Leah & Ben: A January Winter Wedding at Thicket Priory

When we pulled up to Thicket Priory, its stunning beauty had already won us over. But it wasn’t until we met Anna that we truly fell in love with the venue. Anna’s storytelling, her warmth, and how she made us feel like Thicket Priory was our own home made it clear that it was the perfect place for us. Anna was an absolute star and guiding light through our whole wedding journey. From our initial meeting to the wedding day, she was AMAZING! – We have made a friend for life! Every member of the staff at Thicket is so great, and we can’t thank everyone enough for all the attention to detail, care, and time they all put in to make our wedding day perfect. And it was perfect, from start to finish!

We decided on a Black Tie theme to complement Thicket Priory and our timeless elegance vision. The formal attire added a beautiful touch, and it was wonderful to see everyone looking their best and contributing to the day’s magic.

My dress was from Chloe Jane Bridal in Howden, and I fell in love with the Penelope gown by Elysian Bridal. I loved the classic yet contemporary feel of the gown, and to make it my own, I added delicate beaded sleeves from another design, blending two looks into one that felt like “me” and adding a touch of sparkle!

My wedding day look was brought to life by an incredible glam team: Jess and Annie of the Joanne Mahoney hair company and Demi of Brows & Base beauty studio. They created the perfect wedding hair and natural glam makeup that made me feel confident and beautiful on my wedding day.

The theme was all about timeless elegance. We opted for a minimalist aesthetic, using single-stem white roses, candles, and understated floral arrangements. It was important that the style would feel relevant and chic for years to come, so we kept everything clean and classic. To add a personal touch, I designed all of our own stationery and chose the decor/styling.

Our florist, Jaymie, of Forge Events, was fantastic! We decided on single-stem white roses to complement the clean, minimal look of the day. The flowers she provided were flawless and truly brought our vision to life.

The cake was a labour of love that I designed and made with help from my Nana and my friend, Emma. My Nana is a talented cake maker, and we spent special moments crafting the fondant flowers together, which I will remember dearly for years to come.

Our caterers, Purple Chilli Events Catering, served a delicious fine-dining menu, including an unforgettable beef Wellington. They catered for the entire weekend, and our guests couldn’t compliment it enough!

Charlotte Clemie was the photographer for my dad’s wedding, and I loved her work so much that I knew she had to capture our day, too. She’s amazing at making everyone feel comfortable while keeping the atmosphere relaxed and fun. She’s incredibly talented at capturing all the “unseen” and “candid” moments while making everything feel natural and effortless.

Our day was also perfectly captured by the super-talented videographer Claudia of Afashionate Films. Claudia’s footage feels like a movie, and watching all the emotions and memories you may not have always seen yourself is so special. Being able to watch and re-live our special day is something we’ll cherish forever.

Our wedding day was everything we could have dreamt of and more! And that comes down to our incredible Venue, vendors, wedding parties and amazing guests! It’s impossible to choose a single best part of the day. Every moment felt magical, and the entire experience was unforgettable —the day was pure magic and something we’ll cherish forever.

Don’t sweat the small things. While it’s easier said than done—especially if you’re like me and stress over every detail—know that you’re in the best hands with Thicket Priory. On the day itself, everything will come together beautifully, no matter what challenges may arise, and you will have married the love of your life, surrounded by all of your nearest and dearest. Also, remember to truly be present and enjoy it! Make sure to fit in pockets of time with your other half. It is YOUR day, after all, and you want to enjoy it together! It’s truly magical.