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Hattie & Rhys Jonesโ€™ Happy Wedding Day

Photo Credit: Expression Photography

Today weโ€™re looking at the wonderful wedding day of Hattie and Rhys, who said their โ€œI doโ€™sโ€ on September 16th of this year right here at That Amazing Place. Hattie and Rhys has been together for eight years when they married after meeting randomly on a weekend where they were both enjoying company with friends. After hitting it off in a pub garden, and thanks to a rather persistent friend, Rhys and Hattie kept in touch and the rest as they say is history. So hereโ€™s a peek into their wonderful dayโ€ฆ

The Venue

Photo Credit: Expression Photography

With family coming from afar, it was hugely important that Hattie and Rhys found somewhere that felt like a home from home. Hattie explained, โ€œBeing able to arrive on the Friday and relax and stay for the duration of the weekend was a great addition to what we were after. After our first visit to view That Amazing Place, we got in the car, both looked at each other and smiled; we knew it was the place for us.โ€ย The beautiful surroundings, impeccable dรฉcor and of course the staff, were huge advantages to Hattie and Rhys and convinced them quite easily that our Essex wedding venue was the one for them. They were also incredibly thankful for Paul, one of the venues owners, and event manager Angie, for making their family and friends on the day feel incredibly welcomed. Hattie describes them as being incredibly attentive throughout the whole weekend.

Theme and Entertainment

Photo Credit: Expression Photography

Hattie explained their aim was for their wedding day was simplicity; a relaxed social event and That Amazing Place became the perfect backdrop for it. This desire was reflected in the theme with simple white flowers housed in exquisite glass throughout. The colour theme was also reflected throughout the entire bridal party with adult bridesmaids wearing platinum and younger bridesmaids wearing navy. Hattie went on to explain, โ€œThe Groom and groomsmen also wore navy with navy ties and white polka dots. Rhysโ€™s tie was navy with purple polka dots to match my shoes and bouquet.โ€ย In terms of entertainment, they enjoyed a live band called โ€œThe Moneyโ€ from Nottingham. Theyโ€™d seen them โ€œperform quite a few years ago at a familyโ€™s wedding and loved the variety of their sets, so were keen to have them play at our wedding. They also did the DJโ€™ing in between sets and finished off our night with a requested garage half-hour!โ€

Catering

Photo Credit: Expression Photography

Photo Credit: Expression Photography

For their catering, Hattie and Rhys opted for one of our preferred suppliers, the fabulous Premier Crew Catering. Hattie said, โ€œSarah was fantastic throughout the processโ€ฆwe wanted a simple, relaxed and social day so we went for Afternoon Tea as our Wedding Breakfast; this was followed by a hog roast and BBQ in the early evening for all of our day and evening guests. The food was fantastic and Afternoon Tea looked beautiful on entering the room.โ€

Photo Credit: Expression Photography

From all of us here at That Amazing Place, weโ€™d just like to thank Hattie and Rhys for choosing our venue and once again, say a huge congratulations! We hope to see you again soon, perhaps celebrating your anniversary in the same place you chose to say, โ€œI doโ€.

Why Choose An Exclusive Use Wedding Venue

There are a number of reasons to choose That Amazing Place as your wedding venue, as so many do, but perhaps the biggest pull of our country house wedding venue is that itโ€™s an exclusive use wedding venue. With such exclusivity of course comes a myriad of benefits, many of which, couples wonโ€™t even realise until itโ€™s brought to their attention and thatโ€™s why we thought weโ€™d explain just why choosing an exclusive use wedding venue could be the best decision youโ€™ve ever made.

Everyone knows that little girls (and boys) dream of their wedding day from day dot but very rarely does that dream include meeting another bride, groom and their guests in the same venue, or perhaps even regular attendees of that venue wanting to go about their regular business. Just look at Pippa Middletonโ€™s big day, marred by the possibility of locals being able to attend the church and ceremony grounds while photos were being taken. We think we can speak for every bride and every groom out there when we say, no one wants this.

