Customer Testimonials
To all the team at Notley Abbey,
We just wanted to say a massive thank you for making our wedding day go so perfectly! The staff have all been brilliant
throughout - Ann helping us through the planning process and Philippa
on-the-day making everything run so smoothly. The waiting staff were
absolutely brilliant and everyone has commented on how professional and
seamless the service was. Both our photographer and florist have also
asked me to pass on their thanks to everyone for being so accommodating
and helpful, something they don't always find is the case! Notley is such
a truly wonderful venue and all of your hard work that goes into making
it so special is very much appreciated. We will definitely have to pop
back for a visit and to reminisce soon!
I have attached a few of our favourite Notley pics here for you!
Thank you so much again,
Laura and Kieran
I have just got back from being away and I just wanted to say thank you for the most amazing wedding ever! It was fantastic and the MC and wedding manager on-day were trully out of this world!! We couldn't have done it without you all so thank you so much for making our day so special.
When I have pictures and the video I will send them onto you :)
Steph
Hi Ann and the Botley's Team,
We just wanted to say a big thank you to Barbara, Clyde, Melissa and
the Botley's team for all their hard work on Friday. Our guests cant
stop talking about the amazing venue and how wonderful all the staff
were. We had a really special day thanks to the team.
Barbara is like a Bride and Bride's Mothers best friend - so thoughtful
and attentive and was there everytime we needed her as if by magic.
Clyde did a great job of keeping everyone in check, where they needed
to be when they needed to be there and so smooth doing it too!
Melissa's attention to detail was impeccable and everything seems so
smooth and effortless.
The team were just so professional. We noted how young some of the
staff were and just how amazing it was that they worked so hard,
showing sincere enthusiasm and love for their jobs.
And last but not least.... thanks to you Ann for your help and guidance
throughout the whole process!
Thanks again for a truly memorable day.
Hayley and Alex
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made Stephanie’s wedding a fantastic day, we has a family couldn’t have ask for anything better.
All of the Staff were very helpful from the start and very professional which took a lot of pressure of me the Father of the Bride.
Once again thank you for a wonderful wedding.
Kindest Regards
Steve (Father of the Bride)
We got married at Botley’s Mansion and we really couldn’t have been happier, you surpassed our every expectation in every respect from food to staff to timing, in a word...OUTSTANDING
We were particularly impressed by the quality of the food, which was as good as any michelin star restaurant, served hot to every guest virtually simultaneously. Every single guest commented on the quality of the food.
Your serving staff were absolute stars, great personalities, good fun, true professionals and couldn’t do enough for us or our guests. We couldn’t have hand picked a nicer or better trained team ourselves.
It went down as the wedding of the year (in a year full of them) and everyone’s memory of the day was ‘best wedding we have ever been to’.
Zoe and Christopher
We had an absolutely beautiful day and are so grateful for all the staff at Bijou for making things run so smoothly.
Stevie and Stuart
We wanted to say a HUGE thank you to you all for making our day perfect. From beginning to end our wedding was everything we wanted for and more! We now have so many magical memories. The day ran so smoothly due to the preparation put in place by yourselves. We truly are very thankful.
x x x x
Mr and Mrs Cooper
I just wanted to send a quick email to thank the bijou team for making our wedding day perfect. The staff on the run up to the wedding were fantastic but the staff on the day were out if this world. Everyone worked so hard especially the waiters and waitresses (I don\'t know what their correct title is but they were far more than waiters and waitresses) they made the day perfect for us and even stood by the door with a smile greeting all the guests in the freezing cold!!
The toast master was also fantastic and made our special day flow so well I would personally like to thank him so if possible please could I have an email address for him.
Once again thank you so much to everyone at bijou for making our day a day we will remember forever as being perfect.
Please pass my thanks on to everyone involved in the wedding.
Anna
Thank you so much for all of your help - Vicky and I thoroughly enjoyed our entire day (as did all the guests). Without question we chose the right venue and loved every minute. A special thank you to Barbara who was just brilliant and struck the perfect balance between being caring but ensuring that the day was punctual. We cannot thank you enough for making our day extremely memorable.
Thanks so much again - we cannot express how much we enjoyed the day and absolutely chose the right venue.
Gavin
We just wanted to write and say what a fantastic wedding day we had. Thank you so much for all your help, the day was absolutely perfect and we loved every minute! We had so many comments from our guests saying how beautiful the venue was and how tasty the food was. Please can you pass on our thanks to the entire team for their outstanding service & attention to detail. In particular please can you pass our thanks on to the Chef and DJ who we unfortunately did not get the opportunity to thank in person on the day.
Thank you again!
Amanda and Craig
This is just a note to thank you all very much for making Tara and Sam\'s wedding such a success on Monday September 17th.
The courtesy, helpfulness and professionalism of you all was faultless throughout and we greatly appreciate all that you did to make the day such a wonderful one.
As mother of the bride it was such a relief to have everything under control and all our requirements anticipated!
The wedding breakfast was simply delicious and the sticky toffee pudding a delight!
Thank you all again
Dianne (MOB)
We wish to convey to you all how impressed we were with Amelia and Simon's wedding on September 8th. As Amelia\'s mother (and not directly involved with the arrangements) I appreciate all the hard work and co-ordination that setting up the DAY involves. The food was excellent; the best canapes we have tasted; the flowers were truly stunning and so near to the water-lily theme we originally had in mind. The cake was simple, delicious and the the pink lily decoration was beautiful. We were so lucky to have a sunny, warm day too which really enhanced the whole Notley Abbey setting. The staff were all friendly and welcoming and our thanks especially to Tori(y)? who was very patient! The registrar also performed the ceremony in such a quiet and dignified way that made those moments very special.
Thank you all again,
Yours faithfully,
Rosemary and Derrick
I attended a wedding at Cain Manor and the whole experience was wonderful. I have never attended such a well organised occasion - congratulations to all the staff.
