Nearly 160 guests. Two white horses. A gospel choir, a violinist, a reggae singer, live musicians, a saxophonist, and one very good DJ. Nick and Arleanna certainly knew how to throw a wedding.
Their June wedding was beautiful and emotional, but above all, it was full of life. Friends and family filled The Citadel from morning until night. Children ran around the gardens, music seemed to follow you wherever you went and there was always something happening. It was a big wedding, with a lot to bring together. It was fabulous.
A Shropshire wedding close to home
Nick and Arleanna are both from Shropshire, with their families here too, so this really was a celebration on home ground. They were such a lovely couple to have here. Their wedding was ambitious in scale, with a lot of moving parts, but there was also so much warmth around them — friends, family and children filling the gardens from beginning to end.
They married just down the road from The Citadel at St Luke’s Church in Weston-under-Redcastle, but Arleanna’s wedding morning began here at the house. And what a morning it was.
The B&B was full for both Friday and Saturday nights, and on the morning of the wedding the house was wonderfully busy. Arleanna, her five bridesmaids, hair and make-up. There was activity everywhere before she left for church in a horse-drawn carriage pulled by two beautiful white horses.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds made their return in the carriage to begin the celebrations.
A wedding with its own soundtrack
I have to talk about the music, because it was one of the things I remember most about this wedding. There was so much of it, and it was brilliant.
A gospel choir sang in the church. A five-piece group played during the drinks reception on the wedding lawn. A violinist performed during the meal. A reggae singer took them into their first dance and warmed everyone up for the evening, followed by singer Franchesqua and a saxophonist. And then international DJ Stuart McLaren took over for the party.
There was a lot to coordinate with this wedding. Different musicians appeared throughout the day, almost 160 guests moved between the church, gardens and marquee, and there always seemed to be another moment waiting around the corner. But nothing felt over-programmed. It simply flowed, which, with a wedding of this scale, is quite an achievement.
There wasn’t just entertainment scheduled for one part of the day. Music moved with the wedding, changing the atmosphere as the celebration unfolded from ceremony to drinks, dinner, first dance and late into the evening.
A white wedding, with plenty of style
Visually, everything felt beautifully pulled together. Arleanna carried an all-white bouquet, and white ran throughout the styling. The wedding cake was pure white and beautifully simple, while the groomsmen in black tie brought a sharp formality to the day.
Inside the large marquee, long rustic trestle tables were mixed with round tables dressed in crisp white cloths. Overhead, a huge floral cloud ring installation created an incredible focal point.
The contrast worked so well: rustic timber against white linen, statement flowers above, and a marquee large enough to comfortably hold a celebration of this scale without losing its atmosphere.
Outside, wooden tables and benches were arranged around the marquee on the wedding lawn, giving guests plenty of space to sit, drink and listen to the live music.
It was stylish, but it was also a wedding designed to be enjoyed.
Confetti, champagne, and the Shropshire sunset
One of my favourite photographs from the day is the confetti throw. Nick and Arleanna walked the long garden path beneath a flurry of pure white paper confetti, surrounded by their friends and family. Against all the green of the gardens, it looked spectacular.
Later in the day, things slowed down briefly. They slipped away for photographs around the gardens before heading into the front field as the sun began to disappear. Champagne coupes in hand, they walked through the long grass together after creating a champagne tower on the wedding lawn.
It was June during one of those wonderfully long, dry summers. There was no rain, but no harsh bright sunshine either. Probably as close to perfect wedding weather as you could ask for.
Those softer skies were beautiful for photographs.
And then, the party
By evening, Arleanna had another surprise. She changed from her wedding dress into a long, glittering, off-the-shoulder evening gown before heading back to the marquee for the final part of the celebration.
With the musicians having carried everyone through the day, DJ Stuart McLaren took over and the party properly got underway.
This was a wedding with a lot happening. Nearly 160 guests, children, a full house, a church ceremony, horse-drawn carriage, multiple live performers, a large marquee and a packed evening of entertainment.
But that’s what made it so memorable.
Nick and Arleanna created a celebration that felt generous in every sense — lots of family, lots of friends, fabulous food, beautiful styling and an enormous amount of music. It was impressive, emotional and tremendous fun.
Suppliers
Photographer: Louise Jacob Photography
Music: DJ Stuart Mclaren, Franchesqua,
A Note from Alex
Hosting weddings at The Citadel for so many years, I’ve watched these gardens filled in all sorts of wonderful ways. But Nick and Arlenna really showed what can happen when you make use of the whole place.
The house was part of the preparations and overnight stay. St Luke’s Chapel gave them their local church ceremony. The wedding lawn became a drinks reception filled with live music. The gardens gave them that wonderful confetti moment, and later the front field became somewhere to disappear together with a glass of champagne as the sun went down.
Then everyone came back together in the marquee and danced. That’s one of the things I love most about a wedding here. You don’t have to make your celebration fit around the venue. There is space for it to unfold.
If you’re planning your own marquee wedding in Shropshire and would like to see what might be possible here, I’d love to welcome you to The Citadel.
