Josh and Charlotte's chic countryside wedding
On Saturday 31st August this year the lovely Charlotte and Josh said I do in front of their nearest and dearest, and like all our occasions, it was absolutely beautiful. Their engagement was brief, allowing just under 5 months to plan the day of their dreams! Knowing how organised and savvy Charlotte is, I thought I'd ask her to regale a little of her special time with us so I can share those memories with you.
Congratulations Charlotte!
I hope married life is treating you well. Tell me, how many venues did you visit before deciding on Priston Mill?
Believe it or not, Priston Mill was the only venue we visited! I had emailed other venues, Priston Mill responded so quickly and appreciating the short time frame I was hoping for, accommodated a visit on the same day. And so it was that I booked The Watermill having fallen in love with the venue, people and setting.
How did you know The Watermill was right for you?
I knew I wanted water at the venue and lots of light and windows - I think such things look so pretty. The Watermill ticked these boxes and was absolutely the right place for us. The great service we got from everyone with regards to planning, help with set up/take down and communication throughout confirmed we had hit gold with the venue. The rolling hills, blue barn does and beautifully kept grounds with pretty flowers and tinkly fairy lights all provided the perfect backdrop for the day and some stunning photos too - dreamy!
Did you have a colour scheme/decoration theme in mind?
We chose to keep everything very classic and simple to fit with the location, but also wanted to show off our passions and personalities. Our flowers were a combo of white roses and gypsophila with different types of greenery all around. The bouquets were created by the wonderful Diane from Garden Room Flowers and my Mother-in-Law created a beautiful archway. For added decoration we made Lego figurines, found some old books to stack on the tables, white pillar candles and bunches of eucalyptus.
Tell us all about your suppliers.
Our photographer is a friend of mine, Flora Westbrook, I was thrilled when she said she could photograph our wedding. She is amazing, so kind and talented. My gorgeous dress is a Paloma Blanca. I purchased it from a boutique shop in Keynsham called Lace & Grace. They are so lovely and helped me find a dress I loved in my short time frame. The band, The Vinyls, were absolutely fantastic and worked well with the style of the venue. They got the dance floor filled from the moment they started playing. Josh' friend Ethan runs a graphic design business called New Rhythm and he kindly did our stationary for us, totally bespoke and beautiful we were so happy with each tiny detail. We had a three-tiered chocolate cake with delicious white chocolate icing and Lego toppers! Sam from CakeCakeCake made it for us, our friends still rave about how amazing it was.
How did you decide on your menu? Did the food live up to your expectations?
Before even booking, we had heard that the food at Priston Mill was fantastic. For that reason we chose our menu without a tasting, and we were super impressed on the day. When the food came out it looked amazing and tasted delicious. We had a lot of dietary requirements to cater for and these were accommodated for superbly.
How long did you leave yourself to plan the big day, was it enough time?
Josh and I got engaged, found Priston Mill, visited and booked all in the same week - we couldn't let the opportunity pass! This did mean we only had about four and a half months to plan the wedding from the moment we were engaged. Some might call us crazy but it was fun to make instant decisions and get organised quickly - we did have to make a beast of a spreadsheet to keep on top of everything.
What are the main points of the day you remember the most?
It might sound cliché, but it is really difficult to pick main highlights since the whole day was just so incredible. I love saying the vows and getting to have everyone we loved all together in one place was one of my favourite things. Also being able to enjoy the food and drink, seeing everything we had chosen come together was so lovely. As soon as the couple photos were taken I remember thinking, 'Right now it's time to play!' I ran straight over to the zip line and monkey bars!
Was there anything you were anxious about, that looking back you needn't worry?
I don't think I was anxious about anything as I had such confidence in those working at Priston Mill. The most nervous I felt was when I was about to walk down the aisle with my Dad. From the moment I was at the top of the aisle holding hands with Josh, I felt completely at peace and after that it was the most joyful and beautiful day.
And finally, what would be your top tip for our future Priston Mill couples?
For future couples my top tip would be - plan for your marriage more than your wedding. For the process of planning a wedding, try and have fun doing it together, enjoy it and don't get bogged down in the details. Finally try and make it personal to you and your partner, add some character, I think that is what makes a wedding that little bit more special.
