WINTER WEDDING AT HANBURY MANOR GARDEN COURT | JADE AND ALISTAIR

Purple Kite Photography

5 min read

Bride and groom pose happily in a lush garden, surrounded by greenery and snowdrops. Bride in a white dress, groom in a blue suit.

RELAXED ICY BLUE THEMED WINTER WEDDING AT HANBURY MANOR WITH LOTS OF PERSONAL TOUCHES

Jade and Alistair chose a crisp, cool, winter theme with icy blues and greens for their Wedding at Hanbury Manor Garden Court in February 2025. They wanted to bring together lots of the details they had enjoyed at other weddings they had attended, to make the day special for them and their guests. They had been to a winter wedding before, and thought this would work well. The weather was always going to be a risk in February, but they were so lucky to end up with a mild and sunny day. Jade also enjoys DIY and being crafty, so she enjoyed making the favours and confetti bags.

A couple kisses outside the Garden Court at Hanbury Manor at night, adorned with fairy lights. The bride wears a white dress, and greenery surrounds them. Romantic mood.

Sarah Whyte, owner of Purple Kite Photography, sitting on a bridge in Hertford, Hertfordshire

Hi, I'm Sarah!

My documentary-style photography tells the story of your day unobtrusively, capturing the big moments as well as all those gorgeous little stories in between.

I create a calm and relaxed atmosphere, ensuring that you feel at ease and enjoy every moment of your day.

I love documenting the raw emotions and excitement of a wedding day and take pride in delivering beautiful images that you will cherish for a lifetime.

REAL WEDDING - BRIDE Q&A

Bride Jade shares her thoughts on their beautiful, sunny winter wedding in the Garden Court at Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire

How did you meet?

We met online during summer 2020, in between the two lockdowns. We were able to have a few dates before lockdown started again during the winter, and as we were both living alone in London we managed to keep up contact. We had lots of time to spend quality time together, getting to know each other without pressure and other social demands. We clicked as we enjoyed finding fun things to do in London, and had similar interests and values.

The Proposal

Al proposed in Central Park in New York City, in November 2023. He had intended this to be a surprise but not much gets past Jade, so she had an idea it was coming. Jade had said she did not want a public proposal, so we ended up walking almost the length of central park before Al could find a quiet spot to propose. Who knew Central Park would be busy on a Saturday sunny autumn morning!

Three men in blue suits at a wedding ceremony, smiling as one hands out the tissues, in a bright room with wood and glass features.

Bride in white dress walking down aisle with father in blue suit. Groom waits, smiling. Guests seated, ceremony setup, brick wall backdrop.

Emotional Bridesmaids in blue dresses holding bouquets stand in a bright room with guests seated on chiavari chairs, festive mood, floral decor.

Bride and groom holding hands, smiling in a sunlit ceremony. Bridesmaids in blue dresses hold bouquets. Guests seated under a draped ceiling.

Guests at a wedding, including a smiling man in a blue suit and a woman beside him, listen to a ceremony in a wood-paneled setting.

Bride in white dress and groom in blue suit exchange rings in the Garden Court at Hanbury Manor with guests watching, set against a brick wall.

Bride and groom exchange rings, smiling, at a wedding ceremony in the Garden Court at Hanbury Manor. Groom in blue suit, bride in white dress. Guests and brick wall in background.

Bride and groom at altar, guests seated in elegant venue with brick walls and plants. Joyful atmosphere, bridesmaids in blue dresses sit next to tearful father of the bride.

Bride in a white dress and groom in blue suit holding hands, smiling. Guests watch in a brick-walled venue with white drapes.

Guests seated at a wedding, two men in blue suits smiling, and a woman in blue wiping tears. Colourful outfits, indoor setting.

Bride and groom kiss at indoor wedding ceremony. Guests clap and smile. White drapes and brick wall backdrop.

Bride and groom sit smiling at a table to sign the register, with floral arrangements. Bright room with large windows and garden view. Relaxed, joyful atmosphere.

Bride and groom smiling, walking down aisle in a bright, decorated venue. Guests clap, standing by chairs with blue ribbons. Joyful mood.

What made you choose the Garden Court at Hanbury Manor as your Wedding Venue?

We decided to get married outside of London, ideally near to Jade’s family in Hertfordshire. We toured 3-4 venues, travelling up to Hertfordshire on weekends from our flat in London, where we were living at the time. Al is from Durham, so it was important to us to find a venue with plenty of accommodation either there or nearby, for his friends and family to stay. We decided to look at Hanbury Manor at Jade’s mum’s prompting, initially excluding this as we were not sure it would suit us. However, when we visited we fell in love with Garden Court, as it felt modern but classic simultaneously. It was made more special because Jade grew up going to Hanbury Manor as a child, having swimming lessons there regularly. She had even seen a wedding from afar at Garden Court, and admired how it would be to get married there. It felt full circle getting married in Hanbury Manor.

