Matthew & Andrew: A Weekend to Remember at Thicket Priory

Even before we were engaged, Andrew had his heart set on getting married at Thicket Priory, despite never having visited. Beyond being a breathtakingly beautiful venue, it perfectly suited what we envisioned, a place where all our family and friends could stay together for the entire weekend. The first time we visited, the incredible Becca showed us around. She made us feel immediately at home, welcoming us warmly and encouraging us to explore every room. We even started planning our styling, food options and ambitious floral arrangements. After that visit on the way home, we both looked at each other and knew Thicket Priory was the perfect venue for our wedding, but thought we’d better go and look at some different venues to make sure – none of them even came close!

Our wedding theme was always going to be formal, with a simple yet sophisticated colour palette. However, when it came to organising our own outfits, we weren’t exactly ahead of the game. Craig and Nicola at Whitfield & Ward were understandably shocked when we showed up just six weeks before the wedding, having only just decided we wanted tailored tuxedos. Thankfully, they worked their magic and made us feel amazing in our outfits.

We chose Helen from Willow & Bear Floral Design to be our florist and stylist for the wedding, and from our very first conversation, it was clear she completely understood our vision, from the colour palette to the atmosphere we wanted to create.

Helen worked seamlessly with the incredible team at Thicket Priory, and their coordination meant everything came together effortlessly on the day. You really couldn’t ask for a better team!

Thicket Priory is a truly stunning venue, with a natural beauty that speaks for itself. We knew we wanted flowers to take centre stage in our décor, complementing our soft, neutral tones. With features like the fireplaces and the grand staircase, Helen surpassed every expectation, creating breathtaking floral displays throughout the space.

Her attention to detail was extraordinary. She even added thoughtful touches we hadn’t considered, styling areas of the venue with extra floral elements that brought everything to life. The grand staircase, in particular, was a showstopper — an unforgettable focal point that left both us and our guests speechless. It quickly became a favourite photo spot and one of the standout features of the day.

To perfectly complement our styling, we chose beautiful hand-crafted letter-pressed stationery and food menus, thoughtfully designed and produced by Richard at Vogel & Valentine. His attention to detail and craftsmanship added an ageless, tactile quality that enhanced the overall aesthetic of our wedding.

Food was a really important element for us; who wants to eat average food on their wedding day!? We chose Hog & Apple for their creative and diverse menu, which drew us in. Mica was incredible from start to finish, helping us craft a bespoke menu with a range of options to suit our tastes.

On the day itself, from the canapés to the desserts, each dish was beautifully presented and full of flavour. It was amazing how they managed to make so many meals taste so good!

When it came to the wedding cake, we were initially unsure about what we wanted. After gathering some inspiration online, we found ourselves drawn to the look of a white, ruffle textured cake. To bring this vision to life, we turned to the talented Blossom Tree Cake Co. Using the expertise of Kean and Stephen, they took our initial ideas and brought them to life. They transformed them into a stunning final design, incorporating the ruffle texture we loved with Kean’s handmade edible flowers, which are true works of art. Seeing the finished cake, it was everything we had hoped for and more. And yes, it tasted just as good as it looked (our favourite layer being the Pistachio and Plum)!

We were lucky enough to have the incredibly talented Phoebe Jane as our photographer. The moment we saw her portfolio, we knew her aesthetic aligned perfectly with how we envisioned our day and wanted to capture it. Her style is timeless, incorporating the warm hues of our colour palette without being overly modern. One of the standout touches was when she brought out her medium format film camera, which added a beautifully nostalgic quality to some of our favourite shots.
For our videography, we chose James Tracy. While some of our friends had opted out of hiring a videographer, watching James’ film has become one of our favourite ways to relive the day. His work captured not just the visuals, but the emotion, atmosphere, and joy of the occasion in a way that still moves us every time we press play.

Both Phoebe and James were an absolute pleasure to have around. Their calm, unobtrusive presence allowed us to stay entirely in the moment, all while they captured the magic unfolding around us. One of our favourite memories with them was during the morning, while getting ready with our groomsmen; they managed to capture the laughter, nerves, and quiet moments in a way that felt completely effortless yet deeply personal.

It’s not easy to pick just one thing! The day (and weekend) was fantastic from start to finish. That said, our ceremony stands out as one of the most meaningful moments in our lives. Getting to know our celebrant, Deborah, in the lead-up to the wedding was such a pleasure. She helped us create a ceremony that felt deeply personal and truly reflected our values. It included so many special touches, including her reading words from our friends and family, which made it all the more special. Having the support from Becca and her team at Thicket Priory before walking down the aisle was exactly what we needed to help with any nerves! And then there’s Shona, who had learnt music specially for us to walk down the aisle to; she sounded so beautiful, and it is a memory we will treasure forever.

Enjoy every moment! Everyone at Thicket Priory is so supportive, and you don’t need to worry at all. Take time to appreciate everything and spend quality time together.