NOTTINGHAMSHIRE WEDDING – ABBEY TO ESTATE
December 8, 2017
Suzanne and Adrian had their stunning wedding across two locations in July 2017. Their ceremony was at the historic Newstead Abbey followed by their marquee wedding reception at a beautiful country estate in Nottinghamshire.
WEDDING PLANNING JOURNEY
Suzanne and Adrian secured me to assist with their wedding planning just four months before their wedding. Both Suzanne and Adrian have high pressured careers and therefore required me to find their last couple of suppliers, as well as pulling together the final details and being on site the week of the wedding and the wedding day itself. I created a ‘wedding support – wedding week’ option that fitted in with their requirements, which had a little partial support in it, as well as including 20 hours during the week of their wedding and 14 hours on the day itself. I also found their dream floral designer for the marquee (the exquisite Vincent and Stubbs) who perfectly matched the vision Suzanne wanted to have created – English country gorgeousness.
Suzanne naturally creative and Adrian with a love for bikes made this a really appealing wedding where my flair could also take over a little.
Suzanne and myself had quite a few catch-up meetings over the four month period, whether this be at the Abbey, Country Estate or over the phone. We also met with the florist, marquee company and caterers.
WEDDING WEEK
The marquee started to go up on the Monday and by the Wednesday was pretty much complete for us to start to dress and decorate. Suzanne had ordered some beautiful trees for the marquee as well as creating lots of beautiful signage and lighting for outside the marquee.
Tables were put in positions and started to be clothed, as well as bicycle wheels displayed around the marquee. Table numbers were wine bottles with LED lights in which looked just lovely and the individually designed place name cards wrapped around the napkins with lilac / lavender ribbon looked so pretty.
Suzanne’s Dads ladder was suspended from the ceiling of the marquee as well ready to be floralled up the following day. A butcher’s bike was also going to have its basket filled with beautiful flowers.
WEDDING EVE
Wedding Eve was just crazy (in a good way). Poppy and Rob (aka Vincent and Stubbs) arrived bright and early to start creating the flowers for the marquee as well as Fiona Herbert Catering to sort out the catering side of things.
I also had to take all of the drink to Newstead Abbey ahead of the wedding day, as well as putting reserved seating down for everyone and plush cushions for the flower girls to sit on. Ceremony music was also delivered as well as the confetti and bike wheels for the ceremonial arch.
The marquee looked just stunning, the trees that were in the seating area and around the dance floor looked just beautiful. The bicycle wheels just perfect with their twinkling fairy lights and the flowers, well just wow – Vincent and Stubbs really are floral magicians.
Favours of Bombay Sapphire gin and chocolates were put out on the tables and everything was tweaked and put into position. It is always so much easier if things can be done the day before the wedding, this means the day itself is more about double checking things, greeting and coordinating suppliers and a final vacuum of the marquee.
THE WEDDING DAY
I arrived shortly before 8.30 am on the wedding day itself. Luke from Mudford Marquees was on hand to help out with sorting out the carpet in the entrance of the marquee as well as put the floral ladder into position – just stunning. The owners at the country estate were also on hand for any last minute signage and were so helpful during the whole week of the wedding.
All of Suzanne and Adrian’s suppliers arrived to deliver everything, including the buttonholes and beautiful cake. I ensured everything was in position, including the sofas as well as watering the trees, before vacuuming the marquee.
Shortly before midday I headed off to Newstead Abbey to check the Orangery where they were having their ceremony and greet Adrian and his groomsmen and allocate their buttonholes. Suzanne and Adrian had organised a toastmaster as well to aid the ushering of guests. It was here that I also met with their photographers.
A beautiful wedding ceremony at Newstead Abbey, Diane and her staff were just lovely and so helpful. After the wedding, Suzanne and Adrian walked around the abbey to be greeted by a bike rally and the ceremonial wheel arch was formed for them to go through before confetti and photos. Drinks were then served in the Garden Room and within the pretty garden.
I made sure everything was back in the car before heading back to the marquee to check everything was all in hand. Fitting the bicycle wheels back in the car was certainly a challenge – such fun!
Suzanne and Adrian wanted to arrive on a Rickshaw at the marquee, so a quick change of transport was sorted within two minutes of the marquee and their best man rode them in to greet their guests.
Drinks were served with strawberries and lots of photographs before their receiving line / announcing in for their wedding breakfast.
After speeches, day went into evening with lots of dancing, bouquet tossing and a hog roast being served. The typical British weather meant that unfortunately sparklers couldn’t happen but apart from that everything ran like a dream. Their Band and DJ were just superb and really got everyone on the dance floor.
Such a gorgeous English country wedding day all within the beautiful county of Nottinghamshire. Huge congratulations to Suzanne and Adrian.
SUZANNE AND ADRIAN’S DREAM TEAM
Wedding Planner – Amy Thorne of Amaranthyne Weddings
Professional Photographer – Emma Burns of EB Design and Photography – please note that the final five images were taken by Amaranthyne Weddings
Other Photographers / Guests – Cheryl Owens and Jeff Baird
Marquee, Furniture, etc – Mudford Marquees
Flowers / Floral Styling – Marquee – Vincent and Stubbs Flowers
Cake Designer – Emma’s Cakes – Ripley
Hair – MH Hair
Makeup – Leona Seymour
Caterers – Fiona Herbert Catering
Toastmaster – Tom Reddy
Bridal Party Flowers / Wishing Tree / Easel – Sassie Bees
Wedding Cars – Scrumptious Cars / Marlows Wedding Cars
Video DJ and PA System – Jackstar Weddings (Gary)
Band – The Tommy Guns
Ceremony – Newstead Abbey
Marquee Wedding Reception – Country Estate in Nottinghamshire