Maria and Tom - Third Time Lucky at The Normans

This blog has been a long time in the making. Fitting, since Maria and Tom’s wedding was also a long time in the making.

Having originally booked their Big Day at the World’s Best Wedding Venue (The Normans, in case you wondering) for May 3, 2020, the pandemic struck. Tom and Maria consequently rescheduled, only for the pandemic to strike again. Tom and Maria rescheduled again. The pandemic struck again, and so on and so forth…

Fast forward to 2022 and our courageous couple finally did the “I do” and celebrated accordingly at The World’s Best Wedding Venue (still The Normans).

While we love watching couples exchange vows in front of the cascading fairy lights in our Ceremony Barn, we have a special place in our hearts for a church wedding - specifically a church wedding at St. James’s, Bilbrough (the very place the writer of this blog post was married, no less).

Before the couple arrived at the church, there was the small matter of getting suited, booted, and suitably coiffed. Bride Maria readied herself for the Big Day at her family home with the help of Helen Griffin and Amy George…

“Hair was a no-brainer,” explains Maria. “Helen has been cutting my hair since I was a little girl, so it was really lovely to have someone I've known for so many years.”

“I knew I wanted a natural but special look for make-up,” continues Maria. “I actually came across Amy on the Normans blog! From the very first email I knew how lovely she was going to be and I was thrilled with how my first trial went.”

Maria’s Pronovias bridal gown from Bridal Rogue Gallery, Harrogate, was one of the first she tried on when hunting for wedding dresses.

“I was really drawn to the simple, elegant aesthetic of the front paired with the detailing on the back,” says Maria. “I ended up coming back to it, and the amazing ladies at Bridal Rogue Gallery helped tweak it to make it perfect, adding additional lace to fill in the cut-out sides and also adding small lace sleeves. Knowing it was completely unique made it even more special!”

Maria, as is clear to see, looked radiant - as did her bridesmaids, who were all decked in simple yet stunning dresses from Oasis.

“We loved the slightly unusual colour, which really suited everyone's different skin tones,” says Maria.

And let’s spare a thought for the boys! Bless them!

They all looked smart as a button (or, indeed, five buttons): Groom Tom was rocking an Oliver Brown number, while his groomsmen kept up appearances with three-piece morning-suits from Moss Bros.

Ties (which would later be worn around heads) were from Reef Knots.

And so, to church!

Our excellently named couple (Tom Traill and Maria Diggle - up there with the best surnames we’ve had at the venue) were married by the equally excellently named Revd Martin Otter.

After the ceremony, guests were ferried back to The Normans in a classic double-decker bus (shout out to York Pullman).

Needless to say, the bride and groom were never going to rub shoulders with riff raff on the poverty wagon. No thank you! They instead made the four-minute commute in a Rolls Royce. And quite right too.

The Normans looked fabulous under the blue spring skies of April…

… which meant that Maria and Tom, and their guests, could enjoy the drinks reception in The Normans Courtyard.

Team Hog - better known as The Hog & Apple Food Co, our most excellent resident caterers - were on hand to dish out some delicious canapes.

“We wanted to have a strong canape game,” says Tom. “And we can definitely say we succeeded! The mini pie and pints were a big hit, as were the Yorkshire puds.”

When guests were called in for the wedding breakfast, they were greeted by a room-full of sparkling fairy lights, which were embellished with a floral flourish from family friend Claire Slater.

“Claire Slater is a friend of Maria's Mum,” explains Tom. “So, again, it was lovely to have someone with a personal connection involved. Having seen Claire's work we were confident she was going to do a brilliant job. We loved the natural, rustic feel of The Normans, so we kept it fairly simple - roses, spring flowers in whites, pale pinks and pale blues, going for a elegant, natural and relaxed look.”

The Hog & Apple put on quite the feast for the couple and their guests.

“Hog & Apple gave us some brilliant recommendations based on our favourite foods,” says Tom. “We built our menu around these recommendations - scallops to start, lamb for main, and apple crumble for dessert. It was all so delicious!”

Food was enjoyed, drinks were enthusiastically imbibed…

… emotional speeches were made…

… and cakes were cut.

Maria's mum, Sue, made the incredible wedding cake, which was duly dispatched by her sword-wielding daughter.

Once the cake was comprehensively chopped, guests enjoyed four different flavoured tiers - the bottom tier was a fruitcake, which had been baked ahead of the couple’s original 2020 wedding.

