Table of contents
- Overview
- The venue
- Springhead
- The back story
- Timeline
- Hen and Stag | ✅
- A house/van full of plants ✅
- Friday evening
- from 5pm | Arrival
- 6:30pm | Pizza is served
- When the sun goes down | Open mic (memory lane)
- Saturday
- 8:30am - 11:30am | Breakfast
- 9:00am - 9:45am | Yoga
- 11:30am to 1pm | Lunch (grab a sandwich if you are hungry)
- 1:30pm - 2pm | Welcome drinks
- 2pm - 2:30pm | Ceremony
- 2:45pm - 4:30pm | Canapes and games
- 4:30pm - 5pm | Speeches (Felix and Ben)
- 5pm - 6:30pm | The main meal
- est 6:30pm | Cut the cake
- 6:30pm - 7pm | Speeches (Will and Gozi)
- from 7pm | Cheese
- 8-9pm | The Band’s first set
- 9pm to 10pm | Interlude
- 10pm to 11pm | The Band’s final set
- 11pm onwards | Silent lake rave
- Stragglers
- Sunday
- 8:30am to 11:30am | Breakfast & reminisce by the lake
- Anytime before 12:30pm | Departure
- Transport
- A gift
- FAQ’s
Overview
Quick summary
- The venue
- The wedding/weekend is at The Springhead Trust in Fontmell Magna, Dorset (SP7 0NU)
- Timeline of the weekend
- Friday 16th, 2024 | Evening (Optional)
- Saturday 17th, 2024 | Wedding day (Kicks off at 1:30pm)
- Sunday 18th, 2024 | Morning (Optional)
- Travel
- Plenty of parking onsite or there is a direct train from London to Gillingham and then a short taxi
- Gifting
- If you wish to give us a gift, we’d welcome contributions to our honeymoon or first home fund.
- FAQs
- Frequently asked questions that cover all parts of the weekend.
The venue
Where the wedding/weekend will be.
Springhead
Springhead is a Garden Estate in Fontmell Magna, just south of Shaftesbury in Dorset.
It was a Fulling Mill in 1665 - by 1832 it was a Corn Mill - and in 1933 it was bought by the Gardiner family who subsequently handed it over to a trust in 1973.
Today, the Garden Estate is a charity that promotes organic farming, sustainable living - and beautiful gardens!
The back story
In July 2018 we both went camping in Snowdonia but after 2 days of non stop rain decided to head back down south where the forecast was better - Dorset was best! We set off late and got down to Bridport just as it was getting dark. It was peak season and all the campsites were booked up and it wasn’t looking good.
We found a small campsite called Bredy Farm on google maps - arrived in the pitch black - and woke up the next day to the most beautiful weather - in a beautiful place. We’ve been coming back to Dorset ever since.
Timeline
What is coming up?
Hen and Stag | ✅
A house/van full of plants ✅
Friday evening
from 5pm | Arrival
The weekend kicks off with drinks from 5pm on the Friday. Everything is close by so when you come down the path from the car park, just listen out for the music.
6:30pm | Pizza is served
The Hidden Pizza company will be serving up Pizzas between 6:30pm and 8:30pm … and the number of Pizzas is unlimited!
There are 4 pizza to choose from on the night
- Rita | Margherita
- Rich tomato sauce topped with Brue-Valley Mozzarella, finished with oregano and fresh basil (can be made vegan)
- Toni | Pepperoni
- Rich tomato sauce topped with Brue-Valley Mozzarella and Somerset Cider Chorizo.
- Linda
- Rich tomato sauce topped with Brue-Valley Mozzarella, sun-dried tomato, mushrooms and roasted red peppers (can be made vegan).
- Hidden
- Rich tomato sauce topped with Brue-Valley Mozzarella, sun-dried tomato, gorgonzola, pancetta and finished with rocket.
When the sun goes down | Open mic (memory lane)
When the sun goes down - we’ll have an open mic where anyone can share stories/memories/anything they like about us/our relationship …
Could be
- An embarrassing story about one of us (or both of us)
- A memorable moment
- Something you want to say about the weekend
- Something you want to say about our relationship
- A song
- A poem
- A reading
Nothing is off limits …
Saturday
8:30am - 11:30am | Breakfast
For those staying on-site (or in the village) brunch on the Saturday will be a continental breakfast with a selection of bagels, croissants, coffee, tea etc that people can pick up at anytime between 8:30am and 11:30am.
