THE 10 STAGES OF A GORCOTT WEDDING (AS TOLD BY THE GUESTS)

There’s something about a Gorcott Hall wedding that turns even the most reserved guest into a walking, talking rom-com extra. You arrive promising yourself you’ll be sensible – home by 11, one glass of fizz, maybe two… and before you know it, you’re barefoot on the dancefloor, emotionally attached to the evening food and best friends with the bride’s cousin’s neighbour.

Here’s how a Gorcott wedding day really goes…

1. Arriving Slightly Early “By Accident”

You said you’d get there just in time for the ceremony. Instead, you find yourself turning into the drive a good half hour early because, frankly, it’s too pretty not to explore. You wander through the courtyard, manor house, and barn, taking mental notes of where you’d pose for photos, which corner you’d claim for canapés and whether it would be socially acceptable to just move in. You haven’t even seen the couple yet and you’ve already fallen for the venue.

2. The Pre-Ceremony Whisper Network

Guests gather, the first glasses of fizz appear, and the whisper network begins: “Have you seen the dress?” You catch glimpses of the bridal party doing discreet dashes past windows and groomsmen trying extremely hard to look relaxed. There’s always one friend who’s misty-eyed before the music even starts. The atmosphere hums with anticipation, the music cues, everyone stands – and suddenly, it all feels very real.

3. The “I Wasn’t Going to Cry” Ceremony

You had every intention of holding it together. But somewhere between the entrance, the vows and that look the couple give each other, you feel your throat tighten. The “I never cry” friend in the second row is quietly losing it too. Gorcott manages to be both grand and intimate; it’s like stepping into a film, except this time you’re in the cast.

4. Bubbles, Squeezes and “We Did It!”

The ‘I do’s’ happen, the newlyweds cheer, bubbles are ready to be blown. There are big squeezes, slightly chaotic group photos and at least one person shouting “KISS!” like it’s an official instruction. You can see the couple finally start to relax. The hard bit is done. Now it’s time for the fun.

5. Fizz, Canapés and Catching Up

You drift into that golden post-ceremony pocket of time where everything feels easy. Trays of canapés appear just as you realise you’re starving, and your glass seems to refill itself without you ever quite remembering asking. Guests spread around the patio and gardens, catching up, clinking glasses, and generously telling each other how amazing they look. Somewhere in the background, the couple are being gently scooped up for photos, whisked off to all the spots that somehow look even better in real life than they did on Instagram.

6. Speeches, Stories, and the Silent Napkin Sob

You take your seat and pretend you haven’t already memorised the menu. The food arrives and it’s clear this is not “just another wedding dinner.” Then come the speeches. There’s the heartfelt one that gets everyone dabbing their eyes with napkins, the slightly embarrassing one with that story from years ago, and the one that has the whole room roaring with laughter. At some point you realise you’re clapping, laughing, and doing that subtle “I’m not crying, I’ve just got something in my eye” routine like everyone else.

7. Golden Hour Glow

Just when things begin to settle, the evening light turns soft and golden and Gorcott shows off a little. The couple slip outside “just for a few photos,” which everyone knows means a good 20 minutes of magic in the gardens. Guests are more than happy to top up their drinks, finish off the last bits of dessert and enjoy that lull between day and night. Fairy lights flicker on, the sky softens and the whole place looks like a film set you’re somehow allowed to be in.

8. The Great Outfit Adjustment

As the band sets up and the lights dip, a quiet transformation begins. Heels are swapped for flats (or abandoned altogether), ties are loosened, lipstick is reapplied in any reflective surface that will cooperate. Someone always declares, “I never dance,” which everyone recognises as the biggest lie of the night. You can feel the energy building; the daytime version of the wedding is slowly giving way to its louder, looser, twinklier alter ego.

9. The Dancefloor Takeover

The first dance begins and everyone gathers around, phones at the ready, swaying politely at the edges. It’s tender, emotional and sweet – for about ninety seconds. Then the music changes, the tempo shifts and the dancefloor becomes a magnet. Before you know it, Auntie Sue is absolutely owning the centre, the groomsmen have accidentally formed a boyband and you’re shouting along to songs you haven’t heard since 2007. At some point, evening food appears and there’s a joyful shuffle as guests attempt the delicate balancing act of pizza in one hand, Prosecco in the other.

10. “We’re Definitely Leaving After This One”

You check the time and announce, with great conviction, that you’re leaving after the next song. Then another favourite starts and, somehow, you’re still there. Goodbyes are attempted several times and each one turns into another conversation, another hug, another “just one more.” By the time you finally head out, shoes in hand, there’s that unmistakable warm, fuzzy feeling that this wasn’t just a wedding – it was a Gorcott wedding.

And if we’ve done our job right, it’s the kind of day that lingers long after your feet recover and you catch yourself smiling every time someone mentions Gorcott.