Abi & Rob | Country Hotel Wedding Venue

Bride holding bouquet in rustic greenhouse at best Countryside Wedding Venue

“We wanted beautiful memories captured by someone with a quirky edge. Jonny was absolutely fantastic. 90% of the time we didn’t even notice him. We are absolutely thrilled to bits. The photos are simply stunning.”

BEST COUNTRYSIDE WEDDING VENUE WINNERS | HAMPTON MANOR

I’m writing this shortly after learning that Hampton Manor have just scooped the Wedding Industry Award for the best countryside venue in the West Midlands. this is amazing news for the Michelin starred hotel in Solihull and I’m ever so proud to be one of their recommended wedding suppliers. Abi and Rob described choosing Hampton Manor as their wedding venue  as a no brainer. They had recently moved to the village, Hampton-in-Arden. A beautiful village which has both a stunning church, and the best countryside wedding venue in the West Midlands. Why look anywhere else?

Abi and Rob met through work. Abi was an Estate Agent and Rob came into her office looking for a property. The rest, as they say, is history. Rob proposed the night before her 30th birthday therefore it was totally unexpected as she thought they were just doing romantic things to celebrate. In London he’d booked a posh hotel and a west end musical. At the end of the night he took Abi on a private boat which took them up and down the Thames. The driver was babbling on and told Abi to look over to the side of the river for whatever reason, and there, in big lights on the wall was MARRY ME? When she looked back round Rob was down on one knee holding out a ring. She burst out crying and, of course, said Yes!

 

Attaching white rose buttonhole to wedding suit detail

Black and white star detail of fashion designer jimmy choo shoes

Bridesmaids getting ready for wedding in Hampton manor's bridal suite

bride being prepared in big bay window in Solihull hotel before wedding

Close up of bride having makeup done by makeup artist Ruth Hancox

Documentary scene of children waiting in room before wedding ceremony

Bride having her makeup done reflected in mirror by the window

brides dress and veil being perfected by bridesmaids

bride and bridesmaids toast champagne in their dresses from Lisa rose bridal

young bridesmaid peering through wine glass

BOUTIQUE WEDDING VENUE INSPIRATION

I wanted to keep my wedding as traditional as possible. Glamour was key And Rose Gold was the colour theme. I also wanted it to be fun and laid back. It was important to us that our guests had a good day too.

My favourite wedding details would be :

1- The entertainment during the signing of the register was a female soloist, accompanied by the church choir, singing my all time favourite song Tale As Old As Time from The Beauty and the Beast. Loads of guests commented on how good this was. It was probably the first time any of them had heard a Disney song during a wedding service!

2- Rob and I took a few dance lessons at a local dance school and learnt some simple fox trot and salsa moves for our first dance. This was mainly because neither of us are particularly good dancers and we didn’t want to be shuffling around the dance floor and boring our guests. Nerves got to me on the night but (I think) we pulled it off and everyone was so surprised because it was really unexpected.

3- Wedding favours were all supplied by friends. I had scented candles for the women guests with personalised labels and I had ivory boxes of sweets made for the men. Each of the guests had personalised champagne flutes for the toast. This idea really went down well. Bottom’s up!

4- I supplied toiletries baskets for both the women’s and men’s toilets and I also supplied flip flops for the evening reception. Needless to say most of these supplies were gone by the end of the night proving they were a hit, and the flip flops were utilised by both women and a few of the men which I was surprised about. Lol!

