When two worlds come together with a stunning Georgian Manor House being at the centre of it all..
Tell us about the proposal – how and where did it happen?
Joe: I proposed to Francesca at Point Lobos National Park in Northern California, overlooking the water on a trail.
Francesca: I was crying so hard that people thought I was upset with him- he dragged me away from the spot before I could process what had happened, he was so embarrassed!
Joe: But I nailed it!!
What was your first step in planning your wedding, did you use blogs/magazines etc?
Francesca: Pinterest is my all-time favourite website for getting inspiration! I had so many boards before Joe even proposed. ‘Teenage-me’ thought I’d marry in the Cote-D’azur where I went to school and lived, but my childhood dream was to have a winter wedding. With half of my family in Iran and the most senior members of Joe’s family in the UK, it made sense to lessen travel for them. Once my mother-in-law and I visited Gosfield Hall, I was sold. It is everything venues in California are not- traditional, grand and gilded in gold. Where better to marry at Christmas-time than here?
Joe: We looked at venues in the South of France and considered Napa in California, but this is my home and it was a special way to say goodbye (for now) to England before my big move to San Francisco. Gosfield Hall is so amazing because it’s this huge manor, yet still cosy and inviting.
What were your wedding “must have’s”?
Joe: We wanted to incorporate traditions from Francesca’s Iranian heritage. We had a “sofreh aghd” (done by the incredible Leila Motlagh) which is a Persian wedding spread containing objects that are symbolic to love and marriage. We also did a knife dance before cake cutting- it was so fun!
Francesca: Our families being a part of the planning process was incredibly important to me. I wanted to have those special moments with my mom, but also with my mother-in-law who I am so close with. When the pandemic hit, we had to reschedule the wedding since many were travelling from abroad. I am so grateful to Gosfield Hall for being so on top of safety precautions- it gave us the reassurance we needed to move forward.
Wedding budget: how did you organise your wedding budget?
Joe: Not well! I’m joking- it was all about spreadsheets. I was finishing graduate school and Francesca was doing her second degree in nursing, plus we wanted to save for a house still. So a lot of planning went into it. And we had lots of help.
Francesca: We prioritised the things that meant the most to us- photography/videography, food and music. At the end of the day, a wedding can be stunning at any budget. We were lucky to have lots of help from our family and friends. This gave us room to host a private welcome party for our guests at The Shard’s Sky Garden Rooftop Bar in London on Saturday, following up with a pre-wedding dinner at The Marquis on the property.
My maternal grandparents, paternal grandmother, mom, dad, father-in-law and mother-in-law all did SO much for us. My mother-in-law’s friend made our amazing cake (thank you, Chris!). Joe’s aunt Alana gave us the cake cutting knife. Our siblings were amazing- the list goes on! Help was everywhere and we are so, so grateful for it.
How did you find your venue and what made you choose it?
Joe: Stunning!
Francesca: Ditto. Beautiful, dreamy, fairytale-worthy! We found it through researching venues nonstop. I knew it was the one the moment we walked into the room with the painted ceiling.
Styling your wedding: how did you personalise your big day?
Francesca: We let the architecture do all the talking and added soft touches with white roses, candles, petals, mirrored table plans and welcome signs and of course, the sofreh aghd in the ceremony room.
Joe: I was very proud of my choice to have the string quartet play “Skyfall,” by Adele while Francesca walked down the aisle. It was epic.
Did the venue provide any memorable extras or nice personal touches that stood out?
Francesca: Tara was with us every step of the way. She made sure we were worry-free! I cannot thank her enough, Tara!
Joe: The Christmas trees and decorations both inside and outside were stunning, and the day went so smoothly with Tara leading the schedule and planning. Also, the fireplace!
Describe your wedding attire and favourite accessories
Francesca: My first dress was my mother’s wedding dress without the sleeves. It is made of shantung silk and is hand beaded with pearls and satin buttons. I also wore her pearls, diamond necklace and earrings. That morning, my dad brought a turquoise and diamond necklace and ring from my grandma in Iran who couldn’t be there on the day- I put them on at the last minute and they are my favourite additions from the day. My shoes were my original “something blue”- baby blue satin pumps. The second dress I wore was the one I chose with Paula- I felt amazing in it. I am also obsessed with my veil! It was 3 metres long!
