Meghan and Joseph’s stunning romantic and intimate wedding at Oldwalls Gower was simple, clean and Classic. What makes this wedding special? Oldwalls has such a special and wonderful look. The standard that everything is done to, from the rooms to their the Rustic Retreat cottages, there is such attention to detail. You really feel the luxury.
Videographer: Break every chain productions
Florist: Ruth Milton Jones|Catering: Oldwalls Weddings|Wedding Dress Designer: Eddy K and Riki Dalal (two dresses from Eva Ashley bridal)|Wedding Cake: Bella cakes|Stationery Provider: Brogan Evans|Hairdresser: Kristin Davis|Make-up artist: Louise Williams|Menswear Provider:Moss Bros
Lainston House is a 17th-Century luxury hotel. Set in 63 acres of gorgeous Hampshire countryside, five-star Lainston House could be the perfect setting for the wedding of your dreams.
We talked to Sophie Mitchell-Bird, Wedding Executive at Lainston House.
Tell us about yourself!
I’ve been very lucky to have worked in the wedding world for almost 3 years and have enjoyed every second. I have a miniature dachshund called Rolo and a cat named Tabitha. I’m a massive foodie so enjoy going out for dinner and trying new places… I’m a sucker for a good cocktail too!
What drew you to the wedding world?
Honestly, I think the wedding world found me! My background has always been theatre and this is what I graduated from uni in, so I’d always expected to go straight into something related to this instead. After university, I worked as a comedy producer, organising monthly charity stand-up comedy nights. That was great fun and where my love for events planning begun — and shortly after, I found my passion… Weddings!
What do you think makes your venue unique?
For a start, the grounds of Lainston House are breathtaking… The photo opportunities are endless! The venue is rich with history too, with so many interesting facts and stories. What makes our space even more unique is the people. The team is made up of the most hardworking, dedicated and passionate individuals I’ve met… We’re like one big family!
How do you get to know your couples before the big day?
I will be in touch regularly, either by phone or email, and I love it when my couples do the same. I love to hear all about what you’ve both been up too, your holidays, you name it! It’s also great to see my couples in person and enjoy a cup of coffee together in the lead up to the wedding.
What do you think makes for the perfect wedding?
Picking things you both like, not just what you think others will like! After all, it’s your special day and you only do it once!
What is your #1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Begin thinking about your table plan early as this can sometimes be the hardest part to figure out, so this will take pressure off you… But most importantly, enjoy it!
What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve had?
We recently had a stunning tipi on our South Lawn which was breathtaking… The South Lawn is perfect for it! We’ve had a few singing waiters over the summer which are also so fun and a real surprise to all your guests.
Why should a couple book Lainston House?
We’re a beautiful, luxury, five-star manor house where dream days happen. By hiring out the venue exclusively, you can feel like royalty for the day, with your nearest and dearest around you. Local produce is super important to us so the majority of our suppliers will be local to either Winchester or Hampshire, with our onsite Kitchen Garden also growing our own produce. With 63 acres, the photo opportunities are endless — adding that “wow” factor for your guests and creating memories to cherish forever!
What is the best photo spot at Lainston House?
This is a tricky one as there are so many stunning photo spots… But outside on the terrace with the beautiful avenue of lime trees is a must!
What part of your business are you most proud of?
I couldn’t pick just one part as I’m proud of all departments at Lainston House who all help achieve dream wedding days!
How do you feel technology is changing the industry?
Technology is making it easier for couples to plan, especially wonderful platforms like Bridebook where you can plan your whole day. Wedding websites where your guests can RSVP and let you know dietaries and you can to give information quickly… What a great idea!
What is the one piece of advice you would give to couples that are currently struggling amidst the COVID-19 crisis?
Everything will come together in the end. After all, nothing can stop love! If you’re struggling at the moment, please do reach out to your venue or suppliers so they can help. You’re not alone.
A huge thank you to Sophie Mitchell-Bird for answering our questions. Check out Lainston House on Bridebook!
Looking for more venues in Hampshire? Find your unforgettable venue by searching venues here.
Are you looking to promote your beautiful venue to our community of couples? Contact our Venue Consultant team at [email protected]
If you’ve decided you’re keen for a videographer, then let’s make sure you find one that is perfect for you. Like your photographer, they are going to be working in close proximity to you on one of the most important days of your life, so you want to make sure you like their style and them! Catching your wedding day on film is an amazing memento and one you will get teary over for years to come! Before you hire one, let’s make sure you ask the right questions and find the best one for you…
You will want to make sure that the person you hire is experienced enough to convey the atmosphere and emotions of the day on film – creating something Oscar worthy!
2) How would you describe your style?
Styles primarily divide into documentary (filming as the day unfolds) or cinematic (weaving the episodes of your wedding into a story). Both are absolutely great to look at, so choose whichever style you like best! Also discuss whether your video will be music based or dispersed with speech and wooping from guests – again this is completely your preference!
3) Have you worked with our photographer before?
Would you be open to meeting with them if not? The photographer and videographer work very closely on the wedding day and therefore need to get along and know how the other operates.
