If I had to describe Harriet and Craig’s wedding in one word, it would be stylish. This was a proper occasion: morning suits, hats, a church ceremony and all. Harriet had a brilliant eye for bringing in the contemporary. It was polished, elegant and incredibly good fun. And visually? It was quite something.
The Couple’s Vision
From Australia to a Shropshire wedding
Harriet and Craig had spent time living together in Australia before returning home to the UK to settle down and get married. Harriet was originally from nearby Malpas, Craig from Yorkshire, and by the time they married they were making their home together in Derbyshire.
Harriet was a bride with a vision, and she made it happen. Even now, I think of theirs as one of the most stylish weddings we’ve hosted at The Citadel. It felt polished, high-end and incredibly well considered, but still full of personality.
How Harriet and Craig transformed The Citadel into their dream wedding setting.
When Harriet first visited The Citadel, she knew exactly the atmosphere she wanted to create. Every decision had purpose, from the wider marquee and striking gold circular bar to the floating floral installations suspended above the dining tables. It was modern yet timeless, refined without ever feeling formal, and one of the most beautifully styled weddings we’ve welcomed here.
The Celebration
A spring wedding filled with sunshine, music and unforgettable moments.
What I loved most was how personal it all felt.
Harriet and Craig were married at church near Malpas before making their way to The Citadel for the reception. It was a wonderfully formal start to the day: morning suits, plenty of hats and the most fabulous bridesmaid outfits: cream trousers with sheer tops that looked incredibly chic.
Although they married in church, the celebration truly began once everyone stepped into the gardens. The sunshine arrived too, bringing blue skies and perfectly timed wisteria into bloom throughout the grounds. It became the backdrop to so many beautiful photographs.
The drinks reception unfolded across the main lawn, where guests gathered with canapés while an acoustic trio played softly in the background. Harriet and Craig even brought comfortable outdoor furniture from home and arranged it across the lawn, particularly with their older guests in mind. I loved this. It looked completely at home in the gardens, but more importantly, it meant grandparents and older relatives could settle in comfortably without missing any of the drinks reception. It was a lovely way for the afternoon to unfold.
Why It Worked
How a bespoke marquee created a wedding that couldn’t have happened anywhere else.
One of the things couples often ask me is what makes a marquee wedding at The Citadel different.
Harriet and Craig’s wedding is probably the perfect example.
Their marquee wasn’t chosen from a standard package. It was designed around the wedding they wanted to create. The wider footprint gave the room a wonderful sense of space, allowing for elegant long dining tables dressed in crisp white linen, clear ghost chairs, a fabulous circular gold bar that became a real feature of the marquee and a classic long top table.
And then there were the flowers. Huge, cloud-like floral arrangements were suspended overhead and completely transformed the space. They were spectacular.
It’s exactly why I love marquee weddings so much.
Every couple starts with the same beautiful lawn, but no two celebrations ever look alike.
As the afternoon turned into evening, the celebrations moved effortlessly from relaxed garden drinks to a packed dance floor beneath the marquee. The black and white chequered floor quickly filled as the live band began to play, creating the sort of atmosphere that every couple hopes for. Harriet & Craig’s wedding had all the polish of a very formal wedding, but absolutely none of the stiffness. There were lots of young guests, a brilliant live band and, once the dancing started, a very full black and white dance floor. The atmosphere was fantastic.
Before the light disappeared completely, Jon Thorne (photographer) whisked them away for portraits in the long grass beyond the house. Those photographs, taken against the warm spring sunset with the House quietly watching over them in the background, remain some of my favourites.
Looking back, Harriet and Craig’s wedding perfectly captured everything I hope couples discover here.
- A marquee built entirely around their vision
- Beautiful gardens that become part of the celebration
- Space to slow down
- And a wedding that couldn’t have happened quite the same way anywhere else
I’ve hosted a lot of weddings here over the years, but Harriet and Craig’s remains one of the most stylish. Harriet knew exactly what she wanted and had the confidence to see that vision through — from the width of the marquee to the furniture, flowers, bar and smallest styling details. The result felt entirely theirs.
A Note From Alex
One of the greatest privileges of being custodian of The Citadel is watching each couple write their own story here.
No two weddings are ever the same, and that’s exactly how I believe it should be. Every marquee is different. Every celebration has its own atmosphere. Every family brings something uniquely theirs to these gardens.
Sharing these memories is my way of celebrating the wonderful couples who’ve trusted us with such an important chapter of their lives, while hopefully inspiring those who are still searching for the perfect place to say ‘I do’.
If you can picture your own wedding unfolding here, I’d love to show you around the gardens and grounds.
