From Bride to Venue Coordinator
We’re thrilled to introduce Rachel, our incredible new Venue Coordinator at The Woods at Oakley. Rachel’s journey with us began as a woodland bride, where her meticulous planning, eye for detail, and calm, friendly demeaner really impressed us. We knew we had to have her on our team! With her first-hand experience and her passion for wedding planning, she’s here to help other couples create unforgettable memories in the Woods at Oakley. In this blog, Rachel shares her lovely story and how she can help you make your woodland wedding the best day of your lives.
My Story
On the 10th August 2024, I got married at The Woods at Oakley in Wiltshire, UK to my soulmate (and now husband!) Chris. It was the day I had always dreamed of – to say our vows surrounded by our loved ones in an ancient forest was unforgettable. There is a magical energy in the woods and we really felt it that day. I was able to have the woodland wedding I’d dreamed of for years and every time I look at our photos I can recall the joy I felt on the best day of my life. Our friends and family absolutely loved their time in the woods with us – we laughed, we danced, we cried and, when it was all over, we sat round the firepit at the end of the night looking up at the stars between the trees.
Not only are the woods magical but the people who run the venue are also pretty special! Lindsay and Charlie, who own The Woods at Oakley, started the business in order to fund the conservation of the woods, which were suffering from ash dieback (you can read more about ash tree dieback here). It felt so great to know we were contributing to saving these beautiful woodlands and ensuring a happy home for many creatures that live in the woods. Lindsay and Charlie did so much to help make our woodland wedding day wonderful – they were there for anything that we needed and welcomed us to the woods like we were family. We ended up having a wonderful friendship with them which felt different from other wedding venues we had viewed. We got to know their daughter and were invited to other events in the woods. It really felt like a family opening their arms and welcoming us in (and the cuddles with their adopted donkeys didn’t hurt either!).
Becoming the Venue Coordinator
So, as it turns out, Lindsay and Charlie were looking for a Venue Coordinator for The Woods at Oakley and, just after my wedding, I took on that role. Honestly, I wasn’t ready for my time in the woods to be over and, after my experience getting married here, I really knew that I would love to be involved in making other couple’s woodland weddings here as magical as mine.
Before this I was working (and am still working) as a professional performer and singing teacher (you can usually catch me in the Reading Hexagon pantomime every Christmas). It’s funny how a new career can land in your lap when you’re least expecting it! Now I guide couples through their woodland wedding journey at The Woods at Oakley and I help to make sure they’re all ready for their big day. I’ve loved meeting all our wonderful couples so far and hearing their visions for their dream woodland wedding. To be a part of making that happen is a privilege and I love seeing what each couple does with the woods! So far, every single woodland wedding has been different and unique to the couple, which is the magic of getting married here; you can plan your wedding and decorate the woods to reflect your relationship.
Event Management
I’m now offering my services as both an event manager and wedding planner at The Woods at Oakley. Having been there myself, I hope to pass on everything I learnt from my woodland wedding experience to our couples, from the logistical elements of having a clear schedule and a wet weather plan (essential for a woodland wedding!) to finding your perfect suppliers and decoration inspiration. If you have the time, there’s a lot of planning you can do yourself and, for those DIY couples, I’ve created a Woodland Wedding Planning Guide that goes through every step needed to plan the perfect day!
I planned my wedding myself which was a lot of work but it was wonderful to see it all come together on the day – the real thing was even better than the vision I had in my head! However, I wish I had had an Event Manager so I didn’t have to think about the schedule and making sure everyone was where they needed to be on the day.
So for those couples who are eager to plan their own woodland weddings but would like to step back from organising on the day, that’s where I come in! If you want to plan your own wedding but would like someone to take over on your wedding day so you can relax and focus on marrying the love of your life, I can be there as your event manager. I will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of your wedding day, from the arrival of the first supplier to the end of the day at 11pm. I’m so excited to use my knowledge of my own wedding experience and of the woods to help make couple’s days as magical as possible.
Event Management Package:
£500
Includes:
2 phone calls or face to face meetings before your wedding to discuss your plans.
Full on-the-day event management of your wedding.
Wedding Planning
My wedding planning service will be bespoke to each couple. Every couple is different and will want to be involved in the planning of their woodland wedding in different ways. Some might like me to be responsible for sourcing and booking their suppliers whilst others might like me to organise the events of the day, or both! At my wedding, I used a lot of local suppliers, which was really important to me, as it helped to keep our wedding carbon footprint as low as possible. We have a lot of suppliers we can recommend that have worked with us before and know the woods well (click here to view our ‘Friends of the Woods at Oakley’ brochure). There’s so much to think about when planning a woodland wedding, including a wet weather plan, that it’s really helpful to get some outside advice and help.
Wedding Planning Package:
Between £1000 to £2000
A bespoke service for couples that would like more help in planning their wedding. Uniquely crafted to your wants and needs, depending on how much or little you want to do yourselves.
The Woods at Oakley
Getting married at The Woods at Oakley is an unforgettable experience and you will cherish the memories of your woodland wedding forever. You’re also helping to keep the woods alive and to provide a safe space for animals and humans alike and you’re becoming part of the Woods at Oakley family, which I am very proud to be a part of.
Do get in touch if you’d like to find out more about my Event Management and Wedding Planning services. You can click here for more information or send me an email at [email protected]. I am always here to help, advise or take some pressure off when you need it!
