This July one of our favourite exclusive-use wedding venues, Millbridge Court, officially unveils its latest new addition – a groom’s room named ‘The Lodge’.

This stylish venue set in the picturesque village of Frensham, Surrey is already known for being loaded with unexpected surprises. And now The Lodge has been created and designed with the leading man and his entourage in mind. Located in a self-contained cottage adjacent to the main venue space, it is the perfect, private ‘den’ for wedding morning prep.

When it comes to design and style, The Lodge takes its aesthetic inspiration from cool and contemporary private members clubs. A colour palette of strong, warm neutral shades work alongside cocooning leather sofas and chairs. Combine that with dark wood flooring, painted panelling, a statement sand-blasted raw brick feature wall and giant stags head and you have the ultimate in classic style. Outside, there’s a private outdoor space with seating.

The ultimate pre-ceremony space

The Lodge features a living area and double en-suite bedroom on the ground floor. Upstairs, there’s a dedicated space to get suited and booted along with an intimate bamboo crafted self-serve bar stocked with beers, soft drinks and snacks to shake off any pre-wedding nerves.

The result is a stylishly sophisticated intimate space in which to relax and prepare before the formal proceedings commence. We love it!

Led by a dynamic team of event experts, Millbridge Court is a unique and style-driven venue combining the highest quality event spaces with exceptional, luxury hotel standard service. Operating throughout the year, the venue caters for up to 150 guests. You can enjoy a multitude of spaces including two modern reception barns, a striking atrium, welcoming lobby and lounge areas, outdoor arbour for ceremonies and beautifully landscaped gardens. For accommodation, there are eight guest bedrooms and a stunning bridal suite, The Hideaway, nestled at the end of the gardens.

Millbridge Court offers exclusive use venue hire throughout the year. For further information visit www.millbridgecourt.co.uk or call 01252 792572

Images courtesy of Philippa Sian Photography {www.philippa-sian.co.uk/}

Who: Olivia and Jack | When: June 2019 | Where: Houghton Lodge

At just under 80 guests, Houghton Lodge provided the perfect venue for Olivia and Jacks’s intimate wedding. This stunning country house and gardens in Hampshire’s Test Valley is a tranquil, romantic space with plenty of special features. The couple had chosen to have their ceremony by the banks of the river. As guests gathered in this idyllic spot, they enjoyed drinks served from a special station offering up two of the couple’s favourite cocktails – Negronis and Margaritas.

After the ceremony, the bride and groom led the way up the sweeping lawns and into a private walled garden. In the spirit of the theme of Bohemian elegance, canapés were circulated while everyone mingled. These bite-sized creations included confit beef shin croquets, panko breaded pork belly with gooseberry jam and avocado puree on polenta toast.

Shortly afterwards, dinner was served in the enchanting glasshouse. Overlooking the pretty walled garden, and with a very unique, airy feel, the space looked magical. Florist, Gabi Manivit had very cleverly strung trails of foliage from the beams, which transformed the room. And there were beautifully simple jars of blush pink and white flowers on each of the tables.

A carve at the table roasted rump of new season lamb made for a spectacular main course, and the whole menu was punctuated with early summer flavours and ingredients. As the sun set on the glass house later in the evening, everyone was invited to tuck into a delicious, rustic cheese board.

Feedback from the happy couple

The newlywed couple got in touch with these kind words shortly after their special day:

“Hi Pete… You, Grace and the Kalm team did a fantastic job. We had several guests comment that it was the best wedding food they’ve had. Your organisation of the day, suppliers, stylish presentation and the calming presence of you and Grace were all highlights.”

Would you like to talk to us about how we can create extra magic at your special day? Give us a call on 01483 813360 or email info@kalmkitchen.co.uk.

Credits… Venue: Houghton Lodge {houghtonlodge.co.uk} Food & styling: Kalm Kitchen {www.kalmkitchen.co.uk} Photography: Felix Russell {www.frsphoto.co/weddings} Flowers: Gabi Manivit at Scarlet & Violet {www.instagram.com/miss_manivit}

Keeping your guests cool at a hot summer wedding is a gesture which never goes unappreciated. As we all know, the British weather can keep us on our toes! Thankfully at Kalm Kitchen we have some great ideas for summer wedding refreshments which will keep everyone happy through blazing sunshine and balmy summer evenings.

