The perfect Sussex barn wedding

Sophie & Antony got married on Thursday 28th July 2022 at Field Place Manor House, a beautiful wedding venue near Worthing, West Sussex and recently I asked them a few questions about their wedding preparation and any tips for future brides.

Please tell me about the proposal:

It took several months of me singing single ladies by Beyoncé for Antony to ask if marriage is something I think about! Then the following summer he took me to favourite country, Spain and popped the question. He had the most beautiful speech but I thought he was messing about so I went on about being late for dinner. It took a while for the pin to drop.

What drew you to Field Place and made it your dream wedding?

The beautiful garden! I’m definitely more of an outdoors person and the gardens where just beautiful and spacious when we viewed.

Did it take you a long time to find your 'perfect venue'?

2 months! I looked round some beautiful venues but Field Place definitely had more variety.

What was the most challenging part of organising your big day?

Honestly people emailing back! Everything is such a rush like you always feel like you’re against the clock and when people take 3-4 days to email you back I felt like I’d lost a lot of valuable time. I have to say Darren really took a lot of that stress away!

How did you know your wedding dress was 'the one'?

I’m very body conscious and I had tried on a-lot of dresses getting more and more frustrated that nothing looked right on me. Then I tried on ‘the’ dress and I felt like a princess. I was then told that it was the last one in that collection and it was a high street size 14 and myself being a 6-8. I felt like that was the end. The shop emailed me other dresses which where similar, but honestly I wasn’t seeing what they were. So my eldest brother got me the dress and made it my mission to find the best seamstress.

Who supplied the Groom and Groomsmen's suits and was there a particular style you were looking for?

The groom and the groomsmen’s suits where supplied by Moss Bros. Antony was looking for a tweed suit, for the gentleman look.

Did you always want to get married?

No no no definitely no! I was going to travel the world solo no marriage no kids. Antony always wanted the family and marriage. Once I had our eldest and a long time after started to find my feet as a mum, I found myself wanting another child then marriage. But I guess that’s because I had never really had a serious relationship I had never felt the love that I feel for Antony. I generally thought it was something that people made up to go through the motions of life but after meeting Antony I realise it’s all real.

What were your standout moments of the day and memories you'll cherish forever?

Seeing Antony the other end waiting, he actually turned up ha! Our boys giving us our rings was also a massive thing for us. Looking back through the photos everyone seems so generally happy.

Tell me about your first dance, which song did you dance to and why you chose it?

Okay so our first dance was Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran, we used to sing this song to each other, because Antony had a knee operation and couldn’t walk for a while and without thinking I sang to him ‘when your legs don’t work like they used to before and I can’t sweep you off of your feet’. Then he got his own back when I clicked my hip bone out. So it was a bit of an inside joke.

Do you have any tips for couples planning their wedding day?

Yes! Don’t stress the small stuff honestly on the day you won’t even notice it! I had a whole table of people drop out the day before the wedding so I thought everything was ruined table plan etc. But In that moment it was nothing major

You can’t please everyone. Do what makes you and your other half want/ like. The people that matter and the people that will come

If you don’t like the menus say!! I saw the menu and thought welI that’s all a bit posh for my taste buds. But once emailing the catering company and explaining. They done up the perfect menu for both me and Antony.

If you book for 2 years in advance and think you’ve got loads of time…. Honestly it goes by so fast.

On the day, after the ceremony take time away from everyone else and have some time together to take it all in. The day is going to be over so fast so try and take in as much as possible.

If you would like to speak in a bit more detail, then please feel free to send me an email to info@darrengrittonphotography.com or give me a text on 07538 135722. 

I look forward to capturing your magical day!