Dodging the downpours
Once again, I was checking the BBC Weather site hourly as rain and thunderstorms threatened the day but the bride and groom were determined to get married outside and they did.
Dodging the downpours made for a fabulous, highly organised but totally relaxed wedding weekend.
The marquee was set up on Thursday on the main lawn by DP Marquees, a magnificent traditional shape with one wall of windows. The bride soon had the family sitting in the sunshine assembling pompoms to decorate the ceiling and these were strung in place by DP's fantastic team. www.dpmarquees.co.uk
Large numbers of friends and relations descended on Shillingstone House on Friday, each with their allotted task, and bunting was strung round the walls of the marquee and tables were laid.
Garden flowers, some from the Bride’s parent’s garden and some provided by Martha and the Meadow ( www.marthaandthemeadow.com ) were arranged in beautiful blue pots in the centre of each table. The pots were made by the bride who sells them at Winchester market and the Downton Cuckoo Fair. She kindly gave us one as a thank you so it is a wedding we will always remember. (https://www.emilyspaintedpottery.com )
Little personal touches - packets of hankies, confetti, and piles of blankets – were all around.
“Jonboy’s” bar (shown above), decorated with fairy lights and more flowers, was assembled in one corner and a wonderful selection of sweets opposite.
In the garden, the gazebo had a garland hung over the entrance, made by the family, who also placed two beautiful pots of agapanthus on either side. The aisle was marked with haybales and troughs of flowers grown by the bride’s aunt. Other troughs were arranged by the steps and on the lawns. Haybales were put out for guests to sit on by the marquee and round the fire pit in the field for use in the evening. (Haybales from www.vinesclosefarm.com/ )
The couple had printed sheets for the guests giving details of the ceremony and timings for the party afterwards. On the back was a beautiful watercolour of Shillingstone House done by the bride - another wonderful keepsake for us.
Before leaving for pre-wedding dinners, the family practiced for the following day with the bride given her clipboard to represent her bouquet.
The family stayed in an Hotel in Cranborne the night before and dressed there the following day.
Saturday saw the arrival of the cake, an amazing creation of lemon drizzle and vanilla sponge and covered with real flowers, made by a family friend.
The groomsmen arrived to set out the chairs. The weather forecast was fine for the morning. No sooner were they in place and they had left to change than the heavens opened. In and out went the cushions! On their return, the groomsmen mopped the chairs and got them ready for the final time.
As the time for the ceremony approached it poured again. Luckily the registrars were not rushing to another wedding and were happy to delay until the sun shone which it did and the bride had her wish of an outside ceremony. Guests gathered in the sunshine, wet seats removed to under chairs as the bride came across the lawn on her father's arm. Alice Raey sang quite beautifully to the acoustic guitar during the service. (https://www.facebook.com/alicereay/ )
Guests assembled on the lawn for drinks and canapés while the bride and groom had their photographs taken by Claudia Vye who has been several times to Shillingstone and takes brilliant photographs - Claudia took all the photographs NOT marked with a spot which are in house ones.
Alice continued to play and sing as the guests mingled -all songs chosen by the bride and groom. Photographs over, guests retired to the marquee for speeches followed by an amazing meal by The Tickled Pig, who also run a highly recommended restaurant in Wimborne. www.thetickledpig.co.uk
Pudding took the form of wedding cake and an “Orio Cheesecake” made by the bride’s mother. People the next day were asking for the recipe of the latter as it was so good.
The band arrived from London ( https://www.alreadylegends.com ) Amongst their repertoire they played some wonderful 60’s music so we were happy inside! The dance floor filled and the party continued to midnight.
During their break at 9.30, The Tickled Pig served a huge dish of seafood paella which looked incredible. The staff were here way past midnight clearing up – they had done an amazing job as they had manned the bar as well as serving the food.
At midnight, the music might have stopped but the party hadn’t, as the campers moved to the field and settled round a blazing fire in the firepit where they sang until about 1.30 before retiring to the bell tents put up once again by New Forest Bell Tents. The bride had a bridal tent provided by them and her parents slept in ours with the Indian hangings. (www.newforestbelltents.co.uk ).