Kalm Kitchen Event & Styling Manager, Pete Holder is in charge of coming up with creative ways to present our food and drinks. He says, “Knowing what to serve your guests either before the ceremony, or immediately after while waiting or mingling is a detail that can get overlooked. But we know it’s something which proves hugely popular. You can choose either from a fully serviced station, or something more casual and fun where guests simply help themselves.”

Here are some of our favourite ideas…

Lovely lollies

Gone are the days when ice pops were just for the kids. These grown-up versions feature favourite flavours such as Champagne or Bellini. We work with premium popsicle brand Pops and serve up alongside our homemade, thirst-quenching cloudy lemonade to make sure everyone is hydrated. Not only does this nostalgic stall look stunning, it’s a great way to keep everyone happy with a cool, iced treat.

Photography: Kit Myers {www.kitmyersphotography.com}

A lotta bottle

Everyone loves our vintage bathtubs and troughs filled with beers, water or any other bottled drinks you care to serve up! A novel version of taking a dip, guests can ‘dip in’ and fish out an ice cold drink of their choice.

Photography: Anneli Marinovich {www.annelimarinovich.com/}

Flavour sensations

Simple fruit and herb infusions takes the humble glass of water to a new dimension. We fill Kilner style dispensers with water and an array of fresh flavours then decant into cute, individual bottles. So whether it’s lemon and lime, blood orange or handfuls of fresh picked mint, your guests will be coming back for more.

Photography: Anneli Marinovich {www.annelimarinovich.com/}

Summer classic

Refreshments don’t always have to be of the liquid variety. Turning dessert into an epic sharing station is a total crowd pleaser. Our interactive Eton Mess stand features an array of meringues, ripe, scarlet-coloured fruits, cream, wildflower & elderflower jelly, pink rhubarb compote and  honeycomb. Plus, a generous abundance of other irresistible sweetness. It’s a treat for the eyes, tastes delicious and everyone gets stuck in. What could possibly say British summertime more?

Photography: Laura Harvey {Instagram @bylaurasophie}

Planning a summer wedding? Talk to us about keeping your guests refreshed. Get in touch at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk or call us on 01483 813360.

What: Details Date Night | When: April 2019 | Where: Millbridge Court

We were thrilled to be involved in Millbridge Court‘s very first Details Date Night. This evening is designed for couples who are planning their wedding to revisit their chosen venue and start to imagine how all the elements will come to life. As part of the planning journey we’re there to get the creative ball rolling for our brides and groom. This includes all the crucial touches – such as flowers, food and photography – and even sizing up the space. Meanwhile they’re free to ask questions and get inspiration on how best to use the beautiful venue.

Food and drink inspiration

For us, it’s a great opportunity to showcase just some of our food and drinks ideas – and demonstrate the imaginative ways we love to present them! For instance, our brand new luxury cheese board went down a storm. We pieced together a luxurious selection of five cheeses, runny honey, grapes, dried apricots, figs, almonds, breads, wafers and chutneys for this gorgeous display.

Also, alongside the cheese board was our new Cookie Corner – a tempting trio of cookies and mini cookie bites with cold milk served in milk bottles with fun, stripy straws. Couples were welcomed to help themselves during the evening, as well as taking home a selection of sweet bites to save for later.

In addition, during the evening we served up a tasty selection of canapés, such as Parma ham pastry with tomato and mozzarella; Summer chicken, chorizo and corn; Mushroom croquette with tarragon mayo, plus Thai prawn tacos. The evening was a great success and we met some great couples who all left brimming with plenty of plans and all kinds of new ideas how to make their wedding day extra special.

Are you planning a wedding at Millbridge Court? Get in touch with the team to find out how you could attend one of these special evenings www.millbridgecourt.co.uk/.

And read more about it on the Millbridge Court blog here.

Credits…

Photographers: Philippa Sian (www.philippa-sian.co.uk); Matthew Lawrence (www.matthewlawrencephotography.co.uk).

