Thank you so much for orchestrating our wedding weekend - it went splendidly and we are so happy to have so many treasured memories.
Cleo and Christian are big Downton Abbey fans - so that was the venue sorted! Other than that, they wanted a fun wedding that embraced both their cultures and the fact that they were marrying in England.
The Wedding
As they live in New York, the couple decided on a blessing ceremony at Highclere.
We designed an invitation that included their respective heritages and where they were marrying.
After an informal and fun night on the Friday at a local pub with music and buffet; guests were transported on the Saturday to Highclere in coaches. The ceremony was set in the main hall and Cleo made her entrance down the famous staircase.
After the ceremony, guests were led out onto the lawn for champagne, Bellinis and canapés. It was a glorious day and hence the personalised Magnum stall went down a treat with the guests. We also had outdoor games to help keep the young ones entertained while the adults enjoyed the music from the String Quartet.
Dinner was announced and guests made their way to the candle lit Dining room. The tables were clothed in an aubergine faux taffeta cloth with ivory napkins into which we tucked the menu/placecards. The tables were named after the various places the couple has lived.
In true European style, the meal was punctuated with speeches, ending with an especially composed song about the couple performed by Christian's HUGE Dutch family, all dressed in random outfits. It was a riot.
After this, guests headed out to the main hall to watch the couple cut the cake and then take to the floor for their first dance.
We later served a cheese board and cake before the couple left in a vintage car down the fountain lit driveway.
Photography by Pippa MacKenzie