A Romantic Spring Wedding at Cowdray House
Ciara & Jake’s Celebration in West Sussex
I’m always thrilled when a couple chooses Cowdray House for their wedding. Set in the heart of my home county of West Sussex, it’s a place I’m fortunate to work at often and every celebration there feels as magical as the last. Sleeping up to 46 guests within the house, and with additional cottages and treehouses across the wider estate, Cowdray is a venue that truly allows couples to make it their home for the weekend.
For Ciara and Cake, who live in New York, Cowdray provided the perfect setting to bring their loved ones together. With Ciara originally from the UK, the couple wanted to celebrate back “home”, welcoming many of their guests from the USA for a full weekend of events.
A Warm Welcome at the Family Home
We began the weekend with an informal welcome party and rehearsal dinner hosted at Ciara’s family home in West Sussex, a stunning and personal setting that immediately set the tone for what was to come.
Working with Jacaranda Catering, we created an authentic asado, a traditional Argentine and Uruguayan method of cooking meats over an open flame. It was interactive, relaxed and utterly delicious. Exactly what the couple imagined for that first gathering. Guests enjoyed glasses of Nyetimber as they settled in, reconnecting or meeting for the first time.
To end the evening, Jake organised the sweetest surprise: authentic konafa, a traditional Arabic dessert, prepared fresh for everyone. It was the perfect nod to his heritage and a wonderful moment shared with their guests.
Throughout the weekend, we coordinated all transportation logistics, with luxury minibuses transporting guests smoothly between accommodation and events.
The Wedding Day at Cowdray House
The following day, Ciara and her closest friends and family settled into a relaxed morning of preparations inside the welcoming spaces of Cowdray House. Carolanne Armstrong led the hair and makeup, creating a beautifully polished yet natural look for the bride.
Ciara and Jake envisioned a quintessentially English wedding, and Cowdray offered the dream backdrop. Despite a less-than-perfect forecast, we decided to go ahead with an outdoor ceremony, with the house standing proudly behind them. The couple commissioned bespoke umbrellas, a charming and practical touch But, in the end only the lightest sprinkle appeared before the sunshine returned for the ceremony itself.
Seasonal, Wild, Effortless Florals
Inspired by English country gardens in spring, Nordic Twigs designed flowers that felt like they’d been freshly gathered from the grounds so soft, wild, seasonal and full of movement. Buck Hall looked extraordinary, with the fireplace installation creating a breathtaking focal point for dinner.
Drinks Reception & Canapés
As guests enjoyed live jazz in the gardens, Jacaranda treated everyone to a spectacular selection of canapés, again paired with Nyetimber:
Smokey mac'n'cheese
Pork cheek croquette with pineapple gel and crispy sage
Parmesan & porcini churros with truffle cream and Parmesan crumb
Sussex lamb fillet with aubergine, sun-blushed tomatoes & olives on crostini
Baba ganouj on Turkish flatbread croutes with fresh pomegranate
Seabass ceviche with avocado on tostadas
Dinner in Buck Hall
Guests then made their way into Buck Hall for an elegant dinner surrounded by candlelight and soft, garden-inspired florals.
Menu
Cured Chalkstream trout with apple, watercress oil, horseradish, cucumber cream & caviar
Glazed duck breast with caramelised sweet potato, Asian greens, sesame, tamarind & honey
Yuzu and white chocolate parfait with yuzu & mandarin sorbet, ginger crumb, white chocolate snow, lime curd & passionfruit syrup
Following dinner, guests spilled into a lively cocktail hour before hitting the dance floor with Brand New Groove, who kept the energy high throughout the night. Late-night fish & chips and s’mores provided the perfect refuel after plenty of dancing.
Ciara wore a breathtaking, uniquely modern gown by Danielle Frankel Studio — a beautifully unexpected choice that suited her perfectly.
A Farewell Brunch
The final morning saw everyone return to Cowdray House for a relaxed farewell brunch before many guests flew back to the USA. It was the perfect close to a warm, joyful and deeply personal weekend.
A Celebration to Remember
Ciara and Jake’s wedding weekend was everything they had dreamed of: warm, welcoming, romantic and unmistakably them. Cowdray House once again proved why it is such an exceptional venue for multi-day celebrations and why it remains one of my favourite places to plan and design weddings.
A huge thank you to the talented team involved, and to Ciara and Jake for trusting me with such a meaningful moment in their lives.
Image Credits - Rebecca Searle Photography