“It'd been kept well-fed with booze to ensure it didn't dry out!” adds Tom.

After the wedding breakfast, Maria and Tom took time out with the most excellent Louise Anna Photography for an amble around the farm, which resulted in some stunning sunset shots. Bravo, Louise!

When the couple returned, the evening’s revelries began.

First: the first dance.

And the dancefloor quickly became the scene of rigorous revelry.

The fantastic Rolling Keys from Jonny Ross Music Agency ensured the dance floor remained packed through the evening…

… and even the bar saw some action…

“When we first visited The Normans in 2018 we knew we’d found somewhere special. We loved everything about the venue - and Oliver & Sharon sealed the deal. They were only a phone call and email away and were so supportive through [Lockdown]. They really are the best in the business! ”

— Marvellous Maria

SUPPLIERS

Photographer Louise Anna Photography

Food The Hog & Apple Food Co.

Musicians (reception) The Rhodes Brothers

Band (evening) The Rolling Keys

Videographer Will Selby Films

Floristry Claire Slater Flowers

Hair Helen Griffin

Make-up Amy George

Bride’s dress Pronovias from Bridal Rogue Gallery

Bridesmaids’ dresses Oasis

Groom’s suit Oliver Brown

Autumn Awesomeness The Normans

If, like us, you’re in need of cooling down during this hot, dry July, then you’ll be eager to immerse yourself in our latest wedding blog - a throwback to rainy October, when Lucy and Arron celebrated all that is awesome about autumn.

As with all love stories at The Normans, this rainy-day romance began in The Cottage where Kelly Hanks Hair Design and Amy George Makeup readied Lucy and her ladies for the day ahead.

Lucy dressed for the aisle in a stunning Moonlight Bridal gown from Rachel Ash Bridal.

“I knew I wanted something with sleeves, but I wasn’t sure on what shape sleeves… and I also never really wear dresses, so I was a tad nervous!” says Lucy. “But as soon as I tried it on, it just suited my figure and made me feel very elegant, confident and comfortable. So, after a few months of trying other dresses on, I always kept coming back to this one knowing that it really was the dress for me!”

While Lucy was wearing white, her bridesmaids were rocking bold, beautiful autumnal colours.

“We decided to go for a mix of styles and autumn colours,” explains Lucy. “So, I was happy for the girls to find there own!”

The girls, we have to say, did a great job; sourcing their attire from an assortment of outlets, including ASOS, Shein and SilkFred. Well played, ladies.

Meanwhile, groom Arron, pictured here in his slick three-piece tweed suit from House of Cavani, awaited guests in the cosy environs of The Cow Stalls (which, admittedly, look like something straight out of Wuthering Heights, but we can assure you they’re very warm and welcoming...)

Even in October, The Normans Courtyard retains its verdant green aesthetic (and looks all the better when it’s adorned with personal touches from the couple).

The floral arrangements in The Ceremony Barn were particularly striking.

“I always knew we would go for deep autumnal colours since I’ve always loved this colour pallet,” explains Lucy. “I love it when the leaves start to turn and it’s a mix of oranges, reds and yellows. I don’t know much about different flowers but I trusted our florist [the fantastic Floral & Lace].”

The reds and oranges of the floral displays perched on the barrels at the end of the aisle contrasted wonderfully with the sparkling fairy lights.

We also loved the red petals that lined the aisle.

And, needless to say Lucy, wearing her Moonlight Bridal dress, wowed as she entered The Ceremony Barn…

The touching ceremony culminated with the exchange of rings…

… and was sealed with a kiss.

We always make a point of saying that The Normans is an all-seasons, all-weather wedding venue - and this proved to be true on Lucy and Arron’s wedding day. While the drizzle prevented post-ceremony drinks taking place in The Courtyard, The Ceremony Barn was quickly and discreetly turned around for guests to enjoy drinks and canapes…

… and a cracking (weatherproof) group photo.

Speaking of photos, the rain didn’t deter the bride, groom and their entourage from nipping out to the nearby farm buildings with photographer Lianne Gray for some great shots.

It’s not everyday our roller-shutter doors are made to look so chic…

… and it’s strange to think that a cool, grey day could make for such an effective backdrop for photos of bride and groom…

… Arron and his groomsmen also took the opportunity to clamber all over a tractor …

… before the whole gang risked their lives by posing next some extremely dangerous industrial agricultural equipment (we’re kidding - no brides, grooms, bridesmaids or groomsmen were harmed in the taking of this photo).

