Real Weddings: Gemma and Lee

Sep 17, 2026 | Real Weddings

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Welcome to our Real Wedding Blog!

We’ve spoken to our couples to find out their top tips, advice and favourite moments of their wedding at Cockliffe Country House in Nottingham. If you’re getting married with us, or simply looking for some wedding day inspiration for your own wedding plans, read on to find out more.

Gemma and Lee

Wedding Date – 24th May 2026

‘A relaxed spring wedding, filled with BBQ, pizza, sunshine and beautiful outdoor spaces’

For Gemma and Lee, their wedding day was all about keeping things relaxed and true to them as a couple. From choosing a laid-back BBQ for their wedding breakfast, and our favourite stone baked pizzas for their evening food, meant they got to make the most of Cockliffe Country House’s beautiful gardens, as both meals were served outside. Every details was thoughtfully chosen to create a day where their family and friends could simply relax, enjoy themselves and celebrate together. The glorious May sunshine allowed them to enjoy the outdoor spaces throughout their wedding day, reminding us just how stunning spring weddings can be at Cockliffe. Read on to hear all about their wedding planning, top tips and how a visit to Cockliffe changed their wedding plans completely…

Describe your wedding day in 3 words…

Memorable, perfect, relaxed.

What was your inspiration for your special day?

Our main inspiration was to create a relaxed, chilled out day where everyone could enjoy themselves. We didn’t want anything too formal or overly structured and we wanted our wedding to feel comfortable, fun, and a true reflection of us as a couple.

We focused on creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere where our family and friends. A day where they could could relax, spend time together, and celebrate with us. Rather than following every wedding tradition, we chose the things that felt right for us. The day was filled with laughter, good food and great company.

What was the best part of your day?

We honestly can’t choose just one part of the day as the best because every moment was phenomenal. From getting ready in the morning, to seeing each other for the first time, saying our promises. Then, spending time with our family and friends, and dancing the night away every part of the day felt truly special.

The whole day flowed perfectly, and we were able to relax and enjoy every moment knowing the team had everything under control. The staff at Cockliffe were incredible throughout the entire day. They worked so hard behind the scenes to make sure everything ran smoothly, and nothing ever felt stressful or rushed. Any worries we may have had simply disappeared because we knew we were in safe hands.

Looking back, what made the day so incredible wasn’t one specific moment, but being surrounded by the people we love. Celebrating our marriage in such a beautiful setting, and knowing that the amazing team at Cockliffe had everything under control. It really was everything we hoped for and more.

Why did you choose Cockliffe Country House?

Before visiting Cockliffe Country House, we had been considering a registry office wedding. While it seemed like a practical option, we just weren’t feeling excited about it and felt like something was missing.

We started looking at other options locally and came across Cockliffe Country House. From our very first contact, it was clear that the team genuinely love what they do. As soon as we arrived for our viewing, we both got a feeling that this was the place for us. It’s hard to explain, but even before we walked through the front door, we were already falling in love with the venue.

Andrea showed us around and she was absolutely brilliant. Her passion for Cockliffe really shone through, and she instantly put us at ease. Lee can be a bit cheeky at times, but Andrea just went with it and matched our energy perfectly, which made the whole experience feel relaxed and natural.

To be honest, we didn’t need to think about it. By the end of the viewing, we already knew this was where we wanted to get married. We didn’t even look at any other venues – Cockliffe was the first venue we visited and the only one we wanted. As soon as payday arrived, we booked it!

From that point on, we attended every open day we possibly could. With each visit, we fell in love with Cockliffe a little bit more. The open days gave us the opportunity to spend more time at the venue, meet different members of the team, and really start to picture how our wedding day would come together.

Every member of staff we met was friendly, warm, and professional, but never in a way that felt overly formal or intimidating. Everyone made us feel genuinely welcome. Over time, we became familiar faces, Lee even became quite well known to the chef because of his unusual eating habits! It was always lovely to arrive and be greeted by familiar faces. Those personal touches made us feel valued and reassured that we had made the right decision in choosing Cockliffe for our wedding.

The moment we arrived at Cockliffe, we finally felt excited about planning our wedding. And every visit afterwards only reinforced that feeling. It just felt right, and we knew it was where we wanted to celebrate our special day.

How did you decide which menu was right for your day?

Food was actually one of the easiest decisions we made! We attended the tasting evening for the three-course menu and the food was absolutely lovely. However, while we enjoyed it, we realised it wasn’t really a reflection of us as a couple or the relaxed, chilled-out wedding we were planning.

When we found out that we could choose the BBQ option instead, there was no hesitation. It suited the laid-back atmosphere we wanted to create and felt much more like us than a traditional wedding breakfast.

We also attended a few of the open days and had the chance to try the pizza. This was a huge hit with pizza-loving Lee, and from the first bite, we knew we had found our evening food too! Again, it fitted perfectly with the fun and relaxed vibe we wanted for our day.

For us, choosing the BBQ and pizza wasn’t just about the food itself, it was about making sure every part of our wedding reflected who we are as a couple. We wanted our guests to feel relaxed, well fed and have a great time, and these choices were absolutely perfect for that.

What was the hardest part of your wedding planning?

The planning was a breeze! We were so laid back about the whole thing that we were pretty much horizontal throughout most of it.

If we had to pick the most challenging part, it was probably making sure the bridesmaids were happy and that everyone felt comfortable and included. With different personalities, opinions and schedules, that sometimes took a bit more coordination than choosing the venue or menu!

Overall though, we were very lucky. Wedding planning was far less stressful than we expected, and we had a lot of fun along the way.

What were your favourite parts of the venue?

The outdoor space was definitely one of our favourite parts of the venue. We were lucky enough to have the most amazing weather on our wedding day, which meant we could really enjoy the beautiful garden, greenery and surrounding views. It provided the perfect backdrop for photos and gave our guests plenty of space to relax and enjoy themselves.

That being said, it’s hard to choose because the entire venue is absolutely stunning. From the moment you arrive, there’s a real sense of charm and elegance throughout. We loved the beautifully decorated newlywed suites dressing room, which contributed to making the getting ready on the morning of the wedding feel even more special.

Lee is a huge Winston Churchill fan, so one of his favourite parts of the venue was the Churchill Room because of its name and the fact that he used to go shooting there! In fact, at times I think he was more excited about having breakfast in the Churchill Room than he was about the wedding itself! As soon as he became aware of the name and reasoning behind it, it instantly became a firm favourite and a talking point for him.

Of course, it’s not just the venue itself that makes Cockliffe special, it’s the people. Every member of staff we met was friendly, professional and genuinely invested in making our day perfect. Their attention to detail and support throughout the planning process and on the day itself made all the difference. Joanne was our wedding planner, she was outstanding, nothing was too much trouble.

Every part of the venue felt special, and even now when we look back at our photos, we remember exactly why we fell in love with it.

If you have any advice for new marrying couples, what would it be?

Don’t get caught up in traditions or what you think a wedding should be. Do what makes you happy and what reflects you as a couple.

Enjoy the planning process too! It’s easy to get stressed over the little things, but try not to. The day goes by so quickly, so make sure you take some time together to step back, take it all in and enjoy the moment.

Most importantly, remember that it’s YOUR day. The things that made our wedding special were the personal touches that felt like us, and that’s what our guests remember too.