The Buttery and Glasshouse blog
Kirsty and Tony
8th April 2023
The venue
How did you choose your venue?
We are local to the wedding venue and popped by for a drink one sunny afternoon to see the refurbishments since the Glasshouse was completed. Sat in the garden, sipping on a cold beer, we instantly felt relaxed and both commented on the beautiful mixture of old and new between the Buttery and the Glasshouse. Before we knew it, we got another drink, had a wedding pack in hand and had booked an appointment with the wedding planner.
Did you see many venues before deciding?
We didn’t see any – we knew the Glasshouse was the perfect choice for us!
Why was it the perfect venue for your wedding?
We fell in love with the Buttery with it's rustic charm and beautiful bare stone walls and of course the amazing Glasshouse which catered for all eventualities - heaters if it was a bit chilly and amazing retractable roof if the sun made an appearance.
It was a no brainer, there wasn't anything we were unsure about - it just felt right.
The outfits
Tell us about your wedding dress/outfit - where did you buy it, and how did you know it was ‘the one’?
I chose a stunning two-piece gown by Catherine Deane that was bridal enough to make me feel special but original enough to make me feel 'me'. I obviously had a google to find what sort of dress I wanted, decided I wanted the Catherine Deane two-piece and found it stocked at Chislehurst Bridal. As soon as I tried it on, I knew it was the one. Obviously tried on another 10 dresses but went back to the first choice!
Did you have any special accessories or shoes to complete your look?
I was definitely going for comfort and had bridal converse trainers made so I could dance the night away without blisters! And of course a hand-painted jacket for the chilly afternoon/early evening out on the terrace - unique and personalised, it was perfect.
How did you choose the suits?
The groom chose a grey check suit with brown shoes, something comfortable but also suited the rustic nature of the venue. We wanted the men to all be comfortable so they chose their own suits that they could wear again - a dark blue check to compliment the groom.
Tell us about your bridesmaid and groomsmen outfits.
We had one flower girl who had the traditional cream, pretty dress, a boho head piece with gorgeous curls put through her hair and of course a denim jacket to match the bride!
Hair & makeup
Who did you use for your hair and/or makeup for your wedding?
Lisa at Perfect Wedding Hair Kent and Elise Ingram for makeup.
How did you decide on the style and look you wanted for the big day?
To match my new jacket, I had a hint of pink put through my hair which was put up with a gorgeous braid to show off the colour.
I am not somebody who wears a lot of make up but knew I wanted a bright lip, I let Elise decide the rest.
The ceremony
What was your favourite moment of the ceremony?
The whole ceremony was just perfect but seeing Tony for the first time as I started walking down the aisle was a special moment I won’t ever forget.
Did you pick any special music to walk down the aisle to, or have any readings?
We had the very talented Paul Malsom play guitar for our wedding entry and chose songs that meant something to us.
The reception
What food did you have, and how was it? Was there a favourite dish that stood out?
We didn't go for the traditional sit down meal, we wanted our guests to choose what they wanted and where they wanted to sit. Our starters were served as canapes whilst we were having drinks on the terrace. We then had a hot buffet which included pulled pork, bbq chicken, potatoes, slaw and macaroni cheese. It was just delicious and worked for all different tastes. The macaroni cheese was the standout dish – loved by all!
Tell us about your wedding cake. Who made and designed it for you?
So the cake was my own design and creation - I made a 2 tier naked cake with vanilla sponge. I crafted various edible flowers to add decoration and a friend made some little wooden peg dolls of us to go on top.
What were your speeches like? Any standout moments?
Again we didn’t have too much formality around the speeches but they were funny, personal and emotional all in one measure.
The decor
What was your decor/colour scheme, and how did you decide on it?
We didn't really have a theme but knew we wanted it to be relaxed, rustic and not too pretty. The brilliant Locate to Create helped with our styling and picked out some amazing pieces such as wicker lanterns, candles, brass candlesticks, wooden boxes and even an old fashioned bike to hold our confetti. We didn't have a colour theme but actually after choosing all the pieces we liked, there was a lot of natural textures and colours.
Who did your wedding flowers?
Our florist was the talented Ruth from CoCo and Bloom.
What did you have in your flower arrangements/bouquets?
We went for mainly dried flowers and grasses with a few ivory roses thrown in the mix. We had stunning tall standing table decorations and also small milk bottle vases for the outside tables and along ledges to add a little something. When the flowers arrived on the day, we were stunned and I was overwhelmed - the first person to actually make me like flowers!
How did you add personal touches to the look and feel of your day?
We didn’t have any specific personal touches however we tried to create a relaxed environment for our guests which matches our personalities.
Did you use any local suppliers for things like lighting, accessories and props?
Locate to Create for overall design and decor
The entertainment
Did you have a DJ or a band? How did you choose them?
We had Guitarist Paul Malsom and Saxophonist Nial throughout the day and then the DJ in the evening. Paul is a regular at the Bull and after seeing him one Friday evening, we knew we wanted him to be part of our day.
What was your first dance, and why was it special to you?
Our first dance was Two hearts by Phil Collins. We wanted something more up beat and we love the words.
The photography
Who was your wedding photographer, and how did you choose them?
We chose Nicola Dawson as our photographer - easy choice! We were scrolling through photographer websites and the vibe that came from Nicola's website was spot on and we knew straight away that we wanted her. We met up at the wedding venue for our first chat and instantly felt like we'd made a friend for life! We had an engagement shoot which wasn't only fun and relaxed but wow, Nicola actually made us look ok! We were so so impressed with the photos and the way Nicola makes you feel.
What style/look did you want for your photos?
We wanted a relaxed, natural feel to the day. We didn’t want too many formal photos and more ‘action’ shots.
Do you have a favourite photo from the day?
That is honestly impossible to pick – we had so many amazing photos and struggling to pick which ones to frame still!
If we had to pick one, then potentially the moment we left the Buttery after having said ‘I do’. Nicola captured the moment perfectly.
Did you have a videographer?
No
And finally
What was your absolute highlight of the day?
We couldn't possibly pick one part of the day - from beginning to end it was the perfect day and one we will never forget. But a special moment was definitely seeing each other for the first time down the aisle - the warmth, comfort and excitement is a feeling we will never forget.
Do you have any tips or advice for other couples having a wedding at the Buttery and Glasshouse?
Always first and foremost, make sure you relax and enjoy the day. The team at the Bull honestly have everything covered and will think of absolutely everything for you so trust them and focus on yourselves and the special day.
Suppliers:
Suits - Suits Direct
@suitdirectuk
Dress - chislehurst Bridal
https://www.chislehurstbridal.co.uk/
@chislehurstbridal
Brides Jacket - Sammy Leas Retro Emporium https://www.facebook.com/Sammyleasretroemporium/
@sammyleasretro
Hair - Lisa
https://www.perfect-wedding-hair.co.uk/
@perfectweddinghairkent
Make up - Elise Ingram
https://www.makeupbyevi.co.uk/
@eingrammua
Flowers Coco and Bloom –
@cocobloom2019
Confetti –
https://www.flutterdarlings.co.uk/
@flutterdarlings
Rings- little gem sevenoaks
@thelittlegemjewellery
Styling - Locate to Create –
https://www.locatetocreate.com/
Photographer - Nicola Dawson –
https://nicoladawsonphotography.co.uk/
@nicoladawsonphotography
