Katie and Darren are our latest couple to feature in our real wedding series and we couldn’t wait to share their big day with you. This happy couple met 8 years ago on Match.com, as Katie says, “before it was ‘the norm’ to meet people online, before the days of swiping right, so we actually told people we met through mutual friends.” Katie remembers thinking instantly on their first date that Darren would fit right in around the Christmas dinner table with her family and Darren himself couldn’t believe how much they had in common. It’s fair to say they hit it off instantly. So without further delay, let’s take a look at their sensational day right here at That Amazing Place, our beautiful Essex wedding venue.
Photo Credit: Paul’s Studio
The Venue
There were a number of reasons that Katie and Darren chose That Amazing Place, one aspect was that it was the “perfect blend of old and new.” They were huge fans of the décor, even going so far as to say that they’d decorate their own home like it. Katie said, “we loved the grounds and felt like the inside and outside ceremony options were bothlovely. At some venues we felt like you were pushed outside and the inside option was rubbish. The fact that it had bedrooms onsite was an awesome bonus too.”
Katie and Darren had high standards from the start, Katie even claimed to be, “one of those people who never enjoyed her own party but I have to say that WE LOVED OUR WEDDING! From the outset, Angie was a total rockstar;add Lizzie from Magpie into that mix and you have the perfect combo. Nothing was ever too much trouble, they both had great ideas and answered emails late and even on weekends.”
On the day itself, the happy couple described it as “perfect” which coming from Katie, was huge. “I’m a Virgo and work in the business; let me tell you again it was perfect and I wouldn’t change a thing. Angie even had my back with my overzealous bridesmaids who were trying to convince me to have the ceremony inside.”
Photo Credit: Paul’s Studio
Theme and Entertainment
When it came to the theme, there wasn’t a distinctive theme itself but there was a definite idea of how they wanted it to look. They wanted something romantic yet stylish. It was also important that a relaxed atmosphere was created. They wanted to avoid anything too formal or too stuffy. It was important for their guests to simply have fun and celebrate their union with them.While their guest list could have run away with them, our wedding venue itself made them keep numbers down which actually helped create the intimate, informal setting they wanted. It also meant their family and friends integrated throughout the entire day, just what they wanted.
With regards to entertainment, they enjoyed the west end singing waiters posing as servers all day, until they surprised guests after their meal by bursting into song. This was one of the best decisions they made about their day, Katie also thinks she, “deserves a medal for keeping it secret for a year”. In the evening, they had the fabulous Piano DJ. They submitted a song list of some of the songs they wanted to play but they also found Piano DJ read the crowd on the night and “played tune after tune. The dance floor was full all night. We highly recommend both companies.”
Photo Credit: Paul’s Studio
Flowers
Stock florist provided the flowers on the day. Katie had very specificideas of what she wanted and they, “knocked it out of the park. My favourite flowers were peonies,which were out of season so they suggested having David Austen roses,which were a beautiful alternative. Along with the David Austen roses, I had avalanche roses as well as amnesia roses and eucalyptus in my bouquet. The flowers looked glamorous and classy.” The beautiful couple especially loved the table centrepiecesand large urns that stood either side of theaisle.
Dress
Katie’s dress was from David Bridal in Stratfordand was created by a designer called Zac Posen. Katie’s stunning veil was added at the last minute, around a week before the wedding, much to Katie’s delight and may we add she looked stunning. It finished off her look beautifully.
Catering
The catering was covered by Magpie Catering; one of our Essex wedding venue recommended suppliers. Katie and Darren chose 10 canapésduring the drinks reception instead of a starter. Their meal was a traditional roast dinner followed by a trio of desserts. All food was served with an espresso martini or long island iced tea. They were particularly pleased with the waiting staff, “the waiting staff were brilliant – we were especially happy that we were handed a glass of prosecco instantly as we walked back down the aisle. In all seriousness it’s hard to cater for a large number of people but Lizzie did it. The food was perfectly executed, delicious and the waiting staff were super efficient. In the evening, we opted for cheeseburgers andchips instead of a traditional buffet and our guests loved it.”
Photo Credit: Paul’s Studio
Special Moments
For Darren, the special moment was the ceremony itself. When Katie saw Darren’s face, she “nearly lost it. Seeing him looking back at me from the top of the aisle, after trying to channel my inner Zenall morning, specifically telling my bridesmaids to not act excited or get emotional around me.”
