LOCAL LOVE

Local LOVE Ardington House located in Oxfordshire provided the beautiful backdrop for Catherine and Tamsin’s special day that was decorated with a pink, cream and navy theme

Images courtesy of Capture Every Moment

www.relivethedayfilming.co.uk

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Catherine and Tamsin KershawMurphy married on 25th September 2021 at Ardington House located in Oxfordshire.

Catherine and Tamsin were introduced at a mutual friend’s drinks in London. “We instantly clicked,” the couple tell us. “I was attracted to Tamsin’s great sense of humour and cheeky smile and little did she know but I had fancied her for some time before the drinks!” Cat says. “I loved Cat’s banter and love for life,” Tamsin adds.

The couple became engaged after two-and-a-half years together. “Tamsin asked me to marry her at sunset on Durdle Door beach in Dorset, with the proposal engraved into a specially-made pebble,” Catherine tells us. “She had a little help from our Labrador, Hendricks and even though we both knew that we wanted to get married, it came as a wonderful surprise!”

SETTING THE SCENE

Catherine and Tamsin chose Ardington House as their wedding venue. “It’s a stunning building with manicured grounds within walking distance to where we live,” the couple explains. “We regularly walk Hendricks in the grounds so we couldn’t think of anywhere more “All of our suppliers fitting to get married.” The couple held were fantastic, we can’t their ceremony there, as well as their reception and had a surprise for their recommend them enough. guests. “We’re so glad that we had an Our hairdresser, Amie owl ring bearer called Juliet who flew down the aisle holding our rings,” they and make-up artist, Jade tell us. “It added something special to deserve huge praise not our ceremony!” only for keeping us calm The couple chose a pink, cream and navy colour theme to decorate during our wedding their special day. The centrepieces preparation and for their were a mix of high and low-level flower arrangements and the varieties impressive skills but also complemented those in their bridal for Amie stepping in to help bouquets. “We chose the blooms that both sets of grandparents and parents had on their wedding days which with my dress - it was like having two extra friends included roses, carnations, gypsophila with us on the day.” and wispy ferns,” they tell us. Catherine and Tamsin made – Tamsin bespoke bags for the children’s favours to keep them entertained. “Our favours for the adult guests were matchbox puzzles for them to play between the courses of the wedding breakfast which seemed to be a hit!” they explain. “We also had wooden place names that our guests could take home. After our wedding, some sent us photographs of these hanging in their houses and even decorating their Christmas tree!”

Starlit drapes and chandeliers were suspended from the ceiling of the venue which set the scene for the evening reception. “We wanted our cake to make a statement in keeping with the venue and our wedding theme – it also had to feed more than 200 guests!” Catherine and Tamsin tell us. “We chose a design of five layers with different flavours including lemon drizzle, a Mars bar tier and vanilla with passionfruit curd because we love passionfruit martinis! The cake featured a cascade of pretty handmade sugar flowers

that complemented our real ones.”

The couple decided on a delicious three-course wedding breakfast of potted ham hock to start, beef as the main course and individual pavlovas with whipped vanilla bean cream, summer berries, strawberry sauce and chocolate straw (chosen as a nod to Tamsin’s favourite pudding made by her nan) as dessert.

LOOKING THE PART

Catherine and Tamsin chose dresses that complemented each other. “We both knew that we had different styles in mind and the team at our boutique helped us pick designs that worked well together without us having a clue what each other had chosen,” they tell us.

Catherine and Tamsin’s adult bridesmaids wore navy maxi multi-way dresses and their flowergirls wore pretty pink corsage dresses teamed with Grecian sandals. “Our joint best man and fathers wore navy suits with blushpink ties, matching pink pocket squares and pink rose buttonholes,” they say.

TIME TO CELEBRATE

Catherine and Tamsin provided plenty of entertainment for their guests, starting with a string quartet who greeted them with live music, a bird of prey stand where their loved ones could meet and hold several birds during the reception drinks and a magician that everyone was mesmerised by! “During our wedding breakfast, we hired surprise singing waiters who got everyone up singing and dancing and doing the conga line!” Tamsin tells us. “We also hired a photo booth that also helped create our fun guest book. Our chosen DJ played a great selection of hits throughout the night and seeing Cat’s grandmother dancing all evening at the age of 87 was a highlight, especially to Mr Brightside by the Killers! The confetti cannon during our first dance was magical and Cat was even lifted Dirty Dancing-style during the song (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life by some of our rugby-loving friends! We gave everyone pick ‘n’ mix sweets to keep their energy levels up and the children were particular fans of these - some even going home with three or four bags!”

“Our wedding planner, as well as our photographers and videographer, made sure that everything ran to plan. Our glasses were always full and our guests were well looked after whilst we were enjoying having our couple portraits taken.” – Catherine and Tamsin

TOP TIP: “Have somebody who isn’t part of the bridal party responsible for ensuring all suppliers arrive on the day. We were lucky enough to have an events manager, Charlotte from Fingers & Forks Catering Events who made sure we didn’t need to worry about anything on the day.” – Catherine and Tamsin

THE DREAM TEAM

Photographer, Capture Every Moment, 07521 611 678, https://captureeverymoment.co.uk | Venue, Ardington House, 01235 821 556, www.ardingtonhouse.com | Videography, Relive the Day Filming Wedding Videography, 07702 199 824, www.relivethedayfilming.co.uk | Bride’s dress, Bridal Reloved Wallingford, 01491 826 699, https://bridalreloved.co.uk/shops/wallingford Make-up, Makeup By Jade, www.makeupbyjade.co.uk | Hair, The Wedding Hair Specialist, 07799 294 022, https://theweddinghairspecialist.co.uk | Wedding cake, Cakes by Mrs F, 07789 493 178, www.cakesbymrsf.co.uk | Flowers, The Floral Studio Purton By Nicole Gamlin, 07834 062 068, www.thefloralstudiopurton.com | Magician, Chris Head Magic, 07557 026 194, www.chrisheadmagic.com | Singing Waiters, Silver Service Singers, 01744 339 947, https://silverservicesingers.com | DJ, Rob Lawes Entertainments, 07889 626 185, www.roblawesentertainments.com | Photo booth, The Two Bonnys Photo Booth, 07809 907 675, www.thetwobonnys.com | String Quartet, Unity String Quartet, 0845 226 8591, www.unitystringquartet.co.uk | Birds of Prey Ringbearer and stand, Bird on the Hand, 07868 243 490, www.birdonthehand.co.uk/wedding-with-birds-of-prey | Catering, Fingers & Forks Catering Events, 01491 877 402, www.fingersandforks.co.uk | Place names, VM Bespoke, 01773 512 287, https://vmbespoke.com | Flowergirl dresses, Next