Co-ordinating Molly and Tom's wedding was my first time at Kingsettle Stud...and what a treat that was!
Not only because Molly & Tom were a dream to help, but also because Kingsettle Stud is an incredible wedding venue. With its rustic barn known as 'The Carriage Room' for your wedding breakfast, the 'Archway' for your dance floor and the spacious 'Harness Room' with built in bar, it couldn't be any more perfect for a DIY wedding. Above the bar you will also find a mezzanine area that is perfect for guests to chill out in, as well as lots of unused stables for storage. Honestly, you really are spoilt here!
Not forgetting the most stunning Victorian walled gardens which are the most idyllic setting for your ceremony and where you will most likely be welcomed by the sound of peacocks that roam the grounds. Also, if you time it right, the grass aisle is lined with an abundance of peonies, which Molly was lucky enough to have out in full bloom for her walk down the aisle with her mum.
With this type of blank canvas venue it means you can do what you like with regards to styling and making it your own. However, it also means you are left to make sure everything happens as you have planned and it is down to you and your family to ensure your day runs smoothly. For that reason, having a wedding co-ordinator helps take all that pressure away, resulting in you having a stress free wedding day with all your friends and family. Here is what Molly & Tom said after I helped them in the run up to their big day and on the day itself…
“If you're even considering hiring Tasha to be your wedding co-ordinator please do it, it will be one of the best decisions you make!
Tasha truly was incredible to work with. In the months before Tasha worked with me asking lots of questions I never would have thought of, but without pressure, just working through a document turning all the red writing to black. Tash came up with solutions and suggestions even though she didn't know our quite large and complex venue, and was always available for quick questions and last minute brolly panics in the lead up!
On the day, Tash and Ellie went above and beyond. They worked so hard, and our whole day went so smoothly. From perfect aisle timing, a glass of fizz waiting after the ceremony to finding family members to make announcements and running to get our photographer when she noticed golden hour was perfect. Tash just had all the details under control.
Tash is pragmatic, logical and professional, and it allowed me to feel so confident with her. But as well as that she is positive, excited and brings a gorgeous energy that I know will be perfect for your wedding too”.
So you maybe wondering how we helped Molly and Tom on their big day and when I say ‘We’, I mean Ellie and I. It is really important to me to have an extra pair of hands, so I always bring another team member to help, so between us we can be in two places at once.
Firstly we put the reserved signs on the ceremony seats and met with the caterers, florist and musicians to make sure they were ok. Next, we put the last bits of decor out, such as, the bar signs, the card box, a sip and solve crossword, the table plan and some Poloroid cameras. There are always some things that can’t be done the day before just in case the weather is bad or the air is damp, so don't worry, we will always help with any last minute decor.
Checking in on Tom and the chaps, who I have to say did a sterling job of putting on their buttonholes, I made sure they had everything they needed ready for the ceremony.
Once Susanne from Milston Flower Barn had finished putting up the amazing floral cloud in the Carriage Room ready for the wedding breakfast, we did a last check, making sure all the tables and chairs were back in place and all the place settings were as they should be.
Taking the beautiful bouquets up to the entrance of the walled garden, I waited for Molly to arrive, whilst Ellie made sure everyone was seated ready to watch Molly make her entrance down the aisle.
Once the girls were ready, I gave the thumbs up to the wonderful celebrant Jenny who was waiting at the end with Tom. After the housekeeping was announced, Ellie controlled the music whilst I fluffed Molly’s dress and helped the girls with their timings down the aisle, which I am thrilled to say were spot on!
Once the ceremony was over, I met Molly & Tom at the end of their spectacular peony aisle with a glass of fizz and then left them to have photos, whilst I organised the groomsmen to move all the chairs outside the gardens, ready for collection.
Keeping an eye on the timings, we ushered everyone down to the barn where the music began for the remainder of the drinks reception. Here the caterers served Aperol Spritz, more fizz and the guests could help themselves to a beer or cider from the Booze Bath, if they wanted something different.
When the time was right towards the end of the drinks reception, I prompted Molly’s siblings to present their speech all together in front of the barn. The three of them spilt lots of Molly’s secrets growing up which were really funny, including Christmas tree chocolates, learning about the anatomy and Yorkshire puddings! Not everyone wants to wait until after the meal to say their speech, so splitting them up between your drinks reception and wedding breakfast is a really good idea. I have seen this more and more at the weddings I have co-ordinated, as it means your guests don’t have to sit through lengthy speeches all in one go.
Time for the wedding breakfast, we asked everyone to take a seat and let the caterers know they could start with service.
With everyone tucking into their delicious meal, we tidied up the rest of the walled garden and put the evening decor out for after the meal, such as the blanket baskets, sweet jars and funny prop baskets. We also moved the cards and gifts into the cottage so Molly and Tom knew they would be safe and wouldn’t need to think about them at the end of the night.
The bar team arrived so we made sure they had everything they needed for their bar set up in the Harness Room, aptly named ‘The Modgson Arms’ by Molly and Tom. With pubs being a key topic for their table names, it was only right they used a combination of their names to create their bar name, complete with personalised beer mats!
As the wedding breakfast came to an end, it was time for the rest of the speeches, which a guest accidentally dropped a glass in the middle of them. Being on hand I grabbed a dustpan and brush and swept it up without disrupting anything. With a DIY wedding, I always suggest having a broom, a dustpan and brush, lots of heavy duty binbags and a box for broken glass available for incidents just like this, as you just never know when you might need them.
Checking on the loos, tidying them up and filling up the loo roll, which is of course a very important job on the day, I noticed the sun was setting behind the trees. With everyone now outside chilling on the courtyard and getting drinks from the bar, I found Emmie the photographer who quickly found Molly and Tom to capture those beautiful golden hour shots. If you are lucky enough to have a gorgeous sunset on your big day, it’s a good idea to chat with your photographer beforehand and to schedule it in to your time plan so you don’t miss it. You can always get an approximate time on Google for the sun setting on your special day.
With the guests mingling and sipping on cocktails, it was time for the first dance. Gathering everyone together in the barn, the guests stood around to watch Molly and Tom, which lead very quickly into everyone joining them on the dance floor. Wearing silly hats, funny sunglasses, singing into blow up microphones and playing inflatable guitars, it was now time to party!
Checking all of our jobs were done and the suppliers that were left were happy with everything, we said our goodbyes to Molly, Tom and their families and left them to have the night of their lives.
DIY weddings are so much fun, but can be quite stressful if you don’t have someone behind the scenes making sure everything is running smoothly. If you are planning your big day at a DIY venue similar to Kingsettle Stud or even at home in a family members garden, then get in touch and let’s chat through how I can help you, so you can have a stress free wedding day too, just like Molly and Tom.
