How you met…
We met on the dating site eHarmony in November 2020 coming out of the pandemic. Our first and second dates were virtual – both of us at home on the sofa, consuming many a glass of wine! The first time we met in person was our third date. As shops, restaurants and bars were still closed, we met at Waterloo Station for a walk - through central London, which was deserted! Before we knew it, 7 hours had passed – we walked, and walked and walked some more. It was freezing cold but neither of us wanted the date to end.
The Proposal…
Paul proposed while we were on a weekend away in Amsterdam in February 2023, after we’d been together just over 2 years. The proposal was very low-key – we were getting ready in the hotel room before we went out for dinner when he got down on one knee. Paul knows that I’m not one for over-the-top gestures, so it was honestly perfect!
Why we chose Dodmoor for our special day…
Dodmoor was the first wedding venue that we viewed – and we knew instantly it was the one. The staff were welcoming and friendly, the barns had an intimate feel, and the twinkling lights and wooden beams made it feel really romantic. We loved the fact the venue didn’t feel too “formal” which is exactly what we were looking for.
The vision and theme for the day…
We didn’t have a specific theme for the day, but we wanted it to feel relaxed, fun and celebratory.
The outfits!
The colour scheme was forest green, but all the bridesmaids chose their own dresses so that they felt comfortable in what they were wearing. We matched the ties and pocket squares of the Groom, Best Man and Ushers to the colour scheme too.
Kerry’s dress was by Justin Alexander – the priority was that it wasn’t too tight to get in the way of eating, drinking, and partying! Paul chose a blue wool suit.
Food…
We used Lemon Zest catering to provide the food for our wedding breakfast. We chose a three-course menu with arancini balls, pork belly and crème brûlée. For the evening food, we had a charcuterie style buffet. Our cake was a cheese tower which we incorporated into the buffet once we had cut it.
Our favourite part of the day…
Hands down, the ceremony – the bit where we made it official…
Walking into the Courtyard Barn and seeing all our friends and family in one place was so special – walking down the aisle to marry my best friend was just incredible. The flowers by Julia Anna Flowers were simple but beautiful, and we had spent a lot of time choosing the readings and the music to set the fun and celebratory feel we wanted for our ceremony. The Registrar was fantastic too.
How Dodmoor as a venue stood out to us…
The staff were fantastic! From the minute we viewed the venue to the morning after the wedding, everyone we met at Dodmoor was kind, professional, responsive and we knew that every detail of our special day was being looked after.
Weddings are really stressful to organise but the team at Dodmoor took the pressure off completely – no question was too stupid to ask, emails were responded to quickly, and on the day the staff were brilliant… Attentive, helpful and everything flowed seamlessly because of the incredible work they were doing behind the scenes.
The plan/idea you felt really worked on the day?
We chose to do a song in our ceremony instead of an additional reading because music (and particularly power ballads!) are something we both love. We got our guests to sing Simply the Best by Tina Turner and we absolutely loved it! The pictures from the ceremony are epic!
The entertainment…
We had a live band, Highway 21, for the evening – they did two live music sets and a DJ set too.
Where we felt our budget was well spent…
The live band – music is really important to both of us, so we spent a lot of time choosing the band to ensure that the music was right for us. It was more expensive to go for a live band than a DJ, but we prioritised putting more of our budget towards this so that we could keep the dancefloor full!
Suppliers we used and would recommend!
Julia Anna Flowers – simple, elegant and beautiful. Helped bring the venue to life even more.
Samie Lee Photography – candid shots, professional approach and pictures that bring out our personality.
Highway 21 – live band – 100% recommend.
Cosmina Blajan - Make Up Artist
Lucie Locks - Hair Stylist
Our tip to other couples…
Choose to have your wedding at Dodmoor – you won’t regret it! Dodmoor is the most beautiful venue in the heart of the countryside.
A massive thank you to Kerry and Paul for sharing their magical wedding day with us - also a massive shout-out to Samie Lee Photography for the fabulous photos!
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