Her parents married there in 1999, and years later, she and Will found themselves falling for the same historic setting. Their summer wedding was a relaxed day filled with British-grown wildflowers, emerald-green details, and plenty of wonderfully personal touches.
We fell in love with Chiddingstone because it was everything we had been searching for: historic charm, stunning grounds and a perfect backdrop for our day. From the moment we visited, we knew it was the venue for us. Plus, my parents got married there in 1999, so there was a personal connection too!
One of the biggest reasons we chose Chiddingstone over other venues was the flexibility it offered. The team embraced all of our ideas, helping us create a day that felt completely personal. From our string quartet and garden games to our giant book-themed table plan and “draw your own face” guest book, they happily accommodated the little touches that made the celebration uniquely ours.
From the moment we started planning, they offered care and attention to detail, taking so much pressure off. They kept everything organised, helped us liaise with suppliers, and offered expert advice when needed. On the day, everything ran seamlessly, meaning we could simply relax and enjoy every moment with our family and friends.
We also loved the venue’s complete exclusivity. Guests could wander through the gardens and historic buildings, and enjoy at their own pace, without ever feeling like they were sharing the space with anyone else. It created such a peaceful, magical atmosphere.
I never considered myself a bride-y person and spent a lot of time stressing over the dress. I wanted something comfortable, a bit different and not completely white. Finding the dress at Bromley Brides was the first time I truly felt like a bride. The off-white lace over vintage nude underlining perfectly matched and complemented the Converse trainers I had picked as my shoes! I did my own makeup on the day, and my friend Rachel styled my hair.
Will wanted a timeless, green suit made just for Will. Gresham Blake in Brighton absolutely hit the mark, presenting a plethora of options: fabrics, buttons, cuts, fits, and even custom embroidery. A truly special experience, and a suit he’ll wear for years to come.
Following the green theme, the bridesmaids wore emerald green wrap dresses from Six Stories.
We used the venue’s natural beauty and, alongside the flowers, fairy lights, and festoon lights, made some of our own decorations. These included a giant seating plan made of books, a custom 4-page newspaper filled with games, facts and information about the wedding, fantasy-themed pub signs for each table, and a temporary tattoo station.
Our florist, Willow & Maw, was a discovery from Chiddingstone Wedding Fair. We loved that they only use seasonal, British-grown flowers, which perfectly fit Chiddingstone Castle and really embraced the natural beauty of the grounds. Our brief was lots of green and wildflowers, very midsummer (not the scary film!) and fairy garden vibes mixed with Lord of the Rings. Lucy absolutely nailed it, creating mood boards, colour palettes and floral options which helped us bring our vision to life.
We chose pastel pink, blue and white with plenty of greenery, including peonies, delphiniums, and sweet peas. A beautiful archway welcomed guests, with matching mantlepiece displays, urn arrangements, and earth-toned ceramic bud vases that brought the outdoors into The Great Hall.
Food was a huge priority for us and Urban Pantry helped us create a menu that encapsulated everything we love. We went with an eclectic mix of Japanese canapés, including gyoza and okonomiyaki; a Middle Eastern sharing-board feast for the wedding breakfast; and street-food-style tacos in the evening! To this day, we still have comments about how amazing the food was and what a highlight that was for our guests! The team were absolutely seamless and gave us a great experience.
My Godmother Eileen created a beautiful three-tiered lemon and elderflower cake (including a vegan tier) with handmade sugar flowers to match the bouquets. It was incredibly special to have such a personal addition to our special day!
Marcus – what an angel! He immediately put us at ease, caught some wonderful candid moments, and became part of the celebration – my parents were ready to adopt him by the end! As a couple who don’t take ourselves too seriously, he leaned into it, really showed off our personalities, and made everything feel so natural. He also helped us recreate photos from my parents’ wedding, which was a lovely tribute and keepsake.
One of our favourite moments was straight after the ceremony, as the Chiddingstone team thoughtfully built in five minutes for us to gather ourselves away from our guests. We looked at each other, just married, with everything exactly as we imagined. Our loved ones were outside enjoying the sunshine, the string quartet playing Blink-182 and champagne being poured. And we thought… we did it! The months of planning and pouring our hearts and love into a day had turned out perfectly, and we got to share it with all our favourite people!
Will: It will be easier and go better than you think. Don’t doubt yourself!
Amber: The day will go so quickly – enjoy every moment and don’t sweat the small stuff!
Venue Chiddingstone Castle
Photography Marcus Curry
Flowers Willow & Maw
Food and Bar Urban Pantry
Suit Gresham Blake
Dress Lillian West from Bromley Brides
String Quartet The Northern String Quartet
Evening Band The Playlist
Based on a weekday wedding in November. Includes food.