May News
May news from Butley Priory
It’s been a busy last month – starting with our first wedding; Becky and Paul were married in April. Everything went smoothly, the sun shone, only a minor hitch, where was our wedding license? With our refurbishment (including old office turned into a staff cloakroom, and Covid clamp down) it hadn’t been seen or required for some while. We kept our heads. All was well; of course it was filed in the right place all along.
We’ve restocked the Pilgrims Bar, our speciality gin bar, in the tiny vaulted room with an open fire where the monks once dispensed alms to the poor. The “piscina” - an arch with a stone basin for holy water, is from the original monastery. It’s been a entertaining, sampling some of the brands, some seriously curious flavours – Parma Violet for one. We like the Juniper with orange peel. My favourite has to be Chase Hedgerow Elderflower with soda and lemon. Fishers Gin might be pricey but their new “Smoked” brand is delicious especially with ginger ale and lime, savour every mouthful.
Coes of Ipswich did a fashion shoot in the Priory and gardens. Look out for the pictures on their website and on our instagram.
We have a wedding shoot next week. A team of local wedding suppliers have come together to showcase Suffolk’s best talent. Organised by make up artist Victoria Bradfield. Ayshea Goldberg is doing the photography, Videographer Aaron from Avisuals is filming, wedding gowns are from The Bridal Lounge, hair by Lynette Chasmer, flowers by Charlotte Staff (creams, white, lilacs and pinks), stationery (exquisite calligraphy) by Polly Pickel Design, a sumptuous wedding cake by Luca’s Cakes, Jewellery by Susannah Chenevix (pearls are the theme) and pulled together by wedding planner Louisa May Weddings.
A makeup artist turned up today for a wedding – but wrong venue – panic stations all round. But she made it to the right venue in the nick of time. First guests in the farmhouse went swimmingly, we liked it that they were keen to compost their veggie waste. NB compost area behind the garden shed (bottom of the garden). The tennis court is finally painted (the day that it finally rained after seven dry weeks), two shades of green. Plays like a dream.
The Tudor Room four-poster curtains are completed, Rose fabric lined with pink ticking from The Cloth Shop in the Portobello Road. The white lattice mango wood chest and raspberry coloured floral rug are from Snape Malting, lamps and candy striped pink shades are Pooky Lighting, pretty lime washed table from Marlesford Mill (where we have found many treasures), the recycled plastic carpet (looks like sisal and soft underfoot) is from the Unnatural Flooring Company.
After hours of searching the Internet in lockdown for a beautiful rug finally found one from Oka for the Mary Rose room; subtle soft pinks and beige, and looks perfect. The day beds sourced for the Mary Rose and de Glanville (for extra small, or indeed larger guests) work a treat. The rooms are painted Dulux Ochre White and look fresh and serene – thank you Georgia Mann Interiors.
Kim the stone mason is back repairing a Priory buttress. Wallflowers high up in the ancient flint walls have taken root, rather a shame to dislodge them. Baz is hard at work in the gardens at Butley Abbey farmhouse, repairing the steps down to the summerhouse lawn. Isla is planning the flowers for her wedding in June, our first bride to be using the thatched summer house, with a marquee on the lawn.
We discovered to our excitement David Gillingwater who is creating our smart new signage (green and gold) is a piper! So if you are of Scottish heritage or a bagpipe enthusiast - book him for your wedding. Scotland the Brave, Amazing Grace, Sky Boat Song and, Mairi’s Wedding are just a few favourites from his repertoire.
Should the heavens open or the bride wish to be driven from the Priory to Butley Church or Butley Abbey Farmhouse, vintage car enthusiasts might like our dark green 1954 Bentley, handsome in white ribbons, or for a more rustic vibe a 1955 Series 1 Land Rover. However, the latter is in the last stages of restoration (ten years and counting), the radiator is finally sourced, we are ever hopeful we will see it shortly, gleaming and engine ticking over.
APRIL NEWS
News from Butley Priory
April News – We’ve highlighted some of our suppliers stories this month and also asked them how they coped with lock down. And Rebecca and Jack have told us about their mini wedding at the Priory last summer. What it was like going from 220 to 15 guests with a picnic on the beach.
James Davidson – photographer
James is a regular wedding photographer at Butley Priory and a huge fan. “It’s both romantically intimate and a spectacular backdrop”. Not only weddings have been on hold for James, his other outlet, horse racing photography, has also been moth balled. On a brighter note, James says his house and garden are looking immaculate. James was the photographer for Rebecca and Jack’s wedding at the Priory. Despite the nail biting situation and slashed numbers, it took place. “It takes a certain type of couple to make is special. “Down to the wire, but Rebecca and Jack went with the flow and made it happen.”
Rebecca and Jack from London loved their wedding day despite the disappointment and last minute announcements from Boris. Numbers from January were sliced from 220 down to 15 in July. “We were determined to get married come what may, and prepared ourselves in the weeks before for setbacks. First cut was down to 50 (100 was harder to cherry pick). It was painful not just financially but the agony of uncertainty. “We had friends coming from six different countries. We were at the Priory the day before the wedding getting ready, when we heard that receptions were cancelled. But a marriage and photographs could go ahead. Our caterer brought the food in boxes, so after the ceremony we went to the beach at Shingle Street to celebrate.” The sun shone, the day was perfect, their friends watched around the world from Los Angeles to South Africa. They spent their wedding night in Forest Haven in Rendlesham forest. “It was magical.”
