Wedding days are one of the best days of your life, and we’d know! At Heritage Venues, we’ve helped hundreds of couples tie the knot and start their new life together in the best way possible.
Every couple is different, and so should every wedding! We work closely with all our couples to create a completely bespoke day that they can look back on with happiness for the rest of their lives.
We specialise in throwing weddings in some of the most picturesque settings across the beautiful county of Berkshire. We’re here to help you every step of the way so you and your loved ones can celebrate your special moment in style and comfort.
Today we’re going to be looking back at one of our lovely couples, Fiona and Elliot, and how they planned and executed their big day with Heritage Venues.
How Fiona and Elliot met and how they decided on their venue
Back in 2010, Fiona and Elliot found themselves in the same university halls. What started off as a strong friendship, eventually turned into a forever romance after Elliot popped the all-important question in 2019. The couple were so excited to say “I do” that they started to plan their big day straight away.
The couple were supposed to get married in September 2020, but the big day was pushed back because of the pandemic. This turned out for the best as in May 2021, they had a new visitor – a baby boy!
Fiona has worked at Heritage Venue for the past 5 years, so knows better than anyone how to throw an amazing wedding, and of course she went with one of our very own venues – Lillibrooke Manor.
“I knew finding a wedding venue would be difficult as I would compare them all to Lillibrooke Manor. And it turned out nothing could compete!”
Lillibrooke Manor had three of the most important things that Fiona and Elliot were looking for in a venue; a beautiful on-site ceremony space, a breakout space for people to relax in the evening, and a room for both the dancefloor and bar.
Having the whole place to themselves on exclusive hire with Heritage Venues also made sure the day went off without an issue.
“There is something so special about the exclusive hire and having only your friends and family on site. I know firsthand how passionate the Heritage Venues team are about weddings and knew we’d be in safe hands.”
Planning their special day
Most couples will come to us with a plan, and we’ll help them make it happen – it was no different with Elliot and Fiona.
“We wanted our wedding day to be a huge celebration full of love, joy and fun. We had a bright colour scheme brought to life by the wonderful Ever After, completed with a neon sign and even a disco ball!”
We also work with several different suppliers to make our couples the perfect day for them.
“We put our trust in some wonderful suppliers to bring our vision to life, and they did not disappoint! In particular, Ever After created a memory corner, full of gorgeous flowers and a picture of my brother who passed away 9 years ago which was really special.”
A night to remember for Fiona and Elliot
After the ceremony was over, Fiona and Elliot had planned to have some serious fun with their guests, which started with an incredible food menu.
“The food was incredible! Our guests didn’t stop raving about it, especially our guests with dietary requirements who were SO well looked after. We supplied our own wine from a small vineyard in the South of France we visited on holiday back in 2016. We served our favourite cocktail for the drinks and canapes reception, a Kir Royale.”
The couple’s four-course wedding breakfast included Bruschetta, Smoked Haddock Croquet, Beef Bourguignon and Raspberry Tart.
For the reception, the pair decided on a live band to bring the tunes and get everyone on their feet.
“A band was a must-have for us, our guests are still raving about them. Our first dance was a little left field (Piña Colada song) but our guests loved it and were joining in in no time.”
The highlights of the day and advice for other couples
With a day full of fun and love, it was hard for Elliot and Fiona to come up with just one moment that stood out among them all, but they both agreed that the ceremony was a moment to treasure.
“The ceremony was so special and meaningful to us both. After being together for many years and now having our son, making a promise to love each other forever and officially become a family is something neither of us will ever forget.”
And when it comes to advice for new couples, the pair had the following to say:
“Don’t worry about what anyone else will think! Pick all your favourite things. We didn’t have a cake and no-one even noticed, they were too busy tucking into the donut wall! Don’t worry about the weather, you cannot control it. Have a plan B sorted and let the event staff take care of everything else.”
Book your wedding at Lillibrooke Manor
If you’d like to work with us to make your dreams of a memorable wedding come to life, get in touch with us today!
Email: info@lillibrookemanor.co.uk
Phone: 01628 906040
