Chloe & Reece

Childhood sweethearts Chloe & Reece married at The Granary in June 2023 in a gorgeous ceremony, surrounded by their friends and family and beloved dogs.

So tell us about how you met and all about the proposal…
We met aged 16 and 17 at Reading festival. We went to high school together in Rugby, but had never crossed paths when we were younger (he was the year above). As our weekend romance was coming to an end, we learned that we only lived 5 minutes apart, and so the story continued.

Six years later, almost to the day, Reece took me on a walk that led to the peak of Labrador Bay, in Devon. The view of the sea from the top was stunning. It was here that he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was on cloud-nine for days!

What were your hopes for your big day? i.e. things that you really wanted to happen
All I ever wanted was relaxed day of fun, food and dancing, with all my family and friends. We got exactly that.

How did your plans have to change because of Covid?
We got engaged in 2020 between lockdowns, which meant we had to wait 3 years to tie-the-knot due to a backlog of weddings. Looking back, it turned out to be the perfect time for us. Unlike other couples before us, we didn’t have to make any compromises, so we are incredibly lucky.

Why did you choose The Granary as your venue?
We loved the look of the venue and the location was perfect for us, but it was the people that sold it. The wedding coordinators were so accommodating and super helpful, allowing us to make the day our own. Also, exclusive use of the venue for the whole weekend was a big selling point for us.

The Bride & her Maids…Tell us about the dress, shoes, accessories, how many bridesmaids etc. (everyone always wants to know this!)
I loved my dress so much, I wish I could wear it again now! It was an elegant boho-style lacy dress, which relaxed from the waist and carried a short (practical) train. Untraditionally, it had a pink/nude underlay but with layers of ivory lace, flowers and sparkles which made me feel like a princess. As Reece is so much taller than me, I went for ivory satin stilettos just so that I could reach him for the kiss! These actually turned out to be incredibly comfortable.

I had three bridesmaids of all different ages and with different styles. They looked stunning in dusky rose multiway dresses that they each styled in their own unique ways. They chose their shoes, their hair styles and their accessories so they could all feel and look like themselves.

The Groom and his Groomsmen…. What did the groom wear, who was Best Man?
The groom chose the suits for him and the boys. They wore a brown/grey/olive kind of colour, farmer-style suit, with ties, pocket squares and socks in dusky rose to match the girls. The best man was Reece’s younger brother, who I did actually meet in high school.

Tell us about the theme for the day…
It was all very rustic and natural. I opted for muted and natural colours in décor, like ivory, pastel pinks and natural greens.

Flowers, who supplied them and what arrangements did you have?
Our flowers were supplied and arranged by Wilder Floral who exceeded all of our expectations. I had been planning my flowers from the very beginning as I wanted them everywhere! There were flowers on the tables, the chairs and even in my hair. It was beautiful.

Photography – who did you choose and why?
Our photography was by Ross Penny. Ross captured my mum’s wedding just 18 months prior and the photos came out great. We were so happy with them that we booked him for our big day too.

The ceremony – tell us about it.
I feel emotional every time I replay the ceremony in my head, it was so perfect. Walking down the aisle and seeing Reece, looking back at me, was such a rush of excitement and emotion. The registrars completely suited the relaxed feel of the wedding. There were laughs, tears and everything in between. I recorded the ceremony, and when we watch it back we just beam with pure joy.

The Food – what did you eat?!
This was very important to us. For breakfast, the girls and I enjoyed a beautiful spread of pastries, fruit and yogurts in our bedrooms while we got ready. Then, after the ceremony we had the tastiest, most personalised canapés. For our main meal we had a BBQ which went down so well on a warm summers’ day. Followed by a choice of desserts which suited everyone’s tastebuds and appetite. There was never a dry moment as the snacks came out next! The sweet and salty table was a hit with the kids and adults alike, a little snack never goes amiss. Finally, for our evening meal we had a buffet of pizza and chips. Simple – maybe, but popular – definitely! I distinctively remember being on the dancefloor with prosecco in one hand and a pizza slice in the other, my night was made.

Entertainment….disco, band, fire-eater, singing waiters? Tell us all about it!
We used The Granary’s in house DJ who did a great job of reading the room and getting people on the dancefloor.

What was the highlight of your day?
This is soo hard to choose, but I think it has to be walking down the aisle and seeing my groom.

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to anyone planning a wedding?
Do what makes you happy! Make the day everything you want it to be and you’ll have no regrets.