Rachel and Fiyin’s Spring wedding day was so full of love and laughter!  Surrounded by family and friends, they created so many beautiful memories that will be cherished forever.

We caught up with them to relive their special day and give you a glimpse into just how much fun was had, from those loud “Yam Seng” to the incredible traditional wedding attires…

How did you meet and what’s the proposal story?

We met for the first time through mutual friends who invited a bunch of us to a pizza night in Shoreditch. We didn’t actually speak after that until the same friends invited us to a karaoke event, they hosted a year later. Honestly, if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be together!

The proposal happened on our bucket list trip to Iceland. We had just polished off dinner at a restaurant in Reykjavik and before heading back to the hotel we decided to go for a walk around the stunning Harpan concert hall to take some pictures. It was at this time that Fiyin, being the opportunist that he is, decided to get down on one knee and propose!

Why did you choose Millbridge Court?

Initially we didn’t really have an idea of what kind of wedding we wanted, but we came across Millbridge Court online and were really impressed by the aesthetic and how it seemed both modern and classic at the same time. The location also suited us well as we were London-based and wanted it to be easily accessible for our friends and family, but at the same time it was remote enough to feel like a countryside escape. With Rachel being a passionate foodie, the catering was also something that caught our eye from the get-go with impressive menu options offered by Kalm Kitchen.

Ultimately, we are so glad that we went with Millbridge given that from the moment we reached out, they had been really responsive, personable and eager to help which meant a great deal to us, especially throughout the planning process.

What did you love about having a Spring wedding?

Having a Spring wedding was one thing we were set on from the start of the planning process. It’s that time of year when the skies start to get brighter, but it doesn’t get overwhelmingly hot during the day and the sun sets later in the evening. Of course, with Spring comes the blossoming of nature and wildlife, and there was just something so beautiful about the symbolism of new beginnings at springtime which made the idea of having a spring wedding all the more special.

Tell us more about your suppliers and why you chose them.

We chose Philipa Day as our florist as we loved her organic style using a combination of flowers and colours that perfectly suited the fresh spring theme we were going for.

From the moment we came across Emma Jane Lewis’ portfolio online, we knew that we wanted her to photograph our wedding. Her photos are romantic, candid, and editorial all at the same time and there were so many key moments throughout the day that we’ll always be able to look back on thanks to her.

Our decision to hire a photobooth was a pretty last minute call but might have been one of the best things we decided to do! Picture Blast provided a really easy booking experience and set up on the day without a hitch. Our guests loved taking photos with the fun accessories it came with – and the best part is, the photos were all saved digitally so it was very amusing looking through them all when the link was sent to us!

We made the conscious decision to get our friends and family involved in some parts of the day too. It made the day so much more meaningful knowing some of our nearest and dearest also had a part to play in our big day.

Were there any family traditions that featured in your day?

At the end of the meal, we went around to each table to toast our guests – a Chinese wedding tradition called ‘Yam Seng’ (equivalent meaning to ‘Cheers’ in Cantonese), Rachel’s dad encouraged everyone to raise their glasses and shout “Yam Seng” at the top of their lungs. It definitely brought plenty of laughter and even a little bit of competition between the tables as to who was the loudest!

Our first dance then featured the two of us in traditional Yoruba wedding attire which were custom made for us in Nigeria. We danced our way into the reception hall surrounded by friends and family before our Nigerian guests sprayed us with cash – talk about a grand entrance!

Tell us something that we wouldn’t know about your day from the pictures.

The food was absolutely incredible. It was one of the things our guests kept bringing up as a key highlight from the day; from the canapés to the bountiful sharing platters and the late-night snacks, it was all so delicious and beautifully plated. Hats off to the Kalm Kitchen team for doing such a fantastic job!

Favourite part of your wedding journey?

The day itself! The planning process was tough at times and there were days when we were both questioning “is this really worth all the stress?”, but when the day came, all of that faded away as we were surrounded by the ones we love and were reminded of what the day was really about.

Any words of wisdom for future couples?

