Rachel and Nathan’s Wedding at Botleys Mansion

Rachel and Nathan met at East Anglia University and after being friends for 2 years, they eventually became a couple. In April 2015, Nathan decided that having been together for 8 years, it was the perfect time to ask Rachel to marry him. It was an ordinary Sunday morning and the couple had been stocking up on sun cream and bikinis in preparation for their upcoming holiday the following week. Nathan gave nothing away while they relaxed in a beer garden in the glorious spring sunshine, before heading home to continue sunbathing on their garden terrace; Rachel had no idea that her life was about to change. The afternoon continued like any normal afternoon, but when Rachel went to head back inside the house, Nathan stopped her, saying “before you go, I have something to ask you,” and when Rachel turned back around, he was down on one knee! Nathan wanted his choice of engagement ring to symbolise them both: the solitaire style was traditional like himself, but the oval cut was not-so-traditional – like Rachel! The couple gave themselves just over a year and a half to plan their special day.

Rachel’s father walked her down the aisle to ‘A Thousand Years’ by the Piano Guys. The most memorable part of the day for Nathan was the moment he saw Rachel walk into the Church, as he found it far more emotional than he had expected. During the ceremony, the couple chose to have one biblical reading, followed by ‘Dear Human; You’ve Got It All Wrong,’ by Courtney. A. Walsh, as it depicted modern day love in all its meanings, and was one of the most romantic things Rachel had ever read. For Rachel, her most memorable moment of the day was stepping out of the Church as husband and wife, as the elation (and relief!) was overwhelming and she couldn’t wait for the rest of the day to unfold. After being showered with confetti petals, the newlywed couple were then whisked away to Botleys Mansion in a white Rolls Royce Phantom Series II; they loved their car journey so much, they even asked the driver to go round the block once more so they could enjoy it for a little longer.
Rachel and Nathan had found a local band the Kick Thrills to play during their drinks reception. The couple discovered them at their local pub and knew that they were a wedding day must-have straight away. Benjamin Wheeler, the wedding photographer, took the bride and groom around the grounds of Botleys Mansion to enjoy some private wedding photography, before they made their grand entrance ain to the Atrium for the wedding banquet. The spectacular staircase they walked down had been decorated with fairy lights and ivy and a host of candles. The styling of their wedding reception tables were particularly memorable, as the couple chose gold sparkly table cloths to add extra wow-factor and sparkle to their celebrations. They reflected the candlelight and chandeliers to create a magical winter atmosphere. Each table featured a hurricane vase wrapped in a floral wreath (a subtle nod to Christmas), surrounded by a variety of tiny candles. As Rachel and Nathan love visiting Las Vegas, their tables were all named after the city’s most prominent hotels. Each guest found a favour at their table setting: a miniature Lego box (Nathan’s favourite) wrapped in gold ribbon and bells, filled with personalised M&Ms.

For their wedding banquet, the couple chose an exquisite three-course meal consisting of:
Peat smoked salmon, wild leaves, pea shoots and beetroot with charlotte potato salad and edible flowers
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Slow braised Hampshire beef with creamed parsnip mash, root vegetable crisps and olivette carrots
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Blackberry and apple crumble with caramel ice cream and crème Anglaise

After some emotional speeches, the couple cut their stunning wedding cake, designed by Gina’s Cakes in Shepherds Bush. The cake was white, black and gold – and of course sparkly – finished with gold painted candies. Rachel and Nathan wanted a cake that everyone would like, so it included layers of red velvet, chocolate, lemon, Victoria sponge and finally a fruit cake made with rum, which they would recommend to everyone!

For their evening entertainment, the couple chose to have Harper’s DJ. Their choice of song for their first dance – ‘My Kinda Woman’ by Bryn Christopher –  was particularly special for Rachel and Nathan, as they had seen Bryn Christopher on one of their earliest dates together at University. While the DJ kept the party going all night long, the couple also chose to hire Openbooth – a photo booth style camera, but without the booth, which kept everyone together. At the end of the celebration, the couple handed boxes of sweets to their guests, so that they could enjoy a late-night treat on their journey home.