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Dream weddings
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It can be a challenge finding a wedding venue that ticks all the boxes, but at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park we pull out all the stops to make each couple’s day totally unique.
Image by Ania Oska (courtesy of Beth Aldous)
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Wedding & Events Manager Lucy Pembroke caught up with one of her rst wedding couples, Charley and Ryan Bird, who married on 28 July 2022, ve years exactly a er their rst date.
So, Charley and Ryan, how did you both meet?
“We actually met on Tinder in July 2017,” Charley re ects, as both couples laugh. It was Charley’s rst date and Ryan’s second. ey had apparently been matched before, but Charley swiped le !
Charley is from Essex and Ryan from Hertfordshire, so they arranged to meet for their rst date in London at Liverpool Street Station. It was a quite an eventful date as Ryan wanted to take Charley to a bar he had been to before. Unfortunately, he had forgotten its actual location, and it took him 45 minutes in the pouring rain to nd it – but they eventually did.
e date must have been a success, as when Charley returned home that evening she said to her mum, “ at is the man I am going to marry!”
Tell us about the proposal...
Charley moved to Hertfordshire to live with Ryan in 2019, and they had both discussed getting married. In October 2020, they were on holiday in Devon, staying in a log cabin. “I was planning to propose on a cli op the following day,” recalls Ryan, “but the weather forecast was terrible, so I decided to bring it forward.” at evening, they both sat outside their log cabin, in front of the repit under the stars, and Ryan got down on one knee. “I was so nervous; I dropped the ring in the grass and had to use a torch to nd it.” She still said, yes!
Charley, how did you go about choosing your wedding dress?
“I had a de nite idea of what I wanted and ended up with something completely di erent,” Charley says. “I found the dress shop on Instagram and their dresses looked amazing. I only took my mum and Ryan’s mum. ey had every dress you could imagine; there was no point in shopping around.”
When asked what advice she would give to a bride choosing her dress: “Be open-minded. Try on as many di erent styles as possible. I wanted something tted, but it really didn’t suit me.”
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Why did you choose Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park as your wedding venue?
Ryan says, “We looked at a few other places, but they were too formal for the type of wedding we wanted.” Charley adds, “I was obsessed with animals and Ryan loves tepees, so Jimmy’s fitted perfectly. I had originally wanted to get married outside, but I compromised on the tepee.”
Tell me about your wedding day?
They both laugh... “We don’t remember a lot of it, it was such a whirlwind!” says Charley. “The best part was definitely the park visit though. I would recommend wearing flat shoes or trainers.” Charley wore a second more informal dress and white trainers for their park visit.
What did your guests think of your choice of Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park as a venue?
“Neither of us – or our friends – can fault the staff, everyone was so accommodating,” Charley says. “Even when I asked for a gluten-free option whilst I was getting ready, the staff did not hesitate to help.” Charley continues, “I had also mentioned in a previous meeting that I love tea, and when I sat at down for the Wedding Breakfast, there was a pot of tea waiting for me.”
“There was so much food, and it was so delicious – everyone commented on that,” Ryan says. “Some people even commented it was the best wedding they had ever been to. They all loved the bouncy pillow. With the help of Lucy, the wedding ran absolutely to time, which was key.”
Finally, what advice would you give to a couple planning their wedding?
“The day went so quickly,” Charley says. “In hindsight, we both wish we had booked a videographer. Luckily, the photographer was amazing. Our advice would be not to worry about which pictures to take, but focus on the style of photographs you want and search for the right person that way. They will be able to guide you through the day.” Charley adds, “And don’t scrimp on the cost of a photographer – it will be worth every penny – photographs are forever!”
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Totally Wild, Totally Unique
At Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, we always aim to make a couple’s day a ‘completely unforgettable adventure’ from start to finish. Our weddings are as unique as our couples, offering that ‘something special’ which we guarantee you can’t find anywhere else. A wedding is all about our couples sharing their perfect day with close friends and family, creating together happy memories that will last a lifetime.
Every couple who books their special day with us receives the personal attention of our Wedding & Events Manager, who will make every effort to tailor the couple’s day to meet all of their expectations, perhaps even suggesting small touches which the couple may not have thought of. Therefore, ensuring every couple has complete confidence in Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park delivering their perfect day.
To find out more, go to jimmysfarm.com or email weddingsandevents@jimmysfarm.com for a tour.
Suppliers
Photography: Ania Oska Bride’s dress & accessories: Dress (Martina Liana), veil, and hair accessories (The Bobby Pin) from House of Snow, Bury St Edmunds; shoes, Jimmy Choo; evening dress, ASOS Bridal; trainers, ARNE Groom’s suit: Moss Bros Bridesmaids’ dresses: House of Fraser, JJ’s House and PLT Groomsmen’s suits: Moss Bros Flowers: Ellie Michaelides, Grazefully Events Cake: Vicki Weymouth, Cake their Day Entertainment: Pianist, Zoe Alexandria; DJ, Gem Horoz Table plan & stationery: Abbie Imagine; Etsy Hair and make-up: Zoe Deamer Hair; Eloise Howitt
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