Caribbean Charm at a whimsical Wotton House Wedding
Horace & Sherene chose to have their summer wedding at the whimiscal Wotton House in the heart of the Surrey Hills, not far from Dorking in August 2023. They booked two camera operators, with wedding video coverage from the preparations until the first dance. This was a good choice due to multiple preparations locations and a large number of guests.
The Proposal
Sherene told us, “the proposal was so unromantic but very Horace!!”…
“On 1st January 2021 Horace told me he would ask me to marry him that year at some point! I spent all year waiting for it at key moments like Valentine’s Day and birthdays etc but it never came! We got to Christmas and I thought it had to be then…it wasn’t! So then I knew it had to be New Year! So I invited all of my friends and family round as they were eagerly waiting just like me! It had been 12 years! We had a lovely evening of good food, fun and games etc then it was count down time! The count down also came and went and still nothing. At 2am everyone gave up waiting as it clearly wasn’t happening! After everyone left we went upstairs and I got all dramatic “why haven’t you asked me to marry you?!” “Am I not good enough to be your wife?!” He said “ I’m sorry, I was going to buy the ring but didn’t come in time”… I was so so mad!! You had one job haha!! He then picked up our daughters barbie ring and said “we can use this in the meantime?!” (That was even worse than not being asked!) As he could see me getting even crosser he whispered “turn around” and pointed to the table behind me… I turned around and there was a proper ring! It had been there all along but I was so wound up I hadn’t noticed it! Then I made him get down on one knee and ask me properly”
We love this story and it’s definitely not one we were expecting to hear, but it did make us chuckle!
Visions & Ideas
Sherene is a wedding planner and as she knew that she would need some assistance on the day to be able to thoroughly enjoy it, she hired the wonderfully professional and calm Natasha from Pearline Events. The wedding turned out exactly how Sherene & Horace had envisioned it. It was perfect – they just wanted everyone to be relaxed and have a great time.
The Morning
Sherene got ready at Wotton House whereas Horace got ready in a hotel not too far away. Sherene told us, “We were excited, like all that we had been building up to was finally here!” .
With the help of Sherene’s uncle, Horace had his suit made especially for the day. Sherene had no idea what he would be wearing until she walked down the aisle! She thought he’d done a fantastic job!!
The bride got ready in the Heather suite with all of her bridal party, its a fabulously large room with lots of natural light flowing through the large windows. This was just perfect for her dress reveal to her bridesmaids!
Sherene’s wedding dress was from Pronovias. She had been following them on Instagram for years and when she went she tried on lots of dresses that she thought she would like and hated them all! Her Maid of Honour picked out the one she wore, she’d only tried it on to humour her but then loved it!
The Best Bits
Sherene told us, “I loved walking down the aisle. It was like a dream come true. And then dancing the night away at the best party! Those were my best bits.”
…”I booked a wedding videographer to remember the day. My parents got married in 1985 and I have watched their wedding video 100 times at least!”
The wedding ceremony began with both Mum’s walking down the aisle together, then Horace and his best man, then the bridal party DANCED down the aisle together! Watch the film below to see!
Sherene said, “We love seeing all the entrances on our wedding video. We didn’t see them all on the day so it was nice to watch them back. We also love seeing each others prep shots too.”
The look of content on the grooms face!
The Flowers
Sherene had always known exactly what she wanted! She told us, “We did have the most beautiful flowers put together by Flowers by Elaine. The florals were amazing and really gave the wow factor we wanted.” Sherene’s Uncle walked her down the aisle but she also attached a photo of her Late father in a broach on the stems so he was essentially walking her down the aisle too.
The bride told us, “Our cake was made by The Cake Tailor. I use her for all of my cakes as they look great and taste even better! I showed her lots of pictures and asked her to create our cake using a bit of this one and a bit of that one!! She did the most amazing job.”
“The hotel provided our food which was delicious. We had a good tasting which was done really nicely, felt like we were on a romantic date!”
…”In the evening we had our own caterer set up a jerk drum and we had authentic jerk chicken and pork! Yum!!”
Horace & Sherene had a lot of different entertainment throughout the day as the music was really important to them for setting the feel of the day. They had Mark the harpist that played their guests in and Sherene down the aisle. He also played a song he had learnt just for them during the register signing.
Natasha the planner helping Sherene with her dress
Drinks reception on the terrace at Wotton House Hotel.
Murray Clarke was the photographer on the day, we have worked alongside him before. The couple loved his style of catching things happening in the moment rather than lots of staged shots.
Horace & Sherene had Sunny Steelband during their drinks reception. It was outside in the sun so the feel was a real holiday vibe!
Then they had DJ Milktray as their DJ to bring on the best party vibe.
Wotton House wedding day tips
Sherene & Horace told us, “You miss so much on the actual day and forget bits as it all happens so quickly, so it’s nice to be able to watch back our wedding film and re-live it again and again.”
“Get all the big things booked first venue, photographer, videographer DJ etc and enjoy the process. If you aren’t enjoying it then get a planner. It should be fun!”
For more Wotton House Weddings check out our blog.
Click on the film below to watch Horace & Sherene’s wedding video highlights
Wotton House Wedding – Wotton House History – Wotton House Hotel