Bride and groom kissing under the iconic brick arch in a garden, framed by cannons at Hanbury Manor Garden Court. Bride holds bouquet, sunny day, joyful mood.

Bride in white dress hugs groom in blue suit, leaning against a brick wall in the grounds of Hanbury Manor. Both smiling, with trees and grass around them.

Bride in white dress holding bouquet, with groom in blue suit embracing her. They're in a lush garden, with a carpet of snowdrops nearby, smiling.

Bride in white gown and groom in blue suit walk through lush green secluded garden at Hanbury Manor, sunlight filtering through trees, smiling, holding bouquet.

Bride and groom smiling under a rustic arch in a leafy garden at Hanbury Manor. Bride holds a bouquet of white and green flowers. Joyful and serene mood.

Bride and groom smile under a rustic ivy-covered arch at Hanbury Manor, she in a white dress with a bouquet and veil, he in a blue suit. Lush greenery surrounds.

What were your most memorable moments from the day?

We were both so happy on the day, being able to celebrate with all our close friends and family. We were also so lucky with the weather - it was mild and sunny, especially for a February weekend. Jade did not even need to wear the white furry jacket she bought on Vinted a few weeks before!

Two women in elegant hats, a pink and blue one, chat smilingly in the Garden Court at Hanbury Manor. Sunlight filters through, adding warmth.

An elderly woman in a beige coat and glasses smiles at a man in a suit with a patterned tie. They stand in a bright, windowed room.

A bride in a white dress smiles at a laughing baby in a floral outfit, held by another person. Bright and joyful indoor setting.

Woman admiring ring on younger woman's hand at a gathering. She's wearing a colourful dress, the other woman drinks from a glass.

Two smiling women outdoors, one in a blue dress with a fascinator holding a silver clutch, the other in a white wedding dress. Lush greenery behind.

Bride laughing with bridesmaids in light blue dresses, holding bouquets. Man in suit and pink tie joins in. Green lawn and trees behind.

Wedding party outdoors, 5 men in blue suits and 4 women in light blue dresses holding bouquets. Smiling on a grassy background.

Elderly woman with glasses holds a drink, looking thoughtfully. She's outdoors with blurred greenery in the background, wearing a light outfit.

Man in maroon suit laughing with friends at a sunny wedding reception, surrounded by white flowers. Joyful mood, blurred crowd in background.

We particularly enjoyed the speeches - Al’s groom’s speech went down so well, as well as his best man Daniel’s, and Jade’s bridesmaid Jen’s. Dean’s father of the bride speech was also brilliant, if a little long at 22 minutes!

Bride in white and groom in blue suit descend wooden stairs with white drapes in the Garden Court at Hanbury Manor, smiling. Ornate setting, warm lighting, celebratory mood.

A man gives a speech at a wedding reception beside a decorated table at Hanbury Manor. Guests sit and clap, showing joy. White flowers, wooden mantel backdrop.

Man in a blue suit gives a speech at a wedding reception. Bride wipes tears, groom smiles. Elegant table setting with white flowers.

A man in a blue suit gives a speech, holding trousers at a wedding table. Guests smile; flowers and wine bottles adorn the setting.

People in formal attire, including
a bride and groom, seated at a decorated banquet table, laughing and smiling. The background features a wooden mantel and floral decorations.

Wedding party seated at a table, clapping for a woman giving a speech. Elegant setting with floral decor and light blue dresses.

Man in a suit giving a speech at a table with flowers and drinks. Two smiling men are seated. Cake and fireplace in the background.

Styling your wedding: how did you personalise your day?

Coral & Blue did a great job to bring our theme to life with the décor, including the table flowers, lighting and chair drapes. Our amazing florist Millie Hicks from Half a Cup of Flower, who Jade went to primary school with, did a fantastic job with the buttonholes and bouquets, and you could tell how much she cares about what she does. Jade did some of the styling DIY, including the favours, confetti packs and buying artificial flowers from Hobbycraft to decorate the M&S naked cake. We also made a memory table with pictures of family members no longer with us, which our parents particularly appreciated.

Bride and groom cutting a tiered cake in the Garden Court at Hanbury Manor decorated with white flowers. DJ in background.

A wall display with colorful doughnuts, each uniquely decorated. "Doughnuts" text above. Warm lighting, indoor setting with wooden beams.

Wedding table setting with two name cards and two gold rings on a white cloth.

A bouquet with white and yellow roses, eucalyptus, and greenery rests on a lush hedge in a garden setting, evoking a serene, natural mood.

