Natalie & Steve's Elegant Wasing Park Wedding

Tucked away in the Berkshire countryside, the arrival at Wasing Park through picturesque parkland really sets the tone for this idyllic mini wedding village. Looking like something straight out of The Holiday, the venue includes a Victorian Summerhouse where outdoor ceremonies can be held, an elegant Garden Room, a Castle Barn for the reception and even boutique accommodation for you and your guests to stay in. 

Natalie and Steve were sold on Wasing Park as soon as they discovered that the beauty of the building was well and truly matched by the flexibility and exclusivity of the venue. With the opportunity to have an outdoor or indoor ceremony or a local church wedding, it gave them the reassurance they needed that the show would go on no matter what the weather. The fact that all their guests could stay on site in such high quality accommodation, with a big breakfast the morning after was the real clicher. Not only did it feel like the perfect opportunity to make the most of the big day, it meant everyone could party on longer into the early hours! The night before the wedding, Steve stayed in the Home Farm accommodation with his Best Men and family whilst Natalie stayed in the small cottage with her sister, so they had some real quality time before the big day. The next day they got ready and then simply pottered down to the venue! 

Outfits

Natalie wore a beautiful Susanne Neville bridal gown in the style Juniper featuring a sweetheart neckline, Italian lace and silk covered buttons running down the back of the dress. As with all weddings, not everything goes quite to plan and the combination of a seat cushion and a very tightly fitted corset lead to Natalie nearly falling off her chair during the ceremony! But with the dress looking so gorgeous, I'm sure it was a very much worthwhile mishap! 

Natalie chose her three close friends from school and her younger sister to be her bridesmaids. They were all dressed in smokey lilac-grey maxi dresses from Coast which then inspired a bit of the colour scheme for the rest of the wedding. 

Decor

The couple decided to not go with an exact colour scheme as they knew they just wanted to focus on creating a personal, yet classically elegant feel. The flowers were in ivory and blush tones and were arranged in glass fishbowls. They added personal touches by dressing eight pedestal tables leading into the garden room with pictures of the two of them through the years accompanied by lots of twinkling candles and lanterns. They made their own confetti cones out of sheet music and continued this music theme onto the seating plan, with each table named after a song by the Doors. Natalie's Maid of Honour also designed a personal motif that the couple carried across all their stationery too.

Food

Using the recommended caterers at Wasing Park, Galloping Gormet did an amazing job serving everyone delicious food that had all the guests commenting on the quality. Dining on a tasty menu of confit pork spring rolls and celeriac salad to start, followed by fillet steak with peppercorn sauce, dauphinoise potatoes and vegetables for main, and a sumptuous cheesecake with a raspberry coulis to finish. In the evening they enjoyed chicken noodles served street food style from traditional Chinese takeaway boxes. Beers were served from big drums and there was a popcorn machine for the evening too! 

Tips for Future Couples

"If avoiding the rain was something that could be planned, I'd definitely advise that as a tip! Otherwise I would recommend giving you and your bridesmaids enough time to get ready. We started getting ready at 10.30am for a 2pm ceremony and whilst it was fine for me, it was tight with four bridesmaids! I would also recommend just taking a moment for yourself to admire the day you've spent months organising. It's lovely to just observe everyone from afar appreciating and enjoying your special day." 

Explore Wasing Park further here

Photography: Kevin Browne Photography