As I begin to share the story of Celina and Matthew’s special day, I must start by saying that Celina’s dress was truly breathtaking! The ceremony took place on March 6th, 2015 at Chilston Park Hotel in Kent, where the couple aimed for an elegant and understated celebration with subtle ivory and champagne accents. I’m particularly fond of the classic colour scheme, elevated by hints of gold, which added a touch of luxury to the overall atmosphere.
Celina’s dress was the true showstopper of the day – I was completely captivated by the exquisite pearl detail on the back of her Paul by Ronald Joyce gown. She looked absolutely stunning.
What also caught my eye were the beautiful lighting effects, the impressive Ferrero Rocher tower, and of course, the adorable little ones who added an extra layer of joy to the proceedings. I’m grateful to Kerry Ann Duffy for providing us with these gorgeous images to share today.
Champagne Luxe Wedding
The Proposal
As I prepared to celebrate my 30th birthday, Matt surprised me with an unforgettable adventure to New York. Little did I know, it was about to become a life-changing experience! The day before my special day, we ventured to the iconic Empire State Building, surrounded by tourists and bustling energy. But amidst the chaos, Matt got down on one knee, his eyes shining with excitement, and asked me to be his forever. The proposal was expertly planned, with Matt having obtained my father’s blessing the night prior. To make it even more meaningful, he commissioned a custom-made platinum ring, incorporating the same diamond from my grandmother’s vintage engagement ring, cleverly reconstructed by a recommended jeweller.
The Vision
From the onset, my partner and I envisioned a wedding that exuded a sense of fun, relaxation, simplicity, classiness, and elegance. The moment we laid eyes on Chilston Park, we knew exactly how to achieve this atmosphere. We decided to focus on a refined and understated aesthetic, centered around the soothing hues of ivory and champagne.
The Planning Process
As soon as we got engaged, we embarked on an eight-week quest to find the perfect venue. Once we secured our spot, we knew we had just four months to bring everything together. With a church wedding in mind, we contacted the local church and were thrilled when they agreed to marry us. We also booked our photographer, florist, and hair stylist right away.I wanted to get creative with my DIY skills and decided to hand-make as much as possible (it seemed like a great idea at the time!). My mom jumped on the task of researching invitations and started sending over samples from Spain, where she lives. Once we settled on a design, she traveled back to make 100 personalized invites.With our guests notified, we could finally relax a bit. Over the next few months, I spent evenings and weekends with my loved ones making favors, name places, and even crafting pearl garlands for the chair backs.When I met with our photographer, Kerry, I shared my vision of gold and champagne accents and mentioned that we needed to find tiny gold pots to fill with flowers. She cleverly recalled a past bride who had done something similar and was able to connect us with the vendor, saving us hours of searching for those perfect votives!We also knew we wanted a videographer, and Kerry recommended Ignite, who turned out to be amazing! The week before the wedding, my mom got busy on the table plan, and everything came together beautifully.
The Budget
From the outset, we had a clear financial plan in place, which guided our decision-making process throughout. While we didn’t entirely stick to it, we did make a concerted effort to stay within our allocated budget, achieving a remarkable degree of accuracy in the process.
The Venue
As our search for the perfect wedding venue came to a close, we found ourselves at Chilston Park Hotel in Lenham, Kent. Its country house charm and sprawling grounds made it an ideal spot for our celebration. What really sealed the deal was its ability to accommodate all of our guests under one roof, allowing us to share breakfast together the following morning.
The moment we turned onto the hotel’s long driveway, we knew we had found the perfect fit. As we explored the property on foot, our excitement only grew.
The Dress & Accessories
I’ll never forget the epic shopping expedition with my mum, auntie, bridesmaids, and myself. We tried on hundreds of dresses in a single day, and I walked away with the first one that caught my eye – or so I thought. A few weeks later, my maid of honour, Sarah, sent me a photo of myself in that dress, and it looked completely different from what I remembered. The style didn’t flatter my body shape as I had hoped. It was then that I couldn’t shake off the feeling that another dress we’d tried earlier might just be the one. Without sharing my doubts with anyone, I returned to the shop alone and slipped back into that second dress. As soon as it was on me, I knew in my heart that this was ‘the’ dress. The stunning back design left me grinning from ear to ear. When I finally got married and put it on, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and confidence. It was a million-dollar feeling, if you will.
Groom’s Attire
Matt’s journey to finding the perfect suit began with a clear vision of what he wanted, which ultimately led him to Anthony’s Formalwear in Billericay. With ease, he selected the suit online, making the process straightforward from start to finish.
The Readings & Music
As we exchanged our vows, two readings held a significant place in our ceremony. One of these readings had to be of a religious nature, given the context of a church wedding. I was thrilled that my dear friend Natalie chose and read ‘maybe’, making it an even more personal and meaningful moment for me. Meanwhile, Sian, one of my trusted bridesmaids, took on the responsibility of reading the religious passage. The atmosphere became even more enchanting when I walked down the aisle to Katie’s beautiful rendition of Christina Perri’s ‘A thousand years’. This iconic song added a touch of magic to an already unforgettable experience. As we departed the church, the upbeat tune ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams further elevated our joy and celebration.
