Wedding gold – Freya Rose’s stunning country celebration

On a golden June day, leading British shoe designer Freya Rose and her partner Matt married in a picturesque Hampshire church before hosting an idyllic garden celebration for family and friends, with some very glamorous designer details

When you are a leading shoe designer with an international reputation for glamorous red-carpet and bridal heels, your wedding is bound to be something very special. But for Freya Rose and her partner Matt, their wedding was a golden opportunity to host a very special party for friends and family – including their two young children.

They knew exactly where the ceremony should take place – St Hubert’s Church, Idsworth, a location rich in meaning for both of them. Freya says: “It’s the most extraordinary church and for years I used to see it from the train on the way to or from London and think that I’d love to get married there”. And on her second date with Matt, he told her he would like to marry here there! One of the oldest churches in the country and located in rolling Hampshire countryside, St Hubert’s features incredible Roman murals on its walls. To top it all, Freya’s grandfather was vicar there between 1950 and 1960. It was meant to be.

Freya says it was hugely important to both of them that their two children be an integral part of such a joyful day. Johnnie was enlisted as their pageboy and also drew the illustration for the order of service cover. Willow was their flowergirl and had a pair of baby shoes with silk flowers designed specially for her important role.

“The wedding was designed as a very special party for Freya and Matt’s family and friends”

For their reception, Matt and Freya chose Park House Hotel & Spa in the village of Bepton, in part because its tranquil grounds provide lots of space for adult guests to spread out and for all the children attending the wedding to play. The celebration was designed to make the most of a long summer’s day, with drinks and wedding breakfast followed by an alfresco evening party and dancing.

For daytime, the design was elegant, with a modern English country style. White and gold décor, accents and stationery (all designed by Freya) featured, expertly created by the team at Lo & Behold Bespoke. There were lots of other personal touches. Sprigs of Honesty picked from Freya’s grandmother’s garden were hand-painted in gold leaf and used for name placecards. A sprig of Honesty was also woven into Freya’s up-do.

Ethereal flowers for both the venue and bouquets were by Portsmouth-based Blossom Boutique – the beautiful bridal bouquet featured sweet peas and peonies and, says Freya, was a contemporary translation of her grandmother’s bridal bouquet.

“Freya included so many family touches – sprigs of honesty picked from her grandmother’s garden and jewellery designed by her mother Barbara Tipple”

In keeping with the style of day and evening parties, Freya had two distinct looks. For daytime she had chosen a beautiful off-the-shoulder gown designed for her by Sanyukta Shrestha, the Fulham-based eco-designer, who is also a personal friend. Hair and make-up was by Amanda Clarke who translated her vision perfectly (and, says Freya, did a brilliant job of calming her wedding nerves). She wore jewellery designed by her mother, renowned bespoke jeweller Barbara Tipple. For evening, she wore an elegant champagne gown from Amanda Wakeley and with a lovely golden headband from Lila.

Matt went for classic British names for his wedding-day outfit, wearing Turnbull & Asser and Crocket & Jones. Freya’s four lovely bridesmaids were also wearing iconic British names – two in long gowns by Ghost and two in on-trend dungarees and lace blouses from Topshop. Each of the outfits was accessorised with Freya Rose shoes.

And, of course, Freya wore some very special shoes on this momentous day. In fact, she designed three pairs. For the church her namesake Freya shoe was designed with a platform base and made of a shimmer suede with silver leather lining and her signature mother-of-pearl heels in a soft rose. The shoes also bore silver monogrammed initials of the couple. Glory for the Party are a modern take on platforms with a block heel – so perfect for dancing and wandering outdoors. The final pair, Rose in Bloom, are in a taupe shimmer suede and with golden leather lining to match the mother-of-pearl heel.

The weather was stunning on the day and was full of memorable moments. As they left their home, Freya’s son Johnnie told her she looked like a goddess and it was the best day of his life. Freya’s brother Joseph walked her up the aisle accompanied by the children and bridesmaids, her father having sadly passed away last year. Afterwards, guests dined and then relaxed on the terrace of Park House Hotel while young guests played on the lawns. As the sun set, they moved on for the woodland part of the party, with live music, Mediterranean food and marshmallows for toasting on the firepit – a truly magical end to a wonderful celebration.