Autumnal nuptials in the Peak District

Alex Pateman knew his proposal to girlfriend Jenni Walton-Gould had to happen somewhere special, but didn’t realise it would take three attempts! 

The cottages sleep 51 guests in total with a mix of one, two, three, four and five bedrooms, all surrounding lovely courtyards and gardens with stunning views across the Derbyshire countryside. The ‘Love Nest’ is reserved exclusively for the newlyweds, and the wedding party has full and exclusive use of all the Haddon Grove facilities for three nights, so the celebrations don't have to stop when the actual wedding day ends.  

The site lends itself perfectly to a marquee wedding, and ticked all of Jenni’s boxes. She said: “I’d always imagined having a marquee wedding and liked the idea of being able to choose everything yourself. Some venues had all sorts of restrictive rules about which suppliers you could use, whereas here they were very relaxed. 

“We knew we wanted something on the Friday night – we had a pizza van, which was great – and also on the Sunday, when we put on a hog roast. It was like a village our friends and family could take over for the whole weekend, which was really nice.” 

A different approach 

Naturally, Jenni requested quotes from a number of marquee hire companies. “Being from London, I didn’t have a clue about marquee hire in Derbyshire! I think I found Village Farm Marquees on a Google search. Some companies took a while to respond or just gave me a quote without asking any questions or speaking to me, but with Chrysta it was quite different. 

“She said she needed to speak with me before quoting, and we spent about an hour on the phone chatting about what I wanted. I found her really easy to talk to, she was so friendly and approachable, and obviously very knowledgeable about what she does. 

“Her quote was higher than the other companies, but I realised it was properly costed up and there would be no hidden extras or nasty surprises further down the line. She’d clearly put the effort into giving me a fully considered quote that would deliver exactly what I wanted, whereas some of the others just hadn’t thought it through properly. 

“Chrysta thought of everything – I know the caterers were really pleased with the space allocated for them, as some marquee companies only give them half the size. She was also mindful of my budget and was really clear about costings if I decided to make changes.” 



Church ceremony 

The bride wore a stunning Suzanne Neville ivory dress, with off the shoulder straps and a full skirt, and carried a colourful orange, pink and aubergine autumnal bouquet. Six bridesmaids attended her, in forest green dresses, while the groom wore a bespoke dark blue suit with a waistcoat. 

The bride and her father travelled to the church in an elegant Rolls Royce, while guests were transported by executive minibus. It was important to Jenni and Alex to have a religious marriage ceremony, and so on October 16, the couple exchanged vows in front of their 125 guests in Bakewell’s beautifully decorated All Saints Parish Church, before everyone headed over to Haddon Grove for the celebration. 

Guests enjoyed delicious canapes themed on the couple’s travels, such as Argentinian steak and paella balls, then took their seats in the marquee, which featured eye-catching touches such as a floral hoop near the entrance to continue the bold autumnal feel of the bride’s bouquet. A clear gable end and a clear roof above the dancefloor and bar ensured everyone could see the stars sparkling in the dark skies, while each table included a gold lantern centrepiece surrounded by a floral wreath. 

For the main meal, guests tucked into steak and ale pie or cauliflower cheese pie, with lots of veggies and mash, with apple crumble and custard for dessert. A live band got everybody up on the dancefloor, and hungry dancers were able to top up their energy levels with Greek halloumi wraps served later in the evening. 

As the venue’s licence for music runs out at 11pm, at this point the ‘silent disco’ went live, with partygoers being able to choose from three dance channels – blue for Jenni’s playlist, green for Alex’s, and red for tunes chosen by Jenni and Alex’s parents. 

The happy couple were the last ones standing and eventually retired to the ‘Love Nest’ at 2.30am, knowing they wouldn’t be able to sleep in too long the next day as most guests would be returning for the hog roast! 



A memorable weekend 

The whole wedding weekend was full of memorable moments. Jenni recalls: “I remember coming out of the cottage wearing my dress, and seeing my dad waiting for me, and then walking up the aisle with him. And when Alex and I went off for photos I thought I’d feel grumpy about being taken away from our guests, but it was lovely to spend that bit of time just with him. 

“I also remember feeling overwhelmed by how lovely the marquee looked, I couldn’t believe how well it had all come together. I think at some wedding venues, it’s all in someone else’s control, whereas I’d done my own planning. Obviously Chrysta played a massive part in making things happen, she’s just amazing. 

“Also, I felt so nervous about our first dance. We’d had some dance lessons, and we’d practised the steps with no mistakes the night before! But it wasn’t a disaster and that ended up being a really nice moment too.” 

Following the wedding weekend, the couple honeymooned in Scotland, visiting Gleneagles, the Cairngorms and Edinburgh. 

Chrysta Newman, Co-director of Village Farm Marquees, said: “As Jenni lives in London I didn’t actually meet her until just before her wedding day, but I felt we’d really got to know each other well as we’d spent lots of time on the telephone, bringing her plans to life. 

“I’m so pleased with the way the marquee looked, and am thrilled that Jenni and Alex enjoyed such a wonderful weekend of celebration. They’re a super couple and I wish them all the best for the future.” 

Jenni concluded: “We had so many comments on how beautiful the marquee was. Chrysta just knows everything there is to know about marquee weddings, and is always on hand with guidance or just a second opinion. I didn’t have to worry about anything like electricity supplies, plugs or lighting, I could ask her for advice about anything at all. I probably annoyed her no end by constantly changing my mind! 

“She was one of the best people to have around. I didn’t have to worry about things knowing she was taking care of them. I literally recommend her to all my friends, even if they’re not thinking of getting married!” 



PHOTOS COURTESY OF: Oliver Holder Photography 

 Suppliers 

Venue – Haddon Grove Farm Cottages 

Marquee – Village Farm Marquees 

Furniture – Black Event Furniture 

Toilets/Generator/Fridge Trailer – The Convenience Company (North) 

Catering – Thomas the Caterer 

Bar – Mambo Mobile Bars 

Band – 29 Fingers 

Silent Disco – The Silent Disco Company 

Florist – Avant Garden Events 

Table Linen – Luxury Linen Hire 

Cake – Hannah Matilda 

Hair/MUP – Jenni Hughes at Make-up by Jenni 

Dress – Suzanne Neville from The Dress in Teddington 

Groom’s Suit – Beggar’s Run 

Bridesmaid dresses – Rewritten 

Videographer – Toast Films 

Photographer – Oliver Holder Photography Rolls Royce – The Wedding Car Hire People 

Executive Car Hire – JB Executive Travel 

Hog Roast – Ginger Butchers in Bakewell 

Pizza Van – Sunshine Pizza Oven