Real Life Wedding

Steph & Sonny’s Rose Gold Summer Wedding

Steph and Sonny’s summer wedding was an absolute joy. With a rose gold colour palette and a hint of sparkle, it was a fabulous occasion full of fun and love.

The Wedding & Reception Venue

Following a surprise lakeside proposal, Steph and Sonny began to plan their wedding. Steph has been in love with weddings since she was 11 so she already had a packed Pinterest board to refer to!

“The venue was a big thing for us. We wanted a barn style venue that had beautiful gardens for photos, a relaxed feel but with a wow factor, and at Gaynes Park we found it all.”

Steph & Sonny’s Rose Gold Summer Wedding — © Julia & You Photography

“The Long Walk was breath-taking, the Mill Barn was different to anything else we had seen, and we loved the mezzanine. Gaynes Park also offered some quirky food and drink options such as woodfired pizzas and cocktail stations. We knew Gaynes Park was our favourite venue and on our first visit, we couldn’t stop smiling.”

Wedding Planning

As Steph is a self-confessed lover of weddings, planning the big day was something she definitely enjoyed. The couple used magazines, Pinterest and other online resources to help them plan.

“After seeing the disco ball at Gaynes Park on our first visit, we fell in love with the idea of a sparkly wedding. We also liked the idea of a pink colour scheme but wanted something a little different so, when we came across rose gold with its pink tones and hint of sparkle, we knew this would be perfect.”

The Bride’s Dress & Accessories

Steph found her gown at Bodice and Bustle and loved the experience. Despite having a clear idea of the wedding dress she thought she would wear, Steph actually chose something completely different.

“I had a photo of what I thought was my dream dress but when I put it on, it was too heavy and just didn’t look right. In the end, I went for a dress that was recommended to me by the ladies at my boutique. When I put it on, I was amazed and even a little emotional. I just didn’t want to take it off!”

Steph accessorised her fabulous gown with three pairs of shoes that she changed throughout the day (we LOVED Steph’s sequinned Kate Spade sneakers!) along with small diamond earrings, a small sparkly hair clip and a silver bracelet. Steph also carried a lucky pebble with her on the day that was hidden in her bouquet.

The Groom & Groomsmen

Sonny and his groomsmen wore navy blue suits from TM Lewin with waistcoats and rose gold ties and pocket squares. The guys completed their outfits with dark brown shoes and personalised cufflinks.

“Sonny wore a slightly different waistcoat to the groomsmen and this was great for photos. He looked more handsome than I could have ever imagined. He was the perfect groom.”

The Decorative Touches

Steph and Sonny certainly put their own stamp on Gaynes Park. The Mill Barn was decorated with sequin tablecloths by Mediterranean Occasions, along with floral tablecentre pieces. Featuring hydrangeas, peonies and roses the centrepieces were the perfect height allowing guests to chat during the wedding breakfast.

The disco ball was in place ready for the evening wedding reception along with a cool sparkly dancefloor and personalised projections.

The aisle in the Orangery was lined with lanterns, and a beautiful floral arrangement created the perfect backdrop for photos. Festoon lighting lit up the Gather Barn during the evening reception as guests came outside for pizza from the pizza oven.

The Wedding Day

Steph and Sonny held their wedding ceremony at Gaynes Park and this was one of Steph’s favourite moments from the day.

“My best memory from the day is definitely when Sonny and I saw each other for the first time. It felt like no-one else was there. Gaynes Park really does cater perfectly for the bridal entrance!”

The couple celebrated their wedding in the Walled Garden with a summery drinks reception. They served Pimms along with Elderflower Sparklers to their guests who were also treated to a selection of canapes including mini fish and chips, chicken with sweet chilli sauce and mouth-watering risotto balls.

From there, everyone moved to the Mill Barn for the wedding feast featuring ham hock croquettes, beef with dauphinoise potatoes and a trio of desserts that included Sonny’s favourite – banoffee pie!

“The speeches were another of our favourite moments. Sonny’s speech blew me away. He spoke about the importance of having a great family and becoming part of a great family as well as sharing some brilliant stories from our 11 years together.”

After more guests had arrived for the evening reception, Steph and Sonny hit the dancefloor for their first dance which was an upbeat, fun dance it was to ‘Riptide’ by Vance Joy. Everyone loved the pizza, served in the evening, and Steph and Sonny danced all night long. When the celebrations finally drew to a close, the newlyweds escaped to The Coach House.

“The accommodation at Gaynes Park is absolutely beautiful and we wish we could have stayed longer! At the end of the night, we sat and had drinks with some of our guests reliving the best day of our life – you just couldn’t beat it.”

Wedding Planning Tips

“Try not to over think things. It’s so easy to plan and then want to change your mind but once you’ve made that decision, go for it. Also make decisions that are based solely on what you both want and don’t feel pressures or stresses from anyone else. We were told that we should have had more of a traditional first dance but we went for what we wanted and it was the best decision we made.”

“Also, try and slow down the day – it flew by in the blink of an eye and there were parts that we felt we almost missed. Take a few moments in the day with your partner to just watch your guests. There was a moment before the meal where we could see everyone and it was so lovely watching everyone enjoying themselves, laughing, joking and chatting.”

For more summer wedding inspiration, don’t miss Sapir and Steve’s elegant summer wedding or Stevie and Kit’s glorious summer wedding. If you’d like to start planning your own summer celebration, why not come and visit us? We’d love to show you all the things that make Gaynes Park so special.

Suppliers

Photography :	Julia & You Photography
Flowers :	Lavender Blue
Wedding Dress :	Bodice & Bustle
Bridesmaids Dresses :	The Wedding Gallery
Groom’s Suit :	TM Lewin
Venue Styling :	Mediterranean Occasions