Jenni and Sean had a very romantic Cooling Castle Barn wedding. Set amongst the beautiful Kent countryside, the inside of the barn was decorated with some stunning wild flowers, cool english literature, jam jars, candles, fairy lights and a whole host of interesting objects. With glimpses of sunshine outside, guests enjoyed the summer air and Jenni and Sean had a gorgeous wedding day. From their engagement in Paris, to this very relaxed and fun wedding. Check out their story below.
First names: Sean and Jenni
Ages: Both 28
Wedding date: 08.08.16
Venue: Cooling Castle Barn
How did you guys meet, tell me all? Sean and I went to secondary school together. Neither of us can say it was love at first sight, as eleven year olds we don’t remember our exact first meeting lol, but we were always good friends. Often in the same classes right up until we left school after sixth form, we lost contact for a few years but crossed paths at a friend’s house warming party. Sean asked one of our close friends for my number and we started texting. We had a kiss on New Year’s 2012 after meeting up in Maidstone and went on our first date a week later. In the months that followed Sean took me on some wonderful mini breaks to London, Bath and Bruges. We both knew we’d found something special and the rest they say is history.
How did you get engaged, is there a cool story? Sean surprised me with a trip to Paris for my birthday in October. Unbeknown to me he planned to propose at the top of the Eiffel tower on our last evening there. When we got there and joined the queue Sean noticed there were security guards and metal detectors at the entrance. Thinking that when he was searched they would find the ring and the surprise would be ruined, he took me into the park below. Obviously I was oblivious to this at the time and was a bit confused as to why we weren’t going into the tower. We sat on a bench in a quiet place and with the Eiffel tower in the background, he made a lovely speech and popped the question. Afterwards we did go to the top of the Eiffel tower and had cold champagne to accompany the view.
What made you choose your wedding venue, did you look at many? We wanted to get married in a barn/ country setting and Cooling ticked all the boxes. We both loved it as soon as we saw it. Neither of us are religious so didn’t want to get married in a church. Cooling reflected both our personalities and was an intimate venue with everything in one place. We liked the rustic barn style and choose to have fairy lights hung across the barn and around the pillars, log slices with summer wild flowers and a naked cake one tier carrot, one apple and cinnamon and the top lemon. We liked that we were able to personalise the venue to reflect us as a couple and shape our day in the way we wanted.
What was the inspiration/theme of your wedding? We both wanted the wedding to be fun, relaxed and quirky to reflect our personalities. Our main focus was to have everybody we care about around us to share good food and good music.
What is your first song and why? Adele’s cover of Love Song originally written by Robert Smith (The Cure) for his wife as a wedding present. We both liked the song and the lyrics sum up our feelings for each other.
What would be your number one tip to other couples planning their wedding?
Jenni – Don’t fret about the little things and enjoy the ride!! I was lucky to have three years to plan our big day and have thoroughly enjoyed going to wedding fairs and researching ideas. As we had plenty of time to decide everything the whole experience has been relaxed and enjoyable.
Sean – I would just say use your days wisely, tackle one job at a time and it will all come together. It can seem daunting at first, all of the different parts to organize, but in small sections you can enjoy designing your big day without becoming overwhelmed.
It’s time to grab yourself a cup of tea and check out some of the best bits Jenni & Sean’s Cooling Castle Barn Wedding.
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Wedding Suppliers
Hair stylist: Abby Smith – Bridesmaid
Make up artist: Lucy Jayne Make Up
Website: www.lucyjaynemakeup.co.uk
Brides dress: Augusta Jones – Brides Dress Revisited – Otford
Website: www.bridesdressrevisited.com
Bridesmaids dresses: Debenhams
Website: www.debenhams.com
Suits: Slater and Walker
Website: www.slaterandwalker.com
Florist: Distinctly Floral
Website: www.distinctlyfloral.co.uk
Cake: Sophisticakes
Website: www.sophisticakes.co.uk
Venue: Cooling Castle Barn
Website: www.coolingcastlebarn.com
Band/DJ: Blue Juice – Function Central
Website: www.functioncentral.co.uk
Videographer: The Captured Picture Company
Website: www.thecapturedpicturecompany.com
Are you looking for a wedding photographer?
Would you like someone who photographs it in an alternative, fun and natural way? Tired of ‘traditional’ wedding photos? Get in touch and let me know all about your day! I need to know the date, ceremony and reception details and most importantly, tell me all the ideas you have!
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I am a Kent wedding photographer who has been featured within Your Kent Wedding Magazine, Rock n Roll Bride and Your Sussex Wedding Magazine, with images also published in the The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Independent, The News Of The World and many other large newspapers and magazines.
