Real Weddings Take a Pew | Wedding Planner & Coordinator in Lincolnshire
Every wedding is different, but the goal never changes: a day that feels effortless for the couple and unforgettable for their guests. These are some of the weddings I have had the joy of coordinating, from grand country houses to intimate celebrations at home. Behind every photo is a timeline, a team of brilliant suppliers and a few quiet moments that never made it onto the schedule. I have shared a little of that here alongside the images.
Harlaxton Manor, Grantham
Brian & Bianca Gorman · August · 115 guests
There are venues that need dressing up and then there's Harlaxton Manor in Grantham. With its Grade I listed Jacobethan architecture, sweeping approach and grand interiors, the manor does much of the storytelling on its own. My job was to make sure the day around it ran so smoothly that Brian and Bianca could actually enjoy it.
The brief
Brian and Bianca wanted a day that felt elegant and timeless without losing the warmth of having their family and friends together. Every detail needed to feel like it belonged at Harlaxton Manor rather than sitting on top of it.
What I coordinated
Working closely with the venue team and a brilliant set of suppliers, I looked after the full running of the day: the timeline, supplier arrivals and set-up, the ceremony flow, guest movement between spaces, and the small moments that never make it onto the schedule but make all the difference. Bianca's arrival by horse and carriage was choreographed to the minute and the evening built towards a finale of fireworks and a champagne tower, timed so all 115 guests could gather, toast and watch the sky light up over the manor.
A favourite moment
Bianca was getting ready at the venue and the plan was for her to arrive at the ceremony in a horse and carriage with her brother. Getting her from one to the other without anyone seeing her took some quiet planning. I slipped her into the back of my car, drove her down to the main entrance and handed her over to her brother and the carriage, so that when she arrived, the reveal was completely intact.
Behind the scenes
A venue this size rewards careful planning. Between the carriage arrival, coordinating the fireworks safely with the venue, and moving 115 guests smoothly through the day, the goal was always the same: Brian and Bianca never having to think about anything except each other.
In their words
"On the big day, at our wedding at Harlaxton Manor, everything ran smoothly thanks to Lorna's behind-the-scenes magic, we didn't have to worry about a thing. We couldn't have asked for a better wedding planner" - Brian & Bianca
Photography by Rachael Connerton Photography · Cake by Louise Bolland Cake Design · Carriage by DK Carriage Horses · Fireworks by Illuminatus Pyrotechnics
The Fleet ICA, Peterborough
Stephanie & Luke Burks · October · 124 guests
A church ceremony followed by a celebration at The Fleet ICA, with a Mariachi band, a curry feast and bacon baps at the end of the night. While Stephanie and Luke were married at the local church, my focus was making sure everything at the venue was ready and running perfectly when they and their guests arrived.
The brief
Stephanie and Luke wanted a traditional ceremony followed by a party that felt like them: fun, relaxed and full of personality. It was an adults-only celebration, so the evening could be built around good food, dancing and a lot of laughter.
What I coordinated
While Stephanie and Luke were being married at the local church, I was at The Fleet ICA making sure everything was ready and running perfectly for their arrival. With 124 guests to look after, I managed the flow of the celebration from the first arrivals to the last bacon bap. That included the couple's grand entrance, with the Mariachi band announcing them in as guests formed a tunnel of waving flags. It also covered the drinks tokens, the curry feast from Stephanie and Luke's favourite restaurant, the bouquet toss, and the sausage and bacon baps that sent everyone home happy.
Favourite moment
Watching Stephanie and Luke walk in through that tunnel of flags, with the Mariachi band announcing them, was pure joy. It set the tone for the whole night: fun, relaxed and completely them.
Behind the scenes
A celebration that feels this relaxed takes a lot of moving parts working together behind the scenes. On the day, I was coordinating several suppliers at once: the venue decor, the catering setup, the evening band and the photo booth. Each one had to be ready at the right moment, so that when Stephanie and Luke arrived, everything simply flowed. I also organised the bouquet toss, making sure it happened at the right point in the evening, when everyone was gathered and in the mood to join in.
In their words
Lorna was professional and discreet. She ensured everything went to plan communicating with all parties, she was such a lovely presence on the day yet a whirlwind behind the scenes!! A thorough, no nonsense Irish beauty 😄 she has an eye for detail and I embraced her suggestions - nothing was too much trouble! She went above and beyond for us on the day and I can’t thank her enough! - Stephanie & Luke
Photography by Ian Whitwell Photography - Mariachi band The Mexican Way - Catering by Everest Kitchen - Photobooth by Lunashot
VOCO Hotel, Corby
Natasha & Jason Hinks · August · 42 guests at the ceremony, 150 in the evening
An intimate registry office ceremony, a garden party with a magician and a sax player, and an evening of napkin-waving, dancing and hog roast. Natasha and Jason's wedding was all about fun and laughter, and I don't think the smiles stopped all day.
