Getting married is an incredibly exciting time for any bride. There is so much build up to the big event; and expectations and emotions run high. Getting the finer details right is absolutely essential to pulling off the perfect wedding.
We interviewed Old Down bride Clare to take us through a run down of her dream day..
What made us fall in love with Old Down?
“This one was really easy for us:
The Manor itself is an impressive building which dominates the landscape with its architectural beauty, boasting absolutely stunning views across to Wales and the Severn estuary. The Manor’s grounds are beautifully landscaped and well kept. On the day we visited, the woodlands were covered in blankets of Bluebells and Daffodils and looked simply gorgeous.
The inside of the Manor is sympathetically decorated, respecting its natural beauty. When we walked in, we were greeted by the incredibly grand hall with dramatic lighting, Grand piano and imposing staircase. We loved the amount of space available, with a number of different rooms meaning guests could congregate or find a quiet spot to relax. Having a venue that gave us exclusive use was a priority for us and Old Down provided this.
The bedrooms were individually designed each with its own view of the grounds and beyond. Each had luxurious furnishings and huge bathrooms.
As we have children, the fact that ourselves and our guests would be able to use the country park was really appealing too.”
How was our day?
“From start to finish our day was simply perfect, everything went like clockwork. The Manor looked stunning, decorated in flowers, lace and candles. Our wedding Cake took centre stage with its 5 tiers! I got ready in the bridal suite along with my 5 little bridesmaids. At one point there were 15 people in the room including my best friend, sisters, make-up artist, hairdresser and photographer! The suite is so big that there was ample room for everyone. I loved the fact that I could have all the special people in my life with me during the build up to the ceremony. This was one of the highlights of the day for me. As the time neared, I could hear the guests arriving and was given confirmation that the Groom had arrived!
I remember feeling so nervous walking down the stairs and waiting at the entrance to the ceremony room! Olivia our wedding planner stood behind me arranging all the bridesmaids in order and instilling a sense of order and control. The ceremony was incredibly emotional, the room looked beautiful!
Then came the wedding breakfast! The food was delicious and was served without a hitch. The speeches were hilarious and everyone had a genuinely fantastic time.
We had a live band for the evening entertainment. Their music resonated around the room with its high ceilings! We also had a caricaturist who stayed into the evening and provided lots of entertainment both, for the guests being drawn and the guests watching!
We used the library as a ‘Kids only’ room, set up a game console along with board games and toys which proved to be a great hit with the children ( and the adults too).
The whole day was incredible, being surrounded by family and friends in a beautiful setting with incredible food and attentive staff.
Once we had decided on Old Down as our wedding venue, everything began to fall into place. Olivia was incredibly responsive to emails, phone calls and requests. Every stage of the day was covered in fine detail. During our pre-wedding meeting, Olivia covered every aspect of the day from contact numbers of suppliers, food menu’s, order of the day, family arrangements, arrival times and even music suggestions!
Olivia assisted with every stage of the run up to the wedding, the preparations the day before and on the day. She made sure everything went to plan, even attaching button holes to the grooms party on arrival and setting up our vintage tea and coffee station ready for the evening.
The staff at Old Down were incredibly attentive and efficient, the food came out on time and hot, no glass was left empty. The bar was manned the whole day and the venue was kept impeccably clean. Every guest was made to feel welcome and any questions or queries were dealt with immediately. Everything was cleared away by the morning with decorations, cake and flowers all boxed up ready to take home.”
If you want to book a viewing of Old Down Estate for you dream day, get in touch with us here.