Julia and David’s Luxurious Wotton House Wedding in Surrey, a Red Dress Romance in the Italian Gardens
- Gill Flett
- Sep 29, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
Planning a wedding in Surrey and looking for ideas to make your day truly memorable? Julia and David’s extraordinary wedding at Wotton House in Dorking offers endless inspiration, from a striking red bridal gown to a beautifully personal wedding ceremony and stunning portraits in the Italian Gardens. This celebration was full of personality, style and love from start to finish.
Wotton House, the Ideal Wedding Venue in Surrey
Set within 13 acres of private Surrey countryside, Wotton House is a historic country house venue that is as romantic as it is grand. Its 17th century Italian Gardens, elegant interiors and tranquil surroundings made it the perfect setting for Julia and David’s wedding. The couple exchanged their vows in the elegant Library, a bright room with beautiful pillars and traditional charm.
A Love Story Reunited Over Time
Julia and David’s journey began in childhood. Their families lived next door to each other in London, one originally from the United States and the other from Germany. Even after David’s family returned to the US, the two stayed in touch. Years later, they reunited by chance on David’s birthday while Julia was in the States for work. That was the beginning of something very special.
A Bold Red Wedding Dress and Meaningful Preparations
Julia chose to wear a custom red silk taffeta gown by designer Angelina Colarusso, a bold choice that reflected her personality and made a lasting impression. Red orchids adorned her hair, matching her dress and shoes perfectly. Her hair was styled by Skye from Skye Norman, who also styled Julia’s mother on the morning of the wedding.
The preparations took place at Julia’s family home, filled with excitement. Her sister, acting as Best Woman, helped coordinate everything. The flower girls, dressed in turquoise dresses with red shoes, spent the morning carefully pulling petals from red roses for their baskets, a task they took very seriously.
As my Bride in her glorious red dress descended the stairs, everyone was in awe!
An Intimate Ceremony at Wotton House
At Wotton House, everything was perfect. The sun shone brightly as guests arrived, and the Library was beautifully decorated with orchids in glass pillar jars, creating a simple yet elegant setting. A long red ribbon and two delicate orchids adorned the altar, symbolising the unity of the couple.
Julia arrived in a classic vintage Rolls Royce, greeted by her bridal party and guests in the sunshine.
Led by the Toastmaster, the ceremony began with the Best Woman entering first, followed by the flower girls who scattered petals as they walked. Julia walked down the aisle with her father to join David, who was beaming with joy.
A Unique Humanist Ceremony
The couple chose a Humanist Ceremony, which reflected their values and connection. Both mothers read a poem they had written, and a red ribbon, previously displayed on the altar, was passed among the guests before Julia and David tied it together during the ceremony. It was a beautiful moment that brought everyone closer.
The phrase “Tying the Knot” took on a literal meaning, as close friends and family held a long red ribbon that had previously adorned the altar. Julia and David then tied the ribbon together, marking the completion of their marriage. It was a touching and symbolic moment that made their Wotton House wedding ceremony even more special.
Wedding Photography in the Italian Gardens
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests stepped outside into the glorious sunshine for portraits in Wotton House’s famous Italian Gardens. The combination of the lush green landscape and Julia’s vibrant red dress created dramatic and striking photographs.
An acoustic guitarist played softly in the background as guests enjoyed drinks and explored the grounds. With guests travelling from Germany, the United States and across Europe, the day had a warm international feel.
A Stylish Reception in the Evelyn Suite
The wedding breakfast was held in the elegant Evelyn Suite, which was beautifully decorated with fairy lights and simple floral arrangements in glass bottles. Julia and David had put great thought into their table favours—small vials of laurel and thyme, picked from Julia’s family garden. The men received laurel ("resting on their laurels") while the women received thyme ("always needing more time")—a gorgeous personal touch!
After a lively receiving line, the newlyweds made a grand entrance to thunderous applause.
Dinner concluded with the cutting of their stunning wedding cake, which featured delicate sugar poppies and gold leaf detail.
Speeches and Dancing
The speeches were a highlight of the evening. Julia’s father opened with a perfect mix of humour and emotion, followed by David’s father, who shared stories from their families’ shared history. Julia’s sister delivered a lovely speech as Best Woman, and her brother surprised the couple with a series of video messages from guests who could not attend in person.
After the speeches, Julia and David took to the floor for their first dance, followed by a lively party where the dancefloor stayed full all night. Even the flower girls joined in.
Thank you Julia & David so much for having me photograph your wedding - I had a ball!
Capturing a Dream Wotton House Wedding
Julia and David’s Wotton House wedding was an unforgettable celebration of love, family, and friendship. Capturing these incredible moments as a Surrey wedding photographer was an absolute privilege.
Julia said of my services in her 5 star review;
"When planning my wedding I almost didn't book a photographer. I was determined to have a joyous and spontaneous feeling event, without the stop, start, and overly staged moments. Then someone recommended Gill and at our first meeting I knew I needed her. As someone who does not enjoy being photographed, Gill put me totally at ease by ensuring we discussed all of my wants and needs in great detail beforehand, so that on the day everything felt totally natural. As well as capturing all of the key moments as they happened, she was stealth like at the reception, blending in as if a guest, thereby managing to capture the very essence of the event. The result was a plethora of stunning photographs that we will treasure forever. As the bride, the day goes so quickly, and I am now so grateful to have this amazing record of the event, which even captured moments I would have missed. Gill is an absolute wonder to work with, was a pleasure to have as a part of our special day and delivers exceptionally high quality work. I would not hesitate to recommend her to any and all."
Looking for a Surrey Wedding Photographer?
If you are looking for a Surrey wedding photographer for your Wotton House wedding, or anywhere in the UK or abroad, I would love to hear from you. Let’s create beautiful images that will help you remember your day with joy and clarity.
Get in touch today to discuss your wedding photography plans
Based in Surbiton, I cover Surrey, London, Berkshire and destination weddings
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Venue, Wotton House, Dorking
Photographer: Gill Flett — gillflett.com
Bridal Gown Designer: Angelina Colarusso
Hair: Skye from Skye Norman
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