start I did not want beige, champagne or pastels. I have always believed in colour therapy and dopamine dressing, so we wanted a venue that would let us layer in colour without overwhelm. The high-ceilinged, whitewashed space, complete with a dramatic fireplace at the aisle, gave us the perfect blank canvas.

Fashion

Unable to find the dress I had in mind, I collaborated with Inna Voronova Bridal & Atelier to design my own. Drawing inspiration from different silhouettes and fabrics, we created a corset and skirt with a detachable train, plus sleeves and a choker made from extra fabric. The process took a year and a half but felt worth every fitting. To complete the look, I wore my veil as my something borrowed — a treasured piece from my sister-in-law’s wedding to my brother 13 years ago, which brought a deeply personal touch to the ensemble.

Jordan co-designed his suit at Anderson & Sheppard on Savile Row with his father Byron, who has been a tailor there for more than 40 years. Every detail, down to the turned-up sleeves, was considered. He paired it with Tod’s shoes and a Charles Tyrwhitt shirt and tie.

Jewellery

I kept jewellery simple: Vivienne Westwood earrings from Bicester Village and a choker fashioned from my dress fabric. The minimalism let the dress do the talking.

Bridal party

Our “something blue” was the bridal party. Groomsmen wore Marks & Spencer suits tailored by Byron with H&M ties and Kurt Geiger shoes. Bridesmaids chose their own dresses in shades of blue, from Babyboo Fashion and SilkFred to Solace London and a custom Dream Girl Tailors gown from Dubai. All wore gold shoes and carried vibrant orange and pink bouquets by @moumou_flowers.

The flower girls were in Monsoon, page boy in H&M Kids with miniature Air Force 1s. Their mix of blue and white looked fresh and modern.

Tablescape

Khaas Events brought our colourful vision to life with flowers and tablescapes. Instead of a single cake, we had mini cakes at each table, cut together with our guests in a joyful countdown led by Jordan’s sister Claire. Confetti cones were made from my beloved Twilight books, while nieces played piano pieces from the soundtrack. Mirrors around the venue created natural photo moments that our guests adored.

Entertainment

Jordan’s nieces read from the Bible, while mine played piano: Bella’s Lullaby and Turning Pages. A close friend, Denzel, sang Back at One, the song that played during Jordan’s proposal. Our first dance was My Life by Adrian Marcel, a track special to us since our earliest dates. I danced with my dad to Never Too Much by Luther Vandross before he, a DJ himself, kicked off the night with old-school R&B and garage, handing over later to DJ Brewst.

Beauty regime

A year out, I swore off heat styling and heavy makeup to protect my curls and skin. I had Murad facials three months and six weeks before the wedding for glow. Tash, my hair and makeup artist, specialises in curly hair and understood I wanted to look like myself, natural and fresh.

Honeymoon

The day after, we escaped to Champneys Forest Mere for four nights of recovery. Our main honeymoon is still to come, in Mauritius, where we plan to do absolutely nothing but soak it all in.

Advice

Establish your non-negotiables as a couple early and stick to them.
Take time out for just the two of you on the day.
Do not be afraid to lean into what brings you joy, whether that is colour, music or personal touches.