However, for me, the piece de resistance was the fabulous meal - especially the main course - and this is why I write to you, in the hope that you would be prepared to let me have the recipe for the scrumptious slow-braised sticky Hampshire beef (I realise I am being presumptious - but it really was delicious!).
Yours sincerely
Joan (grandmother of the bride)
A massive THANK YOU !!!!
Thank you everyone for making my wedding day so special. The service was impeccable, the staff courteous and I loved Nicole - very professional and very personal - I wish I could do it all over again xx I would be glad to write a testimonial on any website you choose.
Thanks again to Stephanie - you were so patient with me!
Marie
WOW what a fantastic day! The venue, food, service was all excellent and I can\'t believe it\'s all over - simply the best venue ever! So do send on my sincere gratitude to the Bijou team
Marie
Dear All at Cain Manor,
We wanted to thank everyone involved in making our wedding so special - you even managed to order the sun for us! Amazing! We have had lots of great comments about the food, staff and venue so please pass on our thanks!
Thanks again
Ginny and Fraser
Just a quick note to say thank you to all at (or associated with) Bijou for their help and support with our wedding.
All staff were fantastic, the venue was first class and the food some of the best we have ever had the pleasure to eat.
Specific mentions:
Barbara - our manager on the day who was superb.
Johnny - our toastmaster who did a fantastic job.
Ann/Clemi/Jo - for all their help with the planning stages.
We had the most memorable day and wish to extend our thanks to you all for making it so.
Kindest regards.
David and Louise
I would like to say a BIG thank you to all involved in our wedding planning and the big day. It was perfect in every way. This was aided by your amazing staff on the day and through out the planning process.
We have been very very pleased with Bijou and obviously at the age we are many of our friends are looking at venues, we will not hesitate in anyway to recommend you.
Again from Iain and Natalie (or Mr & Mrs Cooper) a big thank you for such a special time of our lives!!!
Iain and Natalie
We would like to once again pass on our sincere thanks to all of the team involved in supporting the wedding. The day was managed very professionally from our earliest contacts with you through to the completion of the breakfast the morning after the wedding.Everyone involved was absolutely delighted and Cain Manor provided the perfect venue for us.
Well done!
With best wishes
Jim
Just wanted to say a big thank you for our wonderful wedding at Cain Manor on the 21st.
Everything went so well and the staff were great. I\'ve had lots of good comments about the staff and of course the food which was fab.
I particularly want to thank Nicole and John for managing things (and us!) so well especially when Nicole pointed out I had left my bouquet
in the bedroom! It was great how if there was anything to be discussed they discreetly popped up to ask us. It was a great day.
Thanks
Ginny and Fraser
We just wanted to take the time to thank Gemma and all of the staff at Notley Abbey for making our wedding day such a special and memorable day.
Gemma was absolutely wonderful and ensured that everything ran smoothly and we really appreciate all her hard work and reassurance throughout the day.
All of our guests have commented on how beautiful the venue was, how delicious the food was and how welcoming the staff were.
We really appreciate everything you have done leading up to the wedding too and wanted to thank Emma BB and Clemi for their contribution to the planning process.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish Bijou weddings all the best for the future. We will not hesitate to recommend you to any of our friends getting married in the future.
Amy and James
I would just like to thank each and everyone of you for making my daughter\'s wedding on 22nd July so wonderful. They had a fantastic time, as did everyone I have spoken to so far. You really made it wonderful, Thank you!!!!!
You must be very proud of having such a wonderful venue and everything running so smoothly. Cannot recommend you all enough.
Terri, mother of the bride
Thank you for making our special day one we will never forget! Perfect!
Sarah and Matt
Dear all at Cain Manor
We wanted to pass on our thanks to you for a wonderful wedding day at Cain Manor on 23 June 2012.
We were consistently impressed by the staff, who were polite, organized, friendly and efficient throughout. It felt as though they had thought of everything.
It’s not just that the staff were professional; what struck is that they approached things with a level of personal input and care that made it feel as if it were one of their own friends or family getting married. As a result they not only made our day go seamlessly; they added something to it.
We’d like to give a special mention and pass on our thanks to Tim and to one of your waitresses (we don’t know her name but she was the girl who helped us box up our wedding cake and who told us she takes the surplus flowers to a local children’s hospital). They were both excellent.
We think the team at Bijou are on to something special and we honestly don’t think our day could have gone much better. There were also lots of lovely touches in the run-up – the online planner process; the loan of the chair sashes by Ann to help us choose the best colour; the wine case to sample etc.
All the best
Matt and Rowena
Apologies for the delay in writing to thank you all for the fantastic efforts to make the 23rd so great!
The service was excellent from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. I seriously cannot think of anything to complain about… even the weather was kind to us!
Philippa and the team were fantastic – please pass on my comments.
Thanks again for everything
Jo
Just a quick email – we want to send a proper thank you to you all once things have calmed down at our end. Suffice to say that we had an amazing day and we were stunned at how well the day was handled by the Bijou team. It was truly special.
Mark and Helen
Hel and I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all the team at Notley who helped to make our wedding reception such a huge success.
We had an amazing day, and the support of the Bijou team right from thestart of the process through to the very end has been outstanding.
Special thanks go to Steph who looked after us so well in the build up
and guided us through the planning phases.
Also to Stuart and the catering team - the amount of clean dessert plates on our photos is hilarious.
Also to Tori who was excellent in executing the masterplan on the day. Her air of efficient organisation immediately put me at ease and I noticed her on a number of occasions already doing the things that I was just about to ask someone about. Along with Iain, they both seemed to understand the feel that we wanted the day to have and went a long way to making it a relaxing, enjoyable experience for Hel and me, and more importantly all of our guests.