4) Have you worked at our reception venue before? If not, would you be up for visiting it with us – would this cost extra?
If your videographer is familiar with your wedding venue, they will know the best angles to film from and the best lighting opportunities.
This may seem like a silly question if you don’t know a lot about cameras, however, this will give you an idea about how large the video equipment is, how the microphones will work and what sort of lighting the videographer intends to use.
6) How long do we have to wait to see the final result?
While you can get the raw footage, or the highlights video fairly soon after the wedding, the full film may take up to six months in editing, so make sure you’re happy with this.
7) What will the final result be?
One 10 minute video? Or a feature length with all of the full length speeches?
8) Can I choose the music for the film?
Many videographers are more than happy to do that, so have a discussion with them and have a list of favourite tunes at the ready. If they can’t use your exact song selection they might come up with great alternatives along the same vibe.
9) Who will own the copyright?
This is important as any additional copy will have to be paid for separately.
10) How many copies of the film do I get? And how much does it cost if we want to buy extras?
If you want to distribute the video to all your relatives abroad, you may want to find out how much an extra video costs before you make any promises!
Getting engaged is one of the most exciting moments of your life, tears of joy won’t stop streaming, and you can’t stop gazing at your newly bejeweled finger. But once this initial excitement begins to wear off, a sudden rush of “what now!?” begins to kick in. Don’t worry – Bridebook are here to help.
Wedding planning can be daunting even at the best of times, and the current government restrictions to curb the spread of Coronavirus may have you feeling you can’t get started with your planning. At Bridebook, we’d like to help you navigate this stressful time by discussing 8 things that you CAN do right now to ensure the smoothest wedding planning experience.
1.Designate a wedding planning day
It is time to get organised! Making decisions early is the best way to ensure the smoothest wedding planning process. Dedicating one day a week can be the perfect way to ensure that tasks get ticked off and other priorities (like Netflixin’ your favourite show!) do not get in the way.
Knowing where to begin with planning your big day can be overwhelming. Our personalised Wedding Planning Checklist is here to help guide you through the entire planning process. Based on your wedding date, your bespoke Checklist will let you know when to complete each task including pricing guides and suggestions along the way.
2.Reflection
It’s important to sit down with your partner and think about what you both want from your wedding. Will it be a small and intimate occasion or an extravagant party with hundreds of guests? Make sure you reflect and think hard about what is most important to the both of you, as a couple.
Start researching and looking for inspiration. You can then add any picture or ideas, from perfect playlists, to funny speech ideas to your Bridebook Scrapbook.
3.Budget
Once you have reflected on the kind of wedding you both want, you need to decide how much you are willing and able to spend. Let Bridebook do the hard work for you! With data from over 500,000 weddings, our super powerful Wedding Budget Tool helps you keep track right from the beginning. Simply enter your total budget and we will tell you how much you should spend on every expense from start to finish.
4.Guest List
Making decisions on your guest list can be a complicated process, from deciding who to invite, to keeping note of guest information along the way.
Bridebook’s Wedding Guest List Tool allows you to easily keep track of your invites, RSVPs and total attending guests. Your Guest List is split into two – one for you and one for your partner – but you can also create as many custom lists as you like! For example, ‘work friends’ or ‘childhood friends’. Your Guest List is ready to help you track all the nitty gritty details: you can track plus ones, dietary requirements, addresses and more.
5.Booking Your Venue
Finding the perfect wedding venue is one of the most important tasks on your checklist, and one which may seem near impossible in the midst of a global pandemic. However, thanks to the power of technology and innovative wedding venue teams, this is completely possible!
Bridebook has thousands of exceptional wedding venues with many of them offering virtual tours and show rounds. Get comfortable, open a bottle of wine and explore the delights of stunning venues across the country from your very own living room. When you enquire with venues, make sure to ask if they can offer a virtual show round – some are even using Facetime! We’d also advise you to keep an eye out for venues listing 360 tours.
6.Booking Suppliers
Again, this is something super fun which you can enjoy within the comfort of your own home. Keep reaching out to suppliers, as many are offering virtual services such as delivering tasting samples or pre-recorded videos – whilst unconventional, this can absolutely become a fun night-in with your partner.
Invite your friends and family to a Zoom call where you watch a number of wedding bands until you find your perfect match. How about ordering in some sample cake boxes for taste testing with your partner? Or even get creative and create your ideal wedding make-up, by following different tutorials available online.
7.The Little Things
Make the most of these dark cold months by getting on top of all the small tasks which will make your wedding wonderful. There are so many little things that you will need for your big day and now is the time to start a list. This might be thinking about gifts for your bridesmaids and page boys or wedding favours for guests. You could even get into some DIY and make some crafts yourself such as name cards, signs or photo boards for the day itself.
8.Enjoy your Engagement!
Weddings are incredibly special. It is important to enjoy this experience, together. Take some well deserved time off before you are rushed back to the speed of ‘normality’. Go for long walks, cook some delicious food, read a few books and most of all embrace having the love of your life by your side!
Looking for some more wedding planning tips? Check out our other wedding articles below.
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