Flowers: Hannah Berry (www.hannahberryflowers.co.uk); Jodie at Boutique Blooms (www.boutiqueblooms.co.uk).

Venue: Millbridge Court (www.millbridgecourt.co.uk).

Entertainment: Lauras Paper Heart Duo (www.lauraspaperheart.com/duo); Music by Kate and Dave (musicbykateanddave.com).

Cakes: Jen at Spongeworks (www.spongeworks.co.uk); Vanessa at Forever Cakes (forever-cakes.co.uk).

Bridalwear: Sophie Rose (www.sophierosebridal.com).

Hair & Make-up: Hanna Wildman (www.hannawildman.com).

A massive thank you to everyone who has followed us on Instagram. We now have over 10,000 followers – and our audience is growing all the time!

For inspiration, updates and plenty of lovely pictures, you can find us at @kalmkitchenltd

Our partner venue, the beautiful exclusive-use events barn, Millbridge Court has launched a brand new website. Giving you a wonderful insight into what it has to offer, take an online look at this restored 19th-Century house in the pretty village of Frensham.

The stunning ceremony and wedding barns lend themselves to a luxurious wedding day. With light-filled halls and sweeping gardens, the space hosts up to 150 guests. Bridal lodge ‘The Hideaway’ was a new addition last year and was recently listed as one of the best UK Bridal suites in You and Your Wedding. This self-contained space has its own decked outdoor area. Luxe touches include a copper rolltop bath, a wood-burning stove and marble-topped bathroom. Read more here.

Millbridge Court stands out in our eyes due to their passion for going the extra mile. The level of detail and care from the whole team who works closely with our couples, plus the endless attention to detail, is truly exceptional.

Making sure your wedding memories last a lifetime is guaranteed if you have photographs you’ll cherish forever. We love working with husband and wife duo Ash and Kat, AKA The Springles. They have a completely remarkable talent for capturing the wonder in every moment. And it helps that they’re lovely people too. We sat down with them to find out a little more about their secrets for making your day a cut above, and what top tips they have for choosing your wedding photographer…

Q // How did you both start out in photography, and is it something you always wanted to do?

Ash started taking photos of bands when he was younger and then studied photography at college, working in film. Kat started taking photos as a nightclub promoter and is self-taught. Both of us have always had a love of photography and we feel humbled every day that it is our job. Neither of us thought we’d ever have ‘professional photographer’ on our CV!

Q// How would you describe your signature style?

Our work is warm, romantic and natural. You will find most of our couples are pictured in nature because we feel a strong sense of connection to our environment. We place a strong emphasis on creating space for couples to interact as they would naturally, so we direct very little and we never ‘fake’ or force anything.

Q// Who and what inspires you in your work?

Our greatest inspiration will always be the natural world. We believe human beings are truly remarkable and that love has the power to unite and to change things for the better. We also have a deep love of travel, architecture, music and design, and we like to try and channel those influences in our work.

Q// What works well collaborating as a husband and wife team?

We each bring a different creative perspective. There is no ego; once we’ve shot an event we never check whose work was whose. When you’re looking at a Springles image you’re effectively looking at our two creative brains working as one.

Q// You’ve worked quite extensively with Kalm Kitchen. What has been your experience of them, and what is it about them you like the most?

Kalm Kitchen has an unrivalled level of professionalism and have a real heart for people. They are a driven and creative company who pride themselves on excellence and attention to detail. We love that about them. Also we adore how everything they do comes out of relationships. They are ‘people people’ first and foremost and we believe that’s at the core of any really inspirational business.

Q// What has been the most beautiful or memorable project you’ve worked on?

We were privileged to work on a beautiful intimate wedding in Tuscany with a wonderful couple who trusted our vision for their day implicitly. They completely included us in their day along with their small party of 20 guests, and it felt wonderful to be so involved. We laughed when they laughed, cried when they cried. We believe connection with other people is the stuff of life, so for us it was just the dream day at work.

Q// What would be your dream event to photograph?

Any wedding day where the bride and groom have been completely true to their vision for the day is a dream to work on. Weddings come in all shapes and sizes and they’re all unique and wonderful in their own way. But the best weddings are the ones where the couple feel totally relaxed, at ease, and are having fun.

