Sparkford Hall is the most amazing venue for a chilled out summer wedding!
To be given the opportunity to create wedding photography at Sparkford Hall makes me a very lucky person. Sparkford Hall is the perfect mix of splendour you get from a manor house wedding and the laid back, quirky nature of a country wedding venue. It was such a gorgeous venue with plenty of room to spread out and eccentricities to marvel at. This venue is the perfect canvas to paint your wedding on! I very much hope I can visit Sparkford Hall again, but my only regret is that Yeovil is not exactly near to me, as I would love to visit regularly!
1) Please tell me how you first met?
We met 9 years ago in Oxford. My friend’s boyfriend at the time was a family friend of Robert and she said she was going to invite him to meet us on the Cowley Road and she thought I’d like him. Robert was really late as he got a flat Tyre on the way. I wasn’t initially sure if I liked him and we saw each other a few more times in Oxford and then it fizzled out. I went back for my graduation in the June and Robert passed me in my car and sent me a text. We met again for a date and at Bicester village and I was really late as I left my phone behind and went to go and collect it. When I arrived an hour late Robert said to me how much he disliked late people! Anyway, it didn’t bother him too much and continued to see each other between Wokingham where I lived and Bristol where Robert lived until we moved in together in 2013.
2) When was it you knew they were the one?
I don’t think there was a particular time when we knew. When Robert relocated from Bristol to Southampton to be with me, I think that was the moment. We also then knew we could live with each other!
3) Could you give us the story of the proposal?
Robert proposed on Christmas Eve in 2015. We went to my sister’s house with my family for dinner and games. Every year we play the dice game which basically involves my Mum buying loads of silly presents and wrapping them all up. They all go in the middle and you try and throw the dice around the circle until you get a 6. When you get a 6, you can take a present from the middle. Once all the presents have gone you can start stealing them from each other. Robert wanted to take some presents to contribute to the game this year and I didn’t really think anything of it. Then when we were playing Robert kept wanting to get this box and my Mum thought it must have been good so she kept stealing it back from him! It sort of backfired as my Mum ended up winning the present but luckily was happy to swap with Robert who then opened it up and got down on one knee in front of my family and asked me to marry him. It was very romantic and thoughtful and had most of us in tears!
4) If you don’t mind sharing, can you tell me something quirky, funny or silly about your partner?
Robert has a lot of very annoying habits. I am sure he will say the same about me! The most annoying things he does is eat really loudly. Especially if it is chocolate or biscuits which he insists on making last as long as possible and will lick every last crumb from his fingers and the packaging. We also have numerous arguments about his driving and how bad it is! His best friend and best man, Kyle also agrees with me which makes it even funnier.
He does a lot of silly accents especially a Northern one which seems to have stuck! He also does a hilarious American accent for our Pomeranian, Louis which cracks me up!
5) What is your perfect day together?
We have very different perfect days! Mine would involve getting up early and doing a dog walk at Virginia Water. I love spending time in our garden as it’s a massive project and constantly needs work. Robert is an amazing cook and we really enjoy cooking together (I say together, Robert does 90% of it) and make a lot of curries. We love getting a good series and binge-watching a whole series. 
6) Apart from the obvious, what are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
Seeing all the people we love in one room at the same time. Although I am worried about getting to speak to everyone. Also, being able to see two years of planning come to life! 
7) What was it that inspired you to go for the theme or the decor you chose for your wedding?
The dusky pink theme was just by chance and seems to have happened from choosing the bridesmaid dresses. We are using a local florist to the venue who grows all her own wildflowers which we loved. We’ve also got Roberts airstream caravan which we are using for the bar and the VW campervan photo booth. We have lots of garden games and hay bales which will keep everyone entertained and having fun.
8) Please tell me one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your wedding planning process, that you could pass on to future bride’s reading this blog?
Focus on yourselves. It is so easy to get wrapped up in worrying about all your guests and trying to keep everyone happy. You can forget that it’s about the two of you and everyone else will have a good day seeing you happy.
9) When searching, what were you were looking for in a wedding venue?
We really wanted to have a chilled wedding that wasn’t too formal or in a hotel where we are being told what to do. We liked the fact that Sparkford Hall is ours for the weekend and our closest friends and family can stay at the venue. They are really relaxed about what we can do and that has made the planning really easy.
Vendor List
Photography | Duncan Cox Photography
Ceremony Location | Sparkford Hall
Reception Location | Sparkford Hall
Florist | Common Farm Flowers
Wedding Planner | Wonky Dog Productions
Wedding DJ | Our band are called the Harmony Collective
Dress Designer | Essence of Australia
Wedding Dress Retailer | Confetti, Wokingham
Other Details/Vendors | Vintage Camper booths, South Street Kitchen
