Bethany and Sam
Updated: Oct 8
How we met...
The Pub… Sam and I grew up in the same village in Oxfordshire, but due to a small age gap and going to different secondary schools, we never met… despite living opposite each other for four years! We then both ended up working at the village pub, and the rest is history.
The proposal...
We booked a holiday to Naples and the Amalfi Coast - we spent a few days in Naples, before heading to the coast and after a day of walking round Pompeii in 35-degree heat, navigating two trains and a ferry, we arrived in Amalfi, a bit hot and bothered. We had booked a restaurant, where we had the most incredible meal and maybe one too many wines. Sam suggested we went for a walk on the beach and whilst were sat on the beach, he proposed. We then spent the rest of the evening drinking Aperols in the main square of Amalfi, Facetiming our friends and family.
Why we chose Dodmoor for our special day...
From the minute we visited Dodmoor, we loved it. It ticked every box; beautiful inside and out, exclusive use and the ability to customise exactly how you wanted to.
The vision...
We really just wanted to throw a good party, we wanted all our guests to have an incredible time, with good food, drinks and dancing! We wanted the wedding to be about all the things we loved; each other, our friends, family, and Italian inspiration.
The outfits...
Bethany visited TDR Bridal in Birmingham and had such a special experience. She tried on 7 dresses but ended up purchasing the 2nd one she had tried on! Sam visited Peter Posh in our hometown of Warwick and also bought the 2nd suit he tried on. What we loved about Peter Posh is that Sam could purchase his suit, and we could rent the same for the groomsmen.
The food...
In keeping with our love for Italy, we had Squisitio, who served us antipasti for starters, sharing pasta bowls for main, and finally gelato and Tiramisu for dessert. Our guests have done nothing but rave about the Beef Ragu. In the evening, we had pizzas.
Our favourite part of the day...
ALL OF IT! But if we had to pick one moment, singing Hey Baby on the dancefloor for about 10 minutes, despite the band finishing it and playing 3 more songs!
What made Dodmoor stand out to us...
Everything about the venue was so well thought out, inside and out. The inside spaces for the ceremony and wedding breakfast worked so perfectly. We were extremely lucky to have amazing weather and were able to make use of the courtyard all evening, which flowed so nicely into the Catesby Barn, where the band were playing. We also loved the garden games and drinks on the lawn, under the huge oak tree.
The idea that really worked on the day...
We really loved the family style sharing platters of antipasti and pasta that we had for dinner.
The entertainment...
We were very lucky to have The Distractions all day, including a duo during the ceremony, a trio including a sax during the drinks reception, and then a full 6-piece band in the evening. Live music was the number one priority for us!
Where the budget was well spent...
Compared to other venues we had visited, Dodmoor was incredibly good value for money. The no-corkage fee also allowed us to purchase all our alcohol ahead of time, meaning we could shop around for some deals. Being able to choose an outside caterer also allowed us to find Squisitio, who were really great value for money.
The personal touches...
Sadly, it was too much of a logistical nightmare to have our dogs with us on the day, so we made sure we had cut-outs of their faces in the photobooth! We also created a crossword all about us and a wedding newspaper for the ceremony. But everything we chose, we made sure it was our favourites, from Italian food to Aperol Spritz during the drinks reception.
Recommended suppliers we used and loved...
Sophie Ann Photography - Sophie and Kyle were so much more than a photographer/videographer, they really take their time to get to know you as a couple, and really manage to capture every aspect of your day.
The Distractions - The music throughout the whole day and evening was absolutely incredible; they learnt songs for our ceremony and first dance on request, and then put on an amazing party in the evening for us all.
Our tip to future couples...
Book the wedding you want - make sure all your choices reflect you and your favourite things, and book Dodmoor!
With thanks to Sophie Ann Photography for the photos.