And, somehow, Lucy and are bridesmaids looked even more stunning in the agri-chic environs of the farm’s dryer shed.

Once photos were finished, the doors to The Grain Shed were opened.

Credit to Lucy - her and her florist absolutely nailed the room’s décor.

“I had seen the Normans had the option of canopy flowers above the tables,” explains Lucy. “We decided to make a feature of them running down the middle, again with autumnal colours and wild style flowers. The other tables were just dressed with some loose flowers in our vases and bottles we hired.“

“I loved our table runners,” adds Lucy. “It was a bit of a gamble to find the right colour - the ones I found were from somewhere in Europe, so it was touch-and-go whether they would arrive [on time] and would be the right colour. Luckily, they suited the colour scheme perfectly and added a pop of colour to the wooden tables!”

“We also had cocktail jars as favours in the autumn colours too. They were so cool - people could shake them at the table and drink there and then.”

“Arron’s table plan was so fun and showed his passion for cycling,” adds Lucy. “He added peoples faces to the ‘teams’ [tables], which made it more interesting for guests to find their seats!”

“The food was more than we imagined. The Hog & Apple really treated us to an amazing dinner, which everyone commented on!” enthuses Lucy. “We knew we wanted an Asian-style sharing starter - we got engaged in Bali - and I think [sharing platters] help break the ice for guests who haven’t met before.”

“The trio of pork was also incredible - everyone raved about the pulled-pork bonbon, it was epic! As for the dessert, we knew the main would be hearty so went for something light and fun - mini white-chocolate lollipops with raspberry and lemon. It was beautiful on the plate and was really light and refreshing!”

Lucy and Arron were lucky enough to have a good friend who could bake a mean cake (shout out to Lexi!). This three-tiered triumph celebrated Lucy & Arron’s love of music.

And while it’s almost a shame to chop up a thing of such beauty, we can assure you Lexi’s cake tasted delicious. But, perhaps more importantly, the cake cutting announced the start of evening merriment…

… namely, the first dance under the twinkling canopy of fairy lights.

“The service we received from The Normans was 5-star - we couldn’t of asked for more. Sharon and the team went above and beyond to make our day special. We had so many comments about how beautiful and different The Norman’s is. It will always have a special place in our hearts!”

— The lovely Lucy

SUPPLIERS

Photography Lianne Gray

Bride’s dress Moonlight Bridal from Rachel Ash Bridal

Hair Kelly Hanks Hair Design

Make-up Amy George Makeup

Flowers Floral & Lace

Catering The Hog & Apple Food Co.

Reception music Wandering Hands

Evening music Northern House Band from Jonny Ross Music

Videography Harper & Wolf

Summer stunners at The Normans

The grey skies of late don’t exactly scream ‘Summer!’, but we can’t escape the fact that we’re only a few weeks away from basking in glorious sunshine. (This is definitely going to happen.)

So, while we dream of warmer climes, let’s cast our minds back to a balmy Tuesday in August last year, when Anna married Matt at The Normans…

Although there was a smattering of rain on this summer day, this couple still sizzled with style.

Case in point: bride Anna in her stunning gown by Zavana Bridal (pictured here by Dominic Wright). Anna found her dress in Chloë Jane Bridalwear, although, somewhat amazingly, it wasn’t her first choice…

“When my mum and I were walking around the bridal shop choosing dresses for me to try, I said I didn’t like the dress in the window at all,” laughs Anna. “Three dresses later - and a minor meltdown about not liking any - and the girls from Chloe Jane brought me ‘that dress in the window’! I tried it on and instantly knew it was my dress. It was love at second sight! They really do know their stuff!” 

Anna’s hair was styled by Amy Lopez from Westrow Street Lane in Leeds.

“She was fabulous, she helped me with me pre-wedding hair care and colour too!” says Anna.

Make-up was the remit of Naomi Stone: “Naomi was great and got the perfect balance of ‘natural glam’ for the Big Day! She even chose and matched my bridesmaids with their wedding day lipsticks, from a photograph!”

Anna’s beautiful bridesmaids, meanwhile, wore dresses from Joy’s Bella Bridesmaids.

“Hannah made the whole experience so easy and fun,” recounts Anna. “They have such a range of different styles!”

