We are delighted to introduce our readers to the first in a new series of posts which will investigate different counties and regions and their particular appeal for couples getting married. This first piece, covering getting married in Surrey, has been created by The Bespoke Wedding Company and Sarah Clifford Weddings…

Surrey is a wonderland for all things weddings from amazing venues to fabulous cake designers, top-notch dress shops and extra-mile service. If you are thinking about getting married in Surrey you will certainly be in good hands. There are so many different parts to planning your wedding and we would struggle to cover everything here, but we do want to give you a little insight into some of the wedding wonders of this beautiful county and what she has to offer.

A perfect venue for a perfect day

Whether you are looking for a barn, a farm, a country house or a palace, Surrey has it all. For some, finding the perfect venue is the most challenging part of wedding planning, but our advice is to really think about your style as a couple, venues that you enjoy or places you like to visit on a day to day basis, and try and incorporate those elements when looking for a venue. That way you will be sure to find something that is true to you and you’ll feel at home there on your big day. There are so many incredible venues in Surrey, it’s really tricky to narrow them down but here are a few of our favourites as a starting point:

Millbridge Court is a brand new barn venue that launched this year and is a truly beautiful location for a relaxed Surrey wedding with ultimate contemporary style. We particularly love the luxurious and spacious bride’s room with enough mirrors and furnishings for even the largest of bridal parties to be pampered in. And, with catering by the fabulous Kalm Kitchen it’s a great choice for a quintessentially Surrey wedding.

For those of you looking for a little more history and tradition, dine with Kings at Hampton Court Palace with it’s spectacular setting. This is a really grand and opulent venue and very British, with a range of options within the grounds/Palace buildings to suit differing budgets.

Built as a royal hunting house the stunning Great Fosters (above) is a luxury country house hotel and another great choice for your Surrey wedding.  With varied ceremony spaces, as well as the stunning tudor Tythe Barn and light and bright Orangery to dine in, this is luxury country living at it’s finest.

Based on the River Thames, the Runnymede on Thames is another great venue to look at. It has varied reception options (think drinks and canapés on the river or in a chic ballroom), spa and hotel facilities, as well as having the convenience of being close to London with the beauty of the open space by the river.

Surrey is also home to a great selection of schools that open their doors for weddings during the holidays and can be a great option when looking for venues.

All things sweet

A fun part of planning (did someone say tasting?) and a part you can really personalise is the cake. The styles, decorations and flavours available now are second to none and good cake suppliers will work with you to create your perfect masterpiece. SK Cakes (see below) are Cobham based and work with you to create anything sweet and wedding related from light and delightful cupcakes, 5 tier contemporary cakes or biscuit favours and they were The Wedding Industry Awards 2015 Regional Winners. For ultimate luxury, look no further than Kingston based Cakes by Krishanthi. Beautiful, bespoke and delicious- they provide the ultimate wedding cake experience; this lady is a true artist.

Fabulous florals

Once you have found your venue your thoughts will no doubt turn to the flowers. For most people flowers are a key part of their day from the bridal bouquet to table centrepieces and room decoration, they add colour, style and scent to your wedding. Surrey is lucky to have some fabulous florists on our doorstep from the likes of Kate Avery and Rosie Orr to Euphoric Flowers (below), and all will work with you every step of the way to create personal and creative arrangements with great attention to detail.

Pretty Props and Decadent Décor

Styling and decoration are an ever-increasing part of a wedding day and there are no limits when it comes to how creative you can be. For the ultimate table styling, we love Couvert (see below) who can provide everything from crockery and glassware, to linen, lanterns and beyond. They provide unique and beautiful items, from gold beaded chargers to high quality contemporary crockery and can transform a room with their items.

A big trend for 2015/2016 is modern calligraphy- beautiful handwritten place cards, invites, envelopes, table plans all look stunning in calligraphy. This is a great idea if you want to add a creative touch or just have beautifully written place cards to add to the table. Judy Broad Calligraphy  (see above) is a Surrey local, offering both old and modern calligraphy styles and can cater for all your needs.

Hosting the perfect Hen Do

Surrey hosts a range of amazing activates from pottery making, make-up tutorials, dance classes… the list is endless. For the more adventurous amongst you we love the idea of a trip to Go Ape in Farnham or to the home of clay shooting in Bisley! For a girlier weekend you can’t beat a Spa break and where better to go than The Dorchester country retreat, Coworth Park (ok, we know it’s not strictly in Surrey, but it’s a stones throw from the border and worth going the extra 100 metres or so into Berkshire!).

A very Surrey Wedding Day Out

Every bride deserves at least one day full day of pure wedding pampering, so leave the wedmin at home and follow our advice for the perfect wedding day out in Surrey. We strongly believe every good wedding experience should either include cake or Champagne (ideally both!) so start with a coffee and a cake at the delightful Nest Café on Ripley high street- you can get some wedding and home inspiration from their shop whilst you are there too. Follow that by finding your perfect dress at Miss Bush Bridal just next door. The Chapel houses some stunning bridal designers and the service you will receive is second to none. Once you have found ‘The One’ why not pop over to The Anchor to finish the day with a lovely meal with your bridesmaids, oh and a glass or two of bubbly!

Photo Credits: Pippa Mackenzie