Thrumpton Hall, just south of Nottingham, returned to it’s glory days last weekend, when my daughter Lisa married Leonardo Lopez Wain. I should have known that there was a Byron connection. A more romantic setting it would be hard to imagine. And indeed, a former owner of the Hall, Frederick the 10th Baron Byron, was married to Lady Anna Fitzroy, sister of the 10th Duke of Grafton, and a direct descendant of King Charles II.
An engraving of Thrumpton Hall by Wencelas Hollar, 1600s (Creative Commons)
The Cavaliers would have felt quite at home at last Saturday’s reception. My daughter loves period costume and the wedding guests were invited to indulge in the same. Many of her friends are role players and were delighted to partake. As one of the guests remarked to me “I just love dressing up, don’t you?” I had to confess that it was my first time, but that, yes, it did feel good.
I had already survived the drama of arriving at the wrong church just 15 minutes before the ceremony was due to begin, and a panic stricken scurry through country lanes to collapse into my seat a bare 5 minutes before the bride. My reading from Song of Solomon was delivered with an impassioned throb in my voice and knocking knees as I struggled to find my place in the bible. After that, everything felt good.
The Hall was magnificent. We gathered in the library, around an open fire. The books and the furniture were from a bygone age. The reception rooms were lavish, and the Jacobean cantilevered staircase, carved in wood from the estate, an object of real beauty. The guests mingled as good guests should. The atmosphere was as warm as the fire.
All too soon it was over, and Lisa and Leo stepped briefly out of character to fly BA to their honeymoon in Venice. Costumes donned again, they were off to Carnaval and a masked ball. May they always be as happy as they are today.
To see the dress and bouquet in more detail, please visit my Jakesprinter’s Sunday Post : On going. You can click on any of these individual photos to see them in gallery form. Happy Valentine’s Day everybody.
My galleries won’t roll as they should. Sorry folks- the curse of technology strikes again!
Tell you what- just ignore me. It’s fine!
What do you mean .. that your gallery doesn’t roll?? Great photos of a very special day in stunning surroundings. The guest’s outfits are beautiful.
I think I reacted too soon, Viveka. I didn’t have the arrows on the sides of the gallery so you had to click on each photo individually, which totally destroys the gallery concept. But now it’s working perfectly, and I’m HAPPY!
beautiful MY GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!
I would have to agree with you, Len. Whoever created Lisa is awesome indeed. Many thanks love.
Perfect setting for the wedding.Love your description of getting there, or almost not getting there…on time. Now you can relax.
I’m just about over being an emotional wreck, Lynne. Now to plan the rest of the year.
Superb venue, just loving the venue. And as for Lisa’s frock, what a work of art. I did click on the previous post to read about her designing and making it, so as an amateur dressmaker I am well impressed. Congratulations to them both and hope they have a long and happy life together.
Thanks, Rough. I can claim no credit. She is my mum reincarnated, and I love her to bits.
Oh my goodness what a wonderfully thought out wedding.The dresses are fab and as for the cake…it sounds so scrummity yum.
I bet it was a panicky moment indeed when you arrived at the wrong church!Glad it all went well in the end and thanks for sharing your daughters special day with us,may they have a long and happy life together x
Bless you, Jess. I hope so too.
What a marvellous occasion! The setting, outfits, cake, everything looks wonderful.
What a clever daughter you have.
She’s amazing. Thanks, Elaine.
Wow congratulations Jo! It looks like quite the wedding indeed! Sounds wonderful!
Many thanks, Nicole. It was definitely a day to remember.
This looks like it was a true ‘fairy tale’ wedding. May they have a beautiful, long and happy marriage
Thank you so much, Dianne. That’s exactly what I wish for them.
A period costume sounds fabulous, and looks like it was so much fun. Everything is beautiful and the creative details, impressive. Your journey to the church sounds like a scene from a movie. I hope you had a frothy (strong) drink (or two) to calm your nerves at the reception.
James kept saying “Chill, Mam. It’s fine”! And it was.
Wow, Jo, no wonder you were looking forward to it – what an occasion! Lisa’s dress is phenomenal, and that cake….! It was great that so many guests entered into the spirit of it with the dressing up, I’m sure the wedding is one no-one will forget. A beautiful place, wonderful costumes and a truly unique event! You look beautiful, too, very queenly.
Bless your cotton socks, Lorna. You’re very kind.
I have a guy asking me for some info on “off the beaten track” places to stay in Scotland and I have little idea without lots of online searching. Could I pass him on to you, do you think? He’s coming for a 6 month stay in July.
Yes sure Jo, I’ll give any help I can.
Incredible day, what an amazing place and everyone (you most defiitely included) looks fabulous! I wish them a long and happy life together.
Thank you so much, Chica. It was truly fabulous.
Congratulations! What a fun and imaginative idea for a wedding.
Thank you very much. It was definitely memorable.
A really fantastic wedding, so much fun and I just love the theme. What a wonderful day for you Jo and how proud and happy you must be
I’m just about coming back down to earth, Sam. Till I start looking at the photos again!
What an amazing day! So glad you got there in time Jo x
It was a tester!!
Congratulations and what a beautiful day – those costumes are stunning and what a talent Lisa has to be able to make them herself!
I can never believe that I brought her into this world, Lucy. I think the fairies must have sneaked her into the crib. Thanks, hon.
Such wonderful costumes and attention to detail! I can only imagine the amount of work that went into creating a truly unique and special wedding. Glad you made it to the church in the nick of time
Thanks, Julie. She gets such joy out of creating. Her everyday job is as a Commissioner for local government!
Every bit of it including the cake, just stunning!
She absolutely is, Dallas. Thank you kindly!
Just fabulous Jo! Seems totally scripted for Hollywood, right up to the last minute arrival of the stunning mother of the bride
Why don’t we get to see your entire costume? 