We’re sure groom Matt won’t mind us saying that Anna stole the show, but he still made quite the impression in his fitted three-piece suit, complete with chequered waistcoat and bespoke lining. He also rocked up in a stretched Hummer (which is still stuck on a tight corner just up the road from the venue).

(It’s not really, don’t worry.)

Anna eschewed the Hummer but still made quite the arrival, sparkling brighter than the plenitude of fairy lights in The Normans iconic Ceremony Barn.

She met her groom at the top of the aisle, and there began a heart-warming ceremony.

“We loved our ceremony reading,” says Anna. “We had our maid of honour and grooms man stand at the front and read their own interpretations of love. This was followed by eight people from the congregation standing in turn to read what love meant to them! It was beautiful to hear each persons thoughts and feelings, many of who shared their wisdom and wise words for a happy marriage!”

We couldn’t agree more!

After the readings, the vows, and the giddy excitement of the ‘I dos’, Anna and Matt walked back down the aisle, through storm clouds of confetti, as man and wife.

The weather behaved itself enough for the doors of the Ceremony Barn to be flung open and for guests to enjoy the drinks reception in The Courtyard. The burble of chatter and laughter was accompanied by a relaxed soundtrack courtesy of the most excellent The Rebel Sounds.

While music may be the food of the soul, food for the belly was provided by out trusty catering partners, The Hog & Apple, who were on hand to distribute flutes of bubbly and a range of creatively constructed canapés.

When Anna first started planning her day, all those years ago before various Covid lockdowns, she started with a few Pinterest posts, which quickly escalated into a full-on passion project…

“One of our biggest visions was having the lights strung across the courtyard,” says Anna. “It was something that hadn’t been done before, but Oliver worked with the guys at AV Matrix - it really gave us that ‘courtyard party vibe’ in the evening!”

“I made a scrap book and spent weeks printing and sticking pictures to create a vision for each part of the day,” continues Anna. “Having an extra year to plan the wedding [because of Covid] I could have changed my mind hundreds of times... luckily for Kirsti and the team at Rose and Spade, I was set on a colour scheme: a gorgeous mix of deep pink, apricot and blush to add pops of colour. I knew I didn’t want every inch of the wedding to be ‘colour themed’ so it was great fun deciding how we could introduce bursts of colour without overdoing it. From the big flower arrangements to the delicate ones on the tables, the ribbons around the place names to the button holes… everything looked perfect!”

We were particularly impressed by the makeshift hat hooks the couple constructed in the entrance of The Grain Shed - a first!

Anna and Matt’s guests were seated along four rows of rustic banqueting tables, which were punctuated with bunches of flowers and tall, elegant candles. The Grain Shed dining area looked breath-taking.

The food matched the aesthetics, thanks to the culinary endeavours of The Hog & Apple.

“Everyone who knows us, knows that we love food,” explains Anna. “So, the food for the Big Day was very important to us. Our menu was based on our love for the outdoors in the summer - especially barbecuing with friends and family. So, there were plenty of fresh salads and sweet potato fries! Our dessert was something more refined and beautifully plated. I nearly forgot what we had chosen at the tasting, 18 months previously, so it was a lovely surprise on the day!”

Three courses were bookmarked by speeches, and, once dessert was cleared, guests took the opportunity to steal outside to enjoy The Courtyard in the evening sun.

There was even time for Anna to toss the bouquet (a wedding tradition we don’t see much of these days, sadly)…

… as well as some impromptu dancing under the festoon lights…

But, before long, guests were called back into the Grain Shed for the cutting of a cake - almost a pity given how splendid the cake was. Hats off to Where The Ribbon Ends for crafting this three-tiered beauty.

It was then straight onto the dance floor for Anna and Matt’s first dance as a married couple under Grain Shed’s fairy-light canopy.

The Rebel Sounds had relocated from the Courtyard to the main stage to give one of their trademark high-octane, wildly original performances. Suffice to say, the dance floor was packed - a fitting finale to a quite tremendous summer scorcher of a wedding.

“We had the most perfect, stunning, amazing wedding day! Every single stage of the process was so easy - from booking all the way up to collecting our things the day after the wedding. Matt and I cannot thank The Normans team enough for making what was the hardest 18 months we could have imagined, end in such an incredible way!”

— Amazing Anna

SUPPLIERS

Photography Dominic Wright

Bride’s dress Zavana Bridal from Chloë Jane Bridalwear

Bridesmaids’ dresses Joy’s Bella Bridesmaids

Hair Westrow Street Lane

Make-up Naomi Stone

Food The Hog & Apple Food Co.

