Faye & Joe: A Colourful Black-Tie Wedding at Thicket Priory

Thicket Priory was the first venue we visited, and if we’re honest, it should have been the only venue! We wasted time looking at others, but we were kidding ourselves that we would find somewhere like Thicket, which also included the wonder that is Anna.

Anna is one of a kind! We both knew she was special from that first visit, and connected immediately. Through all communication before we had even confirmed, Anna was welcoming, friendly and just as excited for our wedding as we were!

I always knew I wanted something different and unique, but comfortable at the same time. I went to Peggy in Holmfirth. With my Mum and Sister. I tried on a few but soon found THE ONE!! It was the most magical experience, and even to this day, I get upset that I’ll never have another bridal dress-up day!! Why can’t we do that every weekend? I wanted to add something to the dress to make it a little less plain. We took it to Once Upon a Dress, and they were great at walking me through the option of adding pearls to the neckline and waist, as well as widening the straps. I felt like the best version of myself in that dress.

It was black tie for Joe and his groomsmen. I wanted to go with a timeless look!

We originally wanted a sleek champagne-and-black colour scheme. However, the more we researched wedding photographers and videographers, the more we started to lean towards wanting colour in our day!

I remembered the first bouquet of flowers Joe bought for me was all different, bright, and pastel colours – I sent this to the florist, and the rest fell into place. With my dress having a bow featured on the back, I incorporated this into our invites and signage – little did Joe know this was where the inspo came from!

Kerri Bailey did my sister’s wedding flowers back in 2018, and they were stunning! It was not an option to look elsewhere. She was so kind and helpful throughout the whole process.

Alice, Ellie and Fiona from Homegrown Hospitality were all warm and welcoming. We met Alice and Ellie, tried some sample desserts, and we knew then we’d found our food match! Alice listened to our food stories and Joe’s love of BBQs, and created the most amazing menu for us.

BLOODY AMAZING!!!! We struggled to decide on a photographer as there are a lot of options; however, Anna mentioned Carla, and then that was it, there was no one else we wanted. From the initial Zoom call where our dogs were featured and introduced to the communication throughout the process, she was epic!

On the day, it was like a friend was there taking our photos, she made us laugh, followed my drunken requests and then delivered the most amazing album. We knew the photos would be good, but Carla’s work is just next level. Up there with one of our best decisions when it came to the wedding. Also, a day after the wedding, our previews were shared. I expected maybe 10 photos, but there were so many!!! We could enjoy viewing these and reliving the day on our honeymoon, knowing that she had captured the memories that we’d hope she would.

This is so difficult to answer. The morning with our friends and family, the ceremony, finally seeing each other and feeling so surrounded by our loved ones in the chapel, the confetti shots, the mingling, the time away capturing moments of just the two of us, having Georgie there, the cocktail hour, the dancing, just every part is so, so special to us.

A key highlight was having all our nearest and dearest stay with us at Thicket Priory for the whole weekend. It was a complete bubble of love, excitement, joy and happiness.

When it comes to Thicket Priory – Book it. Make it a priority. I’m already making Joe confirm a 10-year vow renewal!

To future brides and grooms, it is such a stressful process; however, you don’t have to have favours or the bridesmaid robes, or anything else Instagram tells you to have. Do not even worry about it for a second. You won’t care on the day because you’ll be so happy you’re marrying your person, surrounded by love.

Come the morning of the wedding, I would have got married in my PJs, and I wouldn’t have cared – although the beautiful dress definitely made me happy!

Enjoy every second because wedding blues are a thing, even a year on!

Throughout our wedding planning process, we went through some of the most heartbreaking and stressful periods of our lives. The majority of our suppliers knew what we had going on in the background and were the most patient and supporting group of people we could have asked for.

On the day, it felt like those special people who couldn’t be at the wedding were there, because each supplier had guided us throughout the process with care and an understanding of what we needed and when. We felt very honoured to have people who dealt with us with care and also knew very much why the weekend was so, so special to us. Thank you all for being the best suppliers and people; we’re so lucky.