The Top 10 Benefits

  1. From golfers teeing off, to other hotel guests reading the paper in the foyer while you prepare to walk down the aisle; a wedding day is meant to be spent with those you love most, not complete strangers. So, for this reason, our exclusive use wedding venue is quite simply perfect.
  2. About to enjoy a Christmas inspired wedding? Then youโ€™ll be pleased to know that no sneaky neighbours from next door will be making their way inside during your nuptials, helping themselves to your free bar.
  3. Wherever you choose to get ready for the day, wherever you wish to escape, you can do without the worry of bumping into complete strangers watching over you.
  4. An exclusive use wedding venue offers you so much more security as you know only those you hold nearest and dearest are in close proximity, meaning the little ones can run riot without the fear of upsetting someone.
  5. You get to enjoy that real feeling of exclusivity, making your wedding venue feel like home for the day. What better feeling on your special day?
  6. With the added privacy that exclusive use offers you, youโ€™ll enjoy free rein to go mad with those personal touches without judgement from anyone not involved on your big day.
  7. What could be worse than not only bumping into another bride but another person wearing a wedding dress? Thank goodness at That Amazing Place, thatโ€™ll never happenโ€ฆunless of course you have some very unkind guests.
  8. Weโ€™ve heard some real horror stories in the past from other wedding venues where happy couples have become quite unhappy thanks to their wedding gifts getting mixed up with the other couple saying their โ€œI doโ€ at that very same venue. A hideous thought, weโ€™re sure youโ€™ll agree.
  9. With exclusive access to our wedding venue comes exclusive access to our accommodation too making it possible for more of your guests to stay with you the night of your big day.
  10. Last but most certainly not least, youโ€™ll have the undivided attention of our staff. With no-one else to think about, youโ€™ll have our attention dedicated entirely to you and your party. What could be better?

Christmas Weddings At That Amazing Place

Christmas is the most wonderful time of year. Couple it with the festive season and itโ€™s a time like no other. Here at That Amazing Place, weโ€™ve seen many a Christmas wedding so thought weโ€™d share a few insights to help you plan the perfect festive wedding to keep you and your guests having the time of your lifeโ€ฆ

Christmas Trees โ€“ they seem like an obvious choice to most but letโ€™s not forget that theyโ€™re one of the biggest symbols of Christmas for many. Whether youโ€™re religious or not, a Christmas tree is instantly recognisable which makes it an absolute must at your ceremony and venue. Itโ€™s a super easy prop to include too as you can simply decorate it with your chosen wedding colours, keeping it in theme and of course, super chic. For table decorations, mini trees are ideal and once again, a little internet surfing will help you locate mini decorations in your chosen wedding colours.

Bridesmaid Gifts โ€“ this is something that often gets overlooked yet when you look at all the work your bridesmaids (and maid of honour especially) put into your big day, itโ€™s something that should really have a lot of though put into it. As itโ€™s Christmas, and of course winter, pashminas are obviously a fabulous idea. They not only look beautiful but can be worn on the day. You can also incorporate them into your day further by gifting pashminas that offer a pop of colour.

Keep The Little Ones Entertained โ€“ the subject of little ones at weddings is always a hot topic for debate but here at That Amazing Place, we know only too well the joy it can bring to have children at your nuptials. That being said however, itโ€™s important to consider the young ones when planning your big day and by that we mean, thinking of ways to keep them entertained and out of mischief. For those enjoying festive weddings, weโ€™ve seen Father Christmas paying a visit bringing a few small gifts to enjoy and play with throughout the wedding breakfast. Weโ€™ve also seen couples utilise one of the smaller rooms as a โ€œchill-outโ€ room where Christmas-themed films are played such as the Polar Express or The Grinch. This not only keeps the kids entertained but also leaves the grown-ups with a little more space to enjoy your wedding too.

Christmas Colour Schemes โ€“ we know that it can be easy to simply opt for the obvious when it comes to a colour scheme; red and green of course but we also know that others will want to opt for something different. That doesnโ€™t mean that it canโ€™t be Christmas inspired. Berry shades such as deep reds and purples, along with winter whites offer a chic look and can make any wedding feel luxurious. If youโ€™re still looking for more options however, Pantone is a great place to start. From plums and aubergines to deep jewel tones, the world is your oyster.

