By Samantha Dearn, Venue Manager.
2023 was a season of charming ceremonies, ravishing receptions, wholesome wedding breakfasts and fabulous first dances, signing off a successful year of wonderful, unique weddings. We wanted to take a moment and reflect on our top moments of 2023.
The Launch of our Glamping Village
Starting off our top moments is the launch of our glamping village. Our glamping village consists of five bell tents, each sleeping up to six people. They are fully furnished with everything your guests need and only a stone’s throw from our tipi venue, so all your wedding guests have to do is show up (hopefully in their wedding garb).
We also launched our safari tent overlooking our beautiful Pheasant Pool, where bride and grooms can retreat to a cosy, private space following their big day. The launch of our safari tent is not the only thing exciting that has happened this year, as a couple who stayed during the winter got engaged, with the future groom proposing on the decking overlooking the lake, firepit alight in a perfect setting.
A bridal entrance to remember!
Our brides sure know how to make a memorable entrance! Tilly and Cori were our final couple of the season, and they made sure to make it one we won’t forget, and it all started with Tilly’s fabulous bridal entrance – on the side of a land rover! The land rover, pristine white, decorated for the autumn wedding, and driven by Tilly’s dad, drove Tilly from our luxury lodges to our beautiful lake-side ceremony. She could have decided to sit in the land-rover, but Tilly wanted to make an entrance no one would forget, holding onto the side, her wedding dress flowing in the wind.
Entertainment to remember!
Megan and Adam created a space that their guests – and us! – will remember for a long time. They hired Elmbridge’s very first Ceilidh band, Ceilidh Tree, who performed outside on the terrace, teaching our couple and their guests some traditional dances to Gaelic folk music. It was a beautiful day, the sun shining as the guests put their dancing shoes on.
First Dance Shots
There’s one way to get your guests to watch your first dance – offer them all a shot! Georgia and Adam made quite a first dance entrance with a mini cart full of shot vials that were handed out to their guests on the dancefloor, whilst ‘Shots’ by LMFAO and Lil Jon played on our speaker system. It was certainly a memorable moment for their guests and while things eventually quietened down for their official first dance, the memory remained, flooding the dancefloor with eager party-goers all night!
Elmbridge Farm’s First Gender Reveal
The end of our season happened with a bang – almost literally! We had our very first gender reveal for our wonderful couple, Lara and Ross. Lara is expecting a baby boy next year, a perfect addition to their little family. When they asked to host their gender reveal mid-wedding, we couldn’t say no! Ross’ best men set the whole thing up, bringing Ross’ motorbike onto the terrace and letting off a smoke bomb of blue out of the back of the bike. It was a lovely day for both celebrations and we wish Lara and Ross a wonderful marriage and healthy baby boy.
