Chloe and Alex

The venue, how did you choose your venue?
We always knew we wanted to get married in Kent. I (Chloe) was born and raised just outside Ashford, and Alex moved to Elham when he was ten — it’s where we met and where both of our families still live. Because of that, Eastwell Manor was one of the very first venues we considered for our big day.
We both loved it on our first visit, and on our second viewing, we knew it was the perfect venue for us.

Did you see many venues before deciding?
We actually viewed Eastwell Manor on our first day of venue visits, and we both loved it straight away. Even so, we wanted to be sure, so we continued viewing other venues just in case. In total, we visited six venues, but Eastwell Manor remained firmly at the top of our list throughout and the one we kept coming back to.

Why was it the perfect venue for your Kentish ceremony?
It ticked so many boxes for us; we wanted to have an outdoor ceremony, and Eastwell Manor has a beautiful private walled garden but also a gorgeous room in the Manor in case the weather was not on our side. There are stunning grounds for photographs, and on-site accommodation for guests travelling from further afield, which was very important for us. One of the biggest draws was the rooms included within the package, which meant our immediate family and wedding party could all stay together. From the very first visit, the team were incredibly warm, welcoming, and clearly very experienced, which made the decision even easier.

The outfits – Tell us about your wedding dress and outfits?
I found my wedding dress at the perfectly named The Wedding Dress Shop in Wimbledon. I’d done plenty of research beforehand, narrowing down the styles and designers I loved, and the boutique stocked the ones on the top of my list. It also helped that it’s close to where we live in London.
I knew it was the one the moment I tried it on. It was exactly the style I’d always imagined, with a flattering silhouette, and most importantly, I felt completely comfortable and myself in it. Seeing my mum and bridesmaids tear up during the fitting truly confirmed it for me.

Did you have any special accessories or shoes to complete your look?
My veil was one of my favourite details. The lace trim complemented the lace on my dress beautifully and was what truly made me feel like a bride. I also chose a hair vine as it felt slightly less formal than other hairpieces and offered versatility in how it could be styled.
I wore a garter that belongs to a dear friend and has been worn by everyone in our friendship group on their wedding day, which made it incredibly special and meaningful.
For jewellery, I found exactly what I was looking for online at Emilia Rae: elegant, simple pieces that perfectly completed the look without overpowering it.

How did you choose the suits?
The groom’s outfit was decided even before we got engaged! The groom has a kilt in his family tartan, so that was always going to be what he wore on the wedding day. It was meaningful, personal, and honoured his heritage.

Tell us about your bridesmaid and groomsmen outfits?
For the bridesmaids, we wanted them to feel confident and comfortable, so we let them choose their own dresses within a few guidelines: colour, length, and fabric. They all agreed on a beautiful slate blue chiffon dress with an A-line silhouette and a V-neck—simple, elegant, and they looked gorgeous!
We decided the groomsmen would be in kilts as well as the groom. One of the best men already had his own, so we just needed to hire one for the other.

Hair & makeup – Who did you use for your hair and/or makeup for your wedding?
My makeup, along with the bridal party’s, was done by Emily McHutchison, and our hair was styled by Hollie Fricker. Both came highly recommended, which was really important to me. I’d looked through their galleries and social media and loved their work, but knowing they were trusted and well-liked by the people who recommended them gave me real confidence in my choice.

How did you decide on the style and look you wanted for the big day?
I always knew I wanted something natural, relaxed, and romantic. Full glam makeup or a perfectly sleek, chic hairstyle just wouldn’t have felt like me. I wanted to feel comfortable, confident, and truly myself on the day. Emily’s makeup was stunning yet felt effortless — I barely felt like I was wearing any at all. Hollie’s hairstyle was equally beautiful; I loved the loose tendrils framing my face, which made the look feel soft, romantic, and perfectly suited to me.

The ceremony – What was your favourite moment of the ceremony?
Bride: It’s so hard to choose! Narrowing it down to two, the first is the incredible feeling of being announced as married — it was more amazing than I ever imagined. The second is seeing my older brother as our ring bearer. He’s autistic, and we wanted him to have a special role in our day. He did a fantastic job, which made the moment even more meaningful for us.

Groom: For me it’s incredibly easy; the first moment I saw Chloe walk in really took my breath away. I hadn’t expected to be as nervous as I was in the moments before the ceremony, but that all melted away as soon as I saw her, looking more beautiful than I could have hoped for.

Did you pick any special music to walk down the aisle to, or have any readings?
For the bridesmaids’ aisle walk, we chose Max Richter’s Spring 1, followed by Air on a G String for my entrance as I was walked down the aisle by my mum. We had a string quartet for the ceremony as well as for drinks and canapés, so we wanted to choose music we both loved and that worked perfectly in that setting. Our ceremony exit music was Here Comes the Sun, one of my favourite songs.
We chose two readings for the ceremony. My oldest friend read a passage from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, and Alex’s father read Blessing for a Marriage by James Dillet Freeman. The sentiments in both pieces resonated deeply with us.

