Charlotte and Michael’s Wedding Story:
Where did you get engaged and how long had you been together before hand?
“Michael proposed to me on my birthday after being together for two years, I had no idea he was going to do this, I maybe should have guessed something as he was trying to get me out of the way to organise his proposal and he was very nervous/on edge. I would say he’s not the romantic type but can be when he wants to (as the surprise fireworks shows) :)”
How many venues did you visit before you chose Fennes as your wedding venue?
“We had a long engagement so over the year’s talked/looked at different venues.”
“The Fennes is the one we always said we would love to get married at, but didn’t think it would be affordable for us.”
“October 2013 we decided to book a date for our wedding, which was May 2014, we booked the church and was having the wedding breakfast at a restaurant in our town then going on somewhere else for the reception. This was not our ideal wedding, but all we thought we could do as everywhere else was too expensive (or so we thought). The plans came along slowly and I was enjoying it and if I’m honest not really looking forward to it, then one day my best friend suggested looking at last minute deals, I never thought for one second I would be booking my dream venue!!”
How did you feel when you first visited Fennes, did you know straight away that you wanted to get married here?
““I knew the Fennes was the venue I would love to get married at by the pictures I looked through on the website, but actually viewing the venue just made me know for sure ‘this was the one’ I loved it, it was everything and more I could dream for my big day!”
What was your first step of wedding planning? Venue search, dress shopping, choosing a date, etc.?
“Our first step was booking the venue and available wedding day.”
How many months/years in advance did you book your special day?
“We booked 8-9weeks in advance! Quicker than originally planned but we had a dream venue the rest would hopefully come all into place nicely.”
Where there any funny moments on the Day?
“There were lots of funny moments of the day and night, from myself feeling tipsy after one glass of rose at 10.30am through nerves, family members doing dance offs on the dance floor, Michael getting carried to the dance floor to do a dance off :)”
“Myself and then hen party doing our dance routine we learnt on our dirty dancing weekend. Finding random things in odd places in our bridal cottage, which we later found out, were my bridesmaids. They had scattered sugar and tea packets in the bed, hung my bra from the bed, extra bubbles in the Jacuzzi (it was very bubbly when we arrived at the cottage : ) but the best bit hung the croquet hook on some sting on the chandler that I didn’t get until the morning after the wedding…very funny ladies!! :)”
What were the highlights of your day?
“Highlights of the day and night, well the sun was shining : ) hearing people arriving while I was getting ready upstairs. Having all our favorite people at our wedding. Getting married at our dream venue. Seeing Michael and mason (our son) waiting for me. The wedding breakfast was amazing; we have had so many comments how good the food was. The children running around seeing there faces having so much fun. Seeing all the planning and hard work had paid off, I stressed so much about everything going together and working how I visualised, and it was so worth it, my dress was perfect. My hair, makeup. The bridesmaids. Flowers, cake. Just everything was perfect!! Michael said his highlight was seeing me :)”
“After our first dance, we was asked to go outside which I thought was for sparklers we spoke with our photographer about using but then realised it wasn’t, and Michael had arranged surprise fireworks for me, I was shocked and overwhelmed ‘truly truly amazing husband I have’ were my thoughts. Going back to our bridal suite to a bubbly Jacuzzi, champagne and a cheese board platter, a lovely treat to finish of the best day!”
Now you have “been there done that” in hindsight is there anything you would have done differently?
“Would I do anything different, not really no but if I had to choose something I would say walk slower down the aisle, it went too quickly, and I probably walked faster because of nerves.”
Do you have any advice for Bride and Grooms that are just starting their wedding plans?
“Advise to other bride and grooms, firstly getting the perfect photographer to capture your perfect day as these will be with you to look back on and tell your story!”
“Take time to look around at your day and see everyone’s enjoyment of your day (this was one of my favourite moments). This was the best bit of advise was given to me, have a cut off time to talk to your guests then at your cut of get yourself on the dance floor and enjoy yourself ( if that’s what you like). ”
Photography by: Liz Wood Photography