How we met...
We met in sixth form after being in every class together and the school’s insistence on alphabetical seating plans.
The proposal...
Callum proposed at sunset on Hallin Fell in the Lake District, after a hot and sweaty march up to the top because he thought we were going to miss the sunset! After using the excuse he was taking some photos with me looking at the sunset, I turned round to see him on one knee with a ring
What made us choose Dodmoor for your special day?
We were initially drawn to the lawns as we drove up the driveway and could straight away imagine people enjoying games in the sun. The barns provided the perfect rustic feel to bring together close family and friends for our special day. As soon as we started talking with the staff at Dodmoor, they were so friendly and welcoming that we knew they would ensure our perfect day went without a hitch
Our Vision...
It was important to us to have a day where our guests could relax and have fun without any formal obligations or restrictions. After 10 years together, we saw our wedding day as much a celebration for our friends and family as it was for us. We opted for a relaxed summer celebration with good BBQ food, flowing drinks and games for our competitive friends and family.
The outfits...
Callum and his groomsmen wore Marc Darcy royal blue three piece suits fitted by Thorburns, with Callum opting for a grey waistcoat. Although the men looked handsome in their suits, the hot weather meant that the jackets were quickly discarded and ties loosened! The bridesmaids looked stunning in dusty rose tie-back dresses which were perfect for the summer weather. I really wanted a dress that didn’t stop me from having fun on my wedding day, including joining in the volleyball and dancing the night away. I fell in love with a fit and flare gown with beaded embroidered lace recommended by Bea’s Bridal in Southam.
The food...
Our families certainly like their food, so we had to make sure that they were amply fed! We started with mixed canapés to accompany the Pimms cocktails, which was a real success in the hot weather! Whilst everyone was relaxing on the lawn having fun, GJ catering was busy firing up the BBQ! We had plenty of fresh side dishes to go along side the grilled meat and vegetables. Finally, we wanted to showcase the incredible wedding cake made by one of the groomsmen, so dessert was a combination of Eton mess and a selection of the different wedding cake tiers. In the evening our guests had the chance to indulge on pizza and chips, perfect after a long day of drinking and celebrating
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Our favourite part of the day...
Apart from saying all of it, our favourite part of the day was the drinks reception on the lawn where we greeted our guests. It was lovely seeing our friends and family mingle as they enjoyed refreshing cocktails, played lawn games and volleyball in the sunshine. On a side note, the ceremony was absolutely beautiful in the Courtyard barn and made even better when Callum’s Garmin watch alerted he was having an “abnormally high heart rate” which we put down to the heat! (He still maintains it wasn’t nerves)
What made Dodmoor stand out as a venue to us...
The beautiful barns and lawn setting. We loved the idea that our guests could enjoy all aspects of the venue in the summer weather.
The idea we felt worked well on the day...
The Pimms and cocktail drinks reception and the BBQ evening meal really suited the hot weather and the relaxed celebration theme we aimed for.
The Entertainment...
We had a fantastic DJ with music we had chosen and felt would get as much people on the dance floor as possible. As well as this we had a photo booth where guests could have fun with silly props and leave messages in our guest book.
Where we feel our budget was well spent...
The drinks package supplied by Dodmoor worked really well for the hot weather and the thirsty nature of our guests! Our guests loved how easy it was to get a refill and took full advantage of the drinks supplied, so much so Dodmoor almost ran out of Pimms!
Personal touches that reflected us as a couple...
We chose the music played throughout the day which reflected us a couple and often caught people singing along to our favourite songs.
Another personal touch was that Callum had 3D printed the cake topper, favour gifts and the table names, which received many compliments from our guests. Some of whom are now upset as they left behind their 3D printed gifts.
Also the game of boys vs girls volleyball during the drinks reception really reflected our competitive and fun nature despite being in our wedding attire.
Suppliers we used and loved...
Louise at Orange Blossom Florists was fantastic at bringing together our ideas and coming up with beautiful displays within our target budget.
GJ catering was able to provide the relaxed party theme with moorish canapés, delicious BBQ buffet food and then much needed pizza for the evening.
Andy Lewis our photographer captured our day beautifully, he went with the flow of the day and provided fun with the photo booth in the evening.
Finally, if we could give a tip to other couples...
Try not to stress about the little details when planning because on the day all you care about is that you and your guests have fun and enjoy themselves. Oh And make sure you find time to eat and not be distracted by talking to guests
Special thanks to Melissa and Callum for sharing their story, and Andy Lewis Photography for the photos x