Courtney & Ben: Amalfi Coast in the Cotswolds

I was fairly certain I wanted to get married in the Cotswolds. Not only is it a beautiful part of the UK, but it’s also where my nan and grandad live, so it feels close to home. As soon as we arrived at Caswell House, we knew it was the one. It ticked every box we were looking for: on-site accommodation, no corkage fee (so we could pick our favourite wines), breathtakingly stunning gardens, and a rustic barn. From the beginning, I also had an Italian-inspired vision for the day, and Caswell felt like the perfect setting to bring that to life.

It took me a while to find my dress, and I never really had that classic “this is the one” moment. I decided to book an appointment at Halfpenny London, already with the ‘Charlotte’ dress in mind—and as soon as I tried it on, everything just clicked. I felt completely at ease, like myself, and most importantly, beautiful.

I kept my accessories simple and minimal. I wore pearl earrings from KynaMaree, a Tiffany bracelet that Ben gifted me on the morning of the wedding, and a sentimental necklace, along with my rings. My shoes were ivory pumps from Badgley Mischka with a delicate, almost petal-like design.

My bridesmaids wore soft lemon dresses from ASOS, which tied in perfectly with the Italian-inspired, citrusy feel I was going for. Ben wore a classic tuxedo from Boss, which felt timeless and sharp.

I knew from the start that I wanted my hair and makeup to feel natural, so I still felt like myself on the day, and both my hairstylist and makeup artist absolutely nailed it. Fran has since won multiple awards, so you should definitely check her out! I’m still obsessed with my lip combo: Makeup Forever lip liner in ‘Wherever Walnut’, Fenty Gloss Bomb in ‘Sweet Mouth’, and Charlotte Tilbury ‘Dancefloor Princess’.

The décor and styling for the day were centred around lemons and an Italian-inspired garden aesthetic – fresh, vibrant and full of warmth. We worked with Kate Marie Event Styling to bring the vision to life, and she was truly incredible from start to finish. She completely understood what we wanted to achieve and elevated it in ways we hadn’t even imagined. The result was beyond anything we could have hoped for; the whole day felt like a dream.

Bringing together the styling elements, stationery and tableware design under her wing, and working closely with Haze Lea Floral Design, Kate ensured the day felt beautifully cohesive from start to finish. Kates has also recently won multiple awards!

I spoke to a few florists before deciding, but from the outset, it was clear Katherine understood the exact vibe we were going for. We chose seasonally inspired, blousy and bouncy wildflower-style florals in a fresh mix of whites and greens, with pops of butter and vibrant yellows, softened by subtle sky-blue accents.

My bouquet featured a mix of seasonal blooms — larger statement flowers alongside a looser selection of wildflowers. The palette combined crisp whites, creamy and lemon yellows, with delicate sky-blue highlights. We opted for lime and olive-toned foliage to create a Mediterranean feel, with a natural, relaxed shape focused on flowers over foliage, full of texture, movement and softness.

Our caterers were Caswell Kitchen, and we chose their family feast, which felt like a relaxed, oversized family BBQ — exactly the atmosphere we wanted. From the start, we knew we didn’t want a traditional three-course sit-down meal, but something more informal and sociable.

For our cake, we worked with Flour & Fold and chose a delicious white chocolate, raspberry and pistachio flavour. The design was vintage-inspired, finished in a soft, subtle yellow with pops of orange and white and decorated with delicate orange bows — tying in perfectly with the overall theme of the day.

Tom’s work blends an editorial eye with a documentary approach, resulting in imagery that feels both artfully composed and genuinely unguarded. Rather than directing the day, he observes it quietly, allowing moments to unfold naturally while framing them with intention and care.

With a background in fine art and film photography, his work is rooted in a sensitivity to light, movement, and atmosphere. The result is a collection of photographs that feel considered yet effortless—an honest reflection of the day, elevated through a refined, editorial lens—capturing not just how it looked, but how it felt.

I know it’s cliché, but when you walk down the aisle and see the love of your life waiting for you, everything you’ve been stressing about simply fades away — and in that moment, nothing else matters.

I’d also be lying if I didn’t mention that getting ready with my bridesmaids, mum, and mother-in-law will be a memory that I’ll treasure forever.

The blood, sweat and tears that go into planning will all be worth it in the end. Listen when people say it really will be the best day of your life.

Make sure you also delegate a few small jobs on the day to your bridesmaids (e.g., fluffing your dress for photos) so you can fully relax and not worry about a thing.