Wonderful start to our wedding year!
All the wonderful photographs were taken by a cousin of the groom unless marked “in house”
This was the first wedding of 2025 and it took a little while to slip back into wedding mode. Luckily this was a charming, very laid back and understanding couple.
The sky was dark when Oakleaf Marquees arrived to put up their two pole tent. in the field but as the day went on the sun came out and stayed with us for the weekend. The tent had very pretty rounded ends.
+44 1258 520345 / info@oakleafmarquees.co.uk / oakleafmarquees.co.uk
The couple arrived with two white gazebos which they put up behind the Marquee for the bar. Haybales were arranged outside as seating.
Friday and helpers arrived in force to help set up although the bride wanted to keep the decorations simple. She had dried masses flowers - some had been made into bunches to hang between the poles and some threaded onto string to make garlands.
Some had been reserved to sprinkle on the tables. Real flowers arrived by the bucketful. The more delicate ones were arranged in bottles collected over the last year and placed down the tables with name tags made from Laurel leaves,
The tables were named with “drinking orders”, each one written on a laurel leaf. When you found your table, another leaf with your name was waiting for you, along with a .wild flower seed bomb.
Larger flowers were arranged in big vases and then placed under the big oak to keep them cool over night. They were covered with a net to keep them safe from visiting foxes, badgers and rabbits! The next day they went outside the entrance to the marquee where ivy and fairy lights had been twisted up the poles.
The bride is an artist and she had turned one of her half finished pictures into the “timings for the day” board. This was propped up against a table holding a box for cards and a book for good wishes backed with more fresh flowers.
The final touches made, attention moved to the bar. The couple were providing drink with Copper Still Bar providing the bar staff and a fridge to keep everything cool. Friends hung up packets of crisps and nibbles for guests to take the following day.
hello@thecopperstillbar.co.uk / thecopperstillbar.co.uk
A table and chairs appeared and were quickly occupied by helpers needing a well earned rest.
Several friends arrived to set up their tents or park their camper vans by the garage.
Saturday and the sun was shining and there was hardly a cloud in the sky. The groom and his friends arrived to move the chairs from the marquee to the lower lawn where they arranged them in front of the the gazebo under the guidance 0f the Groom’s mother!
Soon it was time for the groom to see the Registrars before helping to seat his guests, out of sight of his bride who arrived in the most amazing vintage car owned by her father.
The bride wore a very plain but beautiful draped dress. The low draped back was laced with strings of beads made by the bride which looked amazing! Her hair was was threaded with margarites. She went into the house to see the registrars, past the ancestors in the porch, before making her way with her father down to the gazebo and her waiting groom.
The ceremony was conducted by Kevin, one of regular Registrars, and went without a hitch!
Soon it was time to go into the gazebo to sign the register before emerging to meet their guests as man and wife. The bride had dried rose petals for confetti and guests pelted them with this as they came down the aisle.
Ceremony over, the guests made a beeline for the bar where prosecco was on offer along with beer and fruit juice for the children. A couple of the guitarists from Kingsmen, an acoustic band, had set up on the lawn but moved to be nearer the guests who were not going to leave the bar!
+44 7595 434336 / info@kingsmenmusic.co.uk kingsmenmusic.co.uk
Time passed quickly as Guests chatted and explored the grounds and walled garden. Soon it was 5.00pm and time to take their places in the marquee for speeches followed by a delicious hog roast meal provided by Spitting Pig who had been slaving away in the background for several hours!
+44 1305 490497 / sales@spittingpigdorset.co.uk / spittingpigdorset.co.uk
The menu was extensive and covered vegans and vegetarians as well as meat eaters and was accompanied by a variety of delicious salads. After the bride and groom had taken their food, a long queue had formed!
As a special surprise treat for the bride’s father, the couple had imported tubs of his favourite ice cream for pudding - Hockings Dairy Ice Cream all the way from Appledore in Devon.
+44 1237 474575 / info@hockingsicecream.co.uk / hockingsicecream.co.uk
At 8pm, the Kingsmen ramped up the music to full volume as the couple took to the floor for their first dance - unplanned and a complete surprise to them both! The party had begun and continued until midnight when carriages arrived for those not camping. The end of an amazing day.
The party continued with brunch the following day before tidying up began - many hands made light work.
The couple, Oakleaf Marquees and the Splendid loo company had very kindly said that we could keep the tent for a National Garden Scheme thank you party on the Monday. We even re-cycled the beautiful flowers. A huge thank you to them all.
