A UK Wedding at Ellingham Hall, Planned From Sydney, Australia: Davina & Alex's Destination Celebration

Planning From Across the World

Davina and Alex live in Sydney, but when it came to their wedding, they chose to hold it in the UK. It wasn’t the easiest way to do it—planning from the other side of the world rarely is—but it meant being surrounded by their closest people. And that mattered more than convenience.

They found Ellingham Hall online. A virtual tour first, then a real-life visit by Alex's brother and sister-in-law, who confirmed what Davina and Alex already suspected: this was the place. Beautiful grounds, enough space for guests to stay, and not too far from Alex’s grandma. It ticked every box.

Panoramic view of a historic stone manor house with ivy-covered walls.

Preparations

Davina got ready with her eight bridesmaids—including her three sisters—all in matching purple pyjamas. As she shared with Weddings and Honeymoons Magazine, "The nerves were calmed down with having lots of fun and catching up in matching purple pyjamas."

Alex's morning was more laid-back. He and the groomsmen helped each other with cufflinks and bowties, kept things moving, and shared a few laughs to keep the nerves away. "It was really chill," he said, "laughs were had all around which helped with the nerves."

The First Look

We planned their first look back in February—months before the wedding. That way, when the moment arrived, they didn’t have to think about anything. They could just be there, letting their emotions flood.

Alex stood by the door, waiting. Davina approached slowly. I positioned myself near a mirror that allowed me to see both of them at once, switching between their reactions without interrupting a second of it.

Alex's expression when he turned around said everything. It was honest, full, and completely unfiltered. That's the kind of moment that sticks. Davina later said, "The whole day was amazing but the first looks were really special. Having the extra time just for us to check in and have the day really hit us was great."

The Ceremony

The ceremony took place at Ellingham Hall, with live music by violinist Joel Grainer. He played a version of Cherry Wine by Hozier for the aisle walk—a detail they'd planned carefully. It was timed exactly to Davina's entrance, followed by music for the wedding party.

As they told the magazine, "We really wanted the aisle song to be Hozier, so Joel was able to blend Cherry Wine along with a song for the wedding party to walk down to. It was timed perfectly." Nothing about the ceremony felt rushed or overdone. It had space to breathe, and everyone seemed fully present.

The Wedding Styling

Purple ran through the day. From the florals to the bridesmaids' dresses to the lilac-and-white cake. Davina made her favourite colour part of the visual story, but without going over the top. "Davina's favourite colour is purple so we really wanted to include that," they said. "We also wanted to stay true to the rustic elegance of the venue, so kept the decor simple with personal pictures depicting the years of our relationship."

Each bridesmaid wore a different dress style in the same fabric and tone—so everyone felt comfortable. Alex wore a blue suit, while the groomsmen were in navy. Just enough difference to set him apart.

One of my favourite small details? The slate coasters used as guest favours—a subtle nod to Alex’s background in geology. "He loves rocks," Davina laughed.

Reception

They built their wedding playlist over a year—adding songs bit by bit until it was just right. That playlist played throughout the day, including dinner and drinks, setting a really relaxed tone.

Their first dance was to Best Part by H.E.R. and Daniel Caesar. No spotlight show, no forced moves—just the two of them, enjoying the moment.

What made this day stand out wasn’t one big thing—it was how everything worked together. A couple planning their wedding from across the world, making sure people felt welcomed, and creating time for each part of the day to actually happen without stress.

The atmosphere, the thought behind the details, the way people felt looked after—that’s what stayed with me. It wasn’t just a wedding. It was a day that made sense for them.

If you’re planning from abroad or looking for inspiration for a calm, thoughtful UK wedding, Davina and Alex’s day is one to take notes from.

With Love,

Karolina x