Now that the weather’s finally warming up, The Normans Brain Trust deemed it time to celebrate the joys of summer - specifically, the joys of summer weddings.
Even more specifically: the joys of summer weddings at The Normans…
Cue clouds parting, and Charlotte and James - two veritable rays of sunshine - lighting up the venue.
Avid readers of this blog (all three of them) will know that we usually start by saying ‘hi’ to the bride. But not today. Today we’re tearing up the rule book. Today, we thought we’d mix things up and barge in on the groom and his groomsmen in The Granary.
Once lashings of Old Spice and talc had been applied, groom James and his band of merry men donned their matching three-piece blue-checked suits.
Boys in blue, you could say. Fitting, since James is a policeman. [Editor’s note: We’ll try to keep police puns to a minimum. Promise.]
James, the cop that won’t stop, couldn’t stop turning heads in his tailored Moss Bros number, striking rust-orange tie, and buttonhole by Kate Mell Flowers.
And, behind every exemplary lawman, is a loving Mum to administer the finishing touches…
Once they were suitably suited and booted, the chaps cut quite the dash.
Here they are on The Granary terrace ready to welcome wedding guests into the venue…
Meanwhile, in The Normans Cottage…
… beautiful bride Charlotte and her bridal squad were being pampered by Becca Hunton, the multi-talented, multi-tasking master of make-up and hair styling. Go Becca!
And here’s Charlotte’s dress - a waterfall of white - hanging in The Normans Cottage. The gorgeous gown is designed by Allure Bridals with the back draping by Rebekah Hock Bridal Alterations.
It was the serene simplicity of the dress that caught Charlotte’s attention…
“I knew I always wanted something fitted, classic with buttons all down the back - this dress fit the brief,” explains Charlotte.
I think we can unanimously agree that the dress looks even better with Charlotte in it. Innit.
Normans regular Kate Mell was charged with florals for the day…
“The majority of our flowers were eucalyptus,” says Charlotte. “I’ve always loved eucalyptus, partly because my favourite animals are Koalas! Then [we had] white flowers with pops of orange. Kate understood our vision perfectly!”
And as Charlotte finished getting ready…
… The Normans Courtyard began to fill with excitable wedding guests…
… many of whom were subject to enthusiastic bear hugs from the groom.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. The man, in this instance, was Charlotte’s Dad who had arrived at The Cottage to take his daughter to be wed. Suffice to day, he was suitably overwhelmed…
Once the incredibly talented, funny and handsome venue manager had seated guests, it was time for Charlotte and her bridesmaids to make the short walk from The Cottage to The Ceremony Barn.
We should, at this juncture, give a shout-out to Charlotte’s beautiful bridesmaids.
“Our colour scheme for the bridesmaids’ dresses - and the boys’ ties and pocket squares - was burnt orange,” says Charlotte.
(We secretly wish she’d gone for a copper colour scheme - for no other reason than to help with our policeman puns. But there we go.)
Bridesmaids dresses were purchased from Rewritten.
Charlotte and James enlisted the musical talents of the excellent Aurora Strings to play during the ceremony.
And as Charlotte walked down the aisle, arm in arm with her Dad, James couldn’t contain his emotion. (His were happy tears, we can can assure you.)
We may be slightly biased, but we don’t think there’s a better backdrop for couples to exchange heartfelt marriage vows…
The bespoke ceremony was officiated by celebrant-supreme Rachael Meyer.
Once Rachael introduced James and Charlotte as husband and wife, the couple were duly pelted with confetti by way of celebration…
We’re proud that The Normans is an all-season, all-weather venue, but there’s no denying that a smattering of sunshine is a wonderful thing on a wedding day.
The warmth of late August meant that guests could enjoy drinks reception outside in the Courtyard…
… and Charlotte and James could escape to the surrounding countryside with their wedding photographers.
A big shout-out to the dynamic duo Dot and Scolly for shooting these fab pictures.
(And a big shout-out to dynamic duo Charlotte and James for being so fabulously photogenic.)
Back inside the venue, guests were being seated for the wedding breakfast.
The Grain Shed dining area had been styled by the couple themselves…
“I was desperate to have a neon sign and found a bargain on eBay,” says Charlotte. “We styled it with eucalyptus garlands, copper frame, and had the cake set up next to it to create the perfect picture background.”
We’re big fans of the light-up letters and the ‘his and hers’ cocktails on offer. Bravo, Team Surtees!
James and Charlotte were called into The Grain Shed, and greeted with much whooping and hollering.
The excellent speeches featured a comedy T-Shirt, and a nail-biting story of James’s encounter with a dangerous hedgehog on his first day on the beat.
“The food was absolutely incredible,” remembers Charlotte. “The Hog & Apple team understood us perfectly and created our dream menu. The highlight had to be the starter - an Italian-Yorkshire fusion sharing board, full of charcuterie, cheese, artisan sausage rolls, ham-hock terrines - my mouth is watering thinking about it again!”
The Italian-Yorkshire sharing board was followed by ‘pork three ways’ and a classic crème brûlée dessert.
Then, of course, was the cake - crafted by Charlotte’s Mum, no less. And, by our reckoning, it was the tallest cake we’ve had at The Normans.
“After being together for 12 years, we wanted the day to celebrate love and for everyone to have a great party,” explains Charlotte…
… And that they did. The first dance set the tone for the evening…
… especially since it was ‘crashed’ by venue favourites The New York Brass Band.
“Our guests have said it is one of the best weddings they have ever been to because of the venue, entertainment, food and organisation of the day - we’re biased but we’d have to agree,” exudes Charlotte.
Don’t worry, Charlotte - we’re also biased - but it really was a smashing soiree!
Roll on summer, we say.
“
We thought it was clichéd when people said your wedding is the best day of your life, but ours absolutely was - because of The Normans team!”