I know that Tori left before the end and handed over to someone (Sarah? - sorry we were very \'relaxed\' by that point) who continued the good
work and the transition was seamless.
All in all, an amazing day was had by all and the feedback from our guests has been spectacular.
Thank you very much.
Helen and Tom
I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful job - you and the Botleys team were superb! We enjoyed every second of the day, John the Manager and the 2 gentlemen in the evening were very accommodating and we appreciated how they helped sort anything that needed doing, we had a magical day.
Thank you for all your hard work and help throughout the process, it was lovely to share it with you and you really helped to make everything run smoothly.
Leila
We wanted to say a huge thank you for your faultless service at our wedding on the 4th April 2012. Everyone was so friendly yet professional and the day was so well organised; we really were in good hands. The chef produced fabulous food and the waiting staff were excellent. Thank you once again - we had the best day of our lives.
Anne and Carl
May I take this opportunity of sending my thanks to the staff at Botleys, all of whom played a part in making Jocelyn and Neil\'s wedding day an absolutely delightful and truly memorable occasion.
Judy (Mother of the Bride)
Let me start by saying how blown away Danielle and myself were by the incredible job the team at Botleys did for us on our day. We were waited on hand and foot and were never left wanting.
The staff were professional, courteous and always willing to help where possible and this was echoed by our guests.
The food was exceptional, I take my hat off to the chefs.
Thank you so much for everything that was done.
Daryl and Danielle
Thank you so much for a wedding day that took our breath away. We wish we could do it all again.
Amy
Our day was wonderful and we could not have asked for more.
Thank you to you and the rest of the staff at Botleys for making our day amazing!
Bhavisha and Andrei
Just to say an absolute massive thank you to you both and all the staff who made our wedding perfect. Bijou were brilliant and our only regret if you can call it that, is the day went so fast! Oliver and I wish we could relive the day again - you all did a fabulous job and made the wedding process a smooth and enjoyable one - thank you! We loved the day.
Thank you again! We will recommend Bijou to everyone we know!
Bhakti
We\'ve just got back from honeymoon after our wedding at Silchester on Friday 27 April and wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone at the Bijou team for making it such a fantastic day. Everyone had a great time and all of our guests commented on how good the venue, food and service was throughout the day. So thanks to everyone who made that possible - Gemma and the team on the day, Ann and Carol in helping with the arrangements, and everyone else behind the scenes!
Many thanks again!
Mark and Claire
We were very pleased with Botleys and will highly recommend to our friends, although those attending would not need any further recommendation!
Haydn
Adi and I just wanted to say a huge thank you for helping organise such a fantastic wedding; it really was one of - if not the - best day of our lives. Botleys was the perfect venue, and many of our guests have written to say how impressed they were. Everything ran seamlessly - so much so that Adi and I didn\'t have to think about anything other than to simply enjoy ourselves!
Adi and Jeremy
We would like to thank you for helping to make Beth and Matt’s day so special…… everything went perfectly and you and your team made a huge contribution to that.
We had a truly memorable day and would always recommend Bijou.
Kevin and Lynn
Thank you so very much for everything you did to make our wedding on the 25th February the best day of our lives. Everyone said how wonderful the venue and particularly the food was, and I know you personally had so much to do with how well things went. Also thank you to the whole team for everything they did to make the day perfect.
Gemma and Martin
We just wanted to write to say thank you so much to your Botleys team for the wonderful job they did at our wedding reception on 16th March. Iain in particular was fantastic; calmly professional and flexible throughout including in the face of unexpected timings etc. Jon and Gemma were also great allowing us to totally relax into our day. Every one of the waiting staff were efficient and courteous, as well as the great food being frequently commented on by our guests. Of course the venue speaks for itself and was all we hoped for having walked out with goose-pimples after our first visit. It really is a very slick operation and we and our guests will always remember it, so thank you.
It really was a magical day, thank you and congratulations on all the work, past and present, that has obviously gone into creating the Bijou experience.
Warmest regards,
Nikki and Martin
We are extremely thankful for the amazing day the staff at Bijou created for our wedding day. If we were given an opportunity to create our perfect wedding it would not have reached the heights of our actual day. This is largely due to the high levels of professionalism exuded by all your staff that went far beyond our expectations.
We still find it hard to believe that we had the opportunity to be married at such an amazing place as Notley Abbey.
We have recently been asked to write a feature on our wedding for the weddingvine website. We will ensure that Bijou receives the high levels of praise that you all deserve.
Thank you so much for all your efforts that contributed to the most amazing day.
Best wishes
Simon and Kirsty
Thanks so much for such a brilliant service on the day of My Son and New Daughter-in Law. Duggie and Becca will compliment Bijou after their arrival in Canada. They\'re absolutely exhausted but thoroughly ecstatic about the venue and the day.
Please pass on My Wife\'s and My appreciation to all your staff and especially John, Nikki and Tim. Your team were superb and all Becca\'s and Duggie\'s guests have really been truly spellbound by your Hospitality and Catering.
Sincere Thanks,
Robin and Helen
A quick e-mail to thank you very much for a fabulous day – excellent organisation, superb venue, excellent food
and a wonderfully happy occasion. The staff were all very customer focused and did everything we asked for.
Both Ian and John were superb and a credit to your company.
Tina
Just a quick note to thank you, Radha and the staff on the day for making our wedding at Notley Abbey such a brilliant day.
We were both so relaxed, as we knew you\'d thought of everything, and cannot praise the staff on the day enough for making us and our friends feel so welcome. It really was exactly the wedding we\'d hoped for.
Please do pass on our thanks, we wish you and the team a Merry Christmas (and thank you, thank you, thank you!).
Love
Lucy and John
Thank you so much for the perfect wedding day. It was everything we had hoped for and plenty more! From start to finish, we didn\'t have to worry about a thing and you helped us make it the happiest day of our lives.
Thank you again for all your hard work and an absolutely wonderful day.
