English Countryside Wedding with Brazilian Soul & Spirit

Melissa Hammam
January 31, 2023
Categories: Destination, Real Weddings, Seasonal Wedding Trend, Summer, The Blog

A traditional English manor meets a modern aesthetic for the most swoon-worthy of wedding days. What Peggy Did Next brought the couple’s romantic vision to life, starting with a muted, soft palette and ending on a bolder, brighter note to celebrate the bride’s Brazilian roots. Jenni Bloom helped tell the love story perfectly through florals, and the love and joy of the day shine through imagery captured by Kristin Sautter. You’ll love every minute inside the full gallery.

From Kristin Sautter… While studying at the University of Nottingham, Daniela and Beaufort met during a night out with friends—a night Beaufort had to be persuaded to go on. Mutual friends introduced them, and as Daniela says, “If love at first sight exists, that was definitely it.” They spent much of the evening outside getting to know each other. When they came back in the club, 80s disco music was playing and their infatuation only deepened as they danced the night away to Earth, Wind & Fire and KC & the Sunshine band. Nine years later, Beaufort proposed on a quiet Greek Island overlooking the sea.

As an architect at Foster + Partners in London, Daniela has an impeccable eye for design and detail. They knew they wanted a wedding celebration to be an immersive, sensory experience—one that paid homage to both their upbringings. The day began romantically with a muted palette and lush English garden roses designed by Jenni Bloom Flowers, all in various shades of pink (the bride’s obsession!). Reminiscent of Beaufort’s childhood in the English countryside, the spirit was soft with atmospheric sounds and scents of an English garden. As the day progressed, passion and soul began to bloom. Influenced by Daniela’s Brazilian roots, bolder colors were introduced. The spirit evolved to a more emotional, soulful sentiment. By evening, the festivity had turned fully vivacious and playful.

This sort of evolving day required the perfect setting. When the couple discovered St Giles House in Dorset, it seemed to be fate. The house blends elements of a traditional English manor home with an edgier, modern aesthetic. Its diversity in spaces allowed for a varied experience for each moment of the day. Guests were able to seamlessly move throughout the day, immersed in the gentle evolution of the day’s design. To pull it all off, they enlisted Helen of What Peggy Did Next to execute the design and handle month-of planning.

After choosing St Giles House as their venue, Daniela and Beaufort seized the opportunity to host a full weekend countryside escape. Festivities began with an intimate rehearsal dinner on the estate, with champagne, canapés, and sunset photos for the couple. The bride wore a Zimmermann bow dress and her great-grandmother’s diamond ring.

On the big day, Daniela arrived with her mother and bridesmaids to get wedding-ready. While looking fabulous in two different Sleeper morning looks, Natalie-Danielle ensured her makeup and hair looked flawless. Her and her bridesmaids sipped champagne before she slipped into her bespoke J Andreatta gown. After trying on over 120 dresses in boutiques all over England, she fell in love with Jessica’s designs at a trunk show at Amare Bride. In collaboration with Jessica and Lyndsey of Amare Bride, they created a custom gown that combined all of Daniela’s favorite elements—including an extra-long train, veil, and bespoke detachable sleeves to complete the look.

Elsewhere on the estate, the gentlemen played billiards and got ready, the groom wearing classic black tie by Favourbrook. Guests arrived to the sounds of live acoustic music by Mae Bradbury and found their seats in the great hall brimming with romantic florals and candles. After a tearful walk down the aisle, Daniela and Beaufort both say they felt “encompassed by love” during their ceremony. It ended up being their favorite part of the whole celebration.

When the ceremony ended, guests celebrated the newlyweds with confetti before making their way to the drawing room for the champagne tower. Here the guests were introduced to hints of what was to come: subtle additions of red, fuchsia, and bolder floral choices. With champagne coupes in-hand, guests walked through the estate gardens to the outdoor reception area. Large murals and floral urns created a distinct space, bringing the artistry outside. The hydrangea wallpaper—matching the invitation suite by Emma Bradstreet—continued the English garden aesthetic.

All the food and wine was carefully curated by the groom and the bride’s father and brought to life by Red Herring. Everything was inspired by their shared experiences—from a holiday in Mexico to traditional family recipes. Upon entering the dinner space, guests were greeted with a distinct aroma of English garden roses. But in a departure from the previous portions of the day, the library was playful and flirtatious with pops of deeper pink, red, and orange. The room glowed in candle light as guests enjoyed tearful, emotional speeches from those closest to the bride and groom, all carefully documented on video by Zach & Grace.

After dinner, the photographer, Kristin Sautter, ventured out into the estate grounds with the couple for golden hour portraits. Meanwhile, the guests sipped signature cocktails—the groom’s gin & tonic and the bride’s margarita—as a bossa nova band, Sambossa, began to play. The couple returned to cut the elaborate cake by MonAnnie Cakes and launch the evening festivities.

Guest made their way to the underground club for dancing. Daniela surprised everyone with a second look that revolted against the traditional bridal uniform for something authentically her. She debuted a fiery red and fuchsia Staud Clothing mini dress as her and Beau shared their first dance to “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire—an ode to the night they met. With Daniela’s new look and the bossa nova band playing, the essence of the evening was clear: departing from the romance of an English garden, the guests danced the night away to the spicy and spirited soul of Brazil. In every sense, sensation, and emotion, it was an unforgettable day.

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