Katie really enjoyed the walk too, with her Dad but, “the best bit was the west end waiters during the wedding breakfast.”
From all of us here at That Amazing Place, we wish the happy couple every happiness and hope to see them again soon for an anniversary celebration…or two! For more information about our Essex wedding venue, simply contact us today!
It’s that time again, when we get to tell you about another beautiful ceremony right here at That Amazing Place. This time, we’re talking about the nuptials of Reece and Leah in our countryside wedding venue. Leah and Reece had been together for just over nine years before they said ‘I do’. They walked down the aisle as not only lovers, but best friends too. Having met through friends, Leah explained that they “started talking and realised we were both as weird as each other. We can’t pinpoint the moment we fell in love but it happened quite quickly and we’ve spent pretty much every day together since.”
There really is nothing we love more than seeing such a union finally tie the knot, and what a wedding it was…
The Venue
From the moment Leah and Reece walked through our doors at That Amazing Place, they felt at home. Leah explained, “everything about That Amazing Place is beautiful and 100% lives up to its name. It was the first and only place we viewed.” The happy couple particularly appreciated our attention to detail. Much to their appreciation, everything ran smoothly, leaving them with no worries and able to enjoy the day to the full.
Photo Credit: Expression Photography
Theme and Entertainment
When it came to their theme, they stuck to pinks, nudes and a few sparkles for good measure. They had a twinkle dance floor for the evening along with jars, fairy lights and candles. Leah said, “That Amazing Place and the caterers set up everything for us. It was everything we could have wished for and more. Our twinkle dance floor and magic mirror were supplied by Wow Factor.” They also enjoyed the wonderful Piano DJ playing a fantastic DJ set into the night.
Flowers
Leah and Reece opted for gip in jars on the ends of each seat aisle. They also had peonies, roses and gip for their centerpieces. The top tables were finished off beautifully with an arrangement of roses, calla lilies and tulips. All whites, creams and pinks were used to match the bride and bridesmaids bouquets.
Dress
Leah looked beautiful in a dress from an exquisite boutique in Hertford, Dress In Love. Leah originally saw her dress on Facebook, “we then went to a wedding fair. When I visited Dress In Love, it was the first dress I tried on and I instantly knew I wanted it.”
Catering
Leah and Reece were lucky enough to book the fabulous Magpie Catering for their big day. They explained, “Everything was so delicious. Everyone we spoke to said how much they enjoyed it. The steak and ale pie was out of this world. Lizzie and all of her team were so professional but also so friendly. In fact, we couldn’t recommend That Amazing Place and all of their suppliers enough. They all played a huge part in making our special day so magical.”
Photo Credit: Expression Photography
We loved every minute of sharing such a special day with this wonderful pair and we wish them every happiness for the future. For more information on our countryside-wedding venue, simply jump online and contact us today!
If you’re a regular reader of our blog, then you’ll know we love nothing more than sharing a real wedding story. With That Amazing Place being so busy over the summer however, we found ourselves a little preoccupied with blushing brides and some devilishly handsome grooms. With a gap left to fill, we thought it was about time we shared with you another very special story and what a way to jump back into it than with the fabulous Lauren and Laurie, who chose our Essex wedding venue as their venue to say “I do”.
Having spent 8 years together, the wonderful duo decided it was about time they waltzed down the aisle, committing to ‘for better or worse’ in front of their loved ones. Having met at University, this wonderful pair became best friends before the romance blossomed, making their union all the more special. We were truly thrilled to share such a special event with such a wonderful couple. What’s more, we couldn’t be happier to bring all the details to you, our readers, of their special day.
Photo Credit: Victoria Cadish
The Venue
When it came to choosing the venue, Lauren and Laurie chose That Amazing Place for a number of reasons. Lauren felt, “comfortable there as soon as we arrived for our viewing.” They wanted a venue with history and a chic interior and That Amazing Place most certainly ticked those boxes. Lauren said, “That Amazing Place had the most beautiful grounds for an outdoor wedding and the inside of the house has been styled and decorated so well that it really fit our simple yet chic vision”. The happy couple were also fans of the size of our country house wedding venue, claiming it was the perfect size to make the day feel personal. It also encouraged guests from both sides to mingle.