Flowers Rose and Spade

Cake Where The Ribbon Ends

Music The Rebel Sounds

Wedding Planner White Wedding Company

Rainy-day romance at The Normans

With this year’s wedding season starting earlier than usual, we’ve found it a tad tricky to find the time to update our wondrous wedding blog (thanks for bearing with us!). But we’re slowly finding our feet and we’ll be posting more and more marvellous marriages… But, for the time being, settle in and enjoy the verdant vibes of Emma & Graeme’s summer wedding here at The Normans, captured on camera by photographer Laura Calderwood.

As is often the case at The Normans, proceedings started early in the morning in The Cottage…

It was in the dressing room that bride Emma entrusted make-up duties to her namesake Emma (Denton).

“Emma specialises in natural ‘glowy’ make-up, which is exactly what I wanted,” says (bride) Emma.

Meanwhile, unable to find a hairstylist named Emma (just imagine!), bride Emma commissioned in the excellent Hannah Taylor to beautify bobs.

“I loved my hair on the day,” says Emma. “It was important to me that my bridesmaids all felt comfortable, so they all picked different hairstyles and Hannah smashed every single one!”

Bouquets for the bridal party were arranged by florist Kate Mell - we love the simplicity and timelessness of these white roses.

Emma’s stunning bridal gown was the handiwork of designer Mark Lesley and procured from Confetti & Lace.

“I always knew the style I was going for - fitted with a low back!” says Emma. “It fit the bill perfectly, and as soon as I tried it on I instantly felt more confident. I did think I would go for a completely plain front but a bit of subtle sparkle at the top helped me feel a bit more special for the Big Day!”

Bridesmaids, meanwhile, were dressed in something blue.

“I spent nearly a year searching for the ‘perfect’ shade of blue I'd envisioned for the bridesmaids’ dresses since we booked the venue!” recounts Emma.” Eventually, I found them on ASOS. I'm glad I persevered as the colour looks amazing in photos.”

It certainly does, Emma, it certainly does…

Contrary to what we tell couples when they first view the venue: it does rain in North Yorkshire (sometimes). But the wet weather didn’t dampen spirits and Emma and her bridesmaids were happy to brave the elements en route to The Ceremony Barn.

Emma and groom Graeme decided to keep thinks simple in the Ceremony Barn - enlisting the mad skills or florist Kate Mell to build this lush foliage archway, which provided a perfect pop of greenery in amidst the flickering candles and twinkling fairy lights.

“We were unsure whether to include the foliage archway in the Ceremony Barn,” explains Emma. “In the end, we opted to go for it and it's one of the best last-minute decisions we made! It looked absolutely stunning and we also had to use [the Ceremony Barn] more than we had anticipated due to the rubbish weather on the day, so all our photos were taken inside and it was a great feature!”

Indeed, the archway was the first stop on Emma’s journey down the aisle - arm in arm with proud dad Gary…

Once she reached her destination, Gary gave her away to groom-in-waiting Graeme. Who, we now realise, hasn’t had much of a mention thus far! (Sorry Graeme.)

Needless to say, Graeme looked suitably dashing in a nice marine navy check suit, with double-breasted waistcoat by Marc Darcy and purchased from Joshua Adams.

“It didn't take Graeme long to pick his suit as he loved this one as soon as he tried it on,” says Emma. “The groomsmen have the same suit which looks very smart in the photos.”

Once the couple were married in front of their 66 day guests, they were lucky to get a break in the weather and were able to enjoy canapes (courtesy of F4D) in the Courtyard.

After a couple of hours of nibbles, drinks and photos, the Grain Shed doors were opened and guests were guided in by way of this bespoke table plan.

Emma and Graeme had opted for our rustic banqueting tables, set out in four rows with a top table. The outer two rows featured the gantries lined with foliage, which worked wonderfully as it gave height to the greenery.

The cake, by the wonderful Where The Ribbon Ends, was another head-turner - and the artful silhouette topper had something of a significant meaning to the couple.

“Our dog Reggie was also supposed to make an appearance at the wedding, but had an operation the day before so was unable to be there!” explains Emma. “We featured him on our cake topper instead and made sure he was in some of the photos we printed out and displayed in the Cow Stalls, so those were small details which were special to us.”

