Distinguished + Romantic London Inspiration Shoot

Bride and groom with bouquets in vintage wedding car

Old world sophistication was the inspiration behind this distinguished and romantic shoot in London at the Old Royal Naval College. Ryan Abney Event Design along with a team of creatives brought this sophisticated styling together with rich textures and bold color.

Feathers + leather along with pops of metallic, gorgeous blooms, and vintage accessories added depth throughout the design. If you're looking for something a little bit different on your wedding day, this one's for you! Natasha Hurley Photography captured all the stylish details firsthand, which you can see below + in the full gallery.

Beautiful bride holding flower bouquet in a white dress

Bride in flowing gown holds bouquet at stone archway Beautiful bride with a lush colorful wedding bouquet

from Ryan Abney Event Design

I wanted to design a styled shoot that not only bolstered the antiqued aristocracy exuded by the space but one that also nodded to the venue’s military roots. And so, a decadent, masculine look imbued with Old World glamour emerged across my many mood boards. I sought to bring organic, raw & unexpected textures—including speckled pheasant feathers, brassy copper metals, leather hides & vintage woods—to a rich color palette of deep burgundy, juniper green, navy, ivory & bourbon-infused hues.

Elegant wedding couple gazes at each other under archway

Elegant bride and groom embrace with floral bouquet Romantic wedding portrait of a loving couple embracing

Elegant bride and groom pose in front of grand architecture

Bride holding a colorful floral bouquet wedding day

the table

Surrounded by the dignified wooden paneling of the Webb Room, the tablescape featured modest, low center pieces of deep plum ranunculus with anemones offset by ruscus greens & spotted feather accents to evoke a sense of organic simplicity. Special attention was also given to the apothecary bottles used as floral vases, which were dredged from the River Thames that borders the venue. The jeweled tones of burgundy chairs, maroon taper candles & floral with the delicate smoky & baroque goblets juxtaposed with the masculine styles of the copper flatware and intricately carved wooden chargers created a dark, yet romantic aesthetic reminiscent of still life paintings & old film photography. This same juxtaposition is mirrored in the layers of the exquisite cake, with tiers of marbled maroon, metallic copper, navy tweed texture punctuated with dapper feather accents.

Elegant dining room table setting with burgundy chairs Elegant wedding table setting with burgundy candles and floral arrangements

Orange Bride place card on elegant wedding table setting

Elegant burgundy and white wedding table centerpiece Rose gold table number one card

Elegant three-tiered wedding cake in copper, blue, and gold

Antique secretary desk with desserts and flowers Chocolate cakes with berries and donuts on cake stand

the details

The finer details included brassy candle holders, leather cuff links & an “I do” ring holder, wooden & burgundy/gold ring boxes, an antique violin & an invitation suite with copper & navy elements and vintage stamp accents. Sweet treats of marble-textured cookies, doughnuts & mini cakes accented with copper foiled leaves & berry compote were artfully displayed in a vintage wooden hutch and whimsically accented with lace & apothecary bottles. These micro details worked in tandem to further imbibe the shoot with the opulent color palette & masculine textures reminiscent of handsome sepia-toned aristocracy.

Elegant wedding invitation suite with calligraphy and wax seal