This Cotswolds Wedding Was All About ’90s Style and Countryside Charm

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“Me and Ben met the old-fashioned way, at a bar,” explains model and actress Sadie Newman as she thinks back to the birthday party when she met her now husband Ben Berger, an L.A.-based songwriter and producer. Newman mentions that they were both fresh out of relationships and dating wasn’t on their minds, but something instantly clicked when they they met. “The moment we started talking we couldn’t stop,” Newman says. “Hours passed and I didn’t want it to end and I still don’t want it to.”

It was at the same bar where Berger later proposed. Seated in the exact booth where they first met, he asked Newman to marry him in a room illuminated by glowing candlelight and the sound of the couple’s songs filling the air. “I was then whisked away to our favorite spot, Jones Hollywood, where we first said I love you. I walked into the back room and was surprised by all my friends and family for an engagement dinner followed by a night at Sunset Tower. Truly perfect,” Newman shares. “It’s always been difficult for me to articulate how much I love Ben, but I really was just so certain he was supposed to be my husband from the moment I met him.”

The couple’s wedding took place at Cornwell Manor in the Cotwolds, a destination just three hours from Devon where Newman grew up. The wedding incorporated their love of fashion, the charm and whimsy of the English countryside, and their own spin on family traditions. Scroll on to read more about how the wedding unfolded with words from the bride, including everything from the custom ’90s-inspired dress to all of the details behind the destination nuptials.

“I’ve known Savannah Miller for basically my entire modeling career from when I started at 15. We always knew that the moment I got engaged she would be the one to make me my dress. So, I sat down with her and her lovely team and we came up with inspiration together, it was so special to actually create something that would make me feel the most beautiful and unique.”

“Savannah and her team designed a bias-cut custom made wedding gown through their bespoke service which evolved from being a classic slip dress to something that embodied’ 90s styling. The gown was based on a mainline style, ‘Lordes’, within the collection as a starting point. [I researched] vintage Dior couture silhouettes, Geoffrey Beene, and the iconic style of Kate Moss during that time to create my final design.”

“I wanted a ’90s-inspired shape with structure but also ease, and after flying to London from L.A. a few times for my fittings at the beautiful Four Seasons in the Hyde Park Suite we absolutely nailed it, and I shed a tear when I first saw it in person.”

The bride at her the fitting for her custom Savannah Miller dress.

“The dress was made from a gorgeous heavy crepe satin featuring a fitted bustier that was integral to the bodice which was cut away at the sides and the entire back held together by two straps so there was an element of reveal when I turned around. The straps were adorned with pearls that detailed at the edge alternately.”

“The dress was finished with a hand-draped swathe of silk that crossed over the bust and shoulder and cascaded into a full-length streamer at the back.”

“We invited everyone to the rehearsal dinner on Friday evening since people travelled so far. We set it up in a different part of the manor and had some of the best food ever thanks to Ross and Ross catering.”

“I wore a SIR The Label cream and black silky dress with Jimmy Choo flats and Ben wore a cream and black pinstriped suit.”

“My engagement ring Ben designed all on his own. He knew I loved a two stoned ring- and pear-shaped diamonds so he took it to a jewelry designer and worked with them. Our wedding bands were actually designed together with our good friend David Perry, it felt special to do it with a friend and we kept the designs simple—Ben a gold cigar band, mine a cigar band with a small pear-shaped diamond in it to match the engagement ring and both rings have an inscription on the inside just for us.”

Guests at the rehearsal dinner.

Table decor was inspired by the English countryside.

“I got ready with my mum, mother-in-law, my sisters-in-law and my brother’s girlfriend. My whole goal was to just look like an elevated version of myself. I’ve truly never felt more beautiful than on that day, I think for the first time I really believed it and it radiated from within.”

“The day was super chilled and relaxed. My wonderful makeup team, Kelly Dawn and Nick Rose, mentioned they’ve never had such a relaxed preparation morning. I was glowy with a slightly bronzy eye and some extra eye lashes. On hair I did a half-up, half-down look with pieces coming down in the front, [which] was perfect for my veil to sit in, too.”

Details of the bride’s wedding dress.

The groom and bride’s wedding shoes.

“Ben’s suit was a beautiful custom tuxedo from High Society on 3rd Street in Los Angeles. It was so thoughtfully made and such a timeless piece.”

“I’m from the English countryside, three hours south of the Cotswolds in a county called Devon, but the feeling is very much the same. Cornwell Manor popped up and instantly [became our wedding venue]. We knew we wanted to get married outside surrounded by greenery, but the charming decor of the manor was also a cherry on top. We had a group of our closest friends and family stay there with us and it was so much fun.”

“Our close friends Ryan and Kyly officiated our wedding and it was the most special. To stand in such a beautiful place with all your closest friends and family is truly a feeling I will never forget. My brother walked me down the aisle which meant the world to me, and I started crying immediately. I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold it together. Beautiful flowers lined the seating, and we stood under the most stunning flower archway. We didn’t have bridesmaids or groomsmen, so our families walked before us and we kept it very simple.“

“We both broke a glass in a slight modification of the Jewish tradition and we both read personal vows to really get the tears flowing.”

“Our invitations were produced by Grey and Cake and they were a perfect representation of our wedding colors and theme. Simple, fresh but chic, and elegant. The colors felt English countryside like with some texture added for dimension.”

The couple on their wedding day.

The setting at Cornwell Manor in the Cotswolds.

“The set up through the row of hedges was something from a movie.”

“Millie Richardson went for seasonal British flowers starting from a neutral color palette and combining it with the abundance of greenery already on site and pops of color to tie it together.”

The couple inside Cornwell Manor.

“As cliche as it sounds, it really was the happiest weekend of our lives.”

“Smith + James along with Millie Richardson, who designed the most stunning flowers I’ve ever seen, really created such a chic, beautiful, intimate, and inviting environment in the tent. The walk from the cocktail hour to the tent had the backdrop of a painting, the most quintessential English countryside sight to see.”

“Our first dance was to Donny Hathaway’s Song For You.”

Guests celebrating at the wedding reception.

We did the Horah along with our mums and it was so much fun. That really kicked the party off because everyone was so into it. My friend Sara Sampaio gave me the perfect after party dress! It was a sassy little Cult Gaia number that is reflective white fringe. Such a cute halter mini dress. I didn’t put it on until the very last hour though! I wanted to stay in my wedding dress for as long as possible.”