Organising a Country House Wedding in just 5 Weeks
A stately home wedding doesn’t have to be planned at a stately pace. Organising a country house wedding in just 5 weeks is a real possibility. Almost within a calendar month of setting their hearts on moated Suffolk manor Crow’s Hall, Rosie and James were having the relaxed fairytale island wedding of their dreams…
Planning a country house wedding in a short timescale doesn’t necessarily mean compromise or opting for ‘off-the-peg’ solutions. Whether the key driver is simply circumstance, last-minute venue availability or an impetuously mad-cap shall-we-just? moment, a wedding planned at superfast speed can be more than practically perfect and personal in every way. But how?
Crow’s Hall Secrets Revealed
Turn to more than just wedding tech.
Having a charmingly calm Mary Poppins character to hand with a discerningly experienced eye and carpet-bag full of excellent contacts has to be the secret.
E-invitations, guest-list-logging apps, online wedding lists, bespoke ‘about our wedding’ websites – they’re all time-savingly cool and clever. But a spoonful or two of friendly guidance can soon help your ‘wedmin’ go down in the most delightful way. Just the right level of reliable, yet discreet support can make the magic happen too.
Rosie and husband-to-be James snapped up the unexpected opportunity to hold their wedding celebrations at exclusive Suffolk country house, Crow’s Hall. But it was the more than just the idyllic moated manor, gently formal gardens and truly private location which convinced them their dream wedding could become a reality in just weeks…
“We couldn’t have done it without Caroline,” confides Rosie with a smile, referring to Crow’s Hall owner, organizing expert and friend-for-life, Miss Caroline Spurrier. “From start to finish, she was super-helpful. Everything came together so well at Crow’s Hall. Our guests were blown away by how absolutely stunning it all was – and how ‘very us’ too. I don’t think anyone could quite believe how we’d made such a perfect day happen so quickly. I guess I was even a bit shocked at how good the whole day was – it was so very relaxed, so elegant and simply so much fun.”
Be Bold – But be sure to have a vision.
Embracing the idea of organising a country house wedding in just five weeks, has to be a bold undertaking by anyone’s book. But for Rosie and James – whose wedding was originally planned for Spain and had been endlessly postponed by COVID – there were other commitments in the equation too. A new house, coupled with a new job to focus on for Rosie meant that the only time available for wedding planning activities was at the weekends – and there were just three of them before the great day!
“It could have been daunting,” admits Rosie. “Not just because of the timescales, but because what makes Crow’s Hall so very unique and attractive, above and beyond its understated elegance and breath-taking location, is its flexibility. It really is a completely blank canvas, so having a vision is vital.”
Top Tip for Organising a Country House Wedding in just 5 Weeks:
Sign up to a uniquely flexible Suffolk wedding venue.
Moated Crow’s Hall only accepts a handful of weddings a year. Each couple have exclusive access to its phenomenally authentic, timber-framed long barn, plus the Tudor Hall’s stunning island gardens and grounds for an entire week – ample time to get glamping accommodation, marquees and lighting set up and the whole place decorated entirely to meet personal taste.
At Crow’s Hall the exclusive venue hire can include a self-contained apartment within the Hall for a number of overnights on the lead up to celebrations day. This means the bridal party can move in and be on site to oversee all-important preparations 24/7 – something which, Rosie agrees, really takes pressure off the final preparations: “Having that week and knowing that Caroline was on hand throughout the whole wedding organisation process was just invaluable.”
Get things right and make them happen from the get-go
Organizational speed is of the essence. Therefore, having a vision and being decisive must be top priorities. Being able to call upon reliable, tried-and-tested suppliers who will react quickly and communicate clearly is really important too. So it pays dividends to seek out suppliers who are not just expert in their field – and in your chosen venue! – but who will go the extra mile for you, even if they are based in the next village.
“That’s where Caroline was just amazing,” explains Rosie. “If there’s one take-away, I’d share with other couples considering Crow’s Hall for their wedding, it’s listen to Caroline. Share your vision with her. Consider her suggestions. You’re in very safe hands – she absolutely knows what she’s doing!” There’s a thoughtful pause. “It’s hard to put your finger on it in some ways…”
Relax. A Suffolk home shared is full of special kindness
It turns out that a fantastic wedding-venue-buddy is not just about their first-class suppliers list or the hitherto unthought of and potentially game-changing ideas they can put on the table; not their extra pair of hands, four-by-four at the ready or conveniently close -to-hand step ladder either. “Caroline was just kind of there,” remembers Rosie fondly, “always offering just enough input so we felt supported, but never interfering.
“When there were ten of us getting up early to get on with things, she made sure we all had breakfast. She personally checked over the provision made for afternoon tea and for wine. She helped us source excellent venison for our hearty barbecue wedding breakfast. There were just so many kind things she did, which made everything less stressful.”
Rosie and James had family-focused September outdoor wedding at Crow’s Hall, Suffolk.
Celebrations included: a gathering in the open-air amphitheatre, a wedding breakfast, entertainment and evening party in a stretched marquee within the island of formal gardens. There were family games in the grounds. The couple invited guests to stay in the luxury glamping accommodation arranged in the moat-side paddocks.
With special thanks to James Davidson Photography.
Rosie’s special wedding memories at Crow’s Hall include:
Saying “Evening Everyone!” to a gathering of loved ones, after so very long apart
Our lawned aisle alongside the hedgerows
The shower of confetti on the bridge over Crow’s Hall moat
Handmade everything – James’ palette bar; my carefully crafted signage
Getting ready with the girls
Feeling that we’d borrowed a close-friend’s stately home for everyone to enjoy
Stolen moments – just the two of us (later to discover the photographer was nearby)
Photo opportunities with four-legged friends
Being blown away by the moment – and the breath-taking venue
Pimms and Prosecco in the knot-garden
Interested in organising a country house wedding in just 5 weeks? A few months? Or over an extended period? Whatever your dreams or deadlines, do just ask.
2022 & 2023 Weddings at Crow’s Hall, Debenham, Suffolk I Call Caroline now for a viewing now
