Fairytale Wedding Scenes; Tatton Park Cheshire

There are some days that feel suspended in time, and my best friend’s wedding was one of them. A perfectly cinematic weekend split between the grandeur of Liverpool and the dreamy countryside charm of Cheshire, the kind of wedding that feels impossibly elegant yet deeply personal all at once.

Celebrations began with their legal ceremony in the city centre at the breathtaking Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

Towering gothic architecture, soaring ceilings and the soft echo of footsteps against ancient stone created the most magical atmosphere imaginable.

The late morning light poured through the stained glass in that hazy, romantic way as the bride made her grand entrance.

Following the ceremony, the bride and groom greeted everyone on their way back out to the cathedral steps, where guests captured photos together in the midday sunshine.

Soon it was time to board the coaches which took the wedding party out into the Cheshire countryside for the reception at Tatton Park.

Set amongst acres of rolling parkland, wild deer and manicured gardens, it felt like stepping into an English period drama.

Upon arrival at Tatton Park, we were greeted with a refreshing Hugo Sprizt cocktail and delicious canapes as we soaked up the sunshine on the back lawn.

My boyfriend and I took a moment to have a stroll down to the feature fountain and lower terrace gardens with sweeping views across the grounds.

Taking a quiet minute together with those mesmerising views, the hum of the wedding party in the background and the entire day of celebrations yet to come, I couldn’t have been more content in that moment.

My wedding guest dress from Club L London was the perfect shade of pastel blue with a flattering asymmetric cut and off-shoulder neckline.

To accessorise I wore classic pearls from By Alona, matching pearl earrings from Heaven Mayhem, blush satin mules by Senso, and my sable Polene handbag to complete the elegant-chic look.

A statement pair of YSL cat-eye sunglasses were the finishing touch for a glorious afternoon basking in the sunshine.

I’m always so inspired by wedding guest dresses and I just loved my bestie’s polka dot strapless number with the full skirt and pockets.

Her butter yellow handbag from Marks and Spencer’s and matching yellow sunnies added a pop of colour to complete the vintage inspired wedding guest fit.

At 3pm we were called inside for the Wedding Breakfast in the Tenants’ Hall, where the opulent décor and colourful lighting set the tone for a brilliant afternoon and evening of celebrations ahead.

The table centre pieces were magnificent featuring flowers in rich reds and deep oranges.

We were treated to a 3-course feast of Indian cuisine served family style and every dish was exquisite.

Dessert was a refreshing trio of fruity delights to balance out those indulgent and rich flavours of the curry.

In between courses the speeches were made, and I was proud to see even our bride say a few words.

In need of some fresh air and a walk after all the food, we went for a lovely stroll around the grounds and discovered this beautiful orangery.

Filled with glorious green plants and the afternoon light cascading through the windows from above, it was like our own little oasis.

We also discovered a maze and rose gardens which truly felt like we’d stepped onto the set of Bridgerton.

Before we knew it, the evening party was upon us, and the traditional Indian drum performance welcomed the newlyweds back and invited guests to the dance floor.

As the evening went on, heels came off, the dance floor quickly filled up, and the atmosphere shifted into the most joyful chaos; the kind of night where nobody wanted it to end.

Somewhere between white wine, blurry dance floor photos and singing every word to early 2000s classics, it became one of those core memory nights we won’t be forgetting for a long time.

A reminder of how quickly life changes and how lucky we are to witness the biggest moments for the people we love most.

Liverpool and Cheshire delivered the dreamiest backdrop for a wonderful wedding weekend; dramatic city romance paired with soft countryside elegance.

What a truly memorable send off from family and friends to celebrate the happy couple ❤

Carden Park Hotel & Spa; A Charming Cheshire Staycay

Working in events, part of my job involves venue finding and hotel visits to scope out the best suited venues for our guests. This weekend I was kindly invited for a two night complimentary stay along with a guest to Cheshire’s Country Estate, Carden Park Hotel & Spa. With an itinerary of outdoor activities including zip lining, a gameshow gala dinner with drinks reception, and a full spa morning at their award winning spa, we were in for a fun few days experiencing the very best of Carden Park.

Arriving on Friday evening after a long four hour drive all the way from Hampshire, me and my boyfriend checked in and were greeted with a bag of treats, a bottle of their own estate sparkling wine, and this delightful dessert platter.

We unpacked and headed straight for the pool to relax and unwind following our long road trip.

A pre-dinner jacuzzi dip was the perfect way to welcome in the weekend ahead.

Soon it was time to get ready for our dinner date in Redmond’s Brasserie at 8pm.

I wore my Topshop flared split hem black trousers with this blue corset bardot top, my Boohoo electric blue mules and my new green velvet Sandro handbag.

We were generously gifted our meal along with a bottle of wine too, so we had the house red and started with the spiced butternut squash soup whilst we browsed the menu.

