A petite Mid-Week Wedding For 30 This Summer

Emma and Mike's small wedding in June for 30 guests was the most atmospheric and personal wedding celebration!

The couple created a little piece of Italy in the middle of the Gloucestershire countryside. Pauntley Court is painted the most wonderful pinky, reddish colour which instantly reminds you of a Tuscan villa! Their photographer, Carrie Lavers, captured the celebrations perfectly and used the house and gardens as a sensational backdrop for some amazing shots that the couple will have to remember their big day forever. Read on to find out more about their perfect wedding, all planned in under 8 weeks.

The happy couple arrived with their close family and friends on Tuesday afternoon to check into their beautiful bedrooms before a relaxed first evening in the Flower Room.

Our bedrooms and bathrooms at Pauntley are individually designed and decorated, all full of character and charm. In every bedroom, we use gorgeous white company linens and the spoiling 100 acres toiletries so we hope to make guests feel at home yet surrounded by luxury at the same time.

The pre-wedding day dinner in the Flower Room is always a special part of a couple's time at Pauntley as it is a time to be together with your nearest and dearest to chat about the big day ahead. Why not ask about Rachel, our wonderful housekeeper, who can help set the tables and serve and clear so that all the family and friends can relax.

Emma and Mike had super helpful groomsmen who set up the rustic tables underneath the hornbeam arches and hung the festoon lighting and fairy lights. This created the most perfect outdoor wedding breakfast set up.

On the morning of her wedding, Emma was able to have extra special time with her mum, sipping tea while chatting and laughing and getting ready with her bridesmaids in the Elinor Fettiplace bridal suite. A very happy and memorable time, with lots of giggling and even some emotional tears as Emma opened a romantic letter from Mike. Surrounded by her best friends she could totally relax and enjoy getting ready.

Emma looked amazing in her beautiful Suzanne Neville dress. Quite sensational as she came down the main stairs to meet her father!

Holly, our wedding coordinator, ensured all the guests were seated out in the gardens between the sun-dappled quince trees, ready for the outdoor ceremony.

With not far to walk from the bridal suite to the outdoor ceremony space, amongst the magical quince trees, Emma certainly wowed Mike as she walked down the aisle with her father. She joined Mike under the arch of the hornbeams with the jaw-droppingly beautiful Gloucestershire views beyond.

After drinks (Aperol spritz, what else for an Italian twist!) in the exquisite gardens, the wedding breakfast underneath the hornbeam arches really could have been somewhere in Italy rather than an English country garden in Gloucestershire.

After 7 courses of an Italian inspired wedding breakfast, Emma and Mike had their first dance in the flower room with the glittering, sparkling lights and the glowing fire pit.

Pauntley Court offers so many special and romantic places to go off to with your photographer. Carrie Lavers really took advantage of every garden room from the sunken garden with its ornamental pond, the yew hedges with their secret and magical atmosphere to the rolling countryside which stretches all around the house and the gardens in every direction.

Photographer: Carrie Lavers - https://carrielaversphotography.co.uk

Dress: Suzanne Neville - https://www.suzanneneville.com

Caterers - https://www.intheframecatering.co.uk

Makeup: Amy Rose - https://www.amyrosebridalmakeup.com

Hair: Juta Zorubiene - https://www.facebook.com/jutazorubiene/

Flowers: Sarah Raven - https://www.sarahraven.com



Emma & Mike gallery



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We originally booked Pauntley Court for our wedding in October 2020 but plans had to be postponed due to COVID. Melissa was very supportive and understanding with moving our wedding date and it finally went ahead in September 2023.

We visited Pauntley Court several times during the planning stage and loved it more and more each time. There is such attention to detail both inside the house and around the gardens. It is such a magical place. We had an amazing wedding weekend.

We asked Rachel, the housekeeper to help us with breakfasts and clearing in the evenings which I am so glad we did. She went above and beyond to help us. We filled all of the accommodation with our guests and they all said it was a fantastic venue.

 Our friends returned to Pauntley Court for Christmas 2023 and stayed in the Dovecote so we got to visit Pauntley again and it is just as special in the winter. 

 

Bride & Groom

September 2023

Photo by Oliver Kirk Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Christine & Colin