Amy and Chris
Further to our wedding on the 26th November 2011, we are just writing to say thank you for everything that Bijou Weddings has done for us, and in particular Alix, who was fantastic.
We found Bijou to be professional, prompt when dealing with queries, and you really helped us to have a stress free wedding at Cain Manor. Alix was extremely helpful and she was great on the day as was your Night Manager who made the day run as smoothly as possible.
All of the staff at the venue were friendly, professional, smart and polite and we could not have asked for more.
Not only were the staff great, but you obviously have a great chef as the food was very very good, and we had many comments on how nice it was and I did not see any plates that were not empty.
The venue (Cain Manor) is a wonderful romantic venue, just perfect for the kind of wedding we wanted. We also hope that the navy boys and girls didn\'t cause too much noise....
Thank you_again. We have been recommending you highly as have our friends and family.
Kind regards
Sophie and Stuart
We just wanted to say a proper thank you for making our wedding day perfect. The venue is truly sensational but would be nothing without all the hard work you put in. Gemma - your suggestions, attention to detail and quick and helpful responses made our preparation so easy and Iain, your quiet presence on the day was so reassuring and we really felt that our every need was catered for.
Thank you.
Graham and Sophie
I wanted to drop you an email to say thank you so much for helping to make our wedding day at Notley Abbey on 3rd December so fantastic. The day went off without a hitch which is testament to the fantastic organisation provided by yourselves and Philippa and her team on the day.
Our guests were amazed at Notley and the beautiful setting and everyone thought the food was delicious, especially the steak pie!!!
Henrietta and Brian
John and I wanted to just say a big thank you to the Bijou team for making our wedding run so smoothly. We are still recalling the day with much happiness – and we certainly couldn’t have done that without the great work of your team. They were completely there – but invisible at the same time!
Plus everyone dealt with all our questions and changes fantastically in the run-up to the day – nothing ever felt too difficult and given that event organisation is actually something I do, this was really refreshing to experience!
And I have to say the breakfast in the morning was brilliant – and much enjoyed by all the guests staying at Notley Abbey with us.
Thank you!
Wendy and John
Many thanks to all the staff at Botleys who helped make our day such a special one, in particular Jo and Carol who have been so responsive at all times of day to my countless questions! We had so many comments last Friday about how perfect the venue was and Ian was always on hand to ensure everything went smoothly.
Becky
We just wanted to send an email to thank you, Victoria, Iain and the rest of the team at Botleys for all your help in making our wedding day perfect. We had a fantastic day!
Lora and Matthew
Just a quick note to thank you and all the staff at Botleys for the most amazing day on Friday that I could have wished for. From a very patient and attentive Iain, to every single one of the waiting staff. The service was impeccable.
Everyone of my guests commented on such a perfectly run day for which I would like you to pass on my thanks.
Karen
My husband and I should like to take this opportunity to thank you for helping to make our daughter Amy\'s wedding such a truly memorable occasion.
We were particularly impressed by the professional approach and expertise of every single member of staff, which ensured that we and our guests could relax and enjoy the day to the full. Please pass on our thanks to everyone concerned.
Yours sincerely
Mother and Father of the Bride
We would like to thank you and all of the Notley team for such an outstanding wedding day.
My job involves organising many events and working with Bijou was a truly professional & faultless experience. Most definitely the best venue I\'ve ever had the pleasure to work with.
We had amazing feedback from all of our guests on the venue, staff, service & catering. Bijou were even kind enough to arrange some amazing summer weather for us on our wedding day :)
Jayne
I’ve been meaning to pen a letter to you to tell you how grateful my wife Julie and I were for the exceptional service laid on by you and your team when our son Sam married Jayne.
The food was superb and in tandem with the service, it provided a wonderful wedding for them both plus of course all the guests.
I must tell you that every guest we spoke to, told us how wonderful Notley Abbey was as a venue and that it was the “best ever wedding they had been to!” - their praise was never ending.
We are eternally grateful to you all for such a special day made even better by the fine weather.
We wish you all the best.
Bob and Julie
I wanted to pass on all of our thanks for the incredibly special experience your team created for us at Botleys last week. We fell in love with the venue from the moment we first set eyes upon it and last week, bathed in the Autumn light it couldn\'t have looked more beautiful.
However what made our experience so exceptional was the level of service which we received there which equally matched the calibre of the venue. All of our friends and family remarked upon the quality of the food and service throughout the day, everything ran perfectly and was of the highest standard. Little were they aware of the hundreds of emails which we had exchanged in the lead up to the big day and your patience and support all the way through! Please do pass on many, many thanks to the whole team but in particular to Victoria and Iain who were were so friendly, helpful and accommodating and really put the whole family at ease on the day. They are truly a hospitality team to be proud of.
All in all we were so glad that we placed our special day in the hands of the Bijou team and hope you pass on all of our compliments and thanks.
Best wishes & thanks once again
Tanya and Jon
Thank you for your help in making our day the best ever!!
Vicky and John
We just wanted to say thank you for all of your help both in the build up to our wedding and on the day itself. We felt that the day went really smoothly and everyone had a great time. Could you please pass the thanks on to the staff including Emma as they were all very professional and made our day fantastic.
Luke and Deb
Just wanted to say thank you for helping to make Simon and Kirsty\'s wedding so special. The beautiful surroundings of Notley Abbey made a wonderful setting for the outdoor ceremony, which was an extra bonus as the weather was unseasonably mild. We all thought the staff were so helpful and efficient, which made the wedding run so smoothly.
Julie and Chris, Parents of the Groom
I have just arrived home from your wonderful venue Cain Manor in Farnham. I was there as a guest of Mr and Mrs B at their daughter Natalie\'s wedding to Ben. I would like to take this opportunity to say how your staff made the day such a wonderful occasion showing great care and attention to every detail. The wedding breakfast was amazing, as we walked into the dining hall it truly took my breath away from the sparkling glasses on the table to the beautifully understated flower decorations. The food was served piping hot, beautifully presented by immaculate waiters and waitresses. The day was one that all of the guests will never forget.
