THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL…

UNIQUE WAYS TO PERSONALISE YOUR WEDDING

Personalising your wedding adds a narrative element that can make your big day a truly stand-out occasion. Plus, adding little details once all the major decision-making has been done, is a fabulous way of reclaiming your romance. Obviously, every couple has their own story to tell, but if you’re lacking inspiration here are a few tips to help get you started.

Ask yourselves what’s really important in your relationship. Is it the place you first met, your shared appreciation of cooking/classic cars/croquet, your mutual love of cinema/safaris/scuba diving? Once you’ve drawn up a short list, ideas will surely follow: if you got engaged in Mexico, for example, you could hire a mariachi band; if you love all things vintage, a 1920s Flapper theme may hit the mark.

Think about the things you most appreciate in your partner, their generosity/ cheerfulness/work ethic and weave it into your celebration through words (writing your own vows), music (curating a playlist of meaningful songs), movement (choregraphing the first dance) or aroma – one couple infused their entire wedding with the scent of roses, a directive that extended to their guests, who were spritzed with perfume as they walked into the church.

Name-check the people (or pets) who have played a significant part in your romance. There are multiple ways of acknowledging the movers and shakers who have helped you to get hitched. You could create a cocktail in their honour, write an appreciative poem, or hang a special sign on the back of their chair. If there are lots of people in your story, you could put a timeline of your relationship at every place setting, as a fun conversation opener.

Add fun, quirky, elements that will make your wedding a talking point for years to come.

Ideas include interactive food stations (“build your own taco” bar/make your own cocktail); a ceilidh, line dancing; a caricaturist… hot tubs at the recovery brunch…

Here at Cornwell Manor, we’ve seen a wealth of creative personalisation over the years. Here are some of our favourites:

To keep things interesting for their guests, this couple lined up a raft of activities including archery, clay pigeon shooting, croquet and yoga

In a nod to their shared love of food and drink, these newlyweds served venison carpaccio (as pictured on the hand-painted menu) shot by the groom on his stag-do, alongside tequila miniatures and bottles of bespoke olive oil

Music was obviously important to these lovebirds: the bride’s entry was heralded by a friend singing ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’, and later in the ceremony guests were surprised by a gospel choir emerging from the hedges singing Fatboy Slim’s ‘Praise You’

What could be cooler than a James Bond going-away car? Hot wheels (in this case an Aston Martin DB5) are hot wheels, whether you’re a petrol-head or not……

A painting tells a much more unique story than a photo, which is why this couple hired an artist to live-paint the action as it unfolded  

This cake on this table is one of the prettiest we’ve ever seen. Alternatively, change it up with a macaron tower, a cheese cake tower (comprising large roundels of hard and soft cheeses), a giant tiramisu, or something quirky – one of our favourites was a cake that was four-foot long!

Caviar or burgers to go…  we’ve seen oodles of both including this clever spin on a personlised  Maccy’s box – whatever your passion…. ‘we’re lovin’ it’!

Guests had lots of fun posing for pictures at this wedding, thanks to the provision of a photo booth and a box of props, inside this Airstream

Wedding comms offer happy couples the perfect opportunity to get arty: think innovative invitations, wacky seating plans and decorative signage

A personalised magnum of Nyetimber is a lovely memento of your wedding day, especially with the addition of missives from guests, scrawled in golden ink

Play up your tablescape with creative place cards, delicately-drawn menus and beautiful linen. At this wedding, the mother-of-the-bride hand-painted this stunning design, which was then printed onto the napkins.

Personalise your pool party. Floats spelling out messages make for a fabulous photo op. Other ideas include bespoke beakers, cocktail napkins, baseball caps, trays and towels. 

Customising your wedding doesn’t have to be deep: pretty accessories such as glasses in your favourite colour, ribbons printed with the date of your nuptials, matchbooks with a picture of the venue on them, or a dinner table lit by thousands of fairy lights, also switches things up

All photos have been taken at Cornwell Manor, a luxury wedding venue in the heart of the Cotswolds.