Downton Abbey Elegance In The Heart of London

Bride and bridesmaids in elegant white dresses smiling

If you're like us, you're counting the days till the next Downton Abbey movie premieres. This talented team of vendors decided they simply couldn't wait any longer and decided to bring their favorite show to life right now! They started with an epic venue, reminiscent of the grand Downton Abbey. They played off of the venue's lovely pastel coloring and created a romantic shoot that is the perfect inspiration for a spring wedding. And we can't forget the fashion! They partnered with Eliza Jane Howell to dress three lovely brides in modern versions of our favorite 20s trends.

Lucy Meehan Events Ltd designed every detail for this elegant styled shoot and wanted to show couples how to incorporate vintage elements into their modern weddings. They started with the pastel color palette, inspired by the blue walls at the historic Dartmouth House. We can definitely see these lovely floral arrangements by Love Flowers gracing the tables at Downton Abbey! Helen Warner Photography took these stunning photos that are beaming with natural light–something that's not easy to do in a historic venue, so cheers to that! Keep scrolling to read more from Lucy Meehan Events Ltd about how they balanced the old with the new to create this lovely fusion. Make sure to check out the full gallery for even more Downton-worthy inspo.

Elegant wedding invitation suite with shoes and jewelry

Wedding bouquet comb and monogrammed napkin detail Pastel wedding bouquet with peach and blue flowers

Bride in vintage wedding dress with bouquet by window

Bride in beaded gown holding pastel wedding bouquet Bridal updo hairstyle with flower hairpins elegant look

Bride in vintage gown at fireplace wedding portrait

FINDING THE RIGHT ESTATE

Bride in beaded vintage style wedding dress posing indoors

With the new Downton Abbey film due for release, we wanted to create a shoot that brought the elegance and glamour of the Downton Abbey era together with a modern twist that can be easily recreated by couples. Dartmouth House, a historical and beautiful Mayfair townhouse, was a stunning host for the shoot. When choosing the color palette, I opted for fresh colors–a light peach, pale cornflower blue, and pastel green. This color palette would subtly reflect the décor of the venue as well as give us a beautiful modern base to use in each element of the styling.

Grand staircase with floral decorations and iron railings

Elegant floral arrangement with peach and blue flowers

Bride wearing a beaded dress and crystal hair clip Bride wearing elegant blue wedding shoes and dress

Bride shows off ring with beaded sleeve wedding dress

20s GLAM

Bride with red hair in vintage beaded gown holding bouquet

Getting the right dress designer on board was going to be key as the 20s style is so iconic and Eliza Jane Howell was the perfect choice. Each dress is handmade using a blend of old and new techniques and the hand-beading and embroidery embellishments of these vintage-inspired gowns are a wonderful way for brides to bring the elegance of this era to their wedding day. The bridal looks were inspired by the iconic hair and makeup styles of the period–smoky eyes, wavy hair, and dramatic lips–but with a softer touch that tied in with the romance of the décor and color palette.

Bride holding a pastel wedding bouquet in her dress

MIXING THE OLD AND THE NEW

Elegant dining room with floral arrangements chandelier

We created a tablescape using low silver bowls and silver candelabras to bring the authentic Downton style. We included bud vases and crystal candle holders with tall pale blue and green candlesticks and silver votives to give the modern twist. The wonderful team at Love Flowers included olive, ruscus, berried ivy, Cwebe ferns, and Senecio in their arrangements. They used the beautiful flowers of pale blue oxypetalum, baby blue delphinium, green thistle, and Viburnum blended with white Lilac and the Miyuki rose to lift the color. They added apricot lisianthus, Paul Ricard garden rose, and David Austin’s garden rose, Juliet, which warmed the arrangement allowing it to glow, and Hellebore was added for the finishing touches to the bud vases. Grapes and pears were also placed in silver bowls for that extra touch of Downton Abbey charm. I chose tableware that gave us a mixture of vintage design with modern touches, shown in the vintage glassware, cutlery, and ornate blue charger plates. Beautiful embroidered napkins with a peach thread were chosen for each place setting and a subtle cream and pale blue stationery suite completed the look. What wedding would be complete without cake? Anna Lewis created a trio of cakes for us, each decorated individually but all linked by ornate, textured design and delicate sugar flowers that tied in with the color palette.

Elegant fireplace adorned with flowers and a gold mirror

Elegant wedding reception table with floral centerpieces

Elegant wedding reception table setting with floral centerpiece

Elegant white wedding cake with delicate floral decorations

GET THE LOOK FOR YOURSELF

Brides in elegant dresses on grand marble staircase

For couples that love the Downton Abbey style and want to recreate it for their wedding day, it is important to remember the details–bridalwear embellishment, classic bridal hair and makeup, ornate tableware, candelabras, and even bowls of fruit. Your choice of color palette is your chance to make it individual and use these design details to elevate your Downton experience.

Bridesmaids in beaded gowns pose on ornate staircase