Photo Credit: Victoria Cadish
Theme and Entertainment
When it came to their theme, Lauren says there wasn’t a theme per say, “I wouldn’t say that our wedding had a theme. I just wanted it to look attractive. We also wanted to use decorations and props that we hadn’t seen at other weddings.” The couple felt That Amazing Place was a total blank canvas giving them free rein to play around as much as they wanted. They wanted flower heavy décor without the worry of clashing with the rest of the venue and that’s exactly what they got; their colours including white and lilac with white, gold and black on the stationary.
Before you even entered the venue, guests were presented with a stunning welcome sign made by Quill London, “it was made with a swag of fresh roses and foliage. We wanted guests to get a feel of the wedding before even entering the building. The welcome sign, invites and seating plan all included the same name motif and style to keep it consistent.”
The wedding breakfast marquee housed 6 long tables for all guests with a giant balloon on each table. Each table had a runner effect of roses and hydrangeas (white and lilac). The table name placements were created using gold wooden calligraphy cut outs and the favours were gold heart pins from Macmillan Cancer Support. A real touching addition and so important for Lauren and Laurie, “most weddings we go to, people leave the wedding favours or forget them. It was really important to us that the money went to a worthy cause and one that all of our guests could relate to.”
Last minute changes are never something any bride or groom wants but Lauren and Laurie thought fast. Having their ceremony on the hottest day of the year meant the possibility of guests getting a little too hot (not something that’s ever said very often here in the UK). Thanks to their quick reflexes, guests were made to feel super comfortable with a quick purchase of Spanish style fans just days before the big day itself. They were also treated to the exquisite sounds of an Apollo Strings Quartet who provided music while situated alongside the gazebo. In Lauren’s own words, “they were magical”.
Décor
Family means a huge amount to Lauren and Laurie which is why they included family frames, “we wanted to include those who couldn’t be there and also wanted to celebrate our grandparents and parents marriages. At the front of the entrance we displayed wedding photos in gold frames. It felt so lovely having photos of those who couldn’t be there with us.”
They also had a fabulous donut wall instead of a sweet cart or table, as they wanted something a little different. It was actually made by Lauren’s dad and it looked amazing, “it went down a treat. It was painted lilac with gold calligraphy and the donuts were from Krispee Kreme.” Instead of a love sign, they also displayed a ‘Til Death Do Us Party’ sign that lit up. Everyone loved it and it featured heavily in the photography. Lauren felt it transformed the lounge into a party room instantly and she wasn’t wrong.
To keep the guests comfy, they also provided everyone with flip-flops so there were no excuses not to get themselves on the dance floor.
Catering
For their catering, they used the fabulous Premier Crew Hospitality. They opted for mini burgers, mini fish pie and mini bangers and mash along with sweet potato rostis. The wedding breakfast consisted of a roasted red pepper and tomato soup, chicken wrapped in Palma ham for mains and a trio dessert of vanilla cheesecake, chocolate brownie and Eton mess. In the evening, guests were treated to bacon and sausage baps. When it came to the catering, Lauren said, “the food was delicious and service sublime.”
While there are a million more details we could share about their special day, we thought we’d leave it up to the pictures to really show you just what a fabulous, once in a lifetime experience it was for them. We couldn’t have been happier to share such a special moment in such a wonderful couples life and from all of us here at That Amazing Place, we wish them the very best for the future. For more information on our Essex wedding venue, simply jump online and contact us today!
Today we’re looking at the wonderful wedding day of Hattie and Rhys, who said their “I do’s” on September 16th of this year right here at That Amazing Place. Hattie and Rhys has been together for eight years when they married after meeting randomly on a weekend where they were both enjoying company with friends. After hitting it off in a pub garden, and thanks to a rather persistent friend, Rhys and Hattie kept in touch and the rest as they say is history. So here’s a peek into their wonderful day…
The Venue
Photo Credit: Expression Photography
With family coming from afar, it was hugely important that Hattie and Rhys found somewhere that felt like a home from home. Hattie explained, “Being able to arrive on the Friday and relax and stay for the duration of the weekend was a great addition to what we were after. After our first visit to view That Amazing Place, we got in the car, both looked at each other and smiled; we knew it was the place for us.” The beautiful surroundings, impeccable décor and of course the staff, were huge advantages to Hattie and Rhys and convinced them quite easily that our Essex wedding venue was the one for them. They were also incredibly thankful for Paul, one of the venues owners, and event manager Angie, for making their family and friends on the day feel incredibly welcomed. Hattie describes them as being incredibly attentive throughout the whole weekend.
