A Fanciful, Bohemian Marquee Wedding at Huntington Castle
There are some weddings that remain in my memory for the sheer wonder of how they came together. Not that any of it was a mystery - meticulous planning and careful execution being the magic in question - more the remarkable nature of just how beautiful life can be, under the right conditions, and how lucky I feel to be part of these moments that will shape the rest of life, for many of the participants.
“I have no doubt booking Kate as my wedding planner was one of the best decisions I made planning my dream Irish destination wedding. I’m so grateful I had her help and encouragement through this whole daunting process. ”
For me, the wonder of this wedding began at being chosen by our bride Shaina. I can’t help but admit that I was quite struck by how cool she was - effortlessly stylish, with this gorgeously successful Californian bridal brand Tara Lauren, which I had admired long before our connection - and immediately, I felt the honour of her trust in me. I could see that Shaina was certain of her aesthetic ideals and yet so open to collaboration & advice - we clicked, stylistically; and that’s very exciting for an event decor enthusiast, such as I.
“I don’t always feel understood, or feel comfortable around everyone I meet, but from the beginning she put me so at ease and it was so easy to be myself, by the end she truly felt like a friend. I can’t recommend her enough!”
Shaina’s dream was clear. The ceremony, come rain or shine, had to be in this dreamy ruin at Huntington Castle and the reception, again whatever the weather, would be in its lush historical gardens. I was always on board, but part of my role as the Irish weather-pessimist, working for a Californian weather-optimist is that there must always be a rain plan. For ceremonies, depending on the couple’s feelings, I can get on board with a looser rain plan - in this case it was clear brollies, which we kept next to the ruin, because it was one of those days… though, in the end, they remained in their baskets.
For dinner & dancing, however, it would take an awful lot to convince me to go without an al fresco backup plan; much too risky. So keen to keep this event airy and entwined in the garden’s greenness, Shaina found it difficult to get on board with the idea of a marquee, but convince her I did, with my favourite traditional canvas pole tent, which - with its open sides & grassy floor - is the perfect inside outside vibe… and boy were we glad we had it when the heavens opened at the very moments we rang the dinner bell.
Shaina designed her own Edwardian-inspired gown and, my god, it was incredible. INCREDIBLE.
“It was such a relief to work with someone who understood my vision without judgement, and helped me bring it to life... and also someone who was so willing to allow me to be so involved in the planning process. Her calm, supportive, patient, and positive energy was exactly what I needed and helped me get to the finish line. She was also very transparent and never left me confused or misled which I appreciated.”
I love setting a fancy table and though I’d never play favourites - my tablescapes are like my children - I have to say that this one, is exactly my taste; simple as that. As I said, Shaina & I vibed. The perfect balance between contemporary brightness and vintage chintz; the textures; it’s connection with the garden; the fieldy flowers and zesty fruits. I love it and I would set this table again and again. I felt so lucky, that day, that I got to work with Shaina and bright this table dream alive.
“Kate was so dedicated to making my wedding exactly what I’d hoped for, throughout the entire process including on my wedding day. She was on top of all of the little details, including things I didn’t realize or know about. I was so grateful to have such a great advocate pushing ahead for me. ”
There’s nothing quite like a party in a tent. Perhaps it’s because you’re in a structure built purely for the purpose of frivolity; nature winding down for the night, while the tempo rises just beneath the canvas… the lights within the majestic castle next door making it all the cosier to observe. This joyous crew took great advantage of the scene we set for them - the band drew every soul onto the dancefloor, while cocktails flowed and cake was devoured. And we observed it from the sidelines; proud of ourselves and our beautiful couple for creating such a special moment in time.
