The person enthusing over their weddings is Fiona Mobbs, Chilton Park Hotel’s wedding co-
ordinator. At the hotel there is a team of 5 including 3 co-ordinators. I am shown around the Hotel and it does have a refined elegance. High ceilings and sash windows make the grand house airy and a mix of artwork from large, historic oil paintings down to small personal line drawn portraits compete for wall space. The bedrooms range from contemporary, comfortable rooms with wonderful views to luxurious suites with names such as the ‘Regency Room’ or ‘Queen Ann Suite’ commanding the best views over the lake and fountain and including four poster beds and bathrooms so big you could get lost in them.
There are no two ways about it, the venue is impressive but behind the luxury and elegance lies a business – a well-oiled machine and Fiona told me how the weddings work at Chilston Park: “My job is the initial show around the Hotel and to introduce people to the wedding packages. Once they have booked with us I guide them [the bride and groom] through the process of making their plans. Every bride and groom are different, some want to talk to you regularly and want your opinions. We speak most from between 1 year in advance and 6 months in advance and have meetings up to the wedding. The final meeting and run through is eight weeks before and we go through everything, sign contracts and then start on the finer details – I hand things over to Kerrin.”
Kerrin Smye is the Conference and Banqueting Manager and as it turns out he is also Fiona’s real-life partner. It seems love is in the air at Chilston Park Hotel even before the weddings start! Fiona set out her role in a formal fashion but she is all heart in her emotion about her job: “I meet people who are really lovely and get to know the bride and groom. I really care about it. The weddings are like my little babies and it’s really difficult to let them go and hand things over to Kerrin. I like working on the day of the wedding to see what they are all wearing!”