Throw any expectations you have for the day out of the window and just focus on being present and making the most of it. Find five minutes for just the two of you together to take everything in and appreciate the moment. This might be the only time you’ll see all your loved ones under the same roof, and it flies by much quicker than you’d think!

Spring is very much upon us with the welcome sight of snowdrops and daffodils popping up in the garden, however, with a small sprinkling of snow set for next week we just had to share details from Lauren & Craig’s March wedding last year.

How did you meet?

We met on social media (very 21^st century).  Craig’s first message to me was ‘You are one spicy tomato!’ and I immediately knew he was the one for me, haha!

We love this!  How did you know we were the right venue for you?

We looked at quite a few venues, hoping to find somewhere that looked beautiful, calm and just felt like us.  We saw a lot of lovely places, but none that felt right… It was Craig who found Millbridge Court online and as soon as we stepped foot in the door, we knew straight away that this was where we wanted to get married.  The layout was perfect, allowing guests to flow throughout the space, the overall vibe was stylish, relaxed and effortlessly beautiful.  All of our guests have since told us how amazing they thought the venue was.

What inspired your day?

Originally, the wedding was supposed to be at the end of December, so we knew we wanted a whimsical, winter theme.  We also love a party, so we needed to ensure there was amazing food, ample drink and great entertainment.  Although COVID forced us to move the wedding to March, it was still perfect, as we ended up having both beautiful sunshine and then snow! You can’t make this stuff up.  The food was also spectacular, Kalm Kitchen really do take tasty food to a whole new level, it was so delicious!  We honestly, couldn’t have asked for a more amazing day.

 

Who took charge of the planning or was it a shared experience?

We are not ashamed to say it was not shared at all, haha!  I (Lauren) love to organise events, so to organise my own wedding was so much fun!!  Craig’s involvement was letting me run with my ideas but then reigning me in when I got too carried away.  He did, however, choose most of the food options, which could not be faulted.

Tell us more about your suppliers and why you chose them.

Millbridge Court already had a list of the most wonderful suppliers, so our balloon decorations Bubblegum Balloons, the singer (Thom Music) and the DJ (Farnham Sound and Light) were booked using their recommendations.  They did not disappoint; they were so great to work with and the end results were far better than we could have ever imagined.

Kalm Kitchen are the sole caterer and we can absolutely, see why, the food is like a piece of art.  And tasted insane!  It also compliments the style of the venue perfectly and the staff were just amazing.

We just loved Joanna Nicole Photography, the finish to her photos was exactly what we were looking for and she understood what we wanted out of them.  Natural, warm and full of love.

Our florist Fabulous Floristry by Carla came recommended to us by some friends who had used her for their weddings too.  Carla was also incredible, we still have our flowers to this day, dried and beautiful.

We found our Photo Booth, Photobot.Co. at a wedding show, we felt they were just something a little bit different and the guests loved it!

Luckily for me, my sister-in-law is a makeup artist and hair stylist, so this was a no brainer, but, what made it so special, was The Loft… What a truly lovely place to get ready the morning of the wedding.  Another reason why Millbridge Court stole our hearts.

 

Tough questions, favourite part of your wedding journey?

Wow, this really is tough.  We loved every single part of it, including the planning, weirdly enough.  However, if we had to choose, it would have been Thom Music, who is, by far, the best event singer we have ever come across.  Not only can he sing and play the guitar like a musical genius, he read the room so perfectly and played the songs that suited the vibe.  When I tell you the crowd went wild for Thom, that is an understatement!  Before the main course was even consumed, people were dancing around the room having the time of their lives!  Honestly, we are still having people tell us it was the best wedding they have ever been to.

Any words of wisdom for future couples?

Having planned a wedding the one time, by no means makes me an expert, but just to remember this is your day.  I completely understand wanting to make sure your guests are happy, but you are never going to please everyone.  The more people you ask for advice, the more confused you are going to be.  So just do what you want, make this a day all about you and your partner.  Your guests will just be so happy to be there and will have a great time regardless.

