A Wedding in England
Located in southwest England's Dorset countryside just outside the historic village of Milton Abbas is Milton Abbey, a stunning mansion and church - and a beautiful setting for a wedding.
I hope you saw some of my images on my Instagram page @marthastewart48. I traveled abroad over the weekend for the wedding of my godson, Laurence Booth Clibborn. My niece Sophie Herbert Slater joined me. I was asked to help assemble and decorate the cake made by the groom's mother, Julia. It turned out so beautifully. And although it was such a brief trip, I also toured the Dorset county town of Dorchester, walked around Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, and visited the Mute Swans at Abbotsbury Swannery.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
-
- Dorset, England is largely rural with low-lying valleys, beautiful landscapes, and charming villages.
-
- Upon arriving, the first thing we did was tour the quaint market town of Dorchester, the county town of Dorset situated on the River Frome.
-
- This is the Roman Town House discovered in the 1930s. It is a Roman ruin and monument. It was built around 307 AD and then expanded in 341 AD. It has flint and stone walls and sits on a grass covered site.
-
- Part of it had mosaic floors.
-
- This is Came House, the reception venue. It is a 1754 country house and estate near the village of Winterborne Came in Dorset.
-
- The estate, which is now exclusively used for weddings and other events, includes formal gardens, a cast iron domed conservatory, and room for 32 guests.
-
- My task was to help assemble and decorate the cake.
-
- Here is the silver stand for the multi-tiered cake.
-
- Julia Booth Clibborn, the groom’s mother, baked a traditional English fruitcake, which was covered in white frosting.
-
- Here is the cake before I added the decorations – it looks so wonderful.
-
- And here is Milton Abbey, set in the rolling hills of Dorset. It is a former Benedictine monastery founded in 934 and features a 15th century tower.
-
- This is a view of a large stained glass window from the inside. The church was extensively restored and remodeled in the late 18th century.
-
- The walls of the church are made from a mixture of Ham stone, Chillmark stone, and flint. The structure is an example of Decorated Gothic architecture.
-
- After the wedding ceremony, my niece Sophie and I decorated the cake with cheerful yellow Banksia roses, Rosa banksiae, a species of nearly thornless climbing rose.
-
- Here I am with Julia. I am wearing a three piece ensemble by Libertine.
-
- And here I am with my godson and groom, Laurence.
-
- Laurence and his wife, Alice, cut the cake with Alice’s grandfather’s sword.
-
- After the wedding, we drove by this cottage on the countryside. Notice, it has a thatched roof – meaning its roofing system is made from natural materials such as straw, reeds, or palm leaves, providing insulation, waterproofing, and a rustic aesthetic.
-
- Sophie and I also went to the Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, a 30-acre property featuring more than 6,000 species of rare and exotic plants. Sophie is standing in front of one of my favorites – Gunnera, large and striking perennials native to regions including Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Papuasia, Hawaii, Southeast Asia, eastern Africa, and Madagascar.
-
- Gunnera thrives in damp, boggy soil and likes full sun to light shade.
-
- And then it was off to Abbotsbury Swannery, home to a colony of more than 600 Mute Swans on the Dorset Coast. Here is the house at the entrance pointing guests to the swans and the living Willow Swan Maze.
-
- This is a statue of a Mute Swan. Perhaps some of you remember the wounded Mute Swan that landed on my farm five years ago – it is now happy and living at a New York sanctuary.
-
- One of the Swannery’s main attractions is the Willow Swan Maze planted in the shape of a swan. Here is the entrance.
-
- The maze was planted in 2008 and has only one entrance and one destination. The maze grows and changes with the seasons. At the center is a 10-foot wide woven willow egg.
-
- And here is one of the swans. The Swannery is the only one of its kind in the world. Established by Benedictine monks in the 1040s, it now serves as a sanctuary for these swans.
-
- Here is one in its nest. Mute swans mate for life and are very dedicated and strong parents. Here at Abbotsbury Swannery, more than 100 to 150 pairs of swans nest here.
-
- Heading back to the airport after a wonderful weekend and a most beautiful wedding, we saw a flock of sheep resting in a field. Dorset is a beautiful area, steeped in history and charm – visit if you can.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
