HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

where the heart is HOME IS

Robyn and Sam said “I do” at Chiddingstone Castle, followed by celebrations under canvas at the bride’s family home

Images courtesy of Photographed by John Knight

Robyn and Sam met on a night out, which in itself wasn’t unusual as they would often bump into each other while out with their respective friends. But following this one particular time they decided to meet up again properly, perhaps realising there might a reason their paths kept crossing.

We fast forward and, now a couple, Robyn and Sam had booked a long weekend away in the Cotswolds. One evening, while they were there, before heading to the pub for dinner, Sam popped the question. “I had no idea, but it was perfect for me, as it was just the two of us,” Robyn remembers.

Knowing they wanted to host their wedding reception at Robyn’s parents’ house, it made sense to look for a ceremony venue nearby. They were also keen on the idea of open-air “I dos,” so when they found the Orangery at Chiddingstone Castle, they knew it was the place. “It felt different to everything else we’d seen. It was such a beautiful setting and had the relaxed vibe we wanted. The inside room available in case of bad weather was just as lovely, and we also had exclusive use of the venue for the day, meaning we could enjoy it without members of the public being there.”

Read on as Robyn tells us more about their wonderful wedding day, which took place on 9th July, 2021...

I really wanted my bridal car to fit in with my style, and being a country girl at heart, I chose a white Land Rover Defender.

I wanted the dress to remain centre stage and was convinced I wasn’t going to wear a veil, but completely changed my mind once we pieced it all together at the fitting. I also wore a small hairpiece and Malone Soulier shoes. I wore a dress by Amanda Wakeley. I loved the idea of a classic, simple and elegant style, something not too wedding dressy! The geometric pattern was different to anything I’d seen before.

Sam wore a navy three-piece suit made for him by Sims & MacDonald, paired with a blush pink tie. The groomsmen also wore navy, but their suits were a little more simple. The groom stood out further with a bigger buttonhole.

Our ceremony flowers were designed to be repositioned at the reception venue afterwards. Therefore, we got to enjoy them for longer and make the most of them. They went over and above our expectations – they were amazing.

My sisters were my bridesmaids. They’re all quite different in style, so I didn’t want to dictate what they had to wear and instead let them choose what they felt most comfortable in. We went for light pinks and greens. I wanted there to be plenty of colour, but in muted tones.

Inside the tipi, the Goat Live team set up amazing floral halos, as well as table and bar decorations.

For Sam, his standout moment was when I walked down the aisle. For me it was the confetti throw we did at the reception with all of our guests together. Seeing all of our friends and family together after such a long time apart was a highlight for both of us.

Urban Pantry served really tasty bowl food after the ceremony, in keeping with our relaxed theme. For the reception we had a barbecue with kebabs and show-off style dishes, Shaun from Purple Pumpkin was fab in terms of catering exactly to our ideas. Another cool element was the loaded fries van that turned up at the perfect time to serve munchies after a few drinks.

We had a roaming band, Fairvue, at the ceremony and reception. We also booked Paul Hardcastle Junior as the main DJ who was a real hit. After moving the wedding back a year due to Covid, it felt like a huge relief that everything had come together. Plus, the sun was shining, which was one of my biggest concerns – it made the day even more perfect.

My sister Sarah and her bandmate, Reva, performed a set after the speeches. My other sister Georgie sang at the ceremony, which was really special. My parents surprised us with a Bruno Mars tribute who performed later in the evening.

Mini champagne bottles were handed out on arrival and individual shots of limoncello were given out during my sister’s speech.

Get organised early and book all of the main elements early, so that nearer the time you know they’re sorted. Then you can enjoy organising the finer details.

Instead of a traditional wedding cake we opted for 3D layered cookies built up to look like cakes. They featured our initials and wedding date. They were individually boxed and we handed them out to guests to take as they left. After the party, the unofficial after party started, which continued for another two full days!

Be sure to speak to your local suppliers. We loved using ours as they were not only amazing, but it made the planning easy with everyone being so accessible.

ROBYN AND SAM’S SUPPLIERS Venue, Chiddingstone Castle, www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/weddings | Tipi, Holmsted Events, https://holmstedevents.co.uk Photographer, Photographed by John Knight, https://johnknightphotography.co.uk | Dress, Amanda Wakeley | Alterations, Judy Mott Bridal Couture, https://judymott.com | Groom’s suit, Sims and Macdonald www.simsandmacdonald.com | Groomsmen’s suits, John Lewis | Bridesmaids dresses, Reformation | Hair stylist, Bellimi Hair Bar, www.facebook.com/bellimihairbar | Make-up artist, Makeup Angel, https://makeupangel.co.uk | Cake, Tuck Box Cakes, https://tuck-box.com | Flowers, Star + The Rose Botanicals, www.starandtherose.com | Ceremony catering, Urban Pantry, www.urban-pantry.com | Reception catering, Purple Pumpkin, www. purplepumpkin.org.uk | Event production and venue styling, GOAT Live, www.goatlive.co.uk | Entertainment, Fairvue, www. fairvuemusic.com | Paul Hardcastle Junior, https://phjr.co.uk | Nimmo, www.instagram.com/nimmonimmo | Bar, The Paddock Mobile Bar, www.thepaddockbar.com | Photo booth, Airstream Studio, www.airstreamstudio.co.uk