Wedding at Bickleigh Castle

Peter's career delivered a rather spectacular proposal. "I work in motor sport so there is only one place to propose and that's the British Grand Prix. Immediately after Charlotte said yes, the Red Arrows flew straight over our heads and drew a heart in the sky. Of course, I took credit for setting that up!" he says.



Bickleigh Castle proved the ideal venue for their wedding weekend. "It has history, contained amazing accommodation, a beautiful ceremony hall, quaint chapel, dance hall and plenty of space for the kids and all the dogs to run around - all in one location," says Peter. "And, to top it off, the most professional, kind, helpful staff we could have wished for."



Selecting 'fun' as their theme, Charlotte and Peter infused oodles of personality, activities and entertainment into their weekend. A barbecue on the Friday night kick-started the festivities, followed by clay pigeon shooting for the groomsmen the morning after. "We wanted people to enjoy themselves and for the weekend to reflect the personalities of Charlotte and I," explains Peter.



The grand arrival of both the bride and groom set the mood, with Charlotte pulling up to the castle in an elegant Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and Peter arriving in a Messerschmitt KR200 to the James Bond theme.



Harpist Elizabeth-Jane Baldry played her heart-melting melodies during the ceremony; afterwards, the couple received a blessing in the Saxon chapel followed by drinks, croquet and amusement from caricature artist Mark Nesbitt on the lawn.



The personal factor continued with the hand-picked favours - "a small individual gift that reminded us of each guest" - and a surprise interlude during the wedding breakfast from the former lead singer of The Stranglers, Paul Roberts, who staged a musical scene to the open-mouthed awe of their guests. "He pretended to be a waiter; we set up a scene where he had an accident in front of the guests, had a huge argument with the head waiter and then proceeded to break into song," explains Peter. "He was brilliant!"

 

Later, a surprise screening of a 'Blind Date' episode in which Peter featured preceded an evening party brimming with top tastes and entertainment, including a hog roast, tricks from magician Lewis Belcher and a playlist of dance floor filling tunes. A fireworks display rounded off the celebrations in show-stopping style.



"The best moment for me was seeing Charlotte in her dress for the first time," recalls Peter. "However, the entire day was amazing - the entertainment, the small personal touches, surprises and laughs every hour."



As well as focusing on the details that make a wedding personal, Peter highlights some other key considerations. "Get your timings right for the day - you don't want to be rushed," he advises. "And take time to find a good photographer whose style you like. The photographs will be the best reminder of the day."

Photography GRW Photography www.grwphotography.co.uk
Venue Bickleigh Castle www.bickleighcastle.com
Dress Martina Liana from Isabella Grace www.isabellagracebridal.com