The reception – What food did you have, and how was it?
Eastwell Manor provided the catering, and the food was delicious. We chose a ham hock terrine to start, followed by chicken breast with seasonal vegetables, and chocolate mousse for dessert. Everything was beautifully cooked and presented, and guests with dietary requirements were thoughtfully and well catered for by the team.
We also served canapés and had a fantastic evening food selection. Our guests raved about the sausage rolls!

Tell us about your wedding cake. Who made and designed it for you?
Our cake was made and decorated by Let Them Eat Cakes, by Floriana Maggio. We chose a simple three-tier semi-naked design, decorated with the same flowers used in our bouquets and buttonholes to tie everything together. Each tier was a different flavour, and they were all equally delicious.

What were your speeches like? Any standout moments?
We had four speeches in total. I decided to give a speech myself, as I really wanted the opportunity to say thank you and celebrate all the people we love who helped us along the journey to our wedding day. Both best men gave fantastic speeches, striking the perfect balance between funny and just the right amount of embarrassment for Alex. Alex’s groom’s speech was incredible. He’s not usually one to speak from the heart, but he delivered a touching and eloquent speech that left more than a few people with tears in their eyes.

The décor – What was your decor/colour scheme, and how did you decide on it?
The overall look we wanted for our décor was to feel classic, simple, and romantic. Our colour palette was dusky blue and white, with lots of flowers and soft fabrics like chiffon. KC Weddings styled the venue for us, and after sharing our vision with Marcus, we met to view an example display, which really helped bring everything together. They did a wonderful job bringing our ideas to life and guiding us through the finer details.

Who did your wedding flowers?
KC Weddings also did our flowers, including the bouquets, buttonholes, and table arrangements.

What did you have in your flower arrangements/bouquets?
To complement our blue-and-white palette and incorporate a Scottish element, we chose white roses and thistles as the focal flowers throughout all our arrangements and bouquets. For my bouquet, we also included eucalyptus, gypsophila, and a mix of other white florals and soft green foliage. I absolutely loved the flowers — they were exactly as I had envisioned. To make it even more personal, we wrapped the stems with ribbon in the groom’s family tartan.

How did you add personal touches to the look and feel of your day?
Alex’s Grandma Sheena gifted us a quaich, a traditional Scottish two-handled drinking cup symbolising unity, trust, and friendship. It’s used at weddings to represent the joining of two families and the couple’s shared future. It was a beautiful way to honour family heritage and created a truly special moment for us.

Did you use any local suppliers for things like lighting, accessories, and props?
Most of our suppliers were local, and our photographers, DJ, venue dressers, and florists were all recommended by Eastwell. It was reassuring to know they had all worked together previously and had strong professional relationships, which made planning much less stressful.

The entertainment – Did you have a DJ or a band? How did you choose them?
We had a DJ for our reception, and we met them at a wedding fair. What really stood out was how personalised the whole process was. The Wedding Chaps provide a detailed booklet with questions to make sure your set is exactly what you want. We loved the range of songs they offered and the way they organised them—by genre, era, and more—which made it so easy to craft the perfect soundtrack for our day.

What was your first dance, and why was it special to you?
Our first dance was to Aretha Franklin’s version of You Send Me. It took us a while to agree on a song — we each suggested several — but we finally found one that we both loved. It’s romantic, joyful, and felt ideal for us.

The photography – Who was your wedding photographer, and how did you choose them?
Our photographers were Louisa and Duncan Dettmer. We initially discovered them through Eastwell Manor’s recommended supplier list and later saw their work at a couple of wedding fairs, where their photography really stood out. What truly sealed the decision for us was seeing them in action at a friend’s wedding. Watching how they worked on the day and then seeing the stunning photos afterward confirmed they were exactly who we wanted to capture our own wedding.

What style/look did you want for your photos?
We wanted our photos to feel natural, capturing plenty of candid moments alongside the classic group shots. It was also important to us that the photographs showcased the beauty of the venue, particularly the stunning grounds.

Do you have a favourite photo or photos from the day?
We absolutely love the shots we got after dinner during golden hour — the lighting was stunning, and we ended up with some beautiful photos of us framed by dappled sunlight through the trees. We also adore all the candid shots. We really wanted to capture those moments of pure emotion and joy, not just of us but of all our friends and family.

Did you have a videographer?
We didn’t have a videographer. If budget had allowed, it would have been wonderful to capture the day on film, but it was one of the few things we were happy to compromise on.

And finally – What was your absolute highlight of the day?
There are so many unforgettable moments, but nothing compares to the moment you’re announced as married. The first time you’re introduced as Mr and Mrs is such a joyous feeling.

Do you have any tips or advice for other couples having a Kentish ceremony?
We would highly recommend using local suppliers, especially those with experience at your chosen venue. It makes planning so much easier, as they already know what works and how to make everything look amazing on the day.