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.

Kyle and Jo 

Wedding Date – Friday 6th October 2023

 ‘A relaxed October wedding in Nottingham with an Autumnal theme and pampas grass flowers’

Kyle and Jo wanted a big ol’ party for their guests! They chose to skip the traditions of a sit down meal and speeches and chose a later ceremony, followed by a drinks reception then straight to the evening reception. Here at Cockliffe we offer a range of options to allow for flexibility so that you can have your day, your way.

The unseasonal September weather meant that the gardens were still in bloom and filled with bright colour, and the grass a luscious green. Perfect for their portrait shots. This also meant that guests could enjoy their drinks and canapes outside, which made for the perfect relaxed October wedding day. Read on for some Autumn wedding inspiration…

What was your inspiration for your special day? 

Autumn is our favourite month – the leaves, the colours, the coziness! Getting married in early October we really wanted to channel some of that energy, and Touch of Charm brought it to life perfectly! We were also keen to keep the day informal, fun and light, so we skipped the wedding breakfast and speeches, and were able to have a wonderful party with all of our family and friends!

What was the best part of your day? 

It would have to be walking down the aisle to our favourite song with our little boy, Frankie. It was so special to be able to share that moment. For a minute it just felt like us in the room!

Why did you choose Cockliffe Country House?

It’s such a gorgeous venue – beautiful and grand but in no way overwhelming, small enough to feel intimate and so full of character. The venue were also able to cater to our needs, not insisting on a wedding breakfast and making the day totally what we wanted it to be.

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

We ended up going with an external supplier which we organized ourselves. We wanted hog roast and pizzas, plus sides so no one went hungry!

What was the hardest part of your wedding planning?

I’m super organized and run events for work so the organization wasn’t too much of an issue. I just found that those last few weeks I felt super nervous making sure everything had been considered and all our boxes had been ticked! Having Abi assigned as our wedding coordinator and her being totally on the ball and all over everything really put my mind at ease – I knew we were in safe hands!

What were your favourite parts of the Venue?

I’d have to say the outside and the grounds – our drinks reception was directly after the confetti tunnel at the front doorway. We had Paul playing the sax, the weather was absolutely beautiful, and everyone just milled around chatting and having canapes, while the kids ran around. It was perfect! So many guests commented on how lovely Cockliffe is.

If you had any advice for couples planning their wedding, what would it be? 

Don’t stress! Both be really clear on how you want your day to be so that you’re both comfortable, and stick with it! Don’t care what anyone else thinks, and most importantly – have FUN!

Suppliers:

Photographer: Andy Saywell Photography

Stylist and Florist: Touch of Charm

Cake: Jayne’s Cakes

Wedding Dress: Emily Bridal 

Suits: Moss Bros 

Bridesmaid Dresses: Never Fully Dressed 

DJ and Sax Player: Paul Martyn

Looking for more wedding inspiration? Take a look at our wedding gallery and real wedding blog.

Want to find out more? Download our brochure and our events team will be in touch.