IS THE COTSWOLDS THE NEW HAMPTONS FOR WEDDINGS?
With the new satirical novel "Wives Like Us" by Plum Sykes due to be published in May this year (I have my copy on pre-order!) there is a wave of attention being given to our local area where we are based... The Cotswolds, in beautiful rural England, not far from London but very much a top UK destination for countryside chic.
With its quintessentially English landscapes, stretching from Chipping Campden in the North and Bath in the South, it is dotted with idyllic villages of honey coloured Cotswold stone houses surrounded by gently rolling hills. Now boasting an incredible array of foodie locations (from Lady Bamford's brand Daylesford to local farmers markets) and boutique shopping (from Burford Garden Centre to Cutter Brooks), there are also a multitude of luxury hotels, members clubs, private manor houses and rural barn conversions to host your party or wedding celebration too.
Having grown up in The Cotswolds, and returning in 2010 after a steady career in London to launch our wedding & event planning business, we have our finger on the pulse with all the hottest locations and vendors in the area. Secret gardens and unknown properties, garden grown flowers and incredible locally sourced ingredients for your food menus, all delivered with the highest levels of service. We really are the local experts in entertaining.
Not only is it a destination for weddings with clients globally, but it is often where family homes and holiday properties are based for a privately hosted functions - requiring marquee builds and full service transformations to rival even the wildest house parties as seen thrown by Rosamund Pike and Richard E Grant (who happens to live locally in my grandparents old house!) in their Saltburn mansion.
Want to fit in with the locals? There are three basic looks to have in your wardrobe depending on which area of the Cotswolds you visit... from the classic Schoffel + Le Chameau seen on both farmers and locals alike (reserved only for my walks with our red fox labrador Jupiter), to the more chic Holland & Cooper tweed and cashmere, and the more country fashion set deluxe hippy look - occasionally upgraded to a Scandi/cottage core though remembering that wide leg trousers really aren't great for wellies and wet winters. Save it for the Summer months. Get yourself to Willow & Wolf in Marlborough or Square in Bath... just don't tell anyone else as it's a total pain when they sell out of the latest Isabel Marant, Ganni and Stella Nova each season.
So will The Cotswolds become the new Hamptons for super chic and well heeled weddings? I'll let you decide. If you do need someone to show you the hotspots and create something perfectly in keeping with a wow factor then book a consultation and we'd be delighted to let you see inside our little black book of the very best of the best locally.