THE OUTFITS

Jade’s dress was from a dressmaker Coco Conran, who has a studio in Covent Garden. We had been to a few wedding dress shops in London to try on, but found the process quite rushed and commercialised, especially having to pay to try on and then being pressured to purchase on the day! Coco had appeared in an Instagram ad, so Jade & her mum Mandy went for an initial appointment in March 2024. Coco had an amazing array of handmade wedding dresses, all with a classic style with square necklines. She explained that she could mix and match different tops, skirts and sleeves to create a truly bespoke dress. This suited us much more, and we ended up going back to Coco’s studio 6 more times to try on the dress as it was finalised, before bringing it home. Coco was so warm and friendly, and it was such a personal and enjoyable process. We will always remember our mum and daughter days out in London too.

A smiling bride in a white dress gets help with buttons from a bridesmaid in a cosy bedroom.

Five satin robes hang on a rack, one white labeled "Bride" and four blue labeled "Bridesmaid." Bright, elegant setting.

Makeup artist applies makeup to smiling bride in a white dress and veil. Warmly lit room with framed artwork in the background.

Woman in blue dress adjusts a bride's pearl-embellished shoe on a patterned blue carpet. Hair adorned with a floral clip. Elegant setting.

Bride smiling as a woman adjusts her veil. The bride wears a white dress, pearl headband, and gold earrings. Warm, elegant room setting.

Bride in white dress and veil smiles in mirror reflection. Blonde woman stands beside her.

Bride in white dress and veil smiles while applying perfume. She stands in a warmly lit room with floral curtains and wooden furniture.

Bride in white dress laughs joyfully, while a bald man in a blue suit and pink tie covers his face emotionally. They’re in a warmly lit room.

A bride in a veil warmly hugs an older man in a blue suit with a pink pocket square in a warmly lit room, creating a joyful, intimate setting.

Bride in white dress with four bridesmaids in light blue dresses, smiling in a warmly lit room with floral curtains and wooden furniture.

Bride in white dress and veil holding bouquet, smiling by sunny window in a room with floral curtains and blue patterned carpet.

Al and the groomsmen's suits were from a suit shop Mr Macky’s in old Stevenage, which we had found online. Paul from Mr Macky’s was really attentive and personal during all their fittings, and one of the groomsmen ended up purchasing his suit afterwards as he liked it so much!

Two men in suits, one placing a boutonniere on the other's lapel, smile warmly in a wood-panelled room.

Five men in blue suits walk on grass, smiling and chatting. A large tree and fence in the background, creating a cheerful, relaxed mood.

MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT

It took us a while to find the song for our first dance - we didn’t really have “a song”, and every time we found one we liked, we would check the lyrics and it would be about a break up! We eventually went for “She will be loved” by Maroon 5, which was fun to dance to and our guests enjoyed too. We made our own playlist for the evening reception, and our DJ Peter from Coral & Blue really catered to ours and our guests requests.

A couple dances on a black-and-white tiled floor at Hanbury Manor, surrounded by guests. White floral decorations in the background. Joyful mood.

A couple dances together at a wedding reception in the Garden Court at Hanbury Manor with guests in formal attire. The venue features draped ceiling lights and a brick wall.

Elderly couple and women in colorful dresses laugh joyfully under white flowers. Warm atmosphere at a social gathering.

Couple dancing at a wedding in the Garden Court at Hanbury Manor, smiling under white draped lights with a brick wall backdrop. Guests in elegant attire enjoy the celebration.

Bride in white dress hugs man, smiling. Two women in colorful dresses cover mouths, amused. Brick wall background, festive mood.

People dancing and singing at an evening wedding reception in the Garden Court at Hanbury Manor. Bright outfits and drinks in hand, with festive fabric and lights in the background.

Three people laughing at a gathering, one holding a drink. Green foliage background, joyful mood. Woman in light blue dress in focus.

Two women laughing at a lively indoor gathering, one in a white wedding dress and headband, the other in a light blue dress. Joyful atmosphere.

What were your favourite photos from the day?

Our favourites are the confetti photos - especially as we had packaged them all up ourselves a few weeks before, and would have been gutted if it had rained and that work went to waste!

Bride and groom kiss under falling confetti outside the glass fronted Garden Court at Hanbury Manor. Guests smile in background. Bride holds bouquet. Festive mood.

Bride and groom smile as guests throw confetti outside the glass fronted Garden Court at Hanbury Manor. Bride holds bouquet; bright, joyful atmosphere.

Bride and groom smile under falling confetti, surrounded by guests. The bride holds a bouquet, and they're outside the glass fronted Garden Court at Hanbury Manor.

WHAT THE COUPLE SAY

"Sarah was the photographer for our wedding in February 2025, and we cannot recommend her enough. We love our photos so much, and Sarah went the extra mile to get all the shots, including climbing on some muddy ground! We were impressed by her technical skills too, working hard to get the lighting perfect both indoors and outdoors. She is so warm, friendly and down to earth, which made us feel relaxed to get some amazing couple shots. She also got our wedding album to us so quickly, 4 days after the wedding. We could not recommend Sarah enough, and are so glad to have found her."