Theme and Entertainment
Photo Credit: Expression Photography
Hattie explained their aim was for their wedding day was simplicity; a relaxed social event and That Amazing Place became the perfect backdrop for it. This desire was reflected in the theme with simple white flowers housed in exquisite glass throughout. The colour theme was also reflected throughout the entire bridal party with adult bridesmaids wearing platinum and younger bridesmaids wearing navy. Hattie went on to explain, “The Groom and groomsmen also wore navy with navy ties and white polka dots. Rhys’s tie was navy with purple polka dots to match my shoes and bouquet.” In terms of entertainment, they enjoyed a live band called “The Money” from Nottingham. They’d seen them “perform quite a few years ago at a family’s wedding and loved the variety of their sets, so were keen to have them play at our wedding. They also did the DJ’ing in between sets and finished off our night with a requested garage half-hour!”
Catering
Photo Credit: Expression Photography
Photo Credit: Expression Photography
For their catering, Hattie and Rhys opted for one of our preferred suppliers, the fabulous Premier Crew Catering. Hattie said, “Sarah was fantastic throughout the process…we wanted a simple, relaxed and social day so we went for Afternoon Tea as our Wedding Breakfast; this was followed by a hog roast and BBQ in the early evening for all of our day and evening guests. The food was fantastic and Afternoon Tea looked beautiful on entering the room.”
Photo Credit: Expression Photography
From all of us here at That Amazing Place, we’d just like to thank Hattie and Rhys for choosing our venue and once again, say a huge congratulations! We hope to see you again soon, perhaps celebrating your anniversary in the same place you chose to say, “I do”.
Just because your wedding reception is taking place at our country house wedding venue, doesn’t mean you can’t make it your own. Every couple that steps through the door has, in the past, transformed our space. For a glimpse at what’s been done before, simply head on over to our “wedding stories” online. If you’re anything like any other happy couple however, you’ll want to look forward and create something totally different but unless you’re an interior designer, it can be a little hard to picture the transformation of your dreams. Thankfully, we’re here to help with our expert tips and tricks on transforming your wedding reception space at our country house wedding venue.
Hang extra lighting – lighting may seem an obvious choice but much like other décor, there are so many varieties. Simply hanging a little extra lighting than is already there can make a huge difference but it’s down to you just what sort of lighting you have. Will you opt for fairy lights or perhaps a statement light fitting? The choice is yours but ultimately; the right lighting can completely transform your space all by itself.
Matt Heath Photograhy
Bring the outdoors in – this year is all about bringing the outdoors in. While this may sound like hard work, it’s actually super easy as long as you have the right florist on your side. Think small trees, vines and any other greenery that compliments your theme. This will not only accentuate our country house wedding venue’s feel but will give your big day a more natural feel.
Drape the room – regardless of whether the room in question has wallpaper or paint, with the help of drapes you can quite literally create a room within a room. Create a new, dramatic look with the help of luxury fabric that not only matches your wedding colours but creates the sharp, classic look you’re going for. If you’re looking to create a new look on a budget, draping just the ceiling can have just as dramatic an effect as the entire room.
Accent with a little sparkle – there’s nothing quite like a little sparkle to make an occasion feel extra special and your wedding day is no exception, in fact, we don’t know a single bride that doesn’t want to sparkle on their big day. From crystal curtains to dangling centre pieces. Even a metallic sheen for those who don’t want too obvious a sparkle; there are so many options and so many ways to transform a room.
Introduce a lot of candles – candles are the epitome of romance and while many use them, how you display them and what candle you opt for can completely change the atmosphere. From groups of candles of varying heights, to hanging lanterns with tea lights; there are so many options to choose from.
If you’d like more help creating your own transformation here at our exclusive use country house wedding venue, you’ll be pleased to know that our events manager will be happy to help, every step of the way. For more information on our wedding packages, contact us today
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