Kathryn and Chris were married on 1st March at Kimberley Hall in Norfolk, after meeting whilst both serving in the Army. Their wedding brought together a traditional church ceremony and a huge number of personal details connected to their life together, including tables named after favourite pubs, oyster shell place settings and a stop at the local pub with guests for Guinness after the ceremony.
Kathryn chose a classic Justin Alexander gown with pockets, styled with a cathedral veil, pearl jewellery she made herself and blue stilettos. Chris and his groomsmen wore Oliver Brown tailoring with custom waistcoats designed for a reveal later in the evening.
he couple also incorporated family history throughout the day, from Kathryn wearing the fur coat her parents bought her as a child to wedding rings created through her family’s jewellery business.
Photography was by the wonderfully talented and lovely Georgia Rachael, whose natural, unobtrusive approach was one of the reasons Kathryn and Chris chose their wedding date around her availability.
Georgia’s beautiful photographs capture every part of the day as it happened, from the Land Rover convoy through Norfolk to champagne the couple collected themselves during a trip to France ahead of the wedding.
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The Venue & Location
Our venue was Kimberley Hall, Wymondham, Norfolk. We went to go view a few venues, but they felt quite regimented. The minute we saw Kimberley we just knew. Its so homely and accommodating and nothing is too much for the team.
I’m so glad we picked them and would do it again in a flash! We still talk about how amazing the team are and I honestly don’t think words would do it justice, we owe the whole weekend to them and no thank you would ever be enough.
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The Dress
Justin Alexander
My dress was from Brides of Chester and was a Justin Alexander design – it had pockets!
I wanted my dress to feel simple and timeless but elevated it with a three rows of pearls and diamond and pearl earrings with a blue stiletto. I also wore a single tier cathedral veil in Italian tulle.
I had embroidered matching ribbons for my bouquet and for our dog, Mooses’s collar, with our favourite phrase ‘Never Delay’, a shortened quote from Ernest Hemmingway, who we quoted throughout the day.
It’s something we say to remind each other that something is better than nothing, to drink the wine you’ve been saving for the right moment that may never come, and to light the pretty candle! The embroidered ribbons were created by Cotton Tales.
I wore a sterling silver matchbox from Fox Clarke Heritage and I made all my own jewellery; I wore a three row pearl necklace as I love how elegant and timeless they are. I also wore a diamond tennis bracelet and pearl and diamond drop earrings.
Chris, the Groomsmen and Fathers wore Oliver Brown. We are both quite traditional but wanted to have some fun additions.
Chris has always loved Oliver Brown but wanted something a little different, so Oliver Brown facilitated this and made Chris and all his Groomsmen, including the fathers, some custom waist coats with different patterns in the back, which they had kept secret for a reveal on the dance floor.
The bridesmaids wore Dessy and Alfred Sung with vintage fur coats.
The Ceremony
My best friend from university walked our dog Moose down the aisle followed by my bridesmaids and then my father walked me down the aisle. During our arrival, The Kentish Gents did a piano version of the F1 Theme Tune.
We took traditional vows during our ceremony and our readings included an extract from the bible, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 and an extract from ‘A Farewell to Arms’ by Ernest Hemingway.
Our wedding rings were also from Fox Clarke Heritage.
We found Georgia Rachael online and actually fell in love. She was everything we wanted and summed up all the inspiration photos we had been looking at.
We wanted Georgia that badly, we actually chose our wedding date around her as we didn’t want any other photographer. It was honestly the best decision ever.
Georgia is so lovely, calming and cool, it was like having a friend around all day. She fit in so seamlessly, I remember looking through our album and thinking I didn’t even see her there. We were really set on not having ‘formal’ group photos but just candid in the moment ones, and I was a little worried this would mean there wouldn’t be many with family but Georgia managed it and captured all of the little moments.
To this day, I’m still obsessed with Georgia’s work and I’m so glad we chose her.
How They Met
Chris and I met in May 2020 when we were both serving in the Army. We were best friends for a long time, but after I (Kathryn) left the Army and moved to London, Chris started making the journey over every Wednesday and every weekend and that’s when we started dating.
We got engaged 27th December 2023 whilst out walking our dog Moose, in the village Chris had grown up. Chris had previously tried to propose on the beach on Boxing Day, but I wanted to get in the queue for a burger and hot chocolate. I come from a family of jewellers and Chris had spent roughly six months designing my ring which my father then made for me which is so incredibly special.
The Reception
I love oysters so had Thornham Oyster Co come for canapés and I think they were a huge favourite with our guests. There were so many finer details but together they all made more of a theme and a feeling that we felt made it very personal.
Our caterers and cake maker was by Mackenzie David Events, and we can’t recommend them enough. They did the best food with so many options. Our food tasting at the yacht club in Norfolk was so beautiful and they really went above and beyond. For our wedding cake we went a little off tradition and Steve from Mackenzie David made us a bakewell tart from our favourite Mary Berry recipe.
Favourite Moments
There’s too many to mention! We walked through Hingham Village with a bagpiper, wedding guests in tow, to the local pub for a guiness. Locals came out and cheered us through the village.
Chris and I then got in my landrover decorated by my mother and drove to Kimberley Hall, whilst Breckland Landrover Club had kindly supplied a number of Landrovers to trasnport guests. Driving through Norfolk in a Landrover convoy was pretty special.
My dad brought me up with landrovers so it was pretty special him driving me to the church in my landrover 1 series with my bridesmaids and bridesman in the back with our dog Moose.
Tying in our love for wine and pubs with the wine wall we built ourselves.
Tieing in my jewellery background with permanent jewellery in the evening.
Having Chris’ friends being our guard of honour when leaving the church.
Having a dedicated photoshoot of me and my maid of honour best friend of 17 years, which our photographer Georgia captured so well and beautifully.
Wearing my coat from when I was around 5 years old.
We love champagne and actually decided it’d be lovely to go to France ourselves to a vineyard and pick our own champagne. We drove to France for a long weekend and toured the champagne house before filling the car and driving home. It was a beautiful way to make it feel extra special and obviously a lovely few days in the champagne region with gorgeous views and food!
Words of Wedded Wisdom
Enjoy all of it, I know its a cliche, but it’s not just about the day itself and in isolation, it’s about the build-up and experiences with friends. Don’t get wrapped round the axle about who to invite to dress fittings etc and trying to include everyone, its about you and your happiness. The simplest of things can make those other people feel special like a letter under their plate or just keeping them in the loop somewhat – you don’t need to stress yourself out with who’s involved in what, you don’t need to please everyone, only yourself.
Pick the right photographer! Its so worth it and you wont regret it. I can’t express how much we love our photos from Georgia Rachael Photography. They’re the one thing you’ll have from the day that’ll last forever.
Only sign yourself up for what is realistic. It’s so easy to get carried away. Personally, I enjoyed all the DIYs and spent eighteen months on some parts, but its not for everyone and if your budget allows sometimes its best to get help.
Make the day as personal as you can, all the little details come together, that’s what makes it so special.
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