A Spring Weekend Wedding in the Cotswolds

I love the timeless elegance of their black tie theme against the venue’s rustic barns and Cotswold decor, oh and hello Vera Wang dress! Ross & Ross catered a fantastic three-course meal and a gourmet “party picnic”, plus there was a surprise DJ set by Rudimental that had everyone on the dance floor! But the best bit for L&W, they raised over £5,000 for the London Air Ambulance with a charity raffle on Sunday. Full of heartfelt and personal touches, it was a weekend to remember!

Leigh says…

Norton Grounds is a stunning venue, and choosing it was an easy decision. They offer exclusive use of the venue with on-site accommodation for 20 people, flexible bar options by The Watering Hole, and various areas for a change of scenery.

The location is exquisite, surrounded by quaint towns and villages perfect for guest accommodation. Having Anna from Golden Pineapple available around the clock for planning and logistics was a lifesaver! We couldn’t imagine our day anywhere else.

We chose a black tie dress code for its timeless, elegant, and classic style. My dress was from the Vera Wang range at Pronovias. It perfectly matched the black tie theme with pearl embellishments and sleeves that added a touch of Hollywood glamour—a timeless look with a modern twist. Will and the groomsmen wore traditional black tuxedos from Edit Suits, while the MOC opted for a suave burgundy red. My bridesmaids wore Jenny Yoo.

Keeley Wilson, my makeup artist, was an absolute angel with a calming presence and exceptional skills. Viktoria Toth did my hair and created a fun party ponytail for the evening.

With its rustic barns and impeccably kept grounds, Norton Grounds needed minimal additional styling. We aligned our table decor with the Cotswold theme, using neutral beige tones and light pink pastels for spring.

Sarah Harper Floral Design, a family-run business in the Cotswolds, perfectly captured the elegant English wild spring meadow look we wanted. Sarah’s spectacular blooms and sustainable practices made her the ideal choice. The ceremony arch she and her team created was the talk of the weekend! Floral arrangements were reused throughout the event, and guests left with beautifully wrapped bouquets.

Ross & Ross, the best in the Cotswolds, catered all three days of our wedding. Their exceptional service and sublime food have earned them awards. The wedding breakfast featured a three-course meal with options like wild seabass or roasted blade of beef. Evening food included a gourmet “party picnic” with giant sausage rolls, scotch eggs, and mac & cheese, served on trays so guests could stay on the dance floor. Sunday’s BBQ feast was a grazing delight.

Instead of a traditional wedding cake, we chose a selection of towered macarons served by Daisy at Very Vanilla with espresso martinis after the wedding breakfast. On Sunday, we had a semi-naked, three-tiered cake for dessert, featuring banoffee with salted caramel, zesty lemon with lime buttercream, and vanilla with raspberry jam, decorated with summer fruits and florals by Daisy and Sarah.

Harley and Susie from Barker Evans were a perfect fit for our wedding. They blended in so seamlessly that it was hard to tell if they were professionals or guests! Their presence put us at ease, and we now have a lifetime of memories captured in their photos. We couldn’t recommend them more.

Best Part of the Day

The highlight was seeing our guests’ faces when Rudimental arrived for a surprise DJ set. Keeping it (almost) secret for a year was worth it!

On Sunday, we hosted a charity raffle for London Air Ambulance and raised over £5,000, which felt incredible.

The entire weekend was filled with personal touches, and our goal was for everyone to have fun celebrating with us. We were overwhelmed by how much everyone enjoyed the weekend after all the hard work we put in.

The weekend was utterly seamless from start to finish, thanks to Anna at Golden Pineapple.

From one couple to another…

• Organisation is Key: Allocate plenty of time for planning and emails; it’s more time-consuming than you might think.
• Choose Your Suppliers Wisely: The best ones offer invaluable advice, are always available for a chat, and go above and beyond.
• Immerse Yourselves in the Day: Don’t leave the dance floor and enjoy every moment—it truly flies by.