Pennsylvania Castle Weddings – Meet Our Couples
Our First Couple of 2024 – Abi & Ross
We are thrilled to announce the first instalment of our ‘meet our couples’ blog series. As we gear up for the 2024 wedding season, we have taken some time to catch up with Abi & Ross, our first couple of the year marrying at Pennsylvania Castle. Their special day is coming up in May and we have enjoyed learning about their unique love story and hearing about their vision for the wedding.
Tell us about your engagement! How did it all happen?
Ross had booked a weekend away to a beautiful converted farm in the countryside. I had a work meeting that I had to dial into remotely. Ross said he was going to go and do some exploring around the farm whilst I was in the meeting. When Ross returned, he asked if I wanted to go and have a look around. As we were walking around we noticed a huge barn that had been converted into a private cinema that guests could rent out – there was a huge sign outside that clearly stated that unless you had a booking, you should not enter. So, when Ross opened the barn door and said we could just take a look, I initially refused saying I didn’t want to get in trouble as we didn’t have a booking. Ross insisted we would be fine, and when he opened the barn door I saw a board with our names written on in chalk. My initial thought was that he had booked for us to use the cinema to watch a film, which would have been a lovely enough gesture, however as I walked further in I noticed a picture of Ross and I projected onto the cinema screen with a banner that read “will you marry me” draped across the screen. I turned round and found Ross on one knee – neither of us can remember what he said due to the cocktail of happiness, shock and nerves, but I immediately said yes. It was the most thoughtful and perfect proposal and a day I will never forget.
What made you choose Pennsylvania Castle as your wedding venue?
With Ross and I having both grown up in Weymouth and Portland, we knew we wanted to get married locally as the town holds special memories for us both. However, we also loved the idea of getting married abroad with views of the rolling coastline, luckily, with The Penn, we are able to do both. We love that when in the castle, it is easy to forget you are in the UK thanks to the beauty and tranquillity of the venue. Stepping into Pennsylvania Castle, both Ross and I were blown away by the stunning settings, both inside and outside the castle, there is a truly magical feeling when you walk around, and we love that each room has it’s own character and charm.
What has been your favourite part of the planning process so far?
The most memorable moment, and our favourite part of planning so far, has to be visiting Pennsylvania Castle for the first time. Although you can get an idea of the venue from pictures, you have to see it in person to fully appreciate how stunning it is. When we walked through the doors we both immediately knew, without saying anything to one another, that we had found our venue and it is a special moment that we will both remember forever.
How have you found your experience in dealing with our events team so far?
When initially getting engaged, we were concerned the process of wedding planning could be very stressful, particularly because we knew we were moving abroad just a few months later. Luckily, we had nothing to worry about because the events team at The Penn have made our wedding planning experience feel stress free, enjoyable and fun – even whilst living on another continent! Tessa, Hannah, and the entire team at The Penn have been friendly, approachable, enthusiastic and professional, and the entire time we have felt that they genuinely care about making our day as special as possible. We have felt that our ideas have been listened to, and we have also appreciated their commitment to turning our dream wedding day into a reality.
What is one tip you would give to anyone planning their wedding?
Make sure to take time to enjoy the process. It can be easy to get overwhelmed with the task, but with good organisation and knowledgeable and experienced vendors, it can be a fun experience – and for the grooms, the bride is always right!