Thank you for the day we spent with you, we enjoyed every minute.
Teresa
We wanted to take this opportunity to write and thank you and your team for making our wedding at Botleys Mansion so special.
You have an absolutely first class venue and operation - the whole day was absolutely fantastic.
We wanted to thank in particular Iain who kept the whole day flowing without a hitch - he was great fun, relaxed but an absolute professional throughout.
We have had endless thank you cards thanking us for the day and so many of our guests mentioned the stunning venue, the great food, relaxed atmosphere and overall high quality of the day.
Please pass on our thanks to all your team and thank you for helping us put together such a great day.
Kind regards,
Simon and Natalie
I just wanted to send you an email to say what an amazing day we all had at Cain Manor yesterday. Everything ran so smoothly, the staff were so professional and made the day run so well. All of our guests commented on how wonderful the food was, for both the wedding breakfast and the evening buffet. The whole day had such a personal feel to it, we may be biased, but it was the best wedding we have ever been to, and such good fun.
We would thoroughly recommend Bijou.
Many thanks
Kim
I just wanted to drop you a quick line to say a massive thank you for our wedding on Saturday at Cain Manor!
It was truly the most amazing day of my life and it would never has been as magical if it wasn\'t for your team! They did such a magnificent job, the service was impeccable, swift and just all round wonderful and they made everything run like clockwork! I didn\'t have a single cause to worry about a thing which made our day superb!
Gemma special thanks for everything on the day you were a wedding rock star!
Please send my thanks to your whole team especially Gemma, the chef, (everyone loved their food) and Carol to your husband who rescued my day when we forgot to cut the cake! Without all of their help the day would never have been the outstanding success it was! We are forever grateful for the wonderful memories you all helped make a reality for us.
Karen
I just thought I should pass on a truly sincere thank you to you and the team at Bijou for helping to create such a perfect day for us. It was incredible finish from start to finish and the staff were nothing short of outstanding on every level. Apologies if I caused you any undue stress in the weeks running up but I’m sure you are well used to the odd bridezilla moment!! Gemma was also absolutely fantastic on the day as well and it went by without a hitch.
Nicola
We just wanted to extend a huge thanks to you and all at Notley Abbey for making our wedding planning and the wedding day so amazing.
Your advice and guidance during the planning was incredibly helpful, and we felt so organized that all we had to do on the day was enjoy ourselves.
From the moment we arrived on the 16th, Philippa and team were on hand to settle us into the venue, welcome friends and family, and get everyone into the right rooms. We didn’t have to lift a finger! We received so many comments from guests about how helpful and professional the Notley team was, and the organization on the day was seamless.
Notley Abbey proved to be the perfect venue for us. It provided the perfect party environment that we were looking for, and also made a stunning backdrop for our photos. If we were living in England, I would most definitely try to convince Stuart to return there for our anniversary party ;-) Failing that, we will happily recommend Bijou Weddings to all of our friends.
Thanks again, and best wishes for the future.
Jo and Stuart
Dear Ann, Jo and Gabrielle,
I just wanted to write to you to thank you and the whole team at Silchester House for everything you did in making our wedding on the 1st of Sept everything we hoped for. All the staff were professional, friendly and helpful, but also helped to create the relaxed warm atmosphere we really wanted. The food and service were exceptional and Gabrielle helped to relax my nerves safe in the knowledge everything was in hand. We\'ve heard nothing but complements about the venue and the whole day and we really want to thank you for everything.
Some of the official photographer\'s photos have been put on youtube as a slide show which I wanted to share as they really capture what a special day it was.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiKi3hmIN-Q
Thank you again, it really was the best day of our lives and we want to do it all again!!!
Warm wishes
Fiona and Pete
Please send our thanks to everyone who was involved in making our day so special - Anica, Gemma, Johnny and all the other staff who were at Cain on the day! We had an amazing day, and all of our guests commented on how lovely the venue is, how smoothly run everything was, and they were especially delighted with the staff waiting the tables serving dinner etc - so please pass our special thanks on to them!
Rob and Beth
I feel sure you would like to know that the wedding was wonderful and all the arrangements Jayne and Sam had made with Notley Abbey were excellent.
The staff were superb - the management training and leadership obviously has been First Class - I do congratulate everyone involved with the wedding.
Well done!
Carol, Aunt of the Groom
To all at Cain Manor,
Just a note to say a big thank you to you
all for helping to make our son Tom and his new
wife Claire\'s wedding day so special for them on
Saturday last 17th September.
All of the staff were extremely helpful,
nothing was too much trouble.The food was exceptional and the service at the meal excellent.
The bedrooms were very comfortable and
the whole twenty four hours we spent at the Manor
were just lovely.
Thank you all again
Lynn, Mother of the Groom
Our daughter Fiona was married at Silchester
House and it was the most wonderful day we could
ever have hoped for.
On our arrival at Silchester House we were met and looked after by Gabrielle and her team of the most excellent staff. Absolutely everything from start to finish was perfect. We would like to extend
our compliments to the chef and his staff for the most delicious wedding fayre we have ever tasted, the chicken simply melted in the mouth and the desert was amazing. Every member of your staff was extremely efficient and helpful and the attention to detail was
absolutely amazing. We have heard nothing but praise for Silchester House from all our family and guests and you will certainly be highly recommended by many.
We would therefore like to say a massive thank you to everyong at Bijou Weddings for giving our daughter the wedding she had dreamed of and making our day so enjoyable from start to finish.