The brief
Natasha and Jason wanted a day that felt like them: relaxed, joyful and full of laughs. It was an adults-only celebration, with a small, close circle at the ceremony and a much bigger party in the evening. Their priority was time to enjoy their people, so the entertainment and the pace of the day were planned around that.
What I coordinated
The day began with an intimate 4pm ceremony at Kettering registry office for 42 guests. Natasha was attended by her sister as maid of honour, three nieces and her granddaughter as bridesmaids, and her dad gave her away. Jason chose a lovely twist on tradition: instead of the usual first look between bride and groom, he shared his first look with his mum.
Back at the hotel, guests were welcomed into the gardens for drinks and heavy canapés, and Natasha and Jason were greeted by a guest tunnel and a shower of confetti. A sax player set the mood, the photographer captured the garden portraits, and a magician kept guests entertained.
Before the evening began, I arranged something just for the couple: a private first dance with only me, the photographer and the DJ in the room. Then 150 evening guests arrived from 7pm and moved into the hotel function room, where Natasha and Jason were welcomed in by the sax player. Guests were on their feet, waving napkins and cheering, the dancing started straight away, and the night finished with a photobooth and a hog roast.
A favourite moment
The private first dance. After a day full of noise, laughter and lots of guests, Natasha and Jason had a quiet moment completely to themselves, with just me, the photographer and the DJ in the room. It wasn't a traditional slow dance either
Behind the scenes
Going from an intimate ceremony of 42 to an evening party of 150 means the day has several distinct moods to manage. The goal was for Natasha and Jason to enjoy every moment without worrying about what came next.
In their words
We couldn't have done it without you! All the amazing work and the help you gave us . Can't thank you enough. Keep up the great work. Appreciate all you did for us on the day. Natasha & Jason
Photography by Photography by Belle · Music by Slav on Sax · Magician Nemed Phoenix Magic · Photobooth by R&R Events ·
Normanton Church, Rutland Water & The Finch's Arms, Hambleton
Lorna & Andrew · November · 80 guests
Every wedding I coordinate teaches me something, but this one was my own and it taught me the most.
A twilight ceremony on the edge of Rutland Water, an autumn reception with the whole venue to ourselves and a day that was beautiful in every way, apart from the cheese tower and the Guinness cake we completely forgot to cut.
The brief
Andrew and I wanted a small, warm, family-first day with an autumnal feel, a bit of Irish heritage and plenty of laughter. Nothing stiff, nothing that didn't feel like us.
The day
Our ceremony was at 4pm at Normanton Church, Rutland Water, a twilight wedding with lots of candles lighting the church as the afternoon turned to dusk. As we came out, our guests formed a sparkler tunnel just as the sun was going down. We had a crisp, sunny autumn day and the best sunset.
It was a family affair. Andrew arrived with his daughters in his favourite VW camper van, his daughter Alice was his "best woman", Olivia looked after the rings, and my daughter Isla was my bridesmaid.
We then moved to The Finch's Arms in Hambleton, which we had on exclusive hire for our 80 guests. Mulled wine and mulled cider welcomed everyone in from the cold, and toffee apple favours kept the autumn theme going. The wedding breakfast was sharing platters, followed by a choice of chicken or beef and panna cotta for dessert. My brothers and their partners helped out on the morning, and the venue looked after us wonderfully, but there was no one whose job it was to hold the whole day together. That's where I wished I had hired a wedding day coordinator.
A favourite moment
The sparkler tunnel, and the sunset over the water at Rutland Water. Walking out of the church into a tunnel of sparklers as the sun went down over the water is something I'll never forget, and it's exactly the kind of moment I hope to create for the couples I work with.
The details
Autumnal and candlelit throughout, with flowers in rich autumn shades. Instead of a traditional cake, we had a cheese tower. Andrew's cousin Diane also made a Guinness and chocolate cake, a nod to my Irish roots. In true wedding-day style, we forgot to cut either of them.
The party
No band, just a DJ, who mixed in plenty of Irish favourites to get everyone on their feet. My brothers dressed up as Irish leprechauns and we danced into the night with lots of craic.
What I learned
I'm a wedding coordinator and I still didn't have one for my own wedding. It showed. The ceremony and the sunset were everything I had hoped for but the speeches were a little all over the place and in all the excitement we forgot to cut the cake. Nobody minded and we laughed about it but it's exactly the sort of thing a coordinator catches without anyone noticing. A venue will look after its own spaces and a good team will look after the details they have been given but someone has to be watching the whole day: the timings, the speeches, the cake, the moments you would regret missing. That's the job, and it's why I do it.
Photography by Harvey & Harvey · Venue: The Finches, Hambleton · Church: Normanton Church, Rutland Water · Bouquet by Pollen Oakham
Learn from my mistakes: have someone watching the clock, the speeches and the cheese. Let's talk about your wedding.