Becky & Callum: Intimate wedding in stunning Cheshire venue

I was so delighted when I received an enquiry for another wedding at Scarlet Hall. I had worked at this venue once, around 18 months before, and it had really stayed in my mind. It is just the most stunning place to get married. (Yes, it is firmly on my personal list of top ten wedding venues that I would like to get married in one day). A gorgeous home in Cheshire with amazing grounds and a fabulous barn for an intimate wedding reception, and the scope to make it your own as it’s totally dry hire. It ticks every box for me.

Becky and Callum talked me through their plans and I was immediately on board. Not only were they both wonderful people (my first important criteria for working with a couple), but they’d picked this incredible wedding venue and their whole attitude toward the wedding was perfect; the plans that they had made were right up my street. Intimate, personal, with family and friends at the centre of it all. I knew it was going to be a stunner, but it somehow surpassed all expectations.

​This one will stay in my mind for a very long time!

As the on-the-day co-ordinator, I had a little contact with Becky & Callum in the lead up to the wedding but had kept all the preparation in their very capable hands. They chose some incredible suppliers, had a clear vision for what they wanted, and Becky even handmade 99% of the bits for the wedding herself. I’m talking banners, signs, seating plans, barrels, embroidered napkins, favours… I’m not quite sure how she did it!

The overall theme could be described as a cosy dinner party vibe, leaning into the slightly Autumnal colours of a mid-September wedding and featuring soft candlelight, beautiful DIY flower arrangements and elegant but homely table decor. All the things you love about a classic, elegant wedding but with all the comfort of being in a home away from home.

I also loved all the personal touches that they added, like the little nods that they made to the fact that they had met on Tinder - the personalised dating profile they made for each guest and left in their seat, the seating plan which read ‘all those we SUPERLIKE’, and the speeches they made that told their story so far. It was a proper celebration of two fabulous people that wasn’t just a copy/paste of everything they had seen before.
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i think maybe The thing I loved most about this one was that it wasn’t all just about the day itself. Thanks to the incredible accommodation at Scarlett Hall, Becky & Callum were able to invite their favourite people to stay with them on site for a week before the wedding. Right from the off, I knew this wasn’t just going to be one big flashy wedding day. It was about quality time with important people and making the most of having everyone all together.
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By the time I arrived on Saturday morning, hair & makeup was already underway and there was a bit of a buzz in the air. It was lovely watching Becky surrounded by her best girls hyping themselves up for the day. They chose to do a first look together in the morning and I will never forget the looks on the girls faces as Becky came down the stairs! It was such a gorgeous morning with family coming and going, making breakfast, everything so calm and chilled. I think I can just about say the same for Callum!

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I helped to get a few bits ready when I arrived in the morning and I worked with the other suppliers to get ourselves set up before guests started arriving. And they didn’t have far to come…

Becky & Callum had decided to have a very small, intimate wedding with less than 30 in attendance (including themselves!), meaning almost everyone who was present that day were those who had stayed with them in the house in those days before. All they had to do was head downstairs and out into the gardens, and we were ready to begin!

We were so fortunate with the weather, meaning we could have the outdoor ceremony as planned and it was so beautiful in the garden in the cool September sunshine. They had opted for a celebrant to conduct this part for them; David from Acorn to Oak Ceremonies was an absolute joy and led the most gorgeous celebration for them (despite being hassled by the wasps and bees throughout!). It was funny, heartfelt and I think evoked more than a few tears from everyone!

There was stunning music played live as Becky and the girls walked down the aisle, some beautiful readings from friends and family; and it felt so personal and so poignant being just for those closest to them. What a privilege to get to be a part of it!

As the guests followed their bride and groom through the courtyard, we stopped to throw confetti and had everyone pick up a drink on their way over to the gardens. The sun continued to shine, the music continued to play and it was a perfect afternoon for guests to sit outside sipping champagne and cocktails as the canapes were passed around.

I’m not even sure that the guests will have noticed Becky & Callum popping out for a few moments to have their legal ceremony! They had decided to complete both the legal paperwork and have their personalised ceremony on the same day, and it worked out for them perfectly. Whilst guests stayed in the gardens soaking up the sun, our couple nipped into the house with their parents to formalise the marriage and were back outside before you could even say ‘drinks reception’.

We gave Becky & Callum a ‘first look’ of the barn as, although they had done all of the decor themselves, you never get the full effect until the candles are lit and the final touches are on the table. It was so lovely to see them basking in all their hard work, knowing it had all turned out just as they had wanted.

We called the guests to take their seats, and had Becky & Callum come back in and make an entrance. There may have only been thirty people present, but it may as well have been three hundred for the welcome they were given! Bridesmaid Mary acted as MC and let me tell you, she is just the hype girl you need on your wedding day! She brought all the energy and got everyone in the zone - she was fabulous!

We began the evening with some speeches; those from the best men and the bridesmaids were both hilarious and wonderful, and those from Callum and the parents of the bride actually had me on the verge of tears! So heartfelt and so moving; I think having such a small guestlist and keeping everything so intimate might have made it feel extra special. Just their absolute favourite people, stories from their childhoods, acknowledging life’s challenges as well as celebrating all their successes. To me, that’s what a wedding is really all about.

I left them all to enjoy their dinner; a gorgeous feast from Wild Garlic; from the balcony upstairs I looked out over the room with the lights glowing and the candles flickering and it almost felt like we were at a Mediterranean soiree - one large table with everyone sat around, sharing food, telling stories, chatting amongst themselves. wine flowing and laughter echoing. Even I felt like I never wanted it to end!

After dinner we went straight into cocktail hour, giving everyone a chance to stretch their legs, enjoy a margarita, and get ready for some dancing! the prohibition bootleggers were looking after the beverages - they were brilliant to work with and had gorgeous drinks flowing all day (I can highly recommend their virgin mojito!). having a DIY venue and choosing their own bar meant that they could have all their favourites, and it set a gorgeous tone going from day to night.

During that downtime, we brought out the beer pong table and settled in for a very intense game - and when I say everyone got involved, I mean everyone! 

That set us up perfectly for the evening to get underway. It began with the cutting of the cake (homemade by a bridesmaid!), and led into a simple reception with just a playlist full of everyone’s favourite songs and a fairy-lit dancefloor to fill!

It was the perfect, relaxed end to a beautifully relaxed day. 

I honestly cannot thank these two enough for having me at their wedding. What a treat to be back at Scarlett Hall for a stunning september wedding, and to be part of a beautiful, sentimental, intimate day that felt so special. I feel like I took a lot away from this one, and it’s taught me a huge amount about what to prioritise, and just how precious a wedding can be.

happy 1st anniversary, becky & callum!
I'm still to grateful you choose me.

SUPPLIERS:

VENUE:
Scarlett Hall

photographer:
ellie grace weddings

videography:
Tim Clark

Caterer:
wild garlic

celebrant:
acorn to oak

guitarist:
ste forshaw

bar:
prohibition bootleggers

evening food:
the social platter co

furniture hire:
wirral table & chair hire

lighting:
hipswing events

hair:
hair creations by colette

makeup: 
i am bridal / lauren mccabe