Rachel & Alex's Wedding at The Bankes Arms 

When I first spoke with Rachel and Alex they told me they were planning their wedding at The Bankes Arms Hotel , which sits at the bottom of Corfe Castle and next to the train station on the Swanage Railway.

Leading up to Rachel and Alex’s big day, we chatted over WhatsApp video message so I could find out all about their wedding plans and how they wanted their day to run. Offering suggestions along the way, I soon had a time-plan written up tailored to their requirements.

The day before Rachel and Alex’s wedding, I set off to meet them at their venue so I could see where everything was and to meet the hotel team. Doing a pre visit is very important to me, whether it’s the day before or the week before. It means I can get a feel for the wedding venue, see how it is set up and find out where everything has been stored. When I arrived at The Bankes Arms Hotel and walked through the courtyard into the marquee, my eyes were met with lots of dinosaurs...

Now for those that know me, know I love unusual things that stand out, so seeing all the different dinosaur decor got me excited. Although we had chatted in detail about their wedding plans, Rachel and Alex hadn’t actually told me they had a theme...

The dinosaurs were mixed with a starry night theme, as well as constellations which could be found on their guest signing poster and table plan.

When speaking with Rachel and Alex, they told me they had used an image of the constellation as it would be above Corfe Castle on their wedding day. Not only that, but on their ‘Save the Date’ cards they had printed the constellation which could be found above the spot they got engaged. Alex told me he proposed to Rachel under the stars on a glamping holiday in the Cotswolds, which is where the Starry Night theme came in.

It was clear Rachel and Alex were passionate about dinosaurs and having the castle in the background it fitted perfectly with their history studies at university, as well as their love for the fantasy genre...

Arriving home from my pre-visit, I spoke with my team member Sam who would be coming with me in the morning. I filled her in with all the little details so she would also be prepared ready for Rachel and Alex’s big day.

At the Bankes Arms Hotel, Rachel and Alex had sole use of the back bar, as well as the courtyard and garden. The garden had been totally filled with an incredible marquee supplied by Camelot Marquees , which due to the fact it was at the bottom of a hill had been cleverly situated on top of a scaffolding support structure...

There were several ‘finishing touch’ jobs that Rachel and Alex had asked me to do on the morning of their wedding. Sam and I arrived in plenty of time to check everything was how they wanted before everyone arrived. The tables were laid by George and his hotel team, ready for us to make sure all the centrepieces were complete and the favours were as they wanted.

It was a great idea to name each table after a dinosaur and I love that they had wooden dinosaurs to match the table name as a centrepiece. With the dinosaurs sat on a log slice, we laid some ivy around the base and scattered tiny wooden cut out dinosaur confetti all around. Some of these were engraved with Rachel and Alex’s initials and their wedding date, so we made sure they were the right way up on the table.

For the table favours each guest had a mini Kraft bag on their place setting filled with a little pot of very local honey made from Rachel's dads beehives and of course...

The favour bags were stamped on one side with Rachel and Alex’s names and on the other were very fitting ammonites.

The children each had their own special dinosaur favour boxes and even the new little baby guest had something different.

Keeping with the dinosaur theme, Rachel and Alex gave their flower girls and page boy a cuddly dinosaur which had a personalised ‘Thank You’ message on.

It was clear just how much thought Rachel and Alex had put into all of these little details.

Alex's sister-in-law surprised them both by having personalised labels printed for their wine bottles and even a draught beer label featuring the front cover from Alex's book he had written.

The sweet cart decorated with dinosaur bunting and fairy lights was stocked full of all the favourite ‘penny sweets’.

There was even a box of personalised dinosaur biscuits made by Alex’s mum, so the guests could help themselves throughout the day.

Next to the sweet cart was a whippy ice cream machine, which had been loaned from the shop next door. We laid out the cornets, flakes and sprinkles...

The next job was to display the wedding cakes which Alex had made and decorated himself. Alex hand painted silhouettes on each cake of ammonites, plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs, pterosaurs, brachiosaurus, a T. Rex and triceratops, to match the table names. With Alex’s vast knowledge of dinosaurs and the local area, he told me that many plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs had been found in Kimmeridge Bay in Dorset, so he wanted to link it all together with his cake.

We positioned the cakes on some mini piles of favourite books and finished them off with some very cute ceramic bride and groom dinosaurs!

During this time we met Eleanor Dunsden Harpist, who we helped find the best spot out of direct sunlight for her to set up. I was really looking forward to hearing her play, as what could be better than listening to music from Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings and Disney played on the harp?

