HEDSOR HOUSE –
Ola & Tom’s Workshop
As we turned into the drive leading to Hedsor House, a herd of Highland cattle stood waiting to greet us, offering a warm welcome after our journey. In the distance, the House rose majestically, breathtaking against a cornflower blue sky. It truly has the wow factor.
Today, Ola & Tom were hosting a photographic course designed for experienced photographers looking to sharpen their skills in shooting luxury weddings at this high-end venue. While the sun had made an appearance, it had forgotten to turn up the heat—it was certainly a little chilly.
As the group of professionals arrived to prepare the House for the various showcases, vans began to unload their treasures: flowers, tiaras, crockery, tablecloths—all beautifully curated by Lucia Penman, the planner behind this event. Lucia had sent her detailed designs to me and the other styling assistants in advance.
The main tablescape featured a bold floral centrepiece cascading into a meadow arrangement, laid with luxury crockery and cutlery to evoke the opulence of a Hedsor House wedding.
While the photographers were being briefed on each tableau, models Elena & Oliver were placed into position, breathing life into every setting. Consummate professionals, they moved and posed with ease, giving each photographer something special to capture (and thanks to Jessy Papasavva for letting me use her images).
Behind the scenes, I worked with Leonidas and Natalie, fellow styling assistants, to set up the tablescapes in the Grand Hall and on the patio. Leo, who had experience in both shoots and hospitality, naturally took the lead on logistics. Together, we arranged the crockery, cutlery, and glassware for the shoot, working in tandem with the florists who crafted a dramatic centrepiece and meadow display.
Thanks to Leo’s strength and help from The Tiara Company team, we managed to set up four 6ft round tables on the patio for the second tablescape. Unfortunately, hip pain kicked in meaning I couldn’t carry or drag the tables or chairs.
The tables, styled in a caterpillar layout with a green and white theme, matched the florals adorning the garden doorframe. Four elegant candelabras, dressed with white and green candles, complemented the matching crockery and gold cutlery—adding a touch of luxury to the whole scene.
Despite the abundance of flowers and candles creating a striking visual, nothing could compete with the wind. Bud vases and glassware were knocked over repeatedly, sending us all scrambling to prevent breakages. The candlesticks took a direct hit every time the wind picked up.
Even with these minor hiccups, each photographer captured stunning shots for their portfolios. The day was not only a creative success but a fantastic opportunity for professionals to network and gather content for their websites and social media.
A huge thank you to Ola, Tom, and Lucia Penman for the chance to be part of this fabulous shoot—and to my fellow styling assistants, especially to Leo for taking up the slack when I couldn’t.
