Inside: A Timeless Wedding Celebration In The English Countryside

From a chance meeting at a bar to a sunset proposal outside a chapel in Greece, step inside Jasmine and Thomas Atkinson’s effortlessly romantic wedding at Somerley House in Ringwood.

The story so far

Tom and I met at a bar through mutual friends in 2019. We started spending time together, just the two of us. Somewhere along the way, our friendship naturally grew into something more. Tom proposed to me outside a chapel at Ktima Lindos in Greece, just as the sun set – it was a dream.

Venue

We fell in love with Somerley House in Ringwood straight away. The setting is so beautiful and peaceful, with a real sense of warmth and intimacy that made it feel incredibly special. It had everything we were looking for.

Fashion

My dress was by Eva Lendel. It was exactly what I had envisioned, with a modern yet timeless feel. I found it at Chameleon Bride, and the whole experience there was amazing. I paired it with lace heels from Zara.

Tom wore a custom-made tuxedo from Robert Old, tailored perfectly to him with a sharp, classic feel. He paired it with Santoni shoes, which finished the look beautifully.

The flower girl dresses were from Oui Babe. They were simple and classic, to almost match the feel of my dress.

Jewellery

I kept it very minimal with jewellery, with a pair of vintage-style earrings from Miss Cecilia London.

Bridal party

The bridesmaids wore black dresses from Peppermayo with a flattering low-waist, basque-style shape, paired with black scarves to bring the whole look together.

For their gifts, I chose things they could use and enjoy – a small selection including a Dior lip gloss, a REFY mirror, and an Elizabeth Scarlett makeup bag.

Transportation

The bridesmaids and I drove to the venue together in the morning and got ready early, which made everything feel calm and easy. At the end of the day, Tom and I had a Rolls-Royce Phantom take us back to the hotel, which was the perfect way to end the night.

Tablescape

The tables were styled with classic white tableware, with lots of candles creating a warm, intimate glow. We then had grapes running along the table with hydrangeas and roses to keep everything soft and elegant.

A special touch was the name cards, which Tom’s mum kindly handmade, along with homemade biscuits as party favours.

Food & drinks

Being in the South of England countryside in November, I wanted the food to feel earthy and wholesome. We started with a choice of around seven canapés during the drinks reception, followed by ham hock with a touch of wasabi for starter, then a slow-cooked lamb shank for the main, and a classic sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Real feel-good food!

For the drinks before the bar opened, we allocated a set amount of wine and beer per person – I didn’t want everyone getting too carried away too early. Although I thought we had been generous, the drinks had been devoured before the toasts, which turned into a bit of a running joke during the speeches and definitely made it memorable.

Finally, for the cake, we went for a huge raspberry and white chocolate sponge topped with god knows how many punnets of raspberries. It was a real statement piece, and I loved the pop of red the raspberries gave. It felt simple but striking and tasted just as good as it looked.

Entertainment

We had The Diamond Boys as our band. They sang Linger by The Cranberries for our first dance, as it is our favourite song. Not long into it, our daughters joined us, which made it extra special.

Beauty regime

Michaela Selene was my makeup artist, and Grace Bailey did my hair. I kept my makeup quite soft and natural but went big and bouncy for my hair. I was heavily inspired by that classic “old money” style, which felt perfect for the grand setting of the venue.

I didn’t have any pre-wedding facials, but I stuck to a really strict diet beforehand to keep my skin clear, and had a little help from Botox for an extra confidence boost.

Honeymoon

Our honeymoon was a four-week stay in Thailand. We travelled to three different places, but the highlight of our trip was a two-week stay on Koh Chang. We had a villa on the beachfront – the view we woke up to was spectacular!

Advice

My one piece of advice would be to try your best not to micromanage. When the day comes along, it becomes truly clear there is only one thing that really matters.