The Perfect day - Your guide to a perfect wedding day in Norfolk

Helping hand for your special day

Meet Charlotte Kidd, the wedding planner at the Oaklands Hotel in Norwich. For couples choosing to marry there, she’s not just a wedding guardian angel, but also often a friend by the time the big day comes. Every detail from the bride’s grand entrance to the running order of the day is planned and organised through her to ensure it’s the greatest day of a couple’s life.

Here, Charlotte reveals some inside advice on creating the perfect Oaklands wedding.

Charlotte has worked at the Oaklands Hotel for the past five years, starting off as a waitress while studying at college, and experiencing several positions before finally taking up the role of wedding planner.

“I’ve always had an interest in weddings and was keen to learn more about the planning and organising of these special days,” she said. “It’s nice to just sit down with a couple and work out how their day will run. You feel like you’re a part of their day and, over the months, you make a couple of new friends as you work so closely.”

Having worked in various positions at the hotel, Charlotte has seen the running of a wedding from both sides: behind the scenes, where the planning, phone calls and menus come together; and front of house, with the room changes, blushing brides and, occasionally, a very nervous groom.

One of the most important aspects of Charlotte’s job is understanding the different room options and advising couples on the sort of weddings they lend themselves to.
“Many brides have always dreamed of their big day and, for some, there is no better place for this dream to come alive than with an impressive marquee wedding,” said Charlotte. “The Grand Marquee is the best option for summer weddings, and it’s just as popular in the winter.”

The marquee is a permanent fixture, with its own heating and changeable lighting to suit all moods. It can accommodate 120 people for a wedding breakfast and 150 for an evening buffet, plus couples who book this room also have the use of the Garden Lounge and the Members Bar, creating an additional capacity of 50 people.

The Grand Marquee isn’t licensed for wedding ceremonies, so couples choosing this room can use the Garden Lounge to get married in.

Positioned within the grounds of the hotel, the Grand Marquee is ideal for weddings where there are going to be lots of children. “The garden is big enough to hold a bouncy castle should you wish us to arrange this for you,” said Charlotte. “We have also had outside games such as Jenga and Connect Four, which are a great way to occupy guests between the end of the sit down meal and the arrival of the evening guests.”

Another venue option at the Oaklands is the Yare Suite. This is a very versatile space which can cater for up to 160 people for the ceremony and wedding breakfast. It can also be transformed into two smaller rooms called the Oak Room and the Cedar Room.

“This is a great option if you are looking for a venue where your guests are kept all together,” said Charlotte. “It’s one big room where you can see everyone – the groom at the bar, a handful of guests sitting down having a good natter, and others shaking their stuff on the dance floor. If the children are in the garden, you can also easily keep an eye on them through the big windows, and it has its own private entrance and terrace area.”

The space for entertainment in the Yare Suite is much bigger than the Grand Marquee. It has a larger dance floor and can hold both a band and a DJ at the same time. “We’ve even had Scottish ceilidhs and karaoke in the Yare Suite,” said Charlotte. “We simply move the tables back and you’re good to go.”

There are also plasma screens in the Yare Suite, Garden Lounge and Members Bar, which can be connected up to a laptop to show photographs – plus there’s a wireless projector screen in the Yare Suite for an even bigger picture.

“This is a great idea if the bride and groom got married abroad and are having a party on their return,” said Charlotte. “It gives family members who were unable to attend a chance to see a film of their big day.”

There are several catering options available for weddings taking place in any of the hotel’s venues.

“The barbecue and new hog roast menus are ideal for marquee weddings, but weather can be an issue so we can also prepare the meats on the grill in the restaurant if needed,” explained Charlotte.

“Hot or cold fork buffet menus are popular when a couple doesn’t want a full sit-down meal and then a buffet in the evening. It still has the feel of a sit-down meal with personal seating arrangements, name cards and favours, but is a bit less formal.”

The hot fork buffet offers a choice of homemade lasagne or chilli con carne, while the cold fork buffet is made up of salads, cold meats and pastries.

The hotel also has its own chocolate fountain, which can be hired with white, dark or milk chocolate served with a selection of bits to dip.

One of the most interesting weddings Charlotte has arranged was for a civil partnership in October. “The wedding took place in the Grand Marquee and there were two themes,” she explained. “The decoration during the sit-down meal was bronze, with matching balloons, flowers and table arrangements. Then, in the evening, the room was transformed to a pink and black theme with more balloons, large vases with ostrich feathers, and twinkly lights.

“Everything had to be kept hidden from the guests until we opened the doors for transformation. It was a big decoration job but it looked fantastic!”