Check out this beautiful May wedding from Hayley and Andy, who tied the knot at Kennett Church and then chose the gorgeous Lanwades Hall for their reception…
Tell us about your dress
“Dress shopping was so exciting and yet scary at the same time – there are so many! I thought I knew exactly what I wanted; a very plain and simple dress with a small bit of detail. How wrong could I have been!” Hayley laughs. “After some persuasion by Berketex and my mum, I tried on a vintage lace wedding dress and instantly fell in love with the dress. It was old-fashioned lace with a hint of sparkle, the designer was Rosette Nicolini. I loved it, I was able to get straps personally made to match my gown, which made it unique. It was just perfect in every way!”
Why did you pick the venue?
“Getting the right venue for our wedding was important, and wow, did Lanwades Hall live up to our expectations. From the minute we saw the pictures on their website, we fell in love with the whole place, from the beautiful gardens to the most stunning manor house you could ask for,” explains Hayley.
“Visiting Sophie at Lanwades Hall made the decision even easier. We were swept away with the charm and the character of the house, and immediately knew that this was the place for our wedding,” she smiles. “Being able to select our own supplier made planning our wedding so enjoyable and personal to us on the day. Lanwades Hall provided the perfect place for our wedding reception, from the champagne reception and the sit-down wedding breakfast through to the live band in the evening.”
What was your theme?
“The first every flower brought by my, now, husband was a sunflower and this was the start to our theme. We incorporated bright yellow sunflowers with my favourite colour, navy blue, and as we both love butterflies, this provided an interesting addition, with lace cut-out butterflies all over the place, and some strangley-named tables,” describes Hayley.
What was your best buy?
“The best buy had to have been our wedding flowers. They can be so expensive, but my mum, who is not a florist, kindly agreed that she would design all our flowers for the venue. We found lots of pictures in the run-up to the wedding, and did lots of practices to get them perfect, which of course, they were! We found a wholesaler nearby who supplied all the flowers at less than a third of the cost that it would have been to have a florist design them, and having them done by my mum added that special touch.”
What did your bridesmaids wear?
“The bridesmaids all wore navy blue, long-flowing dresses with a one-shoulder strap secured by brooches they had picked during the fittings. Each had a bouquet of beautiful sunflowers and cream roses to carry. They all decided flat shoes were the shoe of choice – no heels in sight!” says Hayley.
What was your most memorable moment?
“Arriving at Lanwades Hall to see all our family and friends with smiles on their faces, enjoying the Champagne and eating canapés in the stunning sunken garden, whilst we had some of the most beautiful photos taken by Glenn at Sparkes Photography.”
What are your top wedding planning tips?
“First, have a budget in mind and stick to it! It’s amazing how a little creativity can help you achieve all your wishes without spending a fortune.” Wise words, Hayley, wise words! “Secondly, don’t panic! If you have someone at the venue to talk to, USE THEM. They are great at reminding you what you may have forgotten. And thirdly, know your suppliers and let them know you as a couple – they are the ones that help you with your day!”
We’ve got loads more great budgeting tips just like Hayley’s, and lots more real weddings as well, to give you inspiration for your own big day!
