I feel like I have been swept up by a wedding whirlwind and have only just recovered from the nonstop planning, endless lists, excitement, nerves, stress, and happiness! If you’ve been keeping up with my bridal diary, you’ll know that I got married on the 17th August 2013 and became Mrs Dixon! I think I’ve only just recovered from the party and can now reflect on the absolute best day of my life.
As our venue, the incredible Cowdray House on Cowdray Estate is not licensed for civil ceremonies, we decided to get married at our local registry office, Brighton & Hove Town Hall, on the Wednesday morning before our wedding date. I have to admit we had planned for this to be a very quick in-and-out job and just another thing to tick off the list, because in our minds the important day was the 17th.
To our surprise, however, the Wednesday celebration became the most intimate, special and significant day. Our ceremony was just us and our parents, but by simply saying a few words to each other that constituted our legal vows it became so valuable and meaningful. We had even decided to save the exchange of rings until Saturday, but Simon surprised me by giving me the most beautiful, delicate gold necklace which has become symbolic of the day.
With the legalities taken care of, there followed two days of intense activity setting up the venue from noon until night. Simon and I didn’t follow the most traditional wedding format – instead it was really important to us that our wedding reflected our personalities, our passions and became a day that we would forever remember as spent with our dearest family & friends. Our theme for the day was festival, personal, homemade which would later transform into wondrous, fantastical, magical and enchanting.
The structures we were using to create this setting went up into place on Thursday. The focal point was a large 33ft yurt with a connecting 18ft yurt provided by Yurts for Life. This would be used for our ceremony and later on, our dance floor, with connecting smaller yurt as a chill out room full of cushions, blankets and rugs to create a cosy atmosphere. We also used upside down wooden wine crates as low tables.
Surrounding the yurt we had three food stall areas from which we would serve Mexican, Thai & Japanese cuisine. Each stall was provided by Pukkha Tents, which we decorated with props and styling to reflect the food being served.
As well as the food stalls we had a great bar set up using South Downs Marquees trapeze tent, along with Jacaranda’s own VW campervan to add to the festival theme. South Downs Marquees also provided three 3x3m pagodas which we used as changing rooms for our guests.
With the main structures in place, we could concentrate on decorating throughout Friday and the morning of the wedding. Homemade signs went up left, right and centre with the props and decorations covering every part of the garden. Whilst all of Simon’s family and my girl friends were on site, my mum was busy picking flowers from her garden for the table vases, whilst my sister was frantically making the bridesmaids’ hair wreaths and bouquets.
We left late on Thursday without having finished everything, meaning that I woke up super early on the morning of our wedding with my brain buzzing about what else needed to be done before 1pm when the guests would start to arrive. Before anyone else woke up, I set to work in the spare room putting the final touches to mine and Simon’s evening attire.
A cup of tea, some breakfast and a few hours later, my support group of family and friends arrived to begin the task of transforming me into a bride! Unbeknownst to me, Simon was already on site crazily sorting out the finishing touches with his best man. Our photographer, the wonderful Micaela Cianci, arrived to take a few shots of us getting ready before dashing back to the site to capture guests arriving.
Those guests that were camping started to arrive from 1pm to put up their tents, followed by our most incredible Humanist Celebrant, Croianna Bradshaw, who was to later conduct our ceremony. The remaining guests arrived at 2.30pm, ready for a 3pm ceremony.
At home, Karen at Mane Street hair salon had completed my hair and I had finished my own make up. My two bridesmaids were dressed and the only thing left to do was put my 1950s inspired wedding dress on, chosen from Proposals in Chichester. Dress on – I just has to wait for my dad and brother to collect me and take me to MY WEDDING!
My nerves were fine until I arrived at the venue and then it dawned on me that 120 of my friends and family would soon be watching Simon and I say our personalised vows to each other and exchange rings.
My dear sister opened the doors into the yurt where our beautiful bridesmaids entered first followed by me and my father. I peaked around the corner to see if Simon looked as nervous as me; I remember him in fits of laugher watching me walk in – maybe nerves, but probably a result of how surreal the moment felt.
Croianna conducted the most beautiful, humorous yet meaningful blessing. Simon and I exchanged our vows and rings and were pronounced the new Mr & Mrs. As we walked through our friends and family they showered us with handmade confetti, symbolising their wishes for us and our future.
Check back soon for the final part of Nickie’s wedding report and to see how she and Simon realised their homemade festival theme throughout their wedding reception.