No worries

Ben Bird and Chanuki Seresinhe treated their guests to a multi-cultural wedding at Matara, Kingscote Park

Ben Bird and Chanuki Seresinhe

Where: Ceremony and reception at Matara, Kingscote, Gloucestershire

Photography: Jo Hansford

As both of us come from quite diverse backgrounds – I’m from a Sri Lankan family and spent a decade living in California, while my husband is a Londoner from a Jewish family, finding a wedding venue that felt just right was not an easy task. However, when we first walked onto the grounds of Matara we immediately knew it was the right place. We loved the multi-cultural influences carefully incorporated throughout the venue, and the beautiful English county house where our wedding party would be staying.

I have years of experience as a project manager and thought planning a wedding would be just as easy as planning any other project. However the few weeks prior to the wedding was a very stressful time. Nonetheless, on the morning of the wedding, I decided to let all that go. A friend told me that the most important thing is that you and the groom enjoy the day, so I made a conscious decision that even if anything went wrong it just wasn’t worth stressing about.

The rest of the day was just magical. My father walked me down the aisle to a beautiful violin and cello duo by Bach, played by my friend and professional violinist, Mandhira De Saram and Ben’s brother, Milo. Ben looked incredibly dapper in his Paul Smith suit. It was such a treat to see him all dressed up, as it doesn’t happen very often!

The evening reception was held in the Hilarium room which has a large dome in the centre. Our florist did a fantastic job creating a stunning arrangement of vibrant flower garlands and hanging ribbons.

Ben and I had been taking private lessons so that we could perform a choreographed routine to Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me to the Moon. It was a surprise performance, in fact up until then I don’t think that anyone had seen Ben dance.

WHO DID WHAT

Photography: Jo Hansford Photography, Bristol, 0117 953 5801, www.johansfordphotography.com

Venue: The Matara Centre, Kingscote, Cotswolds, 01453 861050, www.matara.co.uk

Dress: Cymbeline, www.cymbeline.com

Accessories: Anthropologie, www.anthropologie.eu/ and vintage jewellery from

Portobello Market, London

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Gilly Gray Bridal, London, www.gillygray.com

Hair & make-up: Kate Kelvin, 01666 880368/ 07813 264066, www.kkmakeupartist.co.uk

Groom’s outfit: Paul Smith, www.paulsmith.co.uk

Stationery: Shinta Shop, www.folksy.com/shops/shintashop

Flowers: Floriture, Bristol, 0845 6899884/07849 195874, www.floriture.com

Catering: The Matara Centre, Kingscote, Cotswolds, 01453 861050, www.matara.co.uk

Chair covers: Hand Tied, handtied@hotmail.co.uk

Entertainment: Ligeti Quartet, www.ligetiquartet.com; The Party Junction,

www.bringthepartyband.com