If there’s one thing the constant lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 have forced many of us to do, it’s spend more time watching TV.
As always, there are certain shows which steal the limelight and, arguably, Netflix’s Bridgerton has taken up more of the nation’s time than any other binge-worthy boxset.
Based on Julia Quinn’s novels, Bridgerton is an American period drama set in the British Regency era and has attracted a huge audience thanks to its heady mix of lust, betrayal, and extreme wealth.
Don’t worry - this blog is spoiler-free, but we do want to focus on one element of the show which could be just the tonic for anyone who’s looking to get married soon.
Yes, it’s the wedding of main characters Simon Bassett and Daphne Bridgerton. Could this be the ideal wedding theme for you?
Simplicity: it’s what we all need right now
In stark contrast to the lavish sets and all-out displays of wealth throughout Bridgerton’s eight episodes, Daphne and Simon’s wedding is remarkably low-key.
But that’s what’s so compelling about it - particularly if you want to get married before June this year. This is because there will still be restrictions in place until then for the number of guests you can have at your wedding (it’s increasing to 15 in April, and then 30 in May).
Indeed, if you’re planning on getting married during the COVID-19 pandemic, your heart may have been warmed by the sight of the Bridgerton wedding. It’s refreshingly intimate, unfussy, and, above all, befitting of the couple in question.
Despite the promise of all guest restrictions being lifted after 21st June, simplicity is still in high demand for modern weddings. So, with that in mind, what tips can we take from the Bridgerton wedding?
Small and intimate is the order of the day
The church was small and there were just a few guests present at the Bridgerton wedding. Indeed, the only thing that was there in abundance was the flower arrangements (which we’ll get onto in a moment).
Without giving too much away, the soon-to-be-wed couple didn’t want to make a big statement or fuss about their wedding. And they achieved that with a simple-yet-elegant ceremony in front of just a handful of guests.
Whether you’re getting married now or in three years’ time, staging a small, intimate ceremony with your nearest and dearest solves all sorts of problems. It greatly reduces the guest list, lowers the cost, and removes many unnecessary stresses from the big day.
If Daphne and Simon can do it, so can you!
Focusing on the flowers
It’s impossible not to spot the copious amounts of beautiful flowers and petals at the Bridgerton wedding. The production designers wanted to create a “beautiful floral world” in which the couple could commit to each other, and they certainly achieved that.
In an interview with Brides.com, the show’s production designer, Will Hughes-Jones, revealed why flowers played such an important role during the wedding; “It just brings it alive and is not an expensive thing to do,” he explained.
He’s right. The floral world at the Bridgerton wedding was created with nothing more than wildflowers draped over balconies and rose petals strewn across the aisle. A simple but effective floral idea.
As Hughes-Jones suggests, you can even “go off into the countryside and take some wildflowers from the hedgerow” if you’re really struggling with the budget!
A single-extravagance reception
Who says you need to spend a fortune on your reception? It is, after all, just a party, and people care about nothing more than having a good time.
That might explain why the only extravagance during this element of the Bridgerton wedding was a huge 4.5-foot wedding cake. It created a stunning centrepiece but left the rest of the party to simply get on without any needless extravagance.
Sounds like heaven, right? This approach is nothing new, either - it has given rise to something known as the ‘micro wedding’, which does exactly what it says on the tin; there’s no need to sacrifice the chance to celebrate - you simply tone everything down to the bare bones of celebration and enjoyment.
Picking a Bridgerton-inspired wedding venue
There are some great lists of Bridgerton-inspired wedding venues to check out, but the likes of Prestwold Hall in Leicestershire and Kirtlington Park in Oxfordshire are perfect examples of elegant wedding venues which might fit the bill.
What’s more, if you really do pair back your guest list and the little ‘touches’ whose combined price soon adds up, you may have a bit more in the pot to play with when it comes to the venue!
There was barely any opulence at the Bridgerton wedding, but that didn’t make it any less special. And just imagine if Daphne and Simon had been able to hire all of their catering equipment from Plato! There would have been even more time and hassle saved.
Thankfully, you can. So, why not get in touch with our team to find out how we can help you make a success of a Bridgerton-inspired wedding?