Nick & Claudia

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A church wedding at Ilmington followed by a garden and marquee reception at Kiftsgate Court Gardens, bringing 180 guests together for a relaxed, flower-filled celebration that connected the ceremony, gardens and estate.

The Vision

Nick & Claudia wanted a wedding that felt personal, relaxed and completely immersed in the setting.

With 180 guests, the day involved a significant movement of people between Ilmington Church and Kiftsgate, alongside a two-day floral and venue setup.

The vision was for the flowers to feel abundant and connected to the gardens, beginning at the church and continuing through the reception at Kiftsgate. The aim was to create a cohesive setting, with the floral design bringing together the church ceremony, water garden drinks reception and marquee dinner. Sally Gill Flowers worked across Friday and Saturday, creating foliage installations, church flowers, urn arrangements and flowers for all 17 dining tables. The scale of the floral design would play a significant part in transforming the venue for the celebration.

FRIDAY

The Ceremony & Celebration

The day began with a ceremony at Ilmington Church, before guests made their way to Kiftsgate for the reception. With 180 guests travelling between the two locations, the transition was carefully coordinated, while Nick and Claudia's celebrations continued at the estate.

Guests arrived at Kiftsgate in a variety of ways, including vintage Humber cars and helicopter, adding a memorable sense of occasion to the day.
The drinks reception took place in the water garden, giving guests time to enjoy the setting while acoustic guitar and saxophone provided the entertainment.
Flowers played a central role in transforming the estate, with Sally Gill Flowers creating arrangements for the gardens, urns and all 17 dining tables. The floral design carried through from the church, where arrangements were transported to Kiftsgate following the ceremony so they could be enjoyed again at the reception.
Inside the marquee, the flowers brought the dining space together, creating an abundant setting for dinner and the evening celebrations.
Nyama delivered a South African-inspired open-fire braai, with the menu moving from canapés through to dinner, lemon tarts, cake, tea and coffee, before late-night pizzas were served.
Entertainment continued into the evening with live music and a DJ. One particularly personal moment came with Nick and Claudia's edited entrance to The Real Slim Shady, bringing their own sense of humour and personality to the celebrations.

Execution Highlights

180 guests across two locations: The ceremony at Ilmington Church was followed by a carefully coordinated movement of guests to Kiftsgate for the drinks reception and evening celebration.
Two-day floral installation: Sally Gill Flowers worked across Friday and Saturday, creating the floral design from foliage installations and church flowers through to the reception arrangements.
17 dining tables transformed: Flowers were created for every dining table, alongside urn arrangements and wider floral details throughout the marquee and gardens.
Church-to-estate flower transfer: Following the ceremony, the church flowers were transported to Kiftsgate so they could continue to be enjoyed throughout the reception.
Family-led venue preparation: Nick and Claudia, alongside around 20 family members, helped prepare the venue on Friday, laying tables and setting out personal decorations ahead of the wedding.
Distinctive guest arrivals: Vintage Humber cars and helicopter arrivals added an extra layer of occasion to the guest experience.
South African-inspired catering: Nyama delivered an open-fire braai, with catering carefully extending throughout the day and into the evening, finishing with late-night pizzas.
Entertainment throughout the day: Acoustic guitar and saxophone accompanied the drinks reception, followed by live evening entertainment and a DJ.

The Result

The result was a wedding that brought together the gardens, the marquee and the church through a celebration that felt personal, relaxed and full of atmosphere. Flowers were central to the transformation, carrying the design from Ilmington Church to Kiftsgate and creating a sense of abundance throughout the gardens and dining spaces. With arrangements across all 17 tables, the floral design helped connect the different parts of the estate and give the celebration a cohesive feel. The involvement of Nick and Claudia's family in the Friday setup added another personal dimension, while the open-fire braai, distinctive guest arrivals and entertainment throughout the day gave the wedding its own character.

There was significant coordination behind the scenes, from the two-day floral installation to the movement of 180 guests between locations. The experience, however, was designed to feel effortless. It was a wedding shaped by its setting, brought together through flowers, family and a celebration that felt entirely Nick and Claudia.