Q// Tell us a bit your own wedding day. And any golden rules lessons you learnt during the planning process!

We got married at the church where Kat’s parents were married, and then had our reception on a local farm. We hired in everything; catering, tables and chairs, décor, right down to forks! We had enamel jugs on each table which Kat hand-painted in a ‘Roses and Castles’ bargeware motif, vibrantly coloured wild floristry and ribbons everywhere. Our favours were horse brasses. We spent the afternoon watching morris dancers, listening to our friend playing acoustic guitar and drinking local beer sat on hay bales. In the evening we had a BBQ and a folk band. We had the best day ever and wouldn’t change a thing. Our top tip is to discuss what really matters to you right at the beginning of the planning process, and spend your budget on making those things the best they can be.

Q// What advice would you give to couples who are currently researching photographers for their big day?

In many ways photographs are the ONLY thing (apart from your memories and your marriage) that will last beyond the wedding day. Our tips for choosing your photographer are:

• Choose a professional photographer rather than a hobbyist and book them in good time before the day
• Make sure you really like them; you’ll spend loads of time with them on the day!
• Make sure you love their work and have seen enough portfolio to be confident that they consistently deliver the style you love so much
• Check what their past couples are saying about them online in reviews etc.
• Remember that photography is an art form, and the camera is just a tool. When you book a photographer you are buying their artistic perspective. It’s worth bearing that in mind as you research.

To find out more about Ash and Kat, visit their website www.thespringles.com/

All images courtesy of The Springles

Wedding day mornings are notoriously busy, so our new breakfast grazing tray platter is the perfect solution. We deliver this feast first thing to be casually enjoyed by brides, grooms or any of the wedding party while the preparations are underway. We’re huge fans of any food that can be shared, and this early start extravaganza is a welcome addition to the Kalm Kitchen line-up.

Stacked with morning treats such as fresh fruit, nuts, cheeses, pastries and banana bread, it’s designed for diving into. And the feedback we’ve had so far is that it’s utterly delicious.

Event & Styling Manager, Pete Holder says, ‘I have always been a massive lover of sharing boards. My favourite style of food is a selection of delectable things to snack on. That’s why we created this morning tray for our brides and grooms. Now they can have that experience right from the start of their special day.’

Talk to us about how we can cater all the way from breakfast through to late night snacks. Get in touch at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk or call us on 01483 813360.

Check us out on Instagram for more food inspiration and ideas to wow on your wedding day.

Photography: Anneli Marinovich {www.annelimarinovich.com/}

Our new luxury cheese bar is the ultimate grazing station for your guests. Not only is it an excellent way to stave off the evening munchies, it is also utterly beautiful.

We launched this bar at Millbridge Court Detail Date Night and it proved a roaring success.

If you would like to have this hint of luxury at your wedding or party, do get in touch!

Photograpy: Philippa Sian {www.philippa-sian.co.uk}

Flowers by https://www.boutiqueblooms.co.uk

Introducing our all-new food stall – cookie corner! At Kalm Kitchen, we’re always working on new ways to wow at weddings and events. So, this season we’re launching a treat-laden tribute to everyone’s favourite sweet bite. This gorgeous cookie corner stall hosts a display of three different flavoured cookies. There’s double chocolate chip, oatmeal and raisin and delectable toffee chocolate chip.

Event & Styling Manager, Pete Holder was responsible for bringing this concept to life. He says, ‘Cookies are a real home comfort, but we’ve elevated them to a new level here. This station is versatile enough for your whole day, whether that’s to start the event as a pre-ceremony treat, to round off your evening, or as favours for your guests to take home, for instance.’

Would you like to talk to us about how we can bring the wow factor to your wedding or event? Get in touch at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk or call us on 01483 813360.

Credits… Food – Kalm Kitchen {www.kalmkitchen.co.uk}. Photography: Anneli Marinovich {www.annelimarinovich.com}. Florals: Hannah Berry Flowers: {www.hannahberryflowers.co.uk}. Stationery: Nat’s Paper Studio {www.natspaperstudio.com}. Venue: Micklefield Hall {www.micklefieldhall.com/}.