It's no secret that 2023 has been a fantastic year for weddings and events here at The Old Mill; so many different traditions, styles and amazing couples that we have had the pleasure of meeting! Seeing your visions and ideas come to life continue to prove that all weddings are unique and reflect their own story for each, individual couple. Hence, we thought it would be fun to take a look back on the last year and celebrate 2023, shortly before we welcome 2024 and the wonderful couples we will host weddings for in the next year.
Raise a glass with us (or if Christmas was a boozy one, perhaps a cup of tea) as we rewind the past year.
As our doors remained closed for refurbishments in January, new additions slowly began to pop up across various corners at The Old Mill.
First and foremost, our new, outside patio area was the biggest change in 2023 and it sure has added an extra element to all of our couples' wedding days this year! From ceremonies, to drinks receptions and even a dance floor under the stars, our patio has become a hub for all kinds of celebrations and entertainment - we love how malleable it has become. From the very beginning of the year as the final parts were added, we were so keen to see how our 2023 couples would utilise this space in their own creative way and WOW, they delivered!
Even on days where the weather didn't align with our plans, our Brides and Grooms could maximise their confetti opportunities - waiting patiently for those breaks in the rain with a space large enough to enjoy.
Once the refurbishments, inside and out (yes, our toilets and bridal dressing room had their own makeover too), the only thing left to do was to reveal it to our 2023 couples and those beyond!
Thus, our Open Day in February not only provided us with an opportunity to open our doors to future Brides, Grooms and their families, but it also allowed us to welcome back our trusted and Most Loved suppliers after, what felt like, forever! The spectacular weddings we have the enjoyment of hosting here at The Old Mill would certainly not be what they are without our wonderful suppliers. We were, therefore, thrilled to share our changes with them too.
Despite the chill in the air, the sun pulled through and gave us an Open Day filled with lots of smiles and many new and happy couples!
2023 saw some fabulous weddings and creative couples. However, there was one which certainly went above and beyond with an outside wedding breakfast. After externally sourcing a marquee and the spectacular furniture to complement the space, this warm, May wedding pulled out all the stops. With The Wed Shed adding those finite details, alongside flower arrangements provided by Sonning Flowers, allowed for this space to be utilised and complemented beautifully.
With suppliers working alongside each other to ensure the day ran smoothly allowed the evening to take place on our outside patio area. Elish, the couple's chosen videographer, captured this day and evening arrangements perfectly.
Another fun, wedding idea we saw this year was a cocktail bar, based from our outside bar area that overlooks our riverside views.
Amidst the heatwave that we experienced in early September this year, one of our couples had a fabulous idea to provide an Aperol Happy Hour for their guests. With the popular, orange spritz made available for all of their guests, this fun, qwerky idea welcomed their evening reception with a bang. Therefore, adding a new element to their day as live music began and the party started!
As we embarked on The Wed Shed's annual Open Evenings, showcasing a variety of wedding decor, a new addition to these events were introduced for 2023. Our Fashion Show, in partnership with White Rose Bridal Rooms.
A variety of bridal dress styles and colours were modelled on our catwalk, with the occasional Mother of the Bride and Flower Girl options to complement the show.
These evenings certainly gave our Brides-to-be some inspiration for their own Bridal look.
As weddings become increasingly unique and ideas pop up continuously, wedding trends have become a source of inspiration and fun for our Brides and Grooms.
Our favourite and one that we are sure is here to stay for 2024, is the heart-shaped sunglasses trend. This accessory adds an entirely new element of fun to your photos and one which encourages you to let go and let your fun side appear.
An ongoing tradition, loved and appreciated by our locals. For its 80th Show, the annual tradition found itself amongst a warm, Summers heatwave and therefore, packed with those of all ages.
We love opening our doors to the public and welcoming local villagers where possible and were thrilled to see so many attend the annual event.
In conjunction with The Wed Shed, we found time to squeeze in one more opportunity to highlight those hidden gems during Winter at The Old Mill - our Winter Showcase.
With gold accents sprinkled throughout our indoor spaces and an excuse to raise a glass of mulled wine, our Winter Showcase allowed Brides and Grooms to see the venue dressed and ready for a wedding.
As mentioned in our previous blog, Winter is often overlooked for weddings, but my goodness, The Wed Shed's decor and styling said otherwise.
As we officially mark the end to our weddings of 2023, we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the Brides and Grooms who have celebrated their marriage with us at our beautiful, riverside venue this year. Make sure to follow us on Instagram as we continue to embark on our Throwback Thursday's, shouting out the suppliers who worked with us to create a wedding day to remember for each of our couples.
To our 2024 couples, we wish you a wonderful lead up to your wedding. We are looking forward to seeing your visions come to life and your dreams come true at The Old Mill, Aldermaston.
Finally, to all those reading our blog, we wish you and your families a Happy and Healthy New Year and cannot wait to share more with you as we welcome 2024!