9:00am - 9:45am | Yoga
For those who fancy Yoga in the morning, Lawyer/Yoga instructor Rach (friend + partner of the best man) is leading a light session in the morning.
11:30am to 1pm | Lunch (grab a sandwich if you are hungry)
Reeves Bakery is supplying us with fresh sandwiches - something to grab at lunchtime before the day kicks off.
1:30pm - 2pm | Welcome drinks
The day will kick off at 1:30pm. This is the time we would like all guests to have arrived by.
Once you’ve picked up a glass of something, everyone will make the slow walk around the gardens (if it’s not raining) to where we’ll be getting married.
2pm - 2:30pm | Ceremony
The ceremony will be for real and we’ll be getting officially married during the ceremony.
Who will be conducting the ceremony?
Beki and Kev will be our registrars. Beki will be leading the ceremony, whilst Kev makes sure it’s all legit!
Who is doing a reading?
Ben’s mum Sam will be doing a reading during the ceremony
Who are the Bridesmaids?
Who are the Groomsmen?
2:45pm - 4:30pm | Canapes and games
When the ceremony comes to a close, we’ll all have some canapes together and enjoy the afternoon with some lawn games (if it’s not raining).
It’s an all vegetarian canapes line up …
- Mozarella, olive and basil tartlets
- Vegan bruschetta
- Mushroom and garlic filos
- Asparagus and blue cheese tarts
4:30pm - 5pm | Speeches (Felix and Ben)
A handful of people will be sharing some words. The speeches will be split into two parts. First up, it’s Felix (Father of the Bride) and Ben (Groom)
Felix Kendall (Father of the Bride)
Ben Henley-Smith (Groom)
5pm - 6:30pm | The main meal
The food will shortly follow. It will be served family style; straight to each table where we can help ourselves.
est 6:30pm | Cut the cake
As the main meal finishes, we will cut the cake. The mother of the bridge, Mandy - has made the cake - and we’ll be having it with some extras for dessert.
6:30pm - 7pm | Speeches (Will and Gozi)
The final speeches of the day will be from Will (Best man) and Gozi (Maid of honour)
Will Edwards (Best man)
Ngozi Batchelor-Dafe (Maid of honour)
from 7pm | Cheese
8-9pm | The Band’s first set
The 5 piece soul band Soul 75 (led by Naz + guitar, base, drums and sax) will be with us for the night.
9pm to 10pm | Interlude
10pm to 11pm | The Band’s final set
The best is saved till last and the final set of from the band
11pm onwards | Silent lake rave
To end the night, throw on your silent disco headset and finish the night strong in the woods/by the lake
Stragglers
For those still going - it’s back into the woodland for a final campfire
Sunday
8:30am to 11:30am | Breakfast & reminisce by the lake
It will be a slow get up on Sunday and a chance for a final coffee and time with each other.
The continental breakfast will be served up for the last time.
Anytime before 12:30pm | Departure
Departure is anytime before 12:30pm on Sunday morning.
Transport
Address: Springhead, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 0NU
By Car
Fontmell Magna village is on the A350 from Shaftesbury. Once in the village, go down Mill Street, opposite the Fontmell pub. Springhead is located on the right-hand side. If you are travelling by car - keep going about 400 metres and take the next turning on the right-hand side (down the gravel track).
Parking
There is plenty of parking at Springhead. At the end of the gravel track, go past the white outbuilding on your right - and you’ll see a turfed car park straight ahead.
By train
The nearest station is Gillingham, Dorset (20 mins). It’s on a direct line to London Waterloo (1h 55m).
There is a taxi stand just outside Gillingham Station.
A gift
Your presence
We can't wait for you to join us on our wedding day, and your presence is the greatest gift we could ask for.
Should you wish to give us something, a contribution to our future together would mean the world to us.
You can do this via PayPal on this page, or there will be a secure place for cash gifts on the day.
FAQ’s
Frequently asked questions
General
Accommodation (for those staying onsite)