The wedding breakfast highlights included barbecue sharing boards and pork belly. And once the delectable dishes had been consumed, speeches were made.

Soon enough, guests congregated around the dance floor for Emma and Graeme’s first dance.

And, before long, the rest of the guests were coaxed onto the dancefloor, by the sweet sounds of The Wilde Ones - an aesthetically (and acoustically) pleasing band who look as though they’ve walked off the set of Twilight (the boys are, in fact, from the Jonny Ross Music agency).

“The Normans is the most perfect venue and we fell in love with it from the minute we first looked round,” says Emma in a heartfelt tribute to The Normans (which we’re more than happy to print in full). “The whole experience with the team was amazing - they made the planning experience feel completely stress free, from our last minute queries, which were never too much trouble, right up to re-scheduling the whole date thanks to Covid! Everything about the service felt so genuine and personal.”

You guys!

“So many of our guests said it’s the most beautiful wedding venue they’ve ever been to.”

— The most excellent Emma

Suppliers

• Photography Laura Calderwood

• Make-up Emma Denton

• Hair Hannah Taylor

• Bride’s dress Mark Lesley from Confetti & Lace

• Bridesmaids’ dresses ASOS

• Groom and groomsmen’s suits Marc Darcy from Joshua Adams

• Flowers Kate Mell

• Food F4D

• Cake Where The Ribbon Ends

• Music The Wilde Ones from Jonny Ross Music

Sunshine and style at The Normans

Good tidings seem to be in short supply at the moment, so we thought we’d try to brighten up your newsfeed with some sunshine and summer love direct from The Normans wedding venue.

Bride, groom and… Arnie. Image by photographybycharli.com

Stunning bride Faye and her beau Matt married at The Normans in September 2021. And while their wedding was technically an autumnal affair, it had all the hallmarks of a summer soirée, boasting sunshine and good times in abundance.

Indeed, the temperate climes meant that that bride and bridesmaids could spend the wedding morning roaming the venue in silk robes - mimosas in hand - before retreating to The Normans Cottage for hair and make-up.

Bride and bridesmaids on the wedding morning. Image by photographybycharli.com

Mimosas, make-up and marriage - in that order. Image by photographybycharli.com

Inside The Cottage, the talented Paige Lauren had been commissioned to look after the ladies’ locks, while make-up was the remit of the Jade Heanley.

Faye readies herself in The Normans Cottage. Image by photographybycharli.com

Hair today… Image by photographybycharli.com

Good hair day in The Normans Cottage. Image by photographybycharli.com

Faye’s wedding dress, meanwhile, was by Martina Liana and was purchased from Ava Rose Hamilton.

“I definitely watched far too much ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ during Lockdown,” jokes Faye. “Ava Rose was the third store I visited, so I had an idea of the style I wanted, but I fell in love with the off-the-shoulder detail and (slightly) excessive train, which was filled with twigs by the end of the day! It wasn't anything like what I had saved to my Pinterest board, but I felt like an absolute princess in it!”

The wedding dress hanging in The Normans Cottage. Image by photographybycharli.com

Mirror, mirror on the wall... bride Faye is the fairest of them all. Image by photographybycharli.com

Faye felt like a princess - and she certainly looked the part. We love the expression on the bridesmaids’ faces when they first see the bride in her dress. The moment was caught on camera by wonderful wedding photographer Charli Palmer.

Bridesmaids are blown away by Faye. Image by photographybycharli.com

Faye’s squad kept up appearances - they all looked beautiful in dusky-pink bridesmaids dresses from Krisp Clothing.

“I searched for so long to find the right shade of pink and also a dress style that would suit everyone,” explains Faye. “The elastic backs worked well for bridesmaids who were expecting and food babies after the meal.”

Beautiful bride Faye with her bridesmaids. Image by photographybycharli.com

Dreamy dresses were complimented by fantastic flowers - bridesmaids and bride’s bouquets skilfully constructed by Natasha Coustol Floral Designs.

Fantastic florals. Image by photographybycharli.com

With flowers and frocks in order, Faye turned heads and dropped jaws as she walked up the aisle to meet her man.

Matt looked great in a Marc Darcy three-piece suit - the tweed chequered waistcoat contrasting nicely with the blue jacket and trouser. Meanwhile, Matt’s groomsmen were fitted out in Cavani suits and accessorised with Marc Darcy ties and pocket squares.

