How do a couple who own and run an historic wedding venue celebrate their own wedding? The answer is with inventiveness and an eye to perfection

Great British Life: 'As I was getting ready, the groomsmen presented me with a surprise video Jordan had made of our memories together. In it, he told me I needed to be ready at 11am instead of the planned 11.30am! That panicked me slightly, so I thought I'd better crack on. At 11.30am (slightly late I admit) we walked out to see a beautiful horse and carriage Jordan had arranged and enjoyed a trip around Melbourn before arriving in style at Sheene Mill.''As I was getting ready, the groomsmen presented me with a surprise video Jordan had made of our memories together. In it, he told me I needed to be ready at 11am instead of the planned 11.30am! That panicked me slightly, so I thought I'd better crack on. At 11.30am (slightly late I admit) we walked out to see a beautiful horse and carriage Jordan had arranged and enjoyed a trip around Melbourn before arriving in style at Sheene Mill.' (Image: Scotts of Cambridge Photography)

The Sheene Mill in the village of Melbourn near Royston is owned and run by couple Serena Saunders and Adam Jordan (known as Jordan). After nine busy years hosting other people’s weddings as well as running the restaurant and rooms at the historic venue, they decided it was time they tied the knot themselves there. And with all that experience, it was never going to be a normal affair.

‘It was a classic yet glamorous theme,’ Serena explains, ‘consisting of deep reds, champagne golds and ivory with a summery twist. We used crystal glasswear and décor throughout, positioning candelabras and candlesticks all around the venue. We hung glass tealights from every tree and added mood lighting everywhere. The great thing about holding such a big event in your own venue is everyone else can now benefit from the things we bought and did.

Great British Life: Horse and carriageHorse and carriage (Image: Scotts of Cambridge Photography)

‘In addition to keeping the décor and colour scheme very classic, we were very keen to do things differently. This inspired us to be a bit more inventive. For example, our table plan was a large blossom tree with hanging crystals and beautiful hanging place names, our guest book was a large graffiti painting themed to suit our colour scheme and represent both mine and Jordan’s favourite things (F1 and New York for him, champagne and food for me!). We had a liquid nitrogen gin bar on our deck (which we purpose-built to tie in with the rest of the Sheene Mill. We had a large ice sculpture champagne bar to fit our magnums and we had a divine eight-course tasting menu with accompanying wines and champagnes.’

Great British Life: 'Choosing the venue was a no brainer. We hold a lot of weddings at the Sheene Mill each year, and while I’m sure I must be biased, I always look at each wedding and think what a blummin good job we do. It's such a beautiful venue, but more than just a venue to us – it's our home. I worked at the Sheene Mill from the age of 11, when my parents owned the business, to then come back 10 years after they left to own the business myself! I have so many lovely memories, from my childhood and from recent years.'Choosing the venue was a no brainer. We hold a lot of weddings at the Sheene Mill each year, and while I’m sure I must be biased, I always look at each wedding and think what a blummin good job we do. It's such a beautiful venue, but more than just a venue to us – it's our home. I worked at the Sheene Mill from the age of 11, when my parents owned the business, to then come back 10 years after they left to own the business myself! I have so many lovely memories, from my childhood and from recent years. (Image: Scotts of Cambridge Photography)

Great British Life: Flowers were combinations of deep red David Austen roses, hydrangeas, soft neutral and peach roses, deep red dahlias and soft green foliageFlowers were combinations of deep red David Austen roses, hydrangeas, soft neutral and peach roses, deep red dahlias and soft green foliage (Image: Archant)

Great British Life: The table plan was a blossom tree with crystals and hanging place namesThe table plan was a blossom tree with crystals and hanging place names (Image: Archant)

