At the tail end of last year I was treated to a wonderful retreat hosted by the wonderful Butley Priory. The retreat was for a hand-picked group of wedding planners from the local area who specialised in dry hire and marquee weddings. Having never been to Butley Priory before I was really excited to be able to experience the venue for myself. The incredible Polly Pickle designs created a whole suite of stationery for the event, including a gorgeous invite.
On arrival we were greeted by a cheeky glass of fizz and a delicious selection of canapés from the in-house catering team led by Peter Harrison. It was the first time in ages I had managed to be in the same room as so many of these wedding planner colleagues so it was great to catch up with everyone. We were then treated to a tour of Butley Priory and a look at the accommodation on offer.
At Butley you have the option of having your whole event or wedding inside the Priory, or for larger guest numbers you can entertain in a marquee in front of the Priory. The inside space is light and bright, with high ceilings and stunning architectural details. It lends itself to a wide variety of wedding styles, as well as being a complete blank canvas upon which to imprint your very own wedding style. Hidden behind a wood panelled door is the Pilgrim’s bar – a really cool space with a perfectly equipped bar that the Priory team will man for you on the evening of your event. It makes a really quirky addition and a great talking point. Although our visit was in the winter, I could imagine how glorious this setting would be in the summer, with the large doors flung open, extensive views over the countryside and the established gardens, a gorgeous setting for those important wedding photographs!
Butley Priory has a number of accommodation options which make it perfect for a weekend long wedding celebration. Within the main Priory building is a selection of beautiful rooms, including the stunning bridal suite. With light pouring in from all direction and the floor-to-ceiling windows this is the perfect spot for bridal prep. Complementing this is a little neighbouring cottage that sleeps up to 6 and then the newly renovated Farmhouse towards the back of the estate. The Farmhouse is where we were all to be spending the night.
Following yet more delicious food and drink (and lots of chatting!), we were shown to our rooms for a little freshen up. We were then invited to return to the Priory for a cocktail making class. If you are looking for something fun and unusual to do then this would be in my list of recommendations! It was hosted by The Bar District and we got to try our hand at three different cocktails. There was a little competition thrown in for good measure and we all had a great time!
After a quick outfit change we all got glammed up to enjoy the most amazing dinner and drinks service from Peter Harrison and his team again. The Priory had been decorated and lit beautifully, we all drew a breath when we entered the room. The delicate seasonal florals, exquisite table design (we all know I am a sucker for a beautifully designed table), stationery, paired wines and food all came together perfectly. The wine was from Flunder wines, flowers were by Tudor Rose, tableware from Party Squared and Banqueting Hire
Following our meal we enjoyed a coffees and handmade petite fours. Returning to our rooms to be greeted by a box full of goodies from Butley’s partner wedding suppliers.
After a comfortable night we all awoke to a refreshing Pilates class with Kelly Stevenson and homemade smoothies to pep us up. We then enjoyed a glorious breakfast, freshly cooked by Peter’s team back at the Farmhouse.
Thank you so much Butley for an amazing couple of days and to the other wonderful Wedding planners, who were great company. I am certainly looking forward to working at this amazing venue in the future.