I opted for a favourite of mine, Caesar salad served with king prawns, whilst my boyfriend had the steak burger topped with onion rings and served with thin fries.

The restaurant was buzzing on a Friday night and despite being fully booked, the staff were attentive and the food was very nice indeed.

After dinner we went for a nightcap at the bar where we got cocktails, before heading to our room to watch Graham Norton on TV; can’t miss out on our Friday night winter tradition!

Saturday morning we awoke to the most gorgeous sunny day in Cheshire and this picture perfect view over the estate grounds from our hotel room.

We met our hosts from the hotel at 9am in the library and made our way over to the activity centre for a morning of team building games.

The activities were a mixture of logical puzzles and physical games, so there was something for everyone and it was a brilliant ice breaker to get to know everyone else on the FAM trip.

After a hot chocolate back inside to warm up, we got geared up and ready to take on the giant zip line.

Whilst it was a little nerve racking jumping off the platform, this was an awesome experience and amazing way to see right across the estate from up there. We couldn’t have been more lucky with the sunshine too, what a day for it!

At midday we had a buffet lunch and then we went back to our room to freshen up, before heading out for the afternoon to explore the local area.

For our trip into Chester I wore my Stradivarius vintage flared jeans paired with a white long sleeve pearl button through top, my Le Scarf neckerchief, a Zara cropped aviator shearling jacket, classic DKNY handbag, and my platform chelsea boot Uggs which I’m living in this winter.

Carden Park even has its own sculpture garden which we had to take a look around before heading into town.

Just a short 20 minute drive away from the hotel is the historical city of Chester with its picturesque streets lined with boutique shops, cute cafes, eclectic bars and different restaurants.

After a stroll around the magnificent Cathedral and a spot of shopping too, we stumbled across this hidden bar located down one of the many quaint alleyways which are tucked away off the main high-street.

Weekend vibes were in full swing and I was in my element sipping my bubbly as we soaked up our surroundings and the buzzing atmosphere of Chester on a Saturday arvo.

My purchase of the day was this Ganni beanie from Flannels which I’ve had my eye on for a while, so it was meant to be when I saw it.

Back at the hotel, we got ready for the drinks reception in the Shooting Suite at 7pm.

I loved the smart, tonal colours of my outfit on this evening featuring my C’est Normal brown tailored trousers, Missguided blush pink tie front blouse, a pair of Next square toe nude mules, these fabulous gold statement earrings, and not forgetting my velvet green Sandro handbag to complete the glam look.

Upon arrival to the drinks reception we were served a pink gin fizz cocktail and canapés to whet our appetite.

The dinner was hosted gameshow style, so the four tables of ten went up against each other throughout the evening to be crowned winners. Unfortunately our table didn’t win, but we gave it a good shot with second place and had a laugh together in the process.

We were treated to a four course menu curated by Executive Chef Graham Tinsley MBE, who talked us through the journey and details of each course too.

To start was a fish dish of pan fried mullet with bouillabaisse sauce, saffron potatoes, rouille emulsion, garlic croutes and tempura mussels.

Main course was this exquisite roast rack of Welsh lamb with a dijon mustard and herb crust, caramelised Chou rave puree, confit Chou rave, turned carrot and Navarin sauce.

Chef even carved this in the room and it smelt divine, what a showstopper!

Dessert was a delectable reverse chocolate fondant with a liquid Cointreau centre and a yoghurt sorbet.

And not forgetting the cheese course of brie a la truffe with a savoury pain perdu, quince jelly and puree. A serious tasting experience which I won’t be forgetting anytime soon, hats off to the chef!

The next day we had a morning session at the award winning Spa at Carden Park.

Whilst it was a cold and rainy day outside, the thermal outdoor pools and jacuzzis kept us warm.

Back inside I relaxed on a lounger with my favourite high fashion magazines.

Warmed in a panoramic sauna or basking in the outdoor vitality pool, this was the perfect Sunday morning reset.

The sleek, scandi style design is very aesthetically pleasing and creates the ideal atmosphere of calm and zen you want from a spa.

A final champagne brunch was then served at 12pm in the Elements restaurant, where we dined in our robes and regrouped with the other guests.

I had a refreshing mix of red berries, melon and pineapple with greek yoghurt and a long black coffee. I also tried the Carden estate sparkling wine which was delicious, a lot smoother than a typical champagne or prosecco.

It was then time to checkout and say our farewells to the wonderful team at Carden and our lovely fellow attendees on the FAM stay.

We had a truly tremendous weekend being treated to the very best that Carden Park Hotel & Spa has to offer. From the friendly staff and exceptional culinary experiences, to the plethora of fun activities and charming Cheshire countryside surroundings, I would highly recommend a stay at Carden Park Hotel & Spa.

Thanks again to the team for their kind hospitality this weekend ❤

To book, visit their website here – https://www.cardenpark.co.uk