OUR KENTISH CEREMONY
Married At Leeds Castle
Maidstone Gemma and Daniel’ s magical wedding combined a stunning historic setting with cockney touches to honour their East End heritage.
Photography by Louisa Dettmer Wedding Photography
The Venue Leeds Castle was the first venue we visited as it was crucial for us to find a place that could accommodate 100 guests. We wanted our loved ones to enjoy the celebration without worrying about transport and while we did consider other venues in Kent, nothing compared to the charm of Leeds Castle. The moment we saw it, we knew it was the perfect spot for our wedding, so we booked it on the spot without hesitation! It’ s a magical setting.
The Dress I found my wedding dress at Chislehurst Bridal. The moment I stepped out in it, my two sisters( also my bridesmaids) were brought to tears. While I had a feeling it was the one before their reaction, their emotional response solidified my choice. I also received a beautiful set of heirloom pearls from my two aunties on my dad’ s side, including pearl earrings, a necklace and a bracelet.
The Food We chose Curious Eatery to cater our wedding and designed the menu ourselves as a huge shellfish lover, it was important to incorporate elements from both mine and Dan’ s cockney heritage. Growing up, I loved eating cockles, whelks and oysters, so I insisted these be starters. Dan wanted traditional British picnic food, so we also included homemade sausage rolls. The main course featured steak, chicken and beautiful sides capped off with a delightful British lemon pavlova adorned with fresh berries.
The Speeches The speeches were given by my two sisters, Katie and Lizzie, and my best friend Claire, who all performed wonderfully, delivering touching and emotional words that brought tears to many eyes. Daniel’ s groomsmen also gave speeches, highlighting the long-standing friendships we share. We also had a beautiful reading by one of my best friends called‘ Like a River’. It highlights the importance of always coming back together through life’ s highs and lows, which perfectly complements our love story as Dan and I were together when we were young, then apart for a while, but ultimately found our way back to each other as adults.
The Highlight Riding around on the golf buggy with Louisa and Duncan from Louisa Dettmer Wedding Photography while they took our private photos. We enjoyed canapés as we waved to people on the grounds of Leeds Castle and such a unique experience made us feel extra special.
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