Kind regards,
Mother and Father of the Bride
A big thanks for all of your help in the run up to, and on our big day, it was absolutely perfect :)
Michelle
On Friday 12th August we were lucky enough to have you host our daughter Charlotte\'s wedding. My wife and I would like to thank your staff on behalf of the wedding party for the exceptional was the staff carried out their duties. From the time we arrived they were forever smiling, through the instructions for Charlotte\'s entrance to making sure everyone had their drinks and nibbles afterwards. As for the main meal, their service was impeccable. They marched in like a firing squad and served the guests as one. It was hard not to watch them, while at the same time they were totally non-existent. A sign of superb training and service, they were a credit to you and themselves.
The meal the chef and kitchen staff prepared melted in the mouth although I could have eaten a bucket of the dessert.
The grounds were spotless and the weather helped appreciate them. The whole day went like clockwork and the management behind the scenes deserve just as much credit.
Thank you again for hosting such a superb day.
Mother and Father of the Bride
We are sorry we have not written sooner but we wanted to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our wedding day so amazing. You made us both feel so welcomed and neither of us have ever felt so important and special. From the moment we arrived Gemma, you and everyone at Botleys were so attentive to our every wish. You made me feel so special when I left Botleys for the church; it was pouring with rain but you were all there with so many umbrellas, it was such a lovely feeling, I felt like royalty (and it made for some brilliant photos)!! Throughout the whole reception Iain you were always there smiling and being so friendly, making sure we had everything we needed and James was so touched that you even reserved some bacon butties for him! Every little touch was noted and so very much appreciated. We could not have asked for more from you all. Even the morning after, Gemma you had everything ready waiting for us but never made us feel rushed. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
James and Rhian
Dear Carol,
To you, Katie, Em and Iain, the Chef, the DJ and all the staff a very big thank you for making Jennifer and Paul’s wedding day so special. It may have been raining outside but inside the beautiful mansion there was a huge amount of warmth and happiness shared by everyone. We felt that you all did a superior job. And so far all the kind thank you letters have stressed the WOW factor of Botleys as a venue: it’s spacious elegance, dramatic atrium, professional organisation, superb service and delicious cuisine. Most of the guests had never been to or heard of Botleys and they were very impressed. Iain’s great time-keeping and expert trouble-shooting made for a very smooth day.
The rooms were very comfortable and the Full Continental a big hit the next sunny morning at breakfast. Louise did us proud with the flowers and everything was so tidily arranged to take home from the left over orders of services, menus, party favours and flowers all boxed up. Even a pair of bi-focal glasses was found, belonging to my sister-in-law who was grateful to have them back.
So a mighty congratulations to you and the Botleys team who worked so well under your leadership to make the wedding memorable and joyful.
Judy (mother of the Bride)
I would like to thank you all very much for the fantastic day we had on Sunday. You all worked tirelessly to make the day run smoothly and ensure that every guest had a wonderful time. Nothing was too much trouble and the professionalism was very impressive. Staff were at hand at all times, but remained unobtrusive, cheerful and a pleasure to have around.
I have had many, many emails from guests expressing thanks and their delight at being looked after in an exemplary way. The food was superb. Many of our guests (Bride and Groom included) are in the Restaurant business and every single one was impressed. We couldn\'t find one single fault and we hope that our compliments and thanks will be passed onto all those involved.
The accommodation lived up to our high expectations and again, the service was excellent. We felt truly pampered.
Once again, many thanks to you all for making the day so special and memorable.
Linda (mother of the Bride)
My daughter was married at Notley Abbey on August 17th, and we had a wonderful day, even though the weather wasn\'t the best.
The staff on the day were really helpful and cheerful, and made everything go smoothly. Gemma had her finger on the pulse all the time, and when the rain started, arranged for the ceremony to take place inside (instead of in the garden) quickly and efficiently.
A special mention for Ann in the offices of Bijou Weddings is a must. Anne was so kind and patient, and answered our numerous questions with great humour and understanding, which gave us every confidence that the Big Day would go to plan.
Our guests were very impressed with the venue and the whole event, just like we were. Thank you to everyone!
Jane (mother of the Bride)
Just a quick note to pass on our thanks for a wonderful day on Sunday.
I have had nothing but praise from everyone who attended about the beautiful venue, food and attentive service and really do not think that you could have done anything more to give us the day we hoped for – we had a truly amazing time.
Please pass on our gratitude to all of your staff who were on hand for the day and who contributed to a wonderful wedding.
Steve and Caroline
We both wanted to thank you so much for helping to organise the magical day of our lives! We knew as soon as we stepped foot into the driveway that lovely Notley Abbey was going to be perfect for us. From the venue, the rooms, the gardens and the food to the professionalism of the staff - everything was exceptional and we couldn\'t fault a thing - plus all our guests have said the same thing!
We both keep joking how it would be fantastic to own Notley one day (in our dreams!) but seriously we would love to come back one day and celebrate our wedding anniversary.
Thank you once again for an amazing day.
Lots of love
Sabina and Andy
I\'ve been meaning to write for a while to say how wonderful our wedding day was at Silchester House on June 17th 2011. Everyone had a really good time and we got so much feedback on how lovely the venue
was - clean, beautifully decorated and with a great atmosphere - and on how fantastic the staff were - appearing as if out of thin air when you needed something and melting unobtrusively away. We also very much liked our Toastmaster, George, and were so thankful to have him keep guests informed and everything flowing along smoothly. Emma, our day
manager was wonderful too and handled a couple of hiccups perfectly.
We both have so many lovely memories from the day and I think, for many guests, it was one of best weddings they had attended. Everyone also loved the food, especially the cheese and fruits buffet and the
English breakfast! We were also very happy with our DJ, Neil, both as a person and music wise.
Thank you very much to you, Emma and everyone else at Bijou who made our day so memorable.
Ida and Mark
Dear Jo, Ann, Carol, Stuart, John & the entire Bijou team at Botleys Mansion,
THANK YOU!