We love nothing more than seeing our home filled with guests and helping our couples plan their special day.  Hosting our Date Nights is another excuse for us to do just that!  On these evenings we collaborate with our handpicked MC partners to create a special experience for each and every couple.  With preparations underway for our next Dinner Date Night, we wanted to whet your appetite with some inspiration from our 2022 tastings.

In March we picked a rustic set up with vintage oak tables, and it was the first time Jonny MP joined us for a Date Night and we were delighted that he dived into the kitchen to capture the team from Kalm Kitchen plating up lots of delicious dishes.  Muted Affair enterainted our guests during the drinks reception and provided ambient music for the meal.  Farnham Sound & Light provide a bit of sparkle with a fairy light wall and the tablescape was finished with beautiful blooms from Gill Pike and delicate stationary from Gable & Grain.

When we reached September the team took inspiration from the autumnal days to come, with an earthy colour palette accented with gold and pink. Lavendar Hill not only adorned the tables and canapé trays but created a hanging installation in the Dining Hall.  For this evening the ethereal vocals of Lauras Paper Heart filled our front lounge for the welcome and continued over dinner.  The charming tassel place cards were provided by LouPaper and the fantastic Farnham Sound & Light were back with the super popular fairy light wall, if you don’t have a lighting installation booked for your wedding… what are you waiting for?!  This fantastic evening was captured by the wonderfully talented Matthew Lawrence.

By November we were ready to embrace the icy months so chose a modern winter palette.  The majority of couples attending our last tasting experience are holding their weddings with us in Spring, so we kept a hint of vibrance showcasing our latest cocktail…Pink Paloma, which was quite the hit!  Kalm pulled out yet another amazing dessert station with ‘Table of Tarts’ which a certain member of the team now has an eye on for their upcoming wedding…

A big thank you goes to LouPaper and Farnham Sound & Light for joining us once again, this time with chic, monochrome stationary and a Dining Hall filled with fairy lights, which added warmth.  The tablescape was even more beautiful than we had imagined on paper, bought to life by the talented Hannah Berry and captured by new MC partner Catherine Carter.  Live music can help a create wonderful atmosphere, so we invited Music by Kate & Dave to join us with their bespoke musical arrangements.

Last Sunday, on the sunniest & warmest Sunday of the year so far, we hosted our 3rd annual Spring Soiree & what a breathtaking Soiree it was thanks to the hard work, talent & creativity of our always outstanding MBC Partners.

We really do love running these events as they offer the opportunity to welcome so many of our couples & their lovely families back to Millbridge Court to meet a handful of our Partners, see Millbridge Court in action, try some sensational & inspiring food, as well as see breathtaking displays created by some of the industries most talented Wedding Professionals.

To give you an idea of just how spectacular the Barn’s & grounds looked on the day, below are a selection of pictures taken by the lovely Philippa Sian Photography.

Thank you to everyone who came to Sundays Soiree, we hope you all had a fantastic & truly inspiring time with us here at Millbridge Court. Xx

Jay Archer Floral Design

Blush Floral Design 

The Topiary Tree by Carrie Macey

4 To The Floor 

Kalm Kitchen Patisserie Bar- Flowers by Carrie Macey

Kalm Kitchen Popcorn Stall – Shelf flowers & foliage by Jay Archer Floral Design

Spongeworks

Gemma Milly Calligraphy 

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MBC Partners-

Florists: Jay Archer Floral Design ; Topiary Tree by Carrie Macey ; Blush Floral Design (Bex)

Photographers: Eddie Judd Photography ; Philippa Sian Photography ; VLA Photography (Laura & Jon)

Cakes: Spongeworks

Calligraphy: Gemma Milly Calligraphy + Design

Music: 4 To The Floor

Makeup: Amore Hair & Makeup (Lindsey & Sophie)

Styling: Bubblegum Balloons

Here at Millbridge Court we just love an outdoors Wedding and this Summer we have been so incredibly lucky with almost all of our couples being able to get married outside in our beautiful Arbour Garden, surrounded by the picturesque, rolling Surrey countryside… and the occasional group of cows, which personally I think is a fantastic added extra. The weather really has been on our side and it has been so amazing to see how each Bride and Groom has put their own stamp on our Arbour and the archway at the top of the aisle.

