Marion & Mark: A Home from Home at Tythe

Tythe was the first and only venue we visited, and we knew it was the one even before we experienced its magic in real life. It’s got the exact balance of laid-back but lovely that we were looking for. We wanted to keep the ceremony, reception, breakfast, and party all in one place, and Tythe was just the one place for it. It’s truly a slice of Costwold country heaven — like something out of The Holiday!

We loved how the whole venue felt so intimate and self-contained. There’s the Farmhouse where close friends and family can stay the night before and the night of, giving you all the feeling of a home away from home. Then there’s the Nook where you can get ready before the big reveal. It’s not so small that it feels cramped, but not so large that you lose everyone. The thatched barn is exquisite, the food was flawless, and don’t get me started on the wisteria aisle—it was simply magical.

I immediately fell in love with Anna Kara‘s ethereal designs, and when I stepped into her Skye dress, it felt perfect. Similar to my experience of venue, the first dress I tried on was “the one“. Unlike many brides, I didn’t have a clear vision of what I wanted, but I knew I wanted it to look delicately understated, romantic, and a little bit whimsical.

I couldn’t say no to a veil (when on earth will you have another chance to wear a veil…?), and opted for a simple, soft tulle chapel-length veil studded with sparkly gems that glittered in the sunshine, creating an ethereal, fairy-like vibe, which I adored! I wanted to keep accessories pared-back — a pair of diamond drop earrings, silver bangle, my mum’s delicate diamond ring (“something borrowed“) and tiny handmade clay flower pins in my hair (by Eden B Studio) to echo the flowers sewn into my dress.

We loved the hanging flower arch in the photos and wanted something similar. We were so pleased that Lizzy at The Flower Story could recreate it for us. They chose flowers from our colour palette and hung them individually by ribbons to create a gentle frame for our ceremony.

Our colour palette comprised gentle tones of white, ivory, nude and mid-greens. We worked with Lizzy to create an ethereal, blousy and delicate theme. Every arrangement was designed to look natural and seasonal. Twisted stems and small flower buds gave every table an informal, relaxed feel.

Our tables were dressed with beautiful bud vases and seasonal blooms, doubling as wedding guest favours. These were then taken home by each guest.

We were lucky enough to have Charlene from Terre et Lune agree to create our wedding cake, and we were completely in awe of her exquisite confectionary masterpiece.

Charlene is as much an artist as she is a cake-making queen. As soon as we saw her creations online, we knew we couldn’t have anyone else making our wedding cake. From the perfectly packaged cake tasting boxes she sent through the post to the beautifully sketched illustration she penned from our brief, Charlene’s talent, expertise, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail blew us away.

She worked with our wedding thematics and floral brief to create an impossibly beautiful and delicious cake. Charlene even handmade wafer paper flowers that were scented with the essence of each bloom (think rose water and orange blossom) to bring a multi-sensory dimension to the cake. Her flavours are sensational (and we’re very picky when it comes to cake), and she also made the most gorgeous cupcakes for our gluten- and dairy-free guests. We couldn’t have wished for a more magnificent wedding cake or a more wonderful artist/designer/baker to create it.

When we set out to find a photographer, we knew it would be one of the most important decisions. From the instant we saw examples of Laura Mac Photography’s work and got a taste of her personality and professionalism, we knew we didn’t want anyone other than Laura. When we say Laura is exceptional, we mean it. Everything she does, she does flawlessly.

She made us and everyone around us feel incredibly comfortable. Her presence offered exactly what we needed, exactly when we needed it—when we felt nervous, Laura was reassuring; when we were silly, Laura met us with playfulness and fun; when we were carried away with excitement, Laura was patient. Her warm, kind energy added a sprinkle of extra magic to our wedding that we weren’t anticipating, and we’re so grateful. It wouldn’t have been the same without her.

A wedding photographer requires a very special set of qualities. They need to be organised, efficient, reassuring, creative, talented, patient, amiable, encouraging, present and invisible in equal measure. They also have to be someone you actually enjoy spending time with because, as we learned, you share some of the most precious moments of your wedding day in the presence of your photographer. – Laura has all of these qualities in abundance… and then some.

Honestly, I think it was having all the people you love and who love you in the same place at the same time. It’s so rare in our lives that we get the opportunity to be gathered with our most beloved friends and family to witness such a meaningful moment. This really dawned on me as I walked down the aisle. In fact, I ended up pausing at the end of the aisle to take in all the faces of the people present. I hadn’t planned it but needed a moment to savour it all. I’m so glad I did because the day goes by so fast, and in that instant, the moment was suspended in time in the most magical way. I’ll never forget it.

Write your own vows. I didn’t want to because I’m terrified of public speaking, but it made it feel much more meaningful and personal. To make it feel less of a chore, plan a sweet early morning to carve out some dedicated time for the two of you to write your vows.

Plan, plan, plan before the day, but then let go of how things “should” be on the day. There will be things that don’t go as you painstakingly orchestrated them. And weirdly, those are the beautiful bits. Try as much as you can to just be in the moment.

Do a first look. It’s such an intimate moment to see each other free from the gaze of all your guests. Really recommended for anyone who experiences anxiety or panic — it helps.

Get a videographer! If you can spare the additional pennies, it’s worth it. Combining photography and videography is the perfect way to preserve (and relive) your day for years to come. We did not regret it!

You can use your wedding flowers as favours. Our tables were decorated with beautiful bud vases and seasonal blooms, which we invited our guests to take home with them when they left.

If you can, take a mini-moon right after your wedding. You’ll be on cloud nine after the big day, and having a few days straight to relive the memories with your new spouse felt like a beautiful extension of our experience. It allowed us to savour the moment fully. Plus, you won’t want to return to real life immediately. Even if you can’t get away somewhere fancy, just take time for the two of you to soak up the bliss.