It’s been just over 2 months now since Richard and I had our Civil Partnership at Botleys Mansion, and we are still getting rave reviews from our guests saying it was the best wedding they have been to ever, and that’s high praise from some of them. We both equally echo these comments as the day was so much better than either one of us could’ve expected. Everyone on the day was amazing – Carol & John both deserve a medal as they accommodated each and every request, which were mostly from our guests. I have to say that I have been in hospitality/sales/events for over 17 years and the team on the day were amazing. The food, the service, the staff...all wonderful. Please do communicate this to everyone as they deserve to be thanked!
Bruce and Richard
Just a quick note to say how delighted we were that yesterday was so wonderfully organized and the staff incredibly helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed every minute.
Please pass on our thanks to everyone involved....
Annette and Gary
Just wanted to say - thank YOU for everything. All of you - Ann, Emily, Katie, all the staff, every single one of them, and of course the mighty Stuart Paterson - all of you are fabulous and I love you like my own brother! (Please forward this email to everyone).
Take care and all the best.
Moorad
Thanks very much - and I’d like to say we had a wonderful day – everything was done perfectly and so many people commented on the venue / food and service being excellent. Thanks again to you all.
Laura G
May I take this opportunity to say a proper thanks for the service levels provided at the Wedding Reception held on April 23rd. Each of my daughters has been married in Church with a reception at a Bijou venue. The first was at Cain Manor and the 2nd at Botleys. They are tremendous venues for the discerning wedding planner. Guests without exception have commented favourably, often with a "wow", when they write the after-the-event thankyou letters.
Mervyn
Thank you all so much it was the most wonderful day.
The house and grounds are of course stunning but what exceeded our expectation was the calm and seamless way the day was run and how every detail was attended to without our even noticing.
The Atrium looked so beautiful for the wedding breakfast (the food was superb, thankyou chef) and after coffee it had been magically transformed into a brilliant party venue. Our guests were so impressed with it all and we have so many letters saying what a great time they all had.
The whole day was a joy and we feel that our daughter and son-in-law could not have had a better run or more enjoyable wedding day and our only regret was that we had to leave the next morning - it had been such fun having such a beautiful house for 24 hours!
Our special thanks to Lauren and Katie the day managers and to John the evening manager who ran the whole thing efficiently, seamlessly and unobtrusively from start to finish.
So thanks again and our very best wishes for your future success
Jan and Rod
Once again, we would like to say a huge thank you to you and all your staff for making our day so special, memorable and perfect in every way. Your professionalism and exceptional standards of service were hugely appreciated and remarked on by all those who came to our wedding. Please pass on our kindest regards and thanks to Carol; it was fantastic to see her on the wedding day, and she also made walking down the aisle an enjoyable and less nerve-racking experience than I had anticipated.
Please could you also pass on our thanks to Martin, Milan and Zdenka. They were fantastic - so professional, hard working and friendly. The incredible standard of service we received from them will stay with us forever and our guests will never stop talking about the "table dance". It was all incredible.
You have helped us create memories that will last forever. My American family were certainly correct; It was like walking into a fairytale.
Ali and Jay
Would you pass on my utmost gratitude to all of your staff as each and every one were a credit to your company.
We were made to feel so welcome at Notley Abbey and the food and venue truly lived up to all that we expected of it.
We certainly will be recommending this venue to all of our friends.
Michelle and Thomas
I am Matt's mum and just wanted to thank you, the Manager and all the staff (especially the young ones who delivered the champagne, canapes and dinner) for such a lovely day. It was truly the most beautiful day and I know Delia and Matt had such a brilliant day thanks to the hard work of the people at Botleys. The youngsters were an absolute credit to Botleys and they never put a foot wrong. Everything went so smoothly and all the guests said what an amazing venue and the most beautiful wedding they had every been to. I must say I was very impressed with the Registrar as well so if you do have any contact with her perhaps you could pass on my thanks.
Thank you so much once again for all the help and support given to Matt and Delia over the last few months. It was much appreciated and I am sure you will hear from the Bride and Groom on their return from honeymoon.
Gill, Mother of the Groom
I wanted to drop you a line to say what a wonderful day we had on Sunday at Cain Manor. It exceeded our expectations and we had so many wonderful comments about the whole day and what a fantastic venue. The staff worked so hard to make sure everything went accordinging to the plan and were very professional.
Friends of ours who also arrange weddings in Gloucestershire, were very complimentary and also commented on the standard of the food. There are so many other things I could list, but this email would go on and on! Suffice it to say we had an incredible day and want to thank you for co-ordinating all the details and the last minute amendments.
We would have no hesitation in recommending Bijou Weddings, especially Cain Manor, the venue is very special and has a wonderful ambience. The American and Canadian guests present just fell in love with it.
We have such wonderful memories of a truly wonderful day, thank you.
With best wishes,
Caroline and Richard
"We were really pleased with the venue. Everything worked to plan. The catering was superb and the venue staff went out of their way to accommodate us and our needs. Your support and planning before hand certainly helped the day go smoothly and it felt like we had all the bases covered leading into the event.
I'd be really grateful if you could pass on our thanks to the team - they were great.”
Rosie
"We had an amazing day and the team was excellent in helping our day run smoothly.
Thank you for your help in making our big day so special - everything worked like clock work thanks to the planner!"
Becky and Phil
"A massive thank you to yourself and all of the team at Cain Manor. We has a fantastic day and cannot thank you enough for all of the hard work you put in as we worked towards the day itself.
Please also pass on our thanks to the entire team at Cain Manor who did an excellent job. Regarding the waiting staff in particular we received lots of praise and positive comments from our guests.