With an August and September bursting with lots of lovely Weddings, I just can’t wait to see what else our couples have in store! Here’s some images of just how stunning our Arbour Garden has looked week in, week out throughout the last few months…

 

 

 

 

Florist- Rosie Orr (above)

 

And here are some lovely floral touches added to our Ceremony Tables for one of our July Weddings…

 

 

We are in the midst of the most wonderful Summer Season here at Millbridge Court & we couldn’t feel more privileged to be able to share in such special memories. It’s always sad to wave Bride’s & Groom’s off after a year or so of getting to know them & their families but it always puts a big smile on our faces to read their wonderful Thank You’s, so here are a few that we wanted to share with you all…

 

“A belated & huge thank you to Millbridge Court and Kalm Kitchen for everything you did on our big day on 23rd May.
From the moment we confirmed our wedding at Millbridge Court, both parties MBC & KK were simply a pleasure to deal with.
I am an event manager professional and the expectations of my wedding from my family and friends were high! Your attention to detail was just superb and you/your team made it so easy despite months of very long emails. I absolutely loved every moment, and especially on the big day itself!
The result, our guests were treated to a stunning location, such a modern and sophisticated wedding venue. They were treated to the tastiest canapés, & I have eaten a lot of canapés in my line of work. Our guests were blown away with the wedding, the venue, the location, food, facilities and service, which includes my other event prof peers they were very impressed and they simply didn’t believe it was your first ever wedding at the venue.
So thank you again, for just being fabulous and providing such beautiful and thoughtful service. You have a pair of happy clients who loved every second of our big day.
Your very first Millbridge Court Bride & Groom” Saturday 23rd May 2015

 

“Dear Laura and the Millbridge Court Team
Well as they say all good things come to an end and here I am writing an email to Thank You for making our special day so amazing.
From the minute Peter and I viewed Millbridge Court we knew it was our perfect wedding venue. It had the exclusive, personal and homely feel we had so desperately been looking for. With it being a new venue naturally we had a lot of questions but you were always so prompt coming back to us which gave us great confidence to know we made the right decision.
On the day our guests were so complimentary about the venue and food from the delicious canapés to the mouthwatering Lamb, many even saying ‘it was the best wedding they had been to’. We couldn’t really ask for better feedback then that. Peter and I had a fabulous day and loved every minute from start to finish, I really didn’t want it to end. Millbridge Court looked amazing and decorated to perfection with our various suppliers. It was lovely seeing it come alive with our guests after all this time and planning.
A special thank you to Laura, you were there from the minute we met back in September right up until I walked down the aisle which even involved holding my dress across the grass so thank you.
We will miss visiting Millbridge Court, it will forever hold a special place in our heart.
Lots of love
Hannah & Peter Spencer
(Your 2nd Bride & Groom)” Saturday 13th June 2015

 

“Hello Laura, Kellie, Lara, Jen and Holly and the whole millbridge court team.
Before we go on holiday and whilst we are still on cloud nine from yesterday I wanted to just send a quick note to say how incredibly grateful we are for all your hard work on the build up and on the day of our wedding. It has been nothing but a pleasure to work with you all and we’ve felt so supported the whole way.
Where do we even start about the actual day. The venue looked stunning, the food was unbelievably good. Everyone was commenting on the delicious canapés and dinner. The team onsite were so wonderful and the day ran seamlessly.
We can honestly say it was the best day of our lives and you exceeded our all ready very high expectations by miles.
So thank you again from the bottom of our hearts, it was absolutely perfect.
We wish millbridge court great success in the future. I will certainly be recommending both venue and caterer.
Lots of love
Katy and Tim. Xxx” Saturday 11th July 2015

With high ceilings, stunning oak beams throughout and our breathtaking glass wall, the Millbridge Court Ceremony Hall will be the most gorgeous setting for Bride’s and Groom’s to take their vows. There will be room for 150 guests to be seated comfortably on our elegant limewash chiavari chairs, which will be arranged lengthways down the room creating a beautifully long aisle for the Bride and her bridesmaid’s to walk down.

