Molly & Olly's Marquee Wedding

Written by Melissa Hargreaves


Once Molly and Olly had officially booked Pauntley Court, the excitement truly began. Their first planning meeting with Holly, one of Pauntley’s experienced wedding coordinators, was full of ideas, inspiration and laughter as they started to shape their wedding weekend.

From a colourful, elegant marquee and the relaxed vibe of a roaming band to their love of fine food the wedding weekend began to take shape. Holly helped guide those early conversations, ensuring their vision could come to life in the most personal and thoughtful way.

As planning progressed, Molly and her mum, Kate, decided to take up Holly with more tailored support, available with all of Pauntley Court's experienced wedding planning team. With Holly by their side throughout, they felt reassured and able to fully enjoy the process — making the most of each step leading up to their wedding day.

   

A Wedding Weekend to Remember

Molly and Olly, along with their families, arrived at Pauntley Court on Friday lunchtime, full of excitement as the wedding weekend began. One of their first stops was to visit Holly and her team in the marquee, where preparations were already well underway. Gemma, of Petals and Pampas was putting the finishing touches on the vibrant arrangements, and the marquee was coming to life — bursting with colour, and all of their personal touches their vision was coming to life.

Later that afternoon, Molly and Olly held their intimate civil ceremony outside the front of the house, surrounded by 21 of their closest guests. It was a beautiful and full of emotion — the perfect way to begin the weekend.

As the sun dipped over the gardens, the group enjoyed a relaxed evening of pizza, drinks, and laughter, soaking in the atmosphere and anticipation of the upcoming wedding day with all of their friends and family.

Wedding Morning Magic

As Saturday dawned, the mist settled over Pauntley Court — Molly, her bridesmaids, and her mum began the day in the Ballroom, where sunlight streamed through the windows and the excitement began to build. Surrounded by laughter, music and a few happy tears, the room became a joyful hive of preparations as hair and makeup unfolded.

   

in the Elinor Fettplace wing, Olly was getting ready. A charming and peaceful space overlooking the ceremony lawn and the wedding marquee beyond. With its sweeping views and calm atmosphere, it offered the perfect moment of quiet reflection for Olly and his Dad before the celebrations began.

Both spaces allowed Molly and Olly to fully relax, each surrounded by their closest loved ones, with the backdrop of Pauntley’s beauty all around them.

A Personal and Memorable Ceremony

Guests gathered on Pauntley’s ceremony lawn — a stunning setting overlooking the lake, chapel, and the beautiful gardens. Molly and Olly chose this peaceful spot for their ceremony, with Molly’s brother as celebrant, who had everyone laughing and feeling completely at ease throughout.

One of the most precious moments came with a delightful surprise: the secret ring bearer was Molly’s grandad! Guests were invited to check under their chairs to discover who was holding the rings, when Molly's grandad realised it was him - the picture below speaks a thousand words.

To top it all off, the ceremony included a sing-along of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, with everyone joining in — the gardens were full of love and laughter.

   

Drinks, Canapés & A Vibrant Procession

After the ceremony, guests mingled in the sunken gardens, enjoying a delicious selection of canapés — including a show-stopping oyster station — alongside chilled champagne flowing freely. The gardens buzzed with laughter and friendly competition as everyone tried their hand at classic garden games.

As the drinks reception came to a close, guests gathered on the steps of the sunken gardens, where the lively roaming band greeted them to guide them down to the marquee.

The atmosphere was electric as everyone danced their way toward the marquee, the stunning lake setting providing a breathtaking backdrop. It was the perfect transition from the gardens down to the next part of their wedding day- the evening feast and celebration. 

Dinner, Speeches & Dancing Under the Stars

As evening fell, the marquee was transformed. Twinkling fairy lights cascaded overhead, and vibrant pops of pink added bursts of colour throughout — creating an enchanting setting for the night ahead.

Inside, two families came together as one. The air was full of emotion during the speeches from Molly’s father, Olly’s father, and Olly himself — moments that had guests laughing and wiping away happy tears at the same time.

Guests then enjoyed a delicious two-course meal prepared by Ross and Ross Events, followed by a lively cocktail and magic hour curated by Watering Hole Events and Magic by Darren Campbell

But the real showstopper came later — the couple’s day band transformed into a full oompah band, much to everyone’s delight. Guests danced and sang their hearts out, the energy filling the marquee and spilling outside to the roaring fire pits. These cosy spots became the perfect retreat for guests to gather, chat, and soak in the magic of the night.

It was a celebration filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable memories — the perfect ending to an extraordinary day at Pauntley Court.

                     

Sunday Brunch & Fond Farewells

The morning after the celebrations, the guests staying gathered once more—this time for a laid-back brunch prepared by Rachel, served alfresco in the beautiful gardens. As they enjoyed delicious food, everyone took time to reminisce about the unforgettable day before, sharing stories, laughter, and those special moments that made Molly and Olly’s wedding so special.

With hearts full,  the time came to say goodbye. Guests slowly departed, leaving Pauntley Court with memories that would last a lifetime for all those who experienced it. 

 

Supplier Team

Photography & Film - Creative Depiction Photography

Planner - Holly and Rebecca Weddings

Florist - Petals and Pampas

Catering - Ross and Ross Events

Bar - Watering Hole Event Bars

Band - Golden Ticket Entertainment

Magician - Darren Campbell

Marquee - The Country Marquee Company

 



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I cannot praise Melissa, her team and Pauntley Court (PC) enough.
We were looking for venues for a whole year before we came across Pauntley Court and my gosh it was so unique.
From the very first video call with Melissa, PC just stood out. For one it is the most unique and magical place we've visited but also how wonderful Melissa was. On the initial call we were so taken with how bubbly Melissa was but also how nothing seemed too much trouble. This definitely continued throughout the entire wedding planning and on the weekend itself. Melissa would make herself available for any question we had (measuring the stretch tent, finding us an outdoor tap) - nothing seemed to phase her and she was open to anything - exactly what we were looking for in a wedding venue.
Now onto PC itself - I don't really think words can do it justice. The venue is simply stunning, every corner you turn there is something else to grab at your heart and pull you to the venue.
We also adored how you had use of the venue from 12pm on the Friday until 4pm on the Sunday. It meant we could have a rehearsal on the Friday, steam all the clothing, unpack and join our wedding party for drinks and a BBQ in the lavender garden on the Friday night. While Sunday enabled us to have a leisurely start while also reliving all the memories from the last night over breakfast with our friends.
Particular loves go to:
- the grounds - mentioned in reviews time and time again but they are just gorgeous
- the ability to have your legal ceremony in multiple locations and for a non-legal wedding you have access to the whole site
- Rebecca - the best co-ordinator ever - having access to Rebecca for the day (and calls leading up to the day) really helped with the last minute panics / helped the day run smoothly
- Rachel - the most wonderful housekeeper - keeping the food flowing on the Friday and for breakfasts. She ran a very tight ship and it enabled us to just relax knowing everything was handled.
- the beautiful ballroom - this was such a fantastic place to get ready with my bridesmaids but also hold an unforgettable ceilidh
- the cupid club - a new addition but great to keep the party going
- the lake house - makes a wonderful first look location or photo setting and with the water is such a calming space
I could honestly keep singing PC's praises and hope I can visit again in some form!

 

Image by Red Maple Photography

- Gabby & Freddie - June 2025