I forgot to prompt the husband to take the right shot! Whenever the album comes out, I’ll see if there’s a presentable one. Otherwise I’ll have to go put the outfit on again- but it won’t be the same!
Congratulations to your daughter! It looks like you all had a blast! Lovely place for a wedding reception.
Many thanks, Ana. It was an amazing day in many respects.
the cake is gorgeous and so is the entire theme of the wedding. what a fantastic idea
Thanks Tasha. Might you go for something similar?
What a great wedding! Congratulations!
Thank you, Malou. We had a truly beautiful day.
It’s so lovely, and now a honeymoon in Venice – it sounds perfect!
She’s home tomorrow evening. I’ve been wondering all day where she’d be this Valentine’s eve, Meg.
I enjoyed both this and the previous post. Looks like a both fun and fantastic place to have a wedding. Congratulations!
Many thanks, Munchow. As special occasions go, this one was very special.
Congratulations to the happy couple and may they always bring such imagination to their endeavours.
Thanks Aisha. I think i can pretty well guarantee that they will!
Honeymoon in Venice sounds heavenly. What a wedding! Much happiness to them both.
Thanks, Ad. Hmm- I’m very jealous. I feel like I’ve walked every step of those canals this past 5 days. (the honeymoon was our wedding present so I just had to!)
Beautiful, Jo! The queen mother looks lovely as well. I’m sure this was a wonderful occasion. I’m sorry you were in a panic about being late though and had to deliver your part with knees shaking!! The honeymoon in Venice sounds like the perfect ending to a unique wedding!
No worries, Cath. It wouldn’t be me if things ran too smoothly! It all came right in the end. They’re home again this evening and here I am up at crack of dawn and can’t sleep. What else are blogs for? Thanks for your company.
A beautiful fairytale marriage. I love the costumes. I hope the newly wedded couple will live together, in marriage happily ever after. What a story! Thank you for sharing.
It felt pretty much like being part of a fairy tale. They’ve been happy for the past 10 years, despite all that life has thrown at them, so I’m hopeful, Yahobahne. Many thanks for your nice comments.
Congratulations, Jo!! And you looked fabulous!
Bless you, hon. Not too bad for an oldie.
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What a wonderful wedding and described so beautifully.
Thanks, David. It really was an amazing day (even by Lisa’s standards!)
Anywhere sunny in the pipeline, or have you already been? (not counting the Algarve)
Hoping to tour New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington DC early June maybe. In the planning stage at the moment…….Google Earth really comes in handy!
What a splendid wedding! Looked like fun! (:>) Loved the attire!…and the surroundings!!!
Linda
It was fabulous, Linda, and all the more so because Lisa did so much of the work herself. (dress, Leo’s jacket and waistcoat, bridesmaid’s dress, groom’s waistcoats, cake and bouquets)
Those wedding outfits put even a royal wedding to shame.
Talented is an understatement for your daughter!!!!
Bless you, Vicky. That’s very kind, but I have to agree that she has an awesome talent, even if I shouldn’t.
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congratulations! Looks like a lovely place for a wedding. Many happy memories from such a lovely day I am sure.
I’m eagerly awaiting honeymoon photos now, Col. Venice lagoon with snow. Don’t think they took pics of Aqua Alta.
Magnificent – truly magnificent. A day to remember, indeed!
And fun, too, Marianne. The Venice honeymoon photos are up on her Facebook page and I spent ages drooling. Snow in Venice and costumes galore!
What a fabulous spectacle! Talk about getting married in style.
I’m so glad you pointed me in this direction – because I’ve been unwell, I’ve missed a lot of what’s been going on and I was looking forward to the wedding photos I might otherwise have missed.
Sorry if that comment is garbled; I’m still bunged up and my head isn’t right yet.
You were perfectly lucid, as ever, Tilly. Sorry you’ve not been well. I knew you had WordPress issues so thought your absence was down to that. I mostly chase the travel blogs around and catch up with you on 6WS. (more hours, please!)
Dear Jo,
What an interesting family you have! May they never lose their sense of fun and adventure. Dressing up in period costume has always been a fun family activity for us. We went to medieval fairs and hosted historical dinners, and all that we enjoyed sharing with the kids. We have tucked away the best costumes for the grandkids, whenever that time comes, because I’m sure we’ll still be playing dress up then!
It was a first for me, Naomi, and I had quite a bit of angst finding a frock, but I never saw more smiling faces at a wedding and they certainly generated a lot of happiness.
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What a beautiful wedding – your daughter’s dress is magnificent, and I love her hair, and the car! Such a great idea to invite the guests to play dress up in that historical setting.
Doing these in reverse order, Rose, as I should be doing the tea, and can spend more time later. The effort she put into sewing and creating for the wedding was amazing! Thanks for visiting.
Your daughter sewed her own dress! wow!
The dress, Leo’s frock coat and waistcoat, bridesmaid’s frock, waistcoats for the grooms, the bouquets and made the cake with a little help from Jema, the maid of honour. A one-woman wedding outfitter. A couple of my posts give details and close ups. Off to look at your daughter’s now.
wow! what a fun wedding to have! the dressing up in costume must have been so unusual, and made for great and unforgettable pictures I am sure. And that cake is awesome! and your daughter made her own dress!!!????? just amazing!
Yes, it was a pretty amazing occasion. Lisa and her friends are used to dressing up as they go to role play venues, but it was a very enjoyable first for me.
I am very belatedly doing some blog catching up. I am pleased for all that the wedding went well.
Thank you! I do appreciate your time. It’s not easy fitting everyone in, even though it’s very enjoyable.
How wonderful that all looks! The best to the happy couple.
Yes, it was a very special occasion. Many thanks, Rebecca.