A Wedding Two Years in the Making
Date: 23rd August 2024
Guests: 85 daytime, and a further 30 joined the guest list in the evening.
Amber and Dan first visited Parkgate Farm in 2022, following Dan’s romantic proposal while away in the Peak District.
“Dan arranged everything. He covered my eyes and guided me to a tipi (ooh, there’s a theme here), then he was down on one knee, and we were surrounded by tealights. He’s not one for lots of words and simply said “will you be my wide?’. Hence the wedding speech was a big deal for us. In the tipi was champagne, balloons and flowers. We spent the evening by a campfire, toasting marshmallos while facetiming friends and family.”
Right away, they knew it was where they wanted to celebrate their wedding day. Amber already had her dream wedding in mind and thus began a journey of planning and refining every detail to create the perfect day. This is what we do – help our couples experience truly bespoke celebration in the heart of our enchanted woodland venue.
“I saw Parkgate Farm on Instagram and loved it. We wanted something outdoorsy and different; a blank canvas so we could add our own touches and personality, plus blend rustic and boujee. Roy and Emma were really accomodating with all my requests – even if I was a bit of a diva bride!”
From the very beginning, Amber brought a clear vision. With meticulous attention-to-detail and a vivid imagination for personal touches, she worked closely with Emma and Roy, revisiting the venue several times before the big day. We set aside extra time for Zoom chats and planning meetings to ensure every element was carefully considered – and perfectly accomplished.
“Amber knew exactly what she wanted.” says Emma. “Our role was to bring that vision to life and make sure everything came together seamlessly.”
Two Wedding Days; One Perfect Celebration
Amber loved the idea of enjoying two wedding days, so the couple chose to complete their legal ceremony a few weeks earlier. Then, they could look forward to a big celebration at Parkgate Farm, with celebrant Naomi Blu.
This way, they could create their personal and meaningful ceremony in our idyllic woodland Bower. Our beautiful outdoor bower is immersed in nature and feels a world away. Every moment was carefully choreographed – for example, Emma and Naomi exchanged discreet signals to ensure Amber and her bridesmaids set off down the aisle at exactly the right time.
As a touching surprise, Amber pre-recorded a heartfelt message to Dan, to be played the moment before she made her entrance. With a traditional veil over her face and pretty meadow flowers lining the aisle, it was a moment overflowing with emotion.
“Despite the stormy weather in the days before, like magic, the sun came out just in time and shone throughout the ceremony. Finally seeing our vision come together and enjoying it with our loved ones, it really is the best day of our life.
The venue is a perfect little hem that offers so much. You can make it your own. Emma, Roy and the team are AMAZING. Nothing is too much trouble.”
Transforming the Venue – A 24 Hour Setup
Dressing Parkgate Farm began a full day before the wedding. Already blessed with the perfect location, we’re part way there. That said, we know every couple wants to make the place their own and we are here for that. Working alongside Kole Events and The Ancoats Florist, our countryside wedding retreat was painstakingly dressed, to bring to life Amber and Dan’s vision for their perfect day; their dream wedding.
Details that made the venue entirely bespoke to our couple included:
Candlelit lanterns and meadow-style florals lined the aisle
White draping and a statement floral arch adorned The Bower
A personalised 30-foot aisle runner, printed with “A & D”, carefully secured by Roy
Meadow flowers were reused inside the tipis after the ceremony
‘LOVE’ letters lit up the back of the tipi
A spectacular hanging cake hoop showcased their beautiful three-tier cake
Chiavari chairs replaced the usual benches for a more formal feel
Floating candles and elegant table runners completed the look
A bespoke sweetheart table was created for Amber and Dan, framed by a floral arch which we’d happily relocated from earlier in the day.
Even the signage reflected the couple’s humour and personality, reading: “Welcome to Amber’s Wedding… featuring Dan.”
Roy and Emma are always on hand, for every couple’s wedding, and this was no exception. That’s throughout the entire setup process, assisting suppliers, coordinating timings, taking care of absolutely everything so their couples can enjoy every moment of their special day. They never shy away from getting the hands dirty and they always go the extra mile – Roy and Emma make dream weddings come true.
Behind the Scenes: How We Take Care of the Hard Work
Guests experienced a relaxed and effortless celebration, and our happy couple could relax in the certain knowledge that every detail was taken care of. This success lay in the many months of detailed planning and coordination behind the scenes.
With so many suppliers and highly specific requirements, Emma and Roy created a comprehensive wedding day schedule that mapped out every minute, from supplier arrivals to ceremony timings, décor placement and entertainment transitions.