Sunday, sleepy campers were revived by Canadian pancakes cooked by the bride’s mother which were hugely welcome and utterly delicious – filled with blueberries and covered with maple syrup.
The end to an amazing weekend – many happy tears were spilt before they all left.
Really relaxed but highly organised wedding
Once again I was checking the BBC Weather site hourly as rain and thunderstorms threatened the day but the bride and groom were determined to get married outside and they did.
The marquee was set up on Thursday on the main lawn by DP Marquees, a magnificent traditional shape with one wall of windows. The bride had the family sitting in the sunshine making pompoms to decorate the ceiling and these were strung in place by DP.
Large numbers of friends and relations descended on Shillingstone House on Friday, each with their allotted task, and bunting was strung round the walls of the marquee and tables were laid.
Garden flowers, some from the Bride’s parent’s garden and some provided by Martha and the Meadow ( www.marthaandthemeadow.com ) were arranged in beautiful blue pots in the centre of each table. The pots were made by the bride who sells them at Winchester market and the Downton Cuckoo Fair. She kindly gave us one as a thank you so it is a wedding we will always remember. (https://www.emilyspaintedpottery.com )
Little personal touches - packets of hankies, confetti, and piles of blankets – were all around.
“Jonboy’s” bar, decorated with fairy lights and more flowers, was assembled in one corner and a wonderful selection of sweets on one side.
In the garden, the gazebo had a garland hung over the entrance, made by the family, who also placed two beautiful pots of agapanthus on either side. The aisle was marked with haybales and troughs of flowers grown by the bride’s aunt. Other troughs were arranged by the steps and on the lawns. Haybales were put out for guests to sit on by the marquee and round the fire pit in the field for use in the evening. (Haybales from www.vinesclosefarm.com/ )
Before leaving for family dinners, they practised for the following day.
Saturday saw the arrival of the cake, an amazing creation of lemon drizzle and vanilla sponge and covered with real flowers, made by a family friend.
The groomsmen arrived to set out the chairs. The weather forecast was fine for the morning. No sooner were they in place and they had left to change than the heavens opened. In and out went the cushions! On their return, the groomsmen mopped the chairs and got them ready for the final time.
As the time for the ceremony approached it poured again. Luckily the registrars were not rushing to another wedding and were happy to delay until the sun shone which it did and the bride had her wish of an outside ceremony. Alice Raey sang quite beautifully to the acoustic guitar. (https://www.facebook.com/alicereay/ )
Guests gathered on the lawn for drinks and canapes while the bride and groom had their photographs taken by Claudia Vye who has been several times to Shillingstone and takes brilliant photographs. ( www.claudiavye.com) Alice continued to play and sing as the guests mingled -all songs chosen by the bride and groom. Photographs over, guests retired to the marquee for speeches followed by an amazing meal by The Tickled Pig, who also run a restaurant in Wimborne. ( www.thetickledpig.co.uk )
Pudding took the form of wedding cake and an “Orio Cheesecake” made by the bride’s mother. People the next day were asking for the recipe of the latter it was so good.
The band arrived from London ( https://www.alreadylegends.com ) Amongst their repertoire they played some wonderful 60’s music so we were happy inside! The dance floor filled and the party continued to midnight.
During their break at 9.30, The Tickled Pig served a huge dish of seafood paella which looked incredible. The staff were here way past midnight clearing up – masterminded by Claire, they had done an amazing job as they had manned the bar as well as serving the food.
At midnight, the music might have stopped but the party hadn’t, as the campers moved to the field and settled round a blazing fire in the firepit where they sang until about 1.30 before retiring to the bell tents put up once again by New Forrest Bell Tents. The bride had a bridal tent provided by them and her parents slept in ours with the Indian hangings. (www.newforestbelltents.co.uk ).
Sunday, sleepy campers were revived by American pancakes cooked by the bride’s parents which were hugely welcome – filled with blueberries and covered with maple syrup.
The end to an amazing weekend – many happy tears before they all left.