Sam & Shayna: A Modern Spring Wedding at Thicket Priory

We didn’t view Thicket Priory ourselves at first. Sam’s parents visited while we were out of town and Facetimed us halfway through their tour. They were clearly impressed, so we jumped on a train the following weekend to see it for ourselves. Needless to say, we loved it straight away. From the big, grand rooms to the thoughtful little touches, it felt considered and complete. After our visit, we genuinely couldn’t find a single downside. Additionally, we noticed a small detail that sealed the deal and was far too coincidental: the Betty’s Tea House fairy door, which is where we had our first date in 2017.

Our guests, especially those from Canada, loved the venue so much. With its 35 bedrooms able to accommodate everyone, it provided all the guests with a truly special experience and elevated the energy.

There is a reason this wedding venue has only 5-star reviews. From the moment we first visited Thicket Priory, we knew it was something special. We had toured other venues, but Thicket Priory ticked every single box—and then some. That day, we made our decision and cancelled the rest of our visits. Every single detail and thought in this place is perfect. In quoting the words of many of our guests, “most beautiful wedding venue ever.”

Our coordinator, Lil, was absolutely incredible—so thorough, responsive, and genuinely invested in making our day perfect. We also felt the noticeable support from Maggie, Anna, and the entire team. While we wish we could name everyone individually, the truth is, every single person at Thicket Priory played a part in making our wedding beyond anything we could have imagined.
From the planning process to the day itself, everything ran seamlessly, allowing us to be fully present and enjoy every moment. They truly exceeded every expectation, and we will always be grateful to have had such an amazing team by our side.

To Lil, in particular, we had no idea what the job description of a wedding coordinator entailed. Honestly, we probably still don’t because of how much you go above your role responsibilities. You supported us in so many ways that meant so much – you managed the timeline, set up our champagne tower, created a content creation video, ensured we had our own space, and even managed Sam’s dad. Thank you! We definitely are missing half the things you did for us, but in short, our minds are blown by how happy we have been.

We feel so privileged to have celebrated our wedding here, and we cannot recommend it highly enough! We can only hope that one day we will be able to return.

I chose one of the first dresses I tried on, which was a perfect balance of timeless and modern. I also brought several veils, of course; one isn’t enough. One of them is an iconic ruffle blusher. I ended up opting out of a second dress, but I changed up the accessories by adding a shorter veil and a chiffon neck scarf.

Sam wore a tailored black suit, classic white shirt and a light pink floral tie. He also included a few personal details, including a small keepsake from his grandma and Shayna’s great-great-grandfather’s pocket watch.

We aimed for something that felt timeless but still relaxed. The venue already had a lot of character, so we leaned into that with timeless florals and small design touches that reflected us without going over the top. One of our non-negotiables when looking for a venue was finding somewhere that allows for real candles, so we had loads of these throughout.

Hollie from Fleur Couture Floral Design did our flowers and styling. We kept things simple with soft whites and an abundance of candlelight. The flowers were mostly long-stemmed white roses, hydrangeas, and orchids. Everything looked incredible, especially the staircase and my bouquet.

Jane from Blooming Marvellous made our cupcakes, which are the most realistic flowers ever! Each one is designed to look like a different family member’s favourite flower. It was a subtle, personal detail that people loved. We then had some of the bridesmaids write on the main larger cake, “oops, just got married,” which was a fun little detail we added.

Purple Chilli Catering handled the food for the three days we were at the venue. The food was amazing, and we particularly liked how the evening before the wedding felt like a home-cooked meal with all our favourite people. I’m a vegetarian, so the veggie options were quite important too, which Purple Chilli has plenty of good choices.

We found Sallie (Sallie Mudie Photos) through Instagram and TikTok. She was the first person we contacted, even before we’d booked the venue. We liked her documentary style, and her approach on the day was so calming. The photos she and second shooter Rebecca Kerr Photography have produced for us feel like artwork that we’ll have for the rest of our lives! They also added a lovely touch of music during our couple shots, which we highly recommend all future couples ask their photographer to do.

Charlotte and Craig from Hello There Films were our videographers. They worked seamlessly alongside our photographers, capturing everything without interrupting the flow of the day. Their footage feels genuine, and the teaser video captured the energy of it all. We absolutely love Charlotte and Craig!

Immediately after the ceremony, we had a few minutes to ourselves before returning to the reception. That slight pause felt significant — just the two of us, taking it all in. That, and the packed dance floor later, were real highlights.

Try to take moments throughout the day to stop and notice what’s happening. It moves quickly. Don’t stress about the small things, whatever will be will be. If possible, try to stay together as a couple to share some of the same memories from the day.

Additionally, another small tip: be sure to proofread all your signage!