If youโ€™re lucky enough to be holding your big day here at That Amazing Place, then youโ€™ll be pleased to know that our very own events manager Angie will be on hand to help you in any way shape or form, from your theme to the florist and more. For more information, simply contact us today.

Kate & Antโ€™s Day At Our Essex Wedding Venue

The last real wedding story based here at our Essex wedding venue, featured the gorgeous Adele and Victoria. Today however, weโ€™re looking at the most beautiful nuptials of the stunning Kate and Ant. The golden couple first met on Match.com before online dating had even really began, as Kate puts it, โ€œway before Tinder or any other snazzy app like that. He still reminds me that I cost him ยฃ14.99 because you could only talk to people if you paid for membershipโ€. Fast forward 9 years later, 2 years after a beautiful proposal in Brussels and they found themselves saying โ€œI doโ€ right here at That Amazing Place, the perfect wedding venue for a truly amazing couple.

The Venue

Like a lot of couples we find booking their big day here at That Amazing Place, our beautiful Essex weddingย venue was the first venue they viewed and as is common practice here, they fell in love with it instantly but after looking at five other venues afterwards (just to be sure), it was Ant who finally suggested That Amazing Place.

Theme and Entertainment

When discussing the theme of their wedding, Kate emphasised the fact that she wanted it to be simple and earthy, โ€œwe used logs to create the outside isle and put pictures of us on each cluster. My amazing friends created the frame on the gazebo using flowers and voiles. It took them hours to do but it was just what I wanted! I couldnโ€™t have done any of it without all of them.โ€ They also used a lot of greenery and a few quirky touches such as personalised cider bottles, which were also used as name places and peoples meal choices. They also had a table plan made from recycled wood as well as a guest frame made, instead of the usual book for people to sign thatโ€™s now proudly hanging in their home. When it came to entertainment, they opted for a band called The Bandits. They found the musicians themselves and were lucky enough to have them learn a brand new song, especially for them, the beautiful โ€œNext To Meโ€ by Emily Sande.

Catering

Kate and Ant opted for one of our recommended suppliers to provide the catering on their special day and letโ€™s just say, they werenโ€™t disappointed, โ€œThey were fantastic, we had a sample meal beforehand and picked 2 starters (Brie & Bacon Tart / Mozzarella & Tomato tart) and 3 mains (Pork in cider puree / Chicken in white wine / Vegetarian) for our guest to pre order.โ€ They then chose to use their wedding cake, made by the super talented Christin Marrington, as dessert for everyone; and what a wedding cake it was. With a mix of chocolate and lemon layers, it truly was a treat for their guests. They also enjoyed canapรฉs after the service with pimms and in the evening, their guests were treated to mini takeaways. Add to this a champagne reception and it would seem their big day really did have it all.

From all of us here at That Amazing Place, weโ€™d just like to say a huge congratulations once again to the wonderful Kate and Ant. We hope to see you back very soon celebrating your anniversaries.

How To Include Your Pets At Your Wedding

Pets At Your Wedding

For centuries, happy couples have shared their big day with their nearest and dearest. Fast forward to 2017 however, and the term nearest and dearest covers a lot more than just family and friends. It also happens to include our four legged friends too, who over the centuries have fast become more than just our pets; theyโ€™ve become part of our family too. As a result of our change in opinion, more and more pets are now being seen featuring on guest lists than ever before. If youโ€™re thinking of saying โ€œI doโ€ soon, and feel like your four legged friend may want to attend, then you might want to take a peek at this fab piece on including your pets at your weddingโ€ฆ

That Amazing Place โ€“ a dog friendly wedding venue

Weddings are without a doubt, one of the most stressful and perhaps nerve-wracking times in your life. It doesnโ€™t matter how well you plan, something can always go wrong; from weather worries to dress disasters. Having your dog there however, could just be the perfect way to ease those wedding jitters. Thatโ€™s as long as you provide a comfortable setting for your dog too but donโ€™t worry, weโ€™ll let you in on a little secret later.

When it comes to the role you want your dog to play at your wedding, youโ€™ll want to start considering their personality. Do they stress easily in crowds? If so, and you happen to be having a lot of guests, it may be better if they donโ€™t come to the wedding or perhaps simply turn up for the photographs? The last thing you want is to put your best friend through undue stress on your big day. A good rule of thumb is to let your favourite furry friend attend for no longer than two hours. That way they get to join in the fun without getting tired or upset.