Peter Harrison – Chef
Peter has quite a biography, working in the catering industry in London, France, Australia and has run his own restaurant. Now based in Rendlesham Peter has worked at Butley Priory, catering for weddings for the last two years. He likes that it’s a family business, the relaxed vibe, the ancient, quirky building, surrounded by history and oak forests. “Its unique, and its very beautiful.”
Lockdown has been horrendous for the catering industry; “Small weddings are not viable financially” says Peter “The restricted numbers for the few weddings which went ahead were challenging, with suppliers and staff.” Peter is creative and resourceful, during the last year he has catered for a film company with Jamie Oliver, picked up consultancy work and spent a couple of months last summer picking asparagus with some of this staff at Blaxhall. “We enjoyed it, despite the back breaking work, the weather was wonderful, bird song, we met all sorts of interesting people from fellow chefs, artists, and skippers from yachts, all sorts. There was a good feeling of camaraderie, nobody knew much about the virus or the impact. And I now know everything there is about growing asparagus.’ But for now he is really keen to get back to work, and the wedding season. The kitchen at the Priory has been revamped so that’s another thing to look forward to.
Victoria Bradfield – Make-up Artist
It’s been a frustrating time for Victoria, especially in the first locked down when hairdressers were allowed to open before beauticians, causing an understanding ripple in the industry. Victoria trained 25 years ago in London. Her love of travelling to faraway off the beaten track destinations has been curtailed, but she‘s stayed positive concentrating staying fit and healthy, and learning photography. She’s been honing her make-up skills doing masters classes on line with Kristina Gasperas.
“I love working at the Priory, the cream and white colouring make a perfect setting for the brides. The light streams through the huge gothic arched windows, the photographs never fail.”
Victoria’s Yorkshire terrier Ruby has kept her sane during these last months. Ruby is a firm favourite with her brides doing makeup trials before the big day. “I’ve missed my brides, it’s been tough on them, and the whole industry; so much uncertainty and disappointment. I’m longing to get back to work.”
Photo credit: James Hiller Photography & Marianne Ford Photography
Helen Newman – Florist
Butley Priory is Helen’s favourite wedding venue - of course it is. Helen has kept going during lockdown with a few small weddings, which she’s enjoyed; “they are more intimate, stripped back to what its all about, a marriage. The brides tend to be more lavish with the flowers.” And of course there have been funerals, so that’s been sad, but the flowers lift spirits, they make all the difference.
A florist for many years Helen has worked in London, New York and the Middle East. A keen gardener, she has her own cutting garden, which she uses for her floristry. Tulips are her passion (she’s waiting patiently for her Sarah Raven mix to come up) but also roses, peonies hydrangeas. During lock down she’s indulged in a new interest, unusual house plants with unpronounceable names; she and her daughter are very pleased with their avocado tree, although the fruit has yet to appear.
Karen Lear- Celebrant and Florist
Karenlearflowers@hotmail.co.uk
Florist and Celebrant, Karen has known and loved the tranquillity and romance of Butley Priory since childhood, “when I use to bicycle passed it.” Karen ran the flower shop in Leiston for years; she first learnt floristry at Otley College and then stayed on and taught. She likes using flowers from the hedgerows, and locally sourced and lots of green foliage woven in. The Priory is a wonderful place to decorate; she likes the wide stone mantelpieces. “It’s a very flexible building, you can go elegant or boho, whatever, it’s a dream venue.”
As a Celebrant Karen trained 4 years ago in Salisbury. Karen tailors the ceremony to the couple’s wishes. “Sometimes they write their vows, sometimes I write them; it can be solemn, poetic, pagan, long or short and sweet, whatever the couple wants, sometimes a collaboration.” It’s nicer to meet in person, but with lock down over the phone or zoom has worked says Karen; we’ve all learnt to adapt.
During lock down Karen has kept busy gardening, painting, sewing, writing and floristry, one or two small weddings but sadly quite a few funerals. “I’ve stayed up upbeat and busy.”
Amelie’s Kitchen – Wedding cakes
Helen Ward found lockdown at first very hard, her business felt like “it had literally fallen off a cliff.” From making and creating two intricate wedding cakes a week, work instantly stopped. Her online shop set up on 2019 also went quiet. She felt lost and disorientated. But things slowly improved, the craze for home baking took off, and Helen capitalised, designing and making Cookie Embosser’s to decorate biscuits. Hey presto, her on line shop took off. “The upside of not making wedding cakes meant I got my weekends and evenings back.” But she’s looking forward to life getting back to normal. Her multi-flavoured wedding cakes, traditional fruit, chocolate mud, strawberry and champagne, Madagascan vanilla, carrot and pecan nut, will be back in demand with their exquisite sugar flowers.
NEW ! Gate Keeper’s Cottage - available May and June
Close to the Priory is an enchanting 18th century two bedroom cottage, bathroom, open plan sitting room, small private garden. Please contact us for further details and prices.