Great British Life: 'Standing on beautifully made lace effect icing sugar legs, the cake was five tiers of perfection, set off by a gold leaf tier, a soft lace and pearl design and stunning cascading flowers, (tying in with my table arrangements). The sugar flowers were so good… I actually thought she’d changed the spec and used real ones! It was a shame to actually cut into it but when I did I was certainly thankful - a tier of beautifully moist, rich chocolate cake with creamy chocolate ganache, a chocolate brownie tier, with white chocolate chips, A Victoria Sponge tier with Chantilly cream and homemade strawberry jam and a light, but beautifully moist and fruity fruitcake. I pretty much devoured every tier myself!''Standing on beautifully made lace effect icing sugar legs, the cake was five tiers of perfection, set off by a gold leaf tier, a soft lace and pearl design and stunning cascading flowers, (tying in with my table arrangements). The sugar flowers were so good… I actually thought she’d changed the spec and used real ones! It was a shame to actually cut into it but when I did I was certainly thankful - a tier of beautifully moist, rich chocolate cake with creamy chocolate ganache, a chocolate brownie tier, with white chocolate chips, A Victoria Sponge tier with Chantilly cream and homemade strawberry jam and a light, but beautifully moist and fruity fruitcake. I pretty much devoured every tier myself!' (Image: Archant)

Great British Life: 'Finding the right dress was probably the hardest part of the wedding for me, I must have tried on (what felt like) hundreds of dresses before finding my dress. I think this is because owning a venue we see hundreds of brides and consequently hundreds of wedding dresses – and I felt like I’d seen everything before. When I finally found my dress from Caroline Castigliano it took a lot of imagination to envisage what it would actually be like. Every dress I’d tried on was in a larger size, so I had to try to ignore the big black clips behind me! I’d also asked Caroline to make several changes, which I didn't see until the week before the wedding. When the day finally came and I walked out in my dress, with my hair and make-up complete, it felt right. I was thankful my mum had convinced me to go with it!''Finding the right dress was probably the hardest part of the wedding for me, I must have tried on (what felt like) hundreds of dresses before finding my dress. I think this is because owning a venue we see hundreds of brides and consequently hundreds of wedding dresses – and I felt like I’d seen everything before. When I finally found my dress from Caroline Castigliano it took a lot of imagination to envisage what it would actually be like. Every dress I’d tried on was in a larger size, so I had to try to ignore the big black clips behind me! I’d also asked Caroline to make several changes, which I didn't see until the week before the wedding. When the day finally came and I walked out in my dress, with my hair and make-up complete, it felt right. I was thankful my mum had convinced me to go with it!' (Image: Scotts of Cambridge Photography)

Great British Life: 'My mum wore a blue and orange 50s style dress. She will never be the traditional mother of the bride figure so finding her outfit was as hard as finding mine. In the end she bought something I hadn’t even seen, because it was the first thing she’d tried on and actually liked after numerous trips to London together''My mum wore a blue and orange 50s style dress. She will never be the traditional mother of the bride figure so finding her outfit was as hard as finding mine. In the end she bought something I hadn’t even seen, because it was the first thing she’d tried on and actually liked after numerous trips to London together' (Image: Scotts of Cambridge Photography)

Great British Life: SerenaSerena (Image: Scotts of Cambridge Photography)

Great British Life: 'The groomsmen wore a grey tails suit and ivory waistcoat with champagne gold detailing and a champagne gold tie and pocket square to match. They each had an ivory rose (with the exception of Jordan who had a deep red rose to tie in with my flowers) and smart black shoes''The groomsmen wore a grey tails suit and ivory waistcoat with champagne gold detailing and a champagne gold tie and pocket square to match. They each had an ivory rose (with the exception of Jordan who had a deep red rose to tie in with my flowers) and smart black shoes' (Image: Archant)

Great British Life: 'The bridesmaids wore a beautiful floor-length champagne gold maxi dress, with an ivory lace top, low back and subtle train''The bridesmaids wore a beautiful floor-length champagne gold maxi dress, with an ivory lace top, low back and subtle train' (Image: Scotts of Cambridge Photography)

Great British Life: FireworksFireworks (Image: Scotts of Cambridge Photography)

Suppliers

Venue (ceremony and reception): Sheene Mill

Photography: Scotts of Cambridge, Phil Lynch

Dress: Caroline Castigliano

Accessories: Veil and belt Caroline Castigliano, earrings and necklace Astley Clarke, shoes Jimmy Choo

Wedding rings: James Veal Bespoke

Bridesmaid dresses: Burr Bridal

Hair: Lisa Waller of Bliss Perfect Brides (07940 668938)

Make-up: Jane Iredale

Groom’s outfit: Chimney Formal Wear

Stationery: Intricate Creations

Flowers: Wildwood Floral Events

Cake: Pretty Tasty

Catering: Sheene Mill

Venue dresser: Raspberry Bespoke Events