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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Having recently visited Pauntley for our first wedding anniversary, I was reminded just how magical a place it is.
James and I celebrated our marriage with our closest family and friends over three days in August 2024. Spending both the night before and day after our wedding with our nearest and dearest only enhanced our celebrations; Pauntley’s beautiful bedrooms and cosy communal areas greatly facilitate being able to have all of those you love in one place for an extended period. Waking up in the bridal suite greatly reduced the stress on the wedding morning; the Elinor Fettiplace was the perfect setting for bridal preparations.
We knew it was the venue for us when we walked into the ballroom on our first viewing and I burst out crying (happy tears); those tears were present again when I walked down the aisle (ironically outside) the following Summer.
Everything about Pauntley makes it the picture perfect venue - from the indoor furnishings to the beautiful gardens outside. A special touch are the beautiful flowers that Melissa's mother (the flower fairy!) collects from the gardens and arranges in the communal areas and bedrooms; she even treated our guests to a tour of the grounds on the Sunday.
We took full use of all of the spaces - firstly by hosting a grazing table, English sparkling wine and real ale welcome supper in The Flower Room on the Friday, complete with “s’mores” for our flower girls and page boys on Pauntley’s fire pit. On the day itself we had welcome drinks under the stretch tent; said “I do” alongside a string quartet amongst the quince trees; enjoyed canapés, fizz and acoustic music in the sunken garden; had our cake cutting, wedding breakfast and speeches under the hornbeam arches (complete with Melissa’s chandeliers!); took photos down by the boathouse; poured our champagne tower in front of the beautiful staircase and danced the night away with our band in the ballroom before collapsing in front of the fire in the main sitting room after our “light stick” exit in the courtyard. The morning after the night before was spent preparing for our send off BBQ on the terrace.
The stunning setting is only complimented by Pauntley’s true highlight: its team. Melissa could not have been more friendly and helpful from the first time we met her until our wedding weekend itself (and beyond!). The list of recommended suppliers provided was especially helpful given I had no knowledge of local hairdressers, make-up artists, florists, caterers, etc; all of the vendors that we chose were wonderful. Our wedding coordinator, Mel, put this type A bride to shame with her efficiency and organisational skills, all delivered with a smile and a wealth of industry knowledge. A special mention to Pauntley’s head housekeeper Rachel who took excellent care of us and our guests throughout with delicious breakfasts and a yummy BBQ on the Sunday. The whole team are warm, welcoming and ensure that you never feel like just another couple; they are all truly invested in making your wedding day the best it possibly can be.
As we are London based, we chose to stay on the Thursday and Sunday nights and I would highly recommend that option to future couples. Being there the night before - just the two of us - allowed us to sort various Waitrose / butcher / crockery deliveries and get ready before our friends and family descended for our welcome supper the following day. Equally, we enjoyed strolling around the gardens as husband and wife on the Sunday after everyone had left; an opportunity to reminisce on the best weekend of our lives in truly beautiful surroundings. We struggled to leave on the Monday morning!
We couldn’t recommend Pauntley enough and can’t wait to visit again on our second anniversary next year.
Thank you Melissa, Mel and Rachel for everything.
Image by Siobhan Beales Photography