Abi and Ethan’s love story began across countries, seas and a little bit of fate. At the time, Ethan was working on superyachts in the Red Sea while Abi was a primary school teacher in Spain. “We’d started talking when I came back to the UK,” Ethan explained. “I had plans to go back to Spain to see some friends, but they fell through. Instead, I ended up flying out to meet Abi — someone I’d never met before.”
Abi smiled: “Our first date was a whole day together, and the next day we rented a car for 50p to go exploring. We just kept adventuring.” Ethan added: “The moment I knew she was the one was during this horrendous hike. People who’d lived in Spain said they’d never do it. It was getting dark, we weren’t sure if we’d ever get home, and Abi was carrying my bag. That’s when I knew.” Abi laughed: “For me, it was when you flew me to Berlin and I crashed my electric scooter into you. That just felt very ‘us’.”
When it came to choosing a wedding venue, the pair didn’t have to look far. “It was just a fairy-tale venue — magical,” Abi said. “It had all the grandeur of a manor but without any pretentiousness. Everyone was so welcoming. Every time we turned a corner, it was another wow moment.”
Ethan agreed: “It was actually the first and only place we visited. We couldn’t get it out of our minds. The exclusivity was a big part of it for us. With other venues, there might be hotel guests around, but here, it was just ours. The different spaces — the beautiful rooms, the Lounge, the gardens with the fountains — it all just felt right.”
Looking back, both Abi and Ethan fondly remember their planning visits. “We loved coming to the showcases,” Abi recalled. “It made everything feel real, like you could start picturing your day properly.”
“The food tastings were brilliant too,” Ethan added. “Towards the end, we had our final planning meeting with Leisha and that just tied it all together. Those visits were some of our favourite parts of the build-up.”
The couple chose soft, natural florals for their summer celebration. “We had lots of whites and lavenders,” Abi explained. “We actually chose flowers that were meaningful to us and our families. We wanted that cottagey, natural feeling, almost like wildflowers. It felt very us.”
Food played an important part in the day. “The canapés were incredible,” said Abi. “We were so impressed that the kitchen even made little versions for the children. Parents really appreciated that.”
“For the meal, we had pear and Stilton salad, chicken liver parfait, poached haddock, and chicken for the main,” Ethan said. “Dessert was Bailey’s cheesecake and chocolate tart, followed by a hog roast in the evening.” Abi added: “All of our guests said the food was one of their favourite parts of the day. They definitely didn’t go hungry!”
For Abi, the first dance stood out above everything else. “I loved that room, with everyone watching, the band playing behind us, and then everyone cheering us on. It just felt so warm, like everything we’d planned had come together in that one moment. When everyone joined in afterwards, it was pure happiness.”
Ethan recalled the ceremony with equal fondness: “It was beautiful. Walking back up the aisle afterwards felt magical.”
One of their most treasured memories was a quiet moment as the day drew to a close. “I can still picture it,” Abi said. “We were out in the walled garden as the sun went down, everyone sat with a drink, children playing by the fountain, doves in the dovecote and a big orange sky overhead. It was so picturesque.”
“Enjoy it,” Ethan advised. “People here make everything so easy, so just take it all in.” Abi added: “Don’t compromise on what feels natural for you as a couple. It’s your day, and you only do it once — hopefully!”
Three words to describe the day
For Abi and Ethan, their wedding day can be summed up in four little words:
“Intimate, exclusive, enchanting, idyllic.”
Abi smiled: “It really was that fairy-tale, princess wedding.”
