Jade & Josh: An Intimate Wedding at Saltmarshe Hall

We chose Saltmarshe Hall for its history, stately yet homely features, and beautiful gardens and grounds. We wanted a venue that didn’t need to be heavily styled, allowing the history of the rooms and décor to stand out and help tell our story. Saltmarshe was also very local to us, which fit perfectly with the close family feel we wanted for our wedding. Staying nearby made everything feel so much more intimate and special.

I had always loved the idea of a romantic lace dress but still wanted a simple look. Long sleeves were a must, adding a delicate, elegant, and classy touch inspired by my grandmother’s wedding dress. To complement this, I knew my shoes had to be lace, matching the sleeves to tie together the romantic and elegant feel. Everything about our wedding was designed to have a homely, earthy, and neutral tone, influencing the choice of suits and keeping them in a soft, neutral shade.

Saltmarshe’s grounds, interior, and architecture are earthy and naturally beautiful. With all the features of a stately home, it was only natural that the décor had to be timeless to complement them. We incorporated stone vases and stone-effect pillars inside the ceremony room, bringing natural materials and elements of the gardens into one of the most memorable parts of our day.

Our florist was a local mother-and-daughter team, Angela and Sarah from All Occasions, who were the perfect choice to provide our flowers and styling. They thoroughly understood the importance of keeping the flowers in line with our theme and how much it meant to me to recreate memories with my bouquet, which was influenced by my mother’s wedding flowers. We chose to keep the flowers white, adding colour through the foliage for a soft and elegant feel. Wanting something different to make the top table stand out while staying true to our theme, Angela and Sarah designed a loose, hanging floral arrangement to float beautifully above it, adding a unique and delicate touch.

We wanted an intimate cake to share with our closest family, so we chose a sugar paper design on the outside to add an extra element of texture. For the flavours, we opted for a modern twist: a white chocolate tier and a lemon meringue tier, which added something different while keeping the flavours light yet sweet.

Our wedding breakfast was catered by Saltmarshe Hall and designed by their head chef, Jonathan. We chose a five-course, family-style serving menu, aiming for a home-cooked feel while offering sophisticated yet universally loved flavours.

The idea behind our menu was to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, making our guests feel like they had gathered with their nearest and dearest to share an authentic, home-cooked meal. Inspired by Italian hospitality, we wanted the serving style to reflect how food brings people together, creating a sense of togetherness and celebration.

We met our photographer, Cluskey-Smith, on our first visit to Saltmarshe and immediately knew he was the right person to capture our day. He has a family and is such an easygoing, genuine person to talk to, making us feel at ease from the beginning.

Alex was always welcoming and made us feel comfortable whenever we visited Saltmarshe, even remembering us at wedding open days. We got along so well, and one of the things we loved most about him was his approach to photography. He assured us that he wouldn’t pose us for photos, instead focusing on capturing only natural moments—and that’s precisely what he did! Nothing felt staged or forced; we could simply be ourselves, living in the moment, while he beautifully documented our day.

The best part of the day was following my little one-year-old girl down the aisle to give her Daddy my vows. Of course, being surrounded by our closest immediate family and friends was the most extraordinary feeling, but the ceremony was a moment I will never forget. Holding hands with my now husband and little girl was something so special, to know that I was taking their name and to be blessed to have our little girl there on our wedding day.

To all brides: Ensure you are not the last to get ready and have time to take a moment to relax, as I did with my bridal party.

To all couples: Take time away from the party more than once to soak up everything that happens because it happens so fast. Go to a different place to be alone, just the two of you.