On Thursday 3rd November, a who’s who of the wedding industry, along with some of our fabulous Ellie Sanderson brides, came together to celebrate the official opening of our brand new bridal studio. And what a night it was! We’ve only just come down from the high of marking such a big occasion in spectacular style. There was champagne, music, and dresses – so many gorgeous dresses. In Ellie’s words, “The barn was literally jumping ‘til late!”. Here’s everything you need to know about Ellie Sanderson Kiddington…

The opening night party

Over 100 guests came along to see our gorgeous new Ellie Sanderson Kiddington studio in all its glory. The fab Richard Parsons, AKA the Gloucestershire Magician, wowed everyone with some impressive card tricks (seriously Richard, how do you do it?!) as they sipped champagne and cocktails to kick start the night. Music was provided by the awesome Boujee Music, while Salsa Rose served up plate after plate of to-die-for canapes.

Ellie kicked off proceedings thanking all her guests and everyone who helped make her Kiddington dream a reality. Then it was time for a fashion show, sharing some of Ellie’s favourite dresses. Every single one a total knockout. The incredible fashion designer and Ellie Sanderson fave, Suzanne Neville, even made an appearance to talk us through some of her new collection.

A special thanks to Mrs T who helped plan and organise the epic party, Fabulous Wedding Flowers and, of course, the super-talented Kate Pook who captured the night so perfectly.

Finding the right location

So, what makes this new bridal studio so special? Over to Ellie to explain.

“Gate Farm Barns in Kiddington has been years in the making. It has been my ambition for some time to sell my beautiful dresses in a wonderful, organic and rural setting. Stepping away from the High Street issues and stresses, and working in a space that is simply magic. A destination, a place of clam and a place of fun and celebration.

Finding the right building was truly the hardest thing, as barns can be dark and depressing. I viewed so many, but Gate Farm stole my heart on the first visit – then Covid hit. The stars aligned in March this year, when the Barns came back onto the market and I was first through that door. It was a YES from me within minutes. The sunlight flooding the studio, the outlook of spring lambs in the fields beyond, dedicated parking for my brides and a simply wonderful courtyard just sealed the deal.

The Ellie Sanderson Kiddington vibe

Picking the right people to help me bring this vision to life took some time, as I only wanted to work with artisan craftspeople. I wanted beautiful pieces of furniture created by hand and I wanted every single brushstroke of paint to be applied with precision and care. Honestly, I wanted the whole building to be steeped in a feeling of love and utter joy.

My interior designer was my first ever Saturday girl, who has gone on to become one of London’s most talked about new stars in her field. Atelier Racine.  We set out a vision and, from day one, agreed on pretty much everything.”

From handmade furniture by the wonderful Gideon Botha and terrazzo jewellery trays by Mariana of Bruta, to a bespoke hand painted mural capturing the essence of the brand, everything at Ellie Sanderson Kiddington celebrates the magic of this space. I wanted it to be calm, effortless and utterly feminine whilst feeling organic.

What designers do you have at Ellie Sanderson Kiddington?

Ellie explains, “We don’t sell mass produced products but instead focus on the provenance of the labels. Knowing each designer personally and understanding their business’s philosophy helps us ensure it matches with ours. We work with labels that are diverse, cool, modern and inclusive with their sizing structure. We travel the globe to find these labels; Australia to New York, Israel to Harrow. They are all hugely special to us.” Expect to find labels like Rish, Anna Kara, Eva Lendel, Suzanne Neville and Chosen by Khya at our Kiddington studio.

Book an appointment at Ellie Sanderson Kiddington

To book an appointment at our gorgeous new studio, just click here. If you’ve got any questions give us a call on 01608 677677. You can find us at Gate Farm Barns, Park Road, Kiddington, Woodstock OX20 1DB. With easy parking, a gorgeous coffee lounge and lots of wonderful dresses.

A special thanks to:

@boujeemusiclive
@mrs_t_weddings
@salsarose_london
@fabulousweddingflowers
@lucca_studios
@katepookphotography
@katiereayscott
@glosmagician
@oxfordshirebridalhairandmakeup
@mariellarodhousemakeup
@suzanneneville
@29atelierlondon
@guidesforbrides
@kirstyspencemodel
@zabeenahackett