Their role was to:
Liaise with all suppliers in advance
Coordiante deliveries and set-ups
Oversee venue dressing
Manage timings throughout the day
Ensure each element happened exactly as planned
“The tiniest details were accounted for,” says Emma. “Our focus was to allow Amber and Dan to relax and enjoy every second, knowing everything was in safe hands.”
A Celebration Full of Personality
From the second Amber and Dan’s friends, family, and guests arrived, the day radiated effortless charm and joyful energy. Every wedding should be special, and at Parkgate Farm, we make sure of it.
Pianist Ebony Keys greeted guests with live music
We supplied guests with a welcome glass of fizz on the lawn
Lawn games kept everyone entertained
Signature cocktails – Amberol Spritz and Dan & Stormy – added another personal touch
A champagne glass tower created a memorable photo moment
Roy himself performed two acoustic sets during the drinks reception
A balloon photo backdrop provided a fun focal point
The photobooth company also provided sparks to appear during the first dance, surprising their guests. This was one of Amber’s exiting ideas.
Even the weather got the memo, and delivered beautiful sunshine, allowing guests to enjoy the meadow outside the tipis before being welcomed inside for the wedding breakfast. A storm a couple of days beforehand caused Amber a great deal of angst – fortunately, we could put her mind to rest about our wet weather planning. Happily, there was no need in the end.
We made a specific table plan for Amber, incorporating a sweetheart table for the happy couple. The floral arch came back from the ceremony area to be reused around the sweetheart table, creating a meadow effect inside the tipis. Roy brought back the meadow flowers after the ceremony, and we carefully placed them where Amber wanted them to go.
Amber and Dan made a lively grand entrance as Mr & Mrs Proctor, greeted by cheering guests all waving napkins. A Mediterranean-inspired feast followed, featuring sangria, paella and wood-fired pizza, rounded off by a visit from an ice cream van.
To ensure each magical memory was saved for posterity, every moment was captured from multiple angles. Amber and Dan decided on a full creative team: photographer, videographer and social media content creator. These memories were made to last a lifetime.
Evening Energy and Parkgate Farm Magic
As the sun began to dip towards the horizon, the evening guests arrived, and the celebrations stepped up another level. True to Parkgate Farm tradition, Roy led our fantastic hobby horse race The Parkgate Grand National, bringing out everyone’s competitive side – along with lots and lots of laughs!
Amber changed into a stunning party dress ready for the night ahead. A 360-selfie booth kept guests entertained, while indoor sparks created a magical surprise moment during the couple’s first dance.
An eight-piece 70s disco tribute band, Groovemental, brought the dancefloor to life and kept the party going long into the night. A final sparkler moment provided the perfect cinematic ending to an unforgettable day.
The Dream (Wedding) Team
A truly collaborative effort brought the day together – and also showcases the flexibility of Parkgate Farm wedding venue. We can suggested suppliers – suppliers that we know will deliver and will care as much as we do. Or, as it’s your day, you can choose your own and we will do everything to help, accommodate, and co-ordinate. Amber and Dan’s wedding was made possible (and perfect) with the support of:
Celebrant: Naomi The Celebrant
Bridal Coach: Alex, Bride in Mind
Videographer: Drop D Wedding Films
Photographer: WamBam Weddings
Venue Dresser: Kole Events
Caterer: Wood Fire Smoke Catering
LOVE Letters: Birch & All Events
Cake: GG Bakes
Content Creator: The Social Wedding
260 Booth & Sparks: 360 Selfie Booth
Florist: The Ancoats Florist
Hair Stylist: Charlotte Rose Hair
MUA: Frankie Noone
Acoustic Music: Roy Bennett Music
Band: Groovemental
Pianist: Ebony Keys
You can probably imagine the work we put in to co-ordinate all this – and to make it look effortless.
A Perfect Reflection of Parkgate Farm Wedding Venue
Amber and Dan’s wedding was a beautiful example of what makes Parkgate Farm so special. Ours is a venue where creativity, personality and meticulous organisation come together in a magical natural setting.
“What you have built is nothing short of incredible. You are always thinking of the couple’s first and how else you can enhance their day. Thank you for being part of our special day and helping us to creating everlasting memories!
Love from Amber and Dan x”
From the very first visit to the last sparkler of the night, every detail was planned, managed and delivered with care. The result was a seamless, joyful celebration that perfectly reflected the couple and the enchanting spirit of Parkgate Farm Wedding Venue.
As amber herself says: “If you have an idea, ask the question ‘can we do this, please? Roy and Emma will do everything they can to help, and there’s always a first for something.”
Are you dreaming of a wedding that is personal, magical and flawlessly organised? A day you can relax and enjoy with all the stress and hard work taken care of? We can bring your vision to life at Parkgate Farm, where dream weddings really do come true.