If youโ€™ve decided that youโ€™d like your pet there with you on your big day, then itโ€™s going to take a little prep work. Itโ€™s not simply a case of having them attend. From the very basics such as getting them there to the more complicated questions; where will you put the poo bags? This however, is where having someone familiar on hand, can come in wellโ€ฆhandy. They can help keep your pet company and take them away from the festivities when itโ€™s time to go.

The question is, who are you going to ask without causing an argument? Well, luckily for you there just so happens to be a rather fantastic service offering a helping hand and itโ€™s aptly named Walkies At Weddings. This wonderfully bespoke wedding service will have your dog brought to your wedding, kept company and taken to where they need to go, whether itโ€™s the service itself or simply the photos after the service. Theyโ€™ll also ensure your favourite furry friend is not only happy at all times but free from mischief which means no sneaking any food from the buffet!

For more information on Walkies At Weddings, just head to http://walkiesatweddings.co.uk today!

Planning Your Winter Wedding

winter weddings

From snowflakes to pinecones, winter weddings are always usually full to the brim with these tried and tested motifs but you donโ€™t have to stick with these go-to pieces. Here are some fantastic ways to really reinvent your winter wedding here at That Amazing Place.

Wedding Colours โ€“ reds and greens are the obvious choice when it comes to winter colour choices but overdo them and youโ€™ll be left with a Christmas feel on your big day. As always, here at That Amazing Place, we suggest a less is more approach. Check out silvers and whites with a few crystal accents to really give you a wintery feel. Think white velvet aisle runners, white satin ribbons on chair and even elegant white orchids. If youโ€™re looking to battle the elements by exchanging vows outside, then you may even want to hand out transparent umbrellas and chunky knit blankets in white and grey tones.

Wedding Flowers โ€“ red roses and calla lilies are the obvious choice when it comes to wedding flowers in winter but what about stepping outside of the obvious once again and opting for different winter blooms. Consider much fuller flowers like hydrangeas or even ranunculusโ€™s. You may even want to consider using simple options such as white ribbons to accent the green stems of your florals. If youโ€™re looking to add a little sparkle, you may want to look at a few crystal embellishments too.

Wedding Invitations โ€“ with the majority of winter weddings being held indoors, the general consensus is that a winter wedding invitation should remain quite formal and as such, youโ€™ll want to look at heavy cardstock with perhaps some navy blues, maybe even chocolate browns with hand calligraphy. If youโ€™re looking to achieve the formal tone with something a little different, then why not look at frosted invitations with a little white/silver scripted ink? Finish them off with silver envelopes and youโ€™ve got the perfect wedding invite for your heavenly winter wedding.

Wedding Table Centerpieces โ€“ if youโ€™re looking to do something different then youโ€™re going to want to think beyond the glowing candles to add warmth. Think of bringing the icy outdoors indoors to add drama with ice carved vases on tables. Fill the vases with winter white branches and even a few added crystals. This will help to reflect light from the tables too.

Wedding Drinks โ€“ who doesnโ€™t love a cocktail? We certainly do and we guarantee your guests will but a winter wedding calls for something a little more warming than your usual daiquiri. Think warming spirits and hot apple ciders. You might also want to consider those who may not be drinking too (thank the lord for designated drivers) and consider adding a hot chocolate beverage with a spin in the form of white hot chocolate and even eggnog if youโ€™re a fan of your American siblings?

Wedding Cake โ€“ last but not least, lets think about the most important piece in the room โ€“ your wedding cake. White, red and green ribbons look pretty, they also offer that Christmas feel again. If however, you can find a cake maker willing to push the fondant envelope a little, youโ€™re winning. Think of playing up the season once again with white vintage style cakes, such as the new โ€œnakedโ€ cakes with barely any frosting. You could even opt for edible silver dusting and crystal drop accents to really create a winter feel.

If youโ€™d like more top tips or simply a little helping guidance when it comes to putting together your winter wedding, simply contact us today. Our events planner Angie will be only too happy to help!