Faye meets Matt at the top of the aisle. Image by photographybycharli.com

You may now kiss the bride… Image by photographybycharli.com

Bride and Groom sign the register. Image by photographybycharli.com

The couple did the ‘I dos’ in front of our iconic cascading fairy lights, flanked by flower displays by Natasha Coustol.

“The Normans is a stunning venue, so there wasn't much need for a lot of décor,” says Faye. “With it being a September wedding I wanted to keep the colours ‘summery’, so we chose large floral arrangements for the Ceremony Barn with blush pink flowers to match the bridesmaids’ dresses. I'm not sure if ‘classy rustic’ is a thing - but that's what I was going for,” laughs Faye.

“A lot of our décor was either reclaimed or built from scratch,” says Faye. “The DIY list was endless but serval lockdowns ensured we had enough time to do everything! The wooden lanterns that lined the aisle were a particular favourite of mine - Matt spent several weekends chopping up an old pallet and gluing pieces together to make them.”

Once the couple had been pelted with confetti, the Ceremony Barn doors were flung open, revealing the sun-filled Courtyard. Here, The Hog & Apple Food Co. were armed with delectable canapés and trays laden with beers and bubbly.

Bride and groom enjoy H&A culinary treats in The Normans Courtyard. Image by photographybycharli.com

Bride and Groom mingle with the adoring masses. Image by photographybycharli.com

There canapés were accompanied by garden games - the mini golf course certainly got guests’ competitive juices flowing.

Groom Matt keeping it cool. Image by photographybycharli.com

H&A’s canapés never disappoint and Faye and Matt’s menu featured mini steak pies with pea puree and shot of real ale, arancini mushrooms and soft Japanese bao buns with katsu chicken filling and green onion.

“We chose our menu based on some of the foods we loved from our holidays,” says Faye. “Doug from Hog & Apple was great during our planning sessions and suggested bao buns, which Matt loves having tried them on a recent trip to Japan. These were a firm favourite with the guests and even Arnie got a taste for some tricks!”

Canapes served in The Normans Courtyard after the marriage ceremony. Image by photographybycharli.com

Tasty treats for the drinks reception. Image by photographybycharli.com

Treats for bride's best friend. Image by photographybycharli.com

Indeed, Arnie the Lab cut quite a dash, wearing a custom-made suit from Tuna & Bear.

As guests enjoyed the September sunshine, Faye and Matt stole away with their photographer to explore the farm and surrounding countryside.

Bride and Groom share a moment. Image by photographybycharli.com

Rural romance. Image by photographybycharli.com

Once the two had returned from their rural jaunt, the Grain Shed doors were opened and the wedding breakfast was announced.

En route, guests enjoyed the extensive photo collage the couple had installed.

“Our main aim was to bring everyone together and have great time,” explains Faye, “so we decided to focus on activities that people could do together, from the lawn games, to the cigar bar, to the photos that lined the entrance to the Grain Shed.”

Guests were seated along four rows of banqueting tables. The gantries were used to elevate greenery and to hang glass baubles and candles. The DIY décor was simple yet oh-so effective.

“This was the first time a lot of family had seen each other in a long time, so we chose the long rustic dining tables and sharing dishes,” explains Faye. “We fell in love with the idea of sharing platters - it's such a unique idea and we were able to customise them to include all our favourite tapas. All the guests commented on how amazing the food was!”

After speeches, guests (who still had room) gorged themselves on the brownie tower and mini donuts (we love the personalised donut bags!).

“The whole day was perfect from start to finish, we can’t thank Oliver, Sharon and Doug from H&A enough - they made everything stress-free and even helped us party through the power cut!” says Faye.

Indeed, The Normans generator kicked in right on cue when the local area was hit by a power outage that evening!

DJ Steve Madison and saxophonist Joe Reeve provided the soundtrack for the evening and didn’t take guests long to join Faye & Matt on the dance floor after the first dance.

“The Normans will always hold a special place in our hearts and we feel incredibly lucky to have been able to have our special day here. ”

— Fabulous Faye

Suppliers

Catering The Hog & Apple Food Co.

Photography Charli PALMER

Flowers Natasha Coustol Floral Designs

Wedding dress Martina Liana from Ava Rose Hamilton

Bridesmaids’ dresses Krisp Clothing

Groom’s suit Marc Darcy

DJ Steve Madison

Saxophonist Joe Reeve

Hair Paige Lauren

Make-up Jade Heanley