We have attached a few pictures of the day, in which we thought the venue looked excellent; we though they might be useful in promoting what a lovely venue it is. "
Vicky and Tom
"We just wanted to drop you a note to say a huge thank you to you and your team (including the evening manager - our apologies for not recalling his name - and his team) for the wonderful service that we received on our wedding day on 8 October 2010 at Cain Manor.
We had a fantastic day and simply couldn't believe our luck with the weather. We were very pleased (and grateful) with the seamless transition of activity into the garden (cake, quartet and drinks), which worked perfectly, and for your quick reaction in making table space at the heart-stopping moment when we realised that two of our evening guests had arrived for the whole day! We received so many comments from our guests about the venue, although literally every guest has remarked on how superb the belly pork was, so please pass those compliments onto the kitchen team. We also received a lot of comments about how relaxed the day seemed, which is equal testament to the way in which your team turned around each aspect of the day.
Thank you again and we will not hesitate to recommend Cain Manor to others in the future."
Angela and Peter
"First of all Laura and I would like to say a huge thank you and all the staff at Bijou Weddings for making our day so perfect. The planning and day was handled so well and we could not have asked for more from any of you.
Could you please pass our particular thanks onto both the management team and the toastmaster who were both brilliant on the day and the next morning. All our guests were so impressed with Botleys and the service.
I hope everything went well your side of things and that were not to many unexpected surprises on the day. Thank you all so much again, we would be happy to recommend Bijou weddings to anyone."
Joe and Laura
"What can we say?
Saturday was just so perfect! Botleys Mansion is truly amazing and the perfect backdrop for a wedding. Our son looked like a Prince with his Princess! (not just my comment - received many from the guests too!) The banqueting area was just a dream! Everyone stunned!
The food was delicious - your staff so helpful, kind and courteous. A really remarkable venue! We have received so many comments on the day and since - so please pass on our thanks, an on behalf of thise who attended, to all you staff for making Neil and Gill's wedding day such a day to remember.
We stayed overnight and enjoyed the delicious breakfast in the morning! Our room (Jeannie) was wonderful (all my relatives envious!) Our thanks to you all, once again!"
Neil and Gill
"Just a short note to thank you for your help with Rebecca & Stuart''s wedding.
Thank you for all your help during the planning stages, I really appreciated having a friendly voice at the end of the phone, a smiley face during our meetings and someone to help sort out the details of the day. Many thanks for running the actual day so smoothly. You made it seem so effortless but I am sure that this was the result of very careful planning and hardwork. Your great attention to detail meant everything happened just as we hoped. We had heard good things about the food from other before our event and you and your team most certainly did not disappoint. Guests are still commenting on the exceptionally high standard of the food and the precision of the waiting staff! The food looked great and tasted even better! Breakfast was also a meal to remember and a delightful conclusion to the event.
So finally, a great big thank you to all the ''Team'' at Cain Manor for making the 18th July such a wonderful day for all of us. Best Wishes."
Rebecca and Stuart
"We really wanted to thank you and the whole team at Cain Manor for delivering such a fantastic wedding for Anna and Lorenzo. You took Anica’s meticulous planning by the scruff of the neck and made sure that everything knitted together even when late and garrulous registrars threatened the timetable from the very beginning. Many people have commented to us at how well the event was “invisibly” managed, how efficient and friendly the service was and how excellent the food and wines were. Everybody involved was a credit to Bijou so “THANK YOU” to all!"
Anna and Lorenzo
"We just wanted to say thank you so much for making our day everything we could have ever dreamed of and more. I didn't think it was going to be possible to have a vision of my perfect day turned into reality - WOW!! We still talk about it so much, there is nothing we would have wanted to change. Please also thank the rest of the staff from the day, they were so great and also contributed so much to make it what it was... thankfully the sun shone all day with the most amazing sunset - we couldn't have asked for more!
Sorry this comes so late, I think we hit the ground running when we got back from honeymoon with work etc; we are now well and truly back to reality, though we can't complain as we had the best time of our lives and have some amazing photos to remind us of it all.
Thank you so much for your help, support and advice and being there right until the end.
Take care, we wish you all the success and hope you continue doing what you do so so well...we can't ever thank you enough!!"
Vicky and Shane
"We had an unforgettable day and we enjoyed every minute of our wedding and following morning at Cain Manor. All our guests commented on what a beautiful venue it is and the quality of the food and service was exceptional."
Chris and Danielle
"Dear All Staff at Botleys,
A massive thank you to everyone who made our wedding day so seamless and perfect! Everyone of you contributed to our perfect day! We will never forget your utter professionalism. Thank you for looking after me!
With lots of love always xxx"
Emma and Steven
"I have worked for Regency Hotels for 40 years and your staff are exceptional and whoever trained them should be proud. They are as good as the staff in the Savoy. The way they walk and conduct themselves is incredible - you rarely see that in other places."
Notley Abbey Wedding Guest
"We recently celebrated the wedding of Mich, or as she referred to herself Bridezilla, and our son Alex at the beautiful Botley’s Mansion. Although we looked forward to the joy of the occasion we had trepidations as to how the ceremony, tea, and evening events would come together. We did not need to have worried as the exacting requirements of Mich and the minute by minute timetable Bijou Weddings and she had prepared were acted upon to the letter. The very helpful and efficient staff of Bijou Weddings ensured that our every need was catered for, in all senses of that word. The calm and caring attitude of the team made sure that from the moment we arrived to the moment of our departure the experience was an absolute delight. The wines flowed, the food was plentiful and delicious and served in a friendly and unobtrusive manner. If you want to feel like a VIP guest at your own wedding then engage Bijou Weddings."
Mich and Alex
"I just wanted to drop you a quick line to thank you and your team for a fabulous wedding at Botleys on 12th March. We've had some wonderful feedback regarding what a lovely venue it was and also how efficient and courteous the staff were. I therefore wanted to pass on these praises and to rave about a few individuals who deserve specific recognition.
Thanks again for making our memorable day even more special."
Jo