After every wedding, once the guests have said their final farewell and we have wished the newlyweds off into married life, we get that moment of quiet to reflect upon the magic that has unfolded.
Although every wedding is special, we do have a few that we treasure close to our hearts and Nicola and Adam’s was one of these. From start to finish, the Honeyman’s wedding was like something from the pages of a fairytale.
Even now looking through their wedding photographs and writing this blog post has had me in tears (happy ones of course!) more times than I would like to admit!
“It’s hard to know where to start when talking about our experience with the beautiful Victorian gem which is Thicket Priory. From the sumptuous, tastefully designed interiors which offer such detail, depth and love, with captivating stories to be discovered at every turn and in every room; to the sensationally warm and welcoming team led with complete class and professionalism by the wonderful Anna. Through all the uncertainty and stress, Thicket Priory remained calm, supportive and flexible to help realise our dream wedding…and wow was it incredible. A blessing and a honour to have had such a significant moment in this special, magical place. Unforgettable x”
How did you meet Mr/Mrs Right?
“We met at an Interior Design company called PlumTreeMee based in charming Tadcaster.”
How did you (Adam) pop the question?
“I had kept Nic waiting so long, I thought I’d better do something spectacular, so a full evening was meticulously planned at Hever Castle during their Christmas Twilight experience; actors, multiple friends randomly turning up, clues given out by strangers, the lot…a truly wonderful and memorable experience!!”
One of the most important beliefs we have is that we want to welcome every couple and their families to make Thicket Priory their home for the duration of their wedding.
Adam and Nicola welcomed their guests on Tuesday evening for their pre-wedding celebrations. In keeping with the theme of their wedding, handmade bees had been hidden around as part of a treasure hunt for the children (and the adults!) as they explored the secrets of the building.
Guests then enjoyed a grazing feast in the Old Kitchen whilst The Parlour was set up as a games room with cards, dominos and a pool table. This was a perfect way for guests to get to know one another whilst partaking in some *friendly* competition!
One of the biggest pressures on a wedding day is feeling like you need to be the ‘host’; at Thicket Priory our beautiful building becomes the host for you. In particular those night prior celebrations ensure that your guests can socialise and relax together and so even if guests haven’t met before your wedding weekend, it will be as if they have been life-long friends by the end which means you are able to just relax and enjoy your special day!
What was the biggest must-have for your wedding?
“For me, I wanted to marry (ceremonial part) in a building of significance, ideally with a religious connection. The chapel really fit the bill in this regards. Other than that, simply a place with warmth of spirit and a tasteful interior. Obviously, we ended up with so much more!”
Our on-site Chapel has such a rich history. The beautiful stained-glass windows pay homage to the three families who lived here; showing how the family crest changed as they were joined together through marriage. The Gryffin (which is our signature emblem) originates from the Jefferson family, the blue stripes were then incorporated by the Dunnington family, and finally, the yellow paisley was added by the Vavasour family.
The stained-glass windows created the perfect setting for Adam and Nicola to say, ‘I do’, cascading golden light around the walls and filling the Chapel with warmth.
Whilst you cannot marry with a registrar in our Chapel, you can have a Celebrant led ceremony. Celebrants are able to create bespoke ceremonies with every aspect personalised; from the music and readings to the vows themselves, making them incredibly unique to each individual couple.
What was it about your venue that gives it the WOW factor? Would you recommend this venue to other couples?
“We would recommend it to anyone; find a way to make it work, you won’t regret it! Beautiful Victorian architecture, an absolute myriad of tasteful and magical interior spaces, staff and management of the upmost professionalism with wonderful demeanor and temperament, many tales to enjoy and secrets to find… just a privilege to spend time there.”
With both Adam and Nicola having a keen eye for beautiful interior, we knew the styling for their wedding was going to be exquisite. The stationary was all handmade by Nicola herself who has since started her own business called Lovebird London.
The theme that Adam and Nicola chose for their wedding was centred around the Honeyman name after research into Adam’s family heritage traced the name back to the Pictish Beekeepers from Scotland.
Using this narrative as their inspiration: jars of local honey were used as wedding favours, honey mead was served as part of the Wedding Breakfast and the warm earthy hues of honey were used as inspiration for the flowers and even the Groom’s/Groomsmen’s suits.
Their chosen colours and rustic aesthetic were perfectly in keeping with the Autumn season. Thicket Priory makes for the perfect Autumnal wedding venue with our woodland gardens and country house *home away from home* feeling.
The soft light of Autumn is a photographer’s dream; golden hour falls at the perfect time and provides the softest light for photographs.
Who gets the gold medal in the wedding Olympics for helping make your day amazing?
“I do not think the Thicket Priory team and especially Anna could have done any more, or done any better from the first minute to last…perfection.”
Giving a special mention to their photographer Adam and Nicola said, “the stand out for quality, effort and pure non-stop hard work on the day was Carla.”
Finally, what’s your best advice you could give to couples who are about to tie the knot?
“It’s your moment, do it your way. Say what you want to say and otherwise might not get chance.
If possible, have a 2 day event or longer…it gives more time to share precious moments with your nearest and dearest.”
Adam and Nicola’s guests all checked in with us on Tuesday evening and stayed until Thursday morning. Having all of their guests together for the two nights meant that they were able to extend their celebrations and make the most of their time spent together!
From the night prior games and treasure hunt to the funky moves on the dancefloor on their wedding night, we know that everyone who attended will have life-long memories of such a special and joyous occasion celebrating Adam and Nicola’s wedding!
We have very limited dates left for 2022 and our 2023 diary is filling up fast, and so if you are dreaming of having your own fairytale wedding at Thicket Priory please get in touch HERE.
With love
Jess xXx
Suppliers
Photographer: Carla Whittingham
Catering: Baba Ganoush
Entertainment: Kelly Cox – Local artist/caricaturist, Joel Grainger – Beat box violinist, Adele Honeyman solo vocalist, Warning Tones – evening band.
Celebrant: Penelope Jayne
Bride’s dress (designer and shop): Modeca Farah from Lulu Browns in Whalley
Grooms/mens’ suits: Moss Brothers bespoke/tailored service
Hair: Lauren McRae
Make-up: Alison Martin
Flowers: Lisa’s Florist – Selby
Cake: Sweet Chic
Stationery/Wedding favours: Stationery by Lovebird London (own), favours locally sourced honey (Giles & Victoria Budge – Thorganby)
