When Mike and Lily told me they had chosen Parley Manor for their wedding reception, following their wedding at Romsey Abbey, I was delighted. I had photographed Amy and Pete's wedding at Parley Manor a couple of years previously and knew I wanted to return.
Nestled in four acres of Dorset parkland, this secluded Georgian manor house makes you feel as though you're escaping to the heart of the countryside. Lily told me she'd grown up in the nearby New Forest and had always loved this corner of England. Choosing it with Mike for their wedding reception thus made complete sense.
Parley Manor was built in the early 1700s on a large country estate stretching from Hurn Forest to the River Stour – an estate that, from 1245, belonged to the same family for over 700 years. That sense of continuity is part of what gives the place its character. It has been lovingly cared for, and it shows in every detail.
A photographer's dream
The lush, carefully-manicured lawns at Parley Manor are ideal for formal family photographs and bridal portraits. Secluded nooks are perfect for intimate couple portraits. And for bigger vistas, the wildflower meadow to the south of the house lets you create epic shots against dramatic skies.
On the afternoon of Lily and Mike's wedding, the Minster Quartet played in the garden while guests mingled. It made for a lovely, unhurried interlude that made the most of those beautiful grounds.
For the wedding breakfast, Mike and Lily chose a barbecue and salad bar, with wood-fired pizzas later in the evening. Catering was relaxed, generous and well-suited to the outdoor spirit of the venue. The décor carried a subtle aviation theme throughout — a nod to how Mike and Lily met, on a flight to the Far East. Tables were named after places they'd visited together; the seating plan was styled as an airport arrivals board and the favours included miniature Baileys, just like the ones you might find on a long-haul flight.
No need to rush away
A live band and DJ carried the festivities well into the night. Newlyweds at Parley Manor can, in fact, stay overnight in its newly-renovated accommodation, continuing the experience through to breakfast in the dining room the following morning. This unhurried quality – the sense that nobody needs to rush away – is one of Parley Manor's great gifts to a wedding day.
Lily's favourite moment? Champagne in the Rolls-Royce on the journey from Romsey Abbey, where she and Mike got married. It was a suitably luxurious interlude during a day that began with her bridal preparations at home in Wiltshire, culminated in her marriage to Mike in Romsey, Hampshire, and concluded beneath the stars in a Dorset walled garden.
Venue: Parley Manor
Get the look
Photographer: Dom Brenton
Bridal boutique: Mousetrap
Dress designer: Morilee New York
Brides's shoes: London Rebel
Groom's suit: Moss Bros
Bride's ring: Charles Nobel
Groom's ring: DeBeers
Florist: Simply Flowers
Car: Spirit of Excellence
Catering: Merlin
Garden games: Simply Flowers
Magician: Paul Newman
Band: New Revolver
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