 

The Ceremony Hall at Millbridge Court has been designed in a way that will allow a vast amount of natural light to come flooding in during the daytime celebration, which will be a welcome asset throughout the year. The outside will be brought inside as this will create the ability for the guests and the lovely couple to fully appreciate their tranquil Surrey surroundings without having to be outside for those colder months.

 

Four sets of glass double doors surround the CeremonyHall, with two opening out directly to the spacious patio, allowing the rooms and outside spaces to flow as if they were one. Our bar will be at the back of the Ceremony Room, closed off by doors throughout the ceremony but opened immediately afterwards so that guests can help themselves throughout the day if they would like a refreshment other than that on offer for the drinks reception.

 

Once the Wedding Breakfast is underway, the Ceremony Hall will then be transformed ready for the evening’s celebrations. The two separate rooms provide the perfect opportunity for the band or DJ to set up while the guests are enjoying their meal, which creates the unique ability in a Barn Wedding for the Evening celebrations to get underway seamlessly from the moment the speeches are over. Music can continue and the bar will stay open until 12am.

The beautifully landscaped lawn at Millbridge Court will make the perfect setting for your wedding guests to socialize throughout the day, with the vast expanse of un-spoilt countryside that precedes it making for the most breathtaking backdrop for your wedding celebrations.

With doors from the Ceremony Room leading straight out on to the patio, this area lends itself perfectly to the post ceremony drinks reception, with the lawn offering a great space for garden games for children (and adults!), as well as numerous photo opportunities. Come nighttime, it can also be a great place for guests to have some evening food in a less formal environment than the Dining Hall. A Hog Roast or Barbeque on the lawn would be the perfect way to end a summers evening.

If you are looking for a late Spring or Summer wedding then we can offer the opportunity of getting married outside underneath our Arbour. This beautiful wooden structure situated at the end of the lawn will make for the most picturesque of wedding ceremonies and will really allow both Bride and Groom as well as guests to appreciate the panoramic view of the Surrey Countryside that Millbridge Court has to offer.

For those who are wishing to have a Winter Wedding, the venue has been designed to allow the outside to be visible from the inside with the ends of both the Dining Room and Ceremony Room having ceiling to floor glass. This will mean that the surrounding countryside can be appreciated throughout the day, at any time of the year, with the up lighting on the exterior of the building and outside walls allowing the lawn to be visible during the evening celebrations.

The Dining Hall at Millbridge Court offers the perfect mix of traditional barn characteristics and contemporary design. The rustic beams are a wonderful focal point and can be utilised and decorated with twinkling lights or floral arrangements, which emphasises the height of the room. The neutral colour scheme and chairs are also perfect in enabling Bride’s and Groom’s to put their own stamp on the room with no risk of clashing.

In contrast to old fashioned barns, the windows along the ceiling, to the patio and out towards the lawn at Millbridge Court allows for a huge amount of natural light to come in from all angle’s, so whether it’s a December Wedding or a July Wedding, the room will always seem light and open in daylight hours. There will also be contemporary up lighting inside the Dining Hall that runs along the floor, with two grand chandeliers hanging between the beams. These can both be dimmed to the level of brightness you desire, adding a romance to the hours after sundown and the reflection of which will look magical in the many windows.

This grand room can fit 150 guests on 6ft round tables with the top table situated either on the right hand sidewall or against the glass windows at the far end of the room. Access to this room will be from 9am the day of the wedding and staff will be around to lend a helping hand to the bridal party/ Groomsmen, family and friends.

For any further information Contact Us.

The first view of Millbridge Court. A stunning new Boutique Hotel and Wedding Venue located on the borders of Surrey and Hampshire.