This was my first visit to Blackwell Grange and quickly become one of my new favourites. Probably because Hannah & Chris know how to organise one hell of a party, but also Blackwell is such a beautiful place!
I was already there when Hannah arrived with her bridesmaids so we headed into prep for hair and makeup.
Prosecco popped, music on, laughter and giggles all morning long and a few hours later, we were ready for the ceremony. Hannah had prepared a lovely piece of audio for Chris before her aisle walk which bought a huge smile to his face but the biggest smile was reserved for when he turned round to see her. Smiles and a small amount of tears, no doubt.
The registrars added to the fun of the ceremony and once the rings were on and the first kiss was had, it was time for the confetti run. It went EVERYWHERE. Such a fun and memorable moment.
Group shots completed and it was time for more Prosecco. Always a great moment. Speeches were had before dinner and they were all hilarious. Hannahs Dad doing a great takeoff of the famous Love Actually scene with the cards – see below!
The barn at Blackwell is an iconic setting for the first dance too. The drapes and lighting making it look just a little bit stunning.
This was a fab wedding.
Suppliers:
Venue: Blackwell Grange
Dress: Serendipity
Suits: Marc Darcey
Makeup: Jade May MUA
Hair: Devoted Bridal
Florist: Orange Blossom Daventry
Cake: Cake Secret
Band: The Review
Blackwell Grange
Blackwell Grange, set in the heart of Warwickshire near Shipston-on-Stour, stands within a county whose history stretches back thousands of years and forms an essential backdrop to the character of the site. Warwickshire has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with evidence of Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements found along the River Avon and the Cotswold fringe. During the Roman period, the region became strategically important. Nearby Fosse Way cutting through the county and Roman settlements such as Alcester (Alauna) and Chesterton-on-Fosse thriving as centres of trade and agriculture. After the Roman withdrawal, Warwickshire emerged as part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. Place names such as Warwick (from Wæringwic, meaning settlement by the weir) and nearby Stratford-upon-Avon reflecting this early medieval heritage.
Warwickshire
By the Norman Conquest of 1066, Warwickshire was firmly established. William the Conqueror granting the earldom to Henry de Beaumont, who built Warwick Castle – one of England’s most formidable medieval fortresses – overlooking the River Avon. Throughout the Middle Ages, the county became dominated by farming estates, monasteries, and market towns. Shipston-on-Stour, Kenilworth, and Coventry, to name a few, the latter growing into one of England’s most important medieval cities. The surrounding countryside, including villages like Blackwell, Newbold-on-Stour, and Tredington, developed around agriculture, mills, and parish churches. Many of which date from the 12th to 15th centuries. It was during Tudor and early Stuart periods – the 16th/17th centuries – that farmsteads like Blackwell Grange took shape. With substantial timber-framed buildings, barns, and mills, including the 1604 Flour Mill that remains part of the estate today.
Warwickshire played a role in the English Civil War, battles such as Edgehill in 1642 marking the first major conflict between Royalist and Parliamentarians. In later centuries, the county balanced its rural traditions with growing industry. During the Industrial Revolution, Coventry became a centre for textiles, watchmaking, bicycles, and eventually motor cars. Much of south Warwickshire retained its pastoral character. The 19th and early 20th centuries saw continued agricultural use of estates like Blackwell Grange. Preserving the landscape of hedgerows, grazing land, and working farms that still define the area.
Becoming home to the Vernon Miller family in 1944, the Grange has been restored by William and Didi Vernon Miller. Blending centuries-old architecture with contemporary design. Today, a working farm and an exclusive wedding venue, Blackwell Grange stands as a continuation of Warwickshire’s long history. Rooted in the same land that has been cultivated, settled, and cherished since the earliest days of the county.