Bridesmaids
As we prepared for the big day, I was surrounded by an incredible group of women – my maid of honour Sarah, and three close friends, Zoe, Katie, and Sian (my sister-in-law-to-be). We had a wonderful time together, whether it was shopping for dresses or getting ready on the morning of the wedding. One of the highlights was selecting the perfect attire for my bridesmaids. Although each one chose their own unique dress, they ultimately decided on the same stunning ivory/champagne colour in the final shop of the day. This subtle yet elegant choice tied in perfectly with our overall theme.The same level of freedom and creativity applied to their hairstyles and makeup, resulting in breathtakingly beautiful looks. As a special touch, I gifted my bridesmaids a Thomas Sabo pearl bracelet and earrings on the morning of the wedding, which beautifully complemented the pearl theme of the day.Meanwhile, the flower girls were having a royal time trying on various dresses before settling on their own ivory gowns with matching bows – a perfect match for the bridesmaid dresses. I surprised them with pearl bracelets featuring delicate flower girl charms, further reinforcing our elegant and timeless theme.And let’s not forget about the page boys! Anthony’s Formalwear provided adorable smaller suits for Zachary (Zoe’s little boy) and my own son Dylan to wear alongside Matt’s suit and the ushers’, ensuring a coordinated and dashing look.
The Flowers
When searching for a florist to bring our wedding vision to life, we were fortunate enough to be recommended Marybella Wedding Flowers by friends. My partner had a clear idea of what she wanted – simple yet elegant ivory roses and calla lilies complemented by lush greenery. After sharing our inspirations with the florist during a meeting, we left it in her capable hands to work her magic.
The result was truly stunning. Marybella crafted beautiful decorations for the gold votives at the wedding breakfast, transforming them into exquisite centerpieces. She also brought our church decor to life by adorning the pew ends with breathtaking arrangements, creating stunning corsages for the gentlemen and designing impressive displays for the venue itself. Every detail exceeded our expectations, making it a truly unforgettable experience.
Your Photographer
When Matt proposed, we knew exactly whom to call for capturing our special day – Kerry. We had been admiring her work on Facebook for some time prior to our engagement, so it was only natural that we would ask her to be our photographer once we were officially off the hook. Our initial concern was that she might not have availability given the short notice, but luckily, she was free and willing to help us relive those unforgettable moments.
The first glimpse of Kerry’s photos left us utterly speechless – they were absolutely perfect. Her passion for her craft is evident in every shot, and it shows why we chose her in the first place. We also knew that we wanted a videographer to complement our stills, so Kerry’s recommendation of Keith and Andy from Ignite was invaluable. They too demonstrated their enthusiasm for their work on the day, which only added to the overall magic.
The Details & Decor
Chilston Park’s stunning backdrop allowed us to keep decorations simple yet impactful. Instead of ordinary chair covers, we crafted pearl garlands that added a touch of elegance to the chairs. To make the setting even more special, I designed gold butterfly name places that adorned the top of glasses and scattered six gold votives – three with flowers and three with candles – around the tall candelabras. My bridesmaid Sian created a beautiful ‘C & M’ centerpiece for the top table, while wine glass charms added a personal touch to our wedding party’s glasses. As a unique favour, we offered vouchers for free drinks at the bar, which proved incredibly popular. The table plans featured the iconic NYC locations where we got engaged last year, a place that holds a special spot in our hearts. During the wedding breakfast, pianist Danny Mills brought the house down with his incredible performance, kicking off the party and creating unforgettable memories. For the evening reception, a large ‘C & M’ lit up the dance floor, perfectly complementing the lively atmosphere. We also had a stunning ferrero rocher tower crafted by my bridesmaid Sian, surrounded by gold-wrapped sweets. To keep the celebration going, we featured both a band (Anthem) and a DJ (Feel Good Events), who supplied the dance floor and venue lighting. Both kept the party going all evening, with our first dance, girls vs boys dance-offs, and even a surprise dance performance by my mum’s hen do group – it was truly unforgettable!
The Cake
A majestic three-tier Victoria sponge cake, crafted by a skilled local baker, stole the show with its layers of moist and fluffy goodness, perfectly balancing sweet and savory flavors.
The Honeymoon
As newlyweds, we faced a daunting dilemma – whether to bring our almost 2-year-old son Dylan along on our dreamy honeymoon or entrust him to my mother’s care. Our NYC adventure last year, where we got engaged, had left us with an insatiable appetite for the States, so we decided to return and celebrate our love in Las Vegas. After much contemplation, we ultimately chose to leave Dylan with my mum, allowing us to indulge in a truly fantastic getaway that was just as enjoyable for him as it was for us.
Memorable Moments
The memory of my dad walking me down the aisle and seeing Matt waiting for me is etched in my mind forever. The sweet serenade by my bridesmaid Katie, signing ‘A Thousand Years’ by Christina Perri as I made my way down the aisle, only added to the magic. As we gathered together under one roof, it was clear that the party had already begun – with Danny’s infectious energy getting everyone singing and dancing during the wedding breakfast. The highlight for me was watching Matt get roped into a hilarious rendition of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Danny, while the surprise dance performance by the girls left us all in stitches. With so many unforgettable moments to cherish, it truly was a day to remember.
Advice For Other Couples
As you celebrate this special day, remember that the little things don’t matter as much as the love and joy surrounding you. Take time to cherish every moment, including those spent with your parents – it’ll be a bittersweet experience for them too. Be sure to capture the memories on camera! The team behind Celina and Matthew’s big day deserves recognition: Chilston Park Hotel provided the stunning venue, Danny Mills entertained with his piano skills, Collette Preston-Reeves styled their hair, Emma Smisson ensured they looked radiant, Kerry Ann Duffy snapped the special moments, Ignite captured the video, Marybella Wedding Flowers added a touch of elegance, Anthony’s Formalwear helped them look dapper, Christina K shone in her wedding dress, Anthem got the party started, Feel Good Events kept it going, Aarion Wedding Cars chauffeured the happy couple, and Wedding Letter Hire lit up the night. It was truly a wonderful and lively celebration.