A Relaxed Festival Vibe Wedding At Hoath House In Kent

THE wedding - the one where EVERYBODY is having fun!

Written by Helen-Louise Dudney

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When a couple have SO much fun planning their wedding you know that everyone at that wedding including the bride and groom are going to have fun too!

The Proposal.

Imagine gearing up for a romantic proposal in the winter wonderland of Canada, only for COVID to swoop in like a Grinch and throw a festive curveball. Talk about a plot twist! But fear not, COVID might have put a stop to Katie and Lachie flying out to Canada for Christmas in 2021 but thankfully it didn’t stop Lachie proposing!

Fast forward to Christmas Eve shenanigans, where Katie was busy whipping up a storm in the kitchen, oblivious to the impending moment that would render her speechless “ a rare sight indeed!” They each got to open one gift, and when Katie opened hers to reveal a beautiful engagement ring she popped the ring straight on her finger, shrieked, hugged Lachie and were popping open a bottle of champagne when the sudden realisation of forgetting the most crucial word in that heart-stopping moment, “sooo… is that a yes?”

The Planning.

Katie let the big YES to Lachie sink in for a couple of days, but wasted no time at all and come Boxing Day, dove headfirst into planning their day.

Over the next 20 months, Katie and Lachie immersed themselves in every aspect of the wedding preparation. From choosing the perfect venue to selecting the perfect suppliers that aligned with them as a couple, they poured their hearts into every decision. The love and dedication they put into the process shone through in every element of their special day.

Bride and groom smiling at their wedding guests as they walk past, with their awesome DIY sign in the background.

Katie is from Canada and Lachie from Australia, and the couple really wanted to set the stage for a wedding extravaganza aimed at uniting their family and friends. Opting for a blend of festive charm and elegance, they arranged a memorable celebration at a picturesque country house in Kent, transforming it into a hub of joy and togetherness.

Katie and Lachie wanted the wedding to feel homemade. With Katie’s love of DIY she was keen to make and do as much as possible herself, which she loved, but realised after that she had definitely taken on a lot, crediting their amazing family and friends, saying that the day wouldn’t have happened without them!

Leading up to the big day, Katie and Lachie, along with their nearest and dearest pulled together to ensure they created a vibe that was all about love and togetherness. With a heartfelt pre-wedding feast and a fun quiz, they made sure everyone had the chance to get to know each other and feel included before their wedding day.

Theme

A relaxed festival vibe was what Katie and Lachie wanted to create, and they achieved that and then some! Their celebrant was “the perfect person! Meg Senior Ceremonies was absolutely incredible” and set the tone for their ceremony and the day.

The festivities kicked off with a laid-back daytime affair featuring lawn games and inviting seating areas, transitioning smoothly into an electrifying evening of partying.

Gorgeous tablescape with individual place settings.

Style

Katie had fun with multiple white outfits for her bachelorette in Italy the week before the wedding, followed by her London hen party. For the legal ceremony she had a custom made mini puffball dress that she paired with fun hot pink heels from Vinted. For the big day itself, Katie wore a Mikaella Bridal dress that she bought in Ontario when they finally got to visit Canada in 2022. She paired her gorgeous dress with brown sandals that she found on Vinted.

The beautiful bride looking amazing in heart sunglasses, surrounded by gorgeous florals.

Details.

The couple met two of their awesome suppliers Sidey Clark photography and Locate to Create at The Un-Wedding Show and found the fabulous Meg Senior Ceremonies in The Book Of Love directory.

**A stunning setting for Katie and Lachie’s big day.**

The ring bearer carried the rings down on a soft toy version of the couples cat Nigel which Lachie’s Mum had made. This later had a GoPro attached and became a video guestbook that was passed around the lawn party… genius!

The homemade wedding cake AND cake made out of cheese were served after the ceremony before the lawn party began.

Through the masterful lens of Sidey Clark Photography, each moment of the day was immortalised, and captured perfectly, including the iconic confetti shot of Katie’s dreams, as the couple walked down the aisle.

Breaking with tradition.

Breaking away from tradition, the wedding day unfolded with a refreshing twist in the schedule. Group shots were taken before the wedding and then after the "I do's," it was time for speeches and cake - which was the perfect segue into a relaxed garden bash. Guests tucked into mouthwatering goodies from a pizza and pasta truck, before indulging in scrumptious crepes later on in the night.

The evening crescendoed into a lively dance floor showdown, culminating in the smashing of a DIY disco ball piñata - a quirky and fun highlight to end a day filled with laughter and memories.

Katie wearing one of her beautiful white outfits, alongside friends and family in bright dresses.

I think the key to Katie and Lachie’s day, is that even though they kept some traditions, they didn’t let them define their day, they just included the bits they liked and planned the day THEY wanted regardless of traditions!

Favourite part of the day.

Katie and Lachie said their first dance which was to 'One Crowded Hour' by Auggie March was pretty incredible. They started off just the two of them before everyone joined them on the dance floor. That and they “also loved the piñata - that was so much fun, and the pictures are incredible!”

LOVE this idea - spray painting memories.

Advice.

“Have fun with it! And make sure you go to The Un-Wedding Fair! It was honestly one of the best things I did during the planning process 😊 I found INCREDIBLE suppliers and got so much inspo!”