I can honestly say the sound of Eleanor playing her harp was just beautiful to listen to. With Rachel and Alex’s song requests, it was the perfect choice whilst guests enjoyed their welcome drinks, canapés and during the first half of their meal.

When it was time for Rachel and Alex to arrive after their wedding ceremony at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Wareham, I waited at the front of the hotel to greet them.

When they stepped out of their car, they looked amazing and with Rachel’s beautiful hair styled by Sally at Blushing Brides Bournemouth and make up by Cat Mutter Make-up Artist next to Alex in his dinosaur tie, they looked the picture of happiness!

The plan was for the guests to enter via the gate directly into the garden, whilst Rachel and Alex came through the front. This gave them chance to have a drink and a few moments to themselves whilst Sam handed out packets of confetti to all the guests out the back. Once Lynn Ann Studios who captured all of these fabulous images was camera ready, we asked all the guests to form an arch from the back door. Confetti in hand the guests were ready for Rachel and Alex to make their grand entrance onto the courtyard.

During the drinks reception, we helped the hotel team clear glasses and whilst Lynn was gathering family groups for the photos, Sam went round with the signing board asking guests to write Rachel and Alex a ‘Congratulations’ message. Having a signing board instead of a book meant that rather than ending up with a book on a bookshelf, they could frame their board and have it permanently on display at home.

Quite often the guest books get forgotten and not everyone notices they are there. One of my top tips would be, if you plan on having a signing book or board, then it is a good idea to get someone to go around and prompt your guests to sign it...

Working her way through the group photos, Lynn was conscious of the time as she had checked when the steam train was due to arrive into the station next door. Not wanting to miss the opportunity, Lynn went off with Rachel and Alex to capture some incredible images with the steam train pulling up behind them.

During the reception and photos, it wasn’t long before a couple of the ladies feet began to hurt from their heels. It was only from overhearing one of them that I knew my emergency boxes could help them out! Inside my wedding box I had some little ballet pump style shoes in three different sizes. Handing them both a pair, this was something they were extremely grateful for and I was happy that I could help relieve their sore toes!

Whilst all this was going on the most amazing smell was coming from the pig roasting on the spit. With everyone getting hungry and once Rachel and Alex had returned from the station, we asked the guests to take a seat at their dinosaur themed tables.

Announcing Rachel and Alex into the marquee was their good friend Chris. No need for a microphone, Chris got everyone’s attention by welcoming the new Mr & Mrs into the wedding breakfast. Finding someone to do this job beforehand is a good idea, as you need to make sure they are confident, happy to speak in public and have a strong voice...

For starters the kitchen team served up a choice of Antipasta, Lobster & King Prawn Cocktail or Roasted Squash, Burrata & Pomegranate Salad.

Next it was time for us to help serve the most amazing hog roast to each table, prepared by the fabulous Spitting Pigteam. Served with salad, new potatoes, coleslaw, stuffing and of course apple sauce! Sam and I got to have some too ...

Whilst the guests were eating their mains we kept a look out for Richard from Pure Wedding Entertainment who was due to arrive early to set up his DJ equipment. Making sure there was a car park space free, we made sure Richard could pull up close enough so between us we could lift his equipment up onto the scaffolding and slide it onto the marquee floor.

Leaving Richard to set up, we helped clear the dirty plates whilst the Bankes Arms kitchen team plated up delicious puddings of Lava (chocolate) Pot, Rhubarb & Caramel Mess or Earl Grey Panna Cotta & Lemon Shortbread.

Quickly clearing the pudding plates it was soon time for the speeches. Earlier we had tested the microphone so we knew it worked and the volume was ok. Handing the mic over, Rachel’s father said his speech first, followed by Alex and then his brother Matthew who was his best man.

During the speeches we put all the cards and gifts into the hotel office for safe keeping and put all the cupcakes onto cake stands ready to go next to the sweet table and cake once it had been cut.

As soon as the speeches were over, Rachel and Alex moved over to their wedding cake which they cut with a sword cast from bronze. Alex had made the sword himself at a workshop a couple of years previous. Don't worry, there were no sharp edges...

Not long after, Sam and I said our goodbyes before Richard announced the first dance. As we left we watched Rachel and Alex dance through the clear marquee sides from the car park. With the dark evening and the marquee lit up, they looked absolutely beautiful on the dance floor and with all our jobs done, this was the perfect time for us to leave and let them party the night away!

The following week after Rachel and Alex’s wedding, I went on holiday. It was such a lovely surprise to arrive home to a beautiful hand written ‘Thank You’ card with a picture of their wedding cake printed on the front. Not only that but they also left me the most fabulous Google review...

Wishing Rachel and Alex all the happiness in the world together...

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