I knew from the moment I spoke to Sadie + Rene that their RHS Wisley Glasshouse wedding was going to be something very special and oh my days, it really was!
The glasshouse & gardens looked spectacular in the sunshine (although I’m sure they would look stunning in any weather!) I loved exploring Wisley Garden with these two especially finding the pretty hydrangea’s & gunnera (giant Chilean rhubarb), it felt like we were in Jurassic Park!
The building is set in the stunning grounds of RHS Wisley overlooking a lake at the front. All the glass makes the space so incredibly magical, you are transported to some tropical world, a million miles away from England!!!!! Sadie had decor nailed. She is a kickass florist working at WildAbout so I knew they the flowers were going to feature heavily and she didn’t disappoint, that mixed in with pineapples, vodka and sticks of rock, the place looked amazing and everyone said so. It was a real WOW factor. Entering The Glasshouse was like walking into a jungle – tree ferns, tall palms, lush-leaved creepers and dazzling flower displays give an air of expectation and drama, it even had a waterfall!!!!!
Sadie + Rene’s family and friends were so so much fun, I really struggled to capture the speeches because I was laughing so much at the best men, it was one of the best, best man speeches ever! Then at night the glasshouse changes again, it takes on a whole new character and it becomes and festival of light. The music was blasting (care of Sadie’s Dad, who was the DJ, I know – how cool!) some serious shapes were being thrown and everyone had a huge smile on their face including me! Here is what they had to say:
How they met: Sadie + Rene met 6 1/2 years ago online but turns out that they had the same circles of friends. Their paths had crossed many, many, times, at many festivals, parties and night clubs!
What were they most looking forward to on the wedding day? Having all of there friends and family together to celebrate there special day. The relief that all there hard work/ planning has come to a hopefully successful end.
What made them decide to get married where they did? It was close to where Rene grew up and had visited Wisley a number of times as Sadie is a florist and keen on the plants!
How long did it take to plan the wedding? 1 year
How would you describe your wedding day in 2 sentences? A great big colourful party! Traditional with a tropical hothouse!
How did you spend/allocate your budget? The key thing we wanted was to have the reception at Wisley so that is where a large part of the budget went.
Did you have a theme or colour scheme you were working towards? Not a colour! No matchy matchy. Hot pink flowers, yellow shoes, I wanted an element of eclectic, with a pop of colour,
What sort of flowers did you have? Bridal flowers a collection of hot pink fuchsia coloured flowers. Buttonholes and reception flowers -Dendrobium and Phalaenopsis orchids.
What did you eat? We had amazing caterers called The Herb Kitchen who set up a fire pit that cooked really tasty cuts of pork and beef along with lovely sides brought out on sharing boards to the tables. For dessert we had sharing plates of Eton Mess brought to the tables. Couldn’t have wished for a better meal for the wedding breakfast. We also hired a pizza van to provide evening food with cooked to order pizzas in the stone oven.
What were your special moments or highlights of the day? The whole day was a whirlwind. Arriving at Wisley and having 5 minutes to ourselves with a glass of Champagne before the reception was great.
What advice would you give any other couples about planning? It will be stressful and you will no doubt have countless sleepless nights worrying but it will all come together in the end and you will have the most amazing day.
Supplier Details
Florist – WildAbout
Bridesmaid dresses – Highstreet
Grooms Suit – Ted Baker
Caterer – The Herb Kitchen
DJs – Raggy Jha, Terry Church, Ewan Smith, Clive Drinkwater
Venue – RHS Wisley