 

bride and groom giggle as vicar conducts their wedding ceremony

bride and groom walking down the aisle at their Hampton Manor Church wedding

bride chats with guests outside church whilst groom hugs daughter

guests throw petals onto the newly married couple outside Hampton Church

bride and groom drive off in their red Lamborghini

ladies in their wedding colourful outfits gossip out side hampton manor

brightly dressed wedding guest with cigarette and beer bottle

bride enjoys champagne and a laugh in gardens of Hampton manor

bride and bridesmaids prepare for outdoor photos

elderly wedding guest asleep in Hampton manor dining room

SOPHIA TOLLI DESIGNER WEDDING DRESS

I knew what I wanted and I found it. Eventually. While googling dresses, the same dress kept catching my eye in Google images. Whilst looking through a wedding magazine I came across an advert for a dress shop in Solihull- Lisa Rose Bridal. I grabbed my phone to check out the website and as the website popped up on my phone, what dress should they have on their homepage? Only the exact dress that had been catching my eye on Google! I booked an appointment, tried it on, and voila. I said Yes To The Dress! It all just happened and it was as if it was meant to be. The designer was Sophia Tolli. It really is true what they say, when you know, you know.

Rob hired his suit from David Atkinson in Knowle, Solihull. His shoes were Jimmy Choo as were mine. Because you have to “Say I Do In Choo” 😉 My bridesmaids dresses were also purchased from Lisa Rose Bridal and their shoes were from Asos.

 

bride sat in sophia tolli wedding dress inside Best Countryside Wedding Venue

wedding guests sat at banquet table inside hampton manor's Elizabeth Court

bride playfully screams as she's seated at top table

bride face palms as mother shows an embarrassing school photo

bride and family laughing at grooms wedding speech

Child at wedding peering through chair and wearing headphones

wedding guest wipes away tears of laughter with napkin

bride pulls faces as best man reads his speech

Guests get smoked out by a cigarette vape

wedding guest attempts to do flossing dance move

ADVICE FOR THOSE PLANNING A WEDDING

I would say don’t panic whilst planning. Everything will just happen on the day. I had a wedding planner at my venue who upon prior instructions took care of everything on the day. We were given the advice to take a moment to breathe on the day and take in what is happening around you. Take 10 minutes with your new husband, away from your guests. The day really does fly by. Another thing I would advise is make sure you get a good photographer (like Jonny) because you will forget so much. Also there will be so much that you didn’t even see. The photos are a forever reminder of one of the most amazing days of your life. Rob says his advice is just let the bride do it all and it will work out perfectly fine!

Seriously though, we would say that one of the most important aspects of a wedding is the evening entertainment as this is the final memory your guests will have of your wedding. Our band were absolutely phenomenal and they really bought the house down. The dance floor was full and even the vicar had a boogey! It was a great atmosphere. No one likes it when guests sit bored at tables, clock watching, while the dance floor sits empty. Cringe.

 

 bride and groom take a stroll outside Hampton manor wedding venue

Romantic black and white portrait of bride and groom kissing

bride and groom portrait at the best countryside wedding venue west Midlands

Bride and groom silhouetted against woodlands at countryside wedding venue

bride poses in her glamorous Sophia Tolli wedding dress with bouquet

married couple have first dance to brides favourite song from beauty and the beast

bride and groom use salsa moves to during the first dance

Wedding guest covered in children's stickers on his suit hugs mate

Vicar calls for time out on the dance floor

baby in pushchair picking his nose at wedding

Giant light lettering love with young boy exploring

wedding guests party with drinks and karaoke

Married couples initials written in flames lighting up the night

SHOUT OUT THE BEST COUNTRYSIDE WEDDING VENUE SUPPLIERS

Make up artists: Ruth Hancox | Florists: Ava Event Stylin | Rings: Sonnys Jewellery in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham | Cake: Cotton and Crumbs | Catering Company: Hampton Manor | Entertainment: We Light It Up – lead singer Adam Chandler | Cars/Transport: Alpha Drive Supercar Hire in Walsall

Documentary wedding photography

LOOKING FOR A HAMPTON MANOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?

Want a trusted wedding photographer recommended by the best countryside wedding venue? Then please get in touch, I’d love to hear more about you and your wedding day plans.

1 Comment

  1. Laura Kent

    Hi Jonny, we’re getting married next year on the 8th June at Hampton Manor. Just enquiring to see if you’re available & get a quote from you.