Joe: I was staggered by the way she looked in her dress. Fran was breathtaking. It was such a surreal moment and I was so happy we were finally living the moment that took 3 years to dream up together.
What did your partner wear?
Francesca: I was with Joe when he picked the Vera Wang tuxedo and Calvin Klein shoes, and almost died seeing him in it. He looked (and still looks!) so handsome. The white jacket was more of a surprise and I love that he had fun doing an outfit change, too!
Joe: As Fran was changing her attire, I also planned a change…I started the day in an all black tuxedo and went to dinner in a white tuxedo jacket and red rose lapel pin. Stuck to the Bond theme.
Tell us about your Bridesmaids, Groomsmen and their outfits
Joe: To be honest, I just told my brother, dad and friends to wear black tuxedos. It all worked out!
Francesca: I really didn’t mind what my bridesmaids wore! I gave loose suggestions of pinks, golds, silvers or blues so they had something to work off of, but also said if they found something they loved in a different colour that was also totally fine!
What was your ceremony like?
Francesca: My dad and maternal grandpa walked me down the aisle. It was my dad’s idea to include my grandpa and it is one of the highlights of the day. My bridesmaids grinding sugar over our heads during our vows was so sweet and I love the pictures!
Joe: I spoke Farsi for the first time without any preparation, so that was nerve wracking! Our ceremony was just magical, from the string quartet to the mirrored table covered in flowers, intricate bowls with almonds, honey and other symbolic items.
Tell us about your drinks reception and wedding breakfast
Francesca: I barely registered what was going on during the drinks reception, between the nerves, excitement and rush by our photographer and videographer to get us outside for portraits! It was freezing outside but I barely felt it.
Joe: We had the most fun after the photography session, as Tara gave us a moment in the master suite to have a glass of prosecco, breathe and say “we did it”. We spent so much time that morning getting ready separately, that it was really nice to have a moment to get ready together before heading down to the wedding breakfast. I loved hearing everyone’s speeches, too. They really reflected our relationships with each person.
Did you have a band or DJ for your evening reception? Did you have a first dance – what song did you choose?
Joe: I chose Gary Clark Jr.’s “Our Love” as our first dance song. Gosfield Hall had their own DJ- he was great and mixed our song choices according to the mood.
Francesca: I love that we had songs catering to everyone, from British anthems to hip-hop and current radio hits, all the way to Persian club songs.
Based on your own experience, give us some top tips:
Francesca: Remember that this is your day. Enjoy every minute, let go of anything that doesn’t go according to plan and be patient with your photographers and videographers even when you’re itching to get back to the party- you’ll be grateful to them later!
Joe: Get pictures with your groomsmen. My one regret is that I don’t have any.
Did you go on a honeymoon or mini-moon?
Francesca: We wanted to do the stereotypical, cheesy European honeymoon. We waited until summer and went to Paris, Venice, Vienna and Santorini.
Joe: Venice was my highlight. There were so many other honeymooners that we almost felt the comradery with other couples searching for the good bars and restaurants.
“If we could do it all again, we’d…”
Francesca: I wouldn’t change a thing about our day.
Joe: I wouldn’t either. It wasn’t just about the day being wonderful- the memories are some of my favourite and will last a lifetime.
Gosfield Hall was an incredible venue that will be an amazing fit for any couple looking for somewhere special for their big day. The beauty of the historic manor house provides the perfect backdrop for a unique wedding. We absolutely loved our day. The staff, setting and grounds were incredible. The food was a highlight- the chef exceeded our expectations and delivered the most delicious menu. Our planner, Tara, tailored the entire day to our personalities, learned about Iranian traditions in order to plan the ceremony and knife dance and was our lifeline during the most stressful of times. She put us and our family at ease and was so professional.
Purchase & Hire – Tell us who your suppliers were:
Wedding attire: Bellissima Weddings
Other outfits: Suits – Vera Wang
Photographer: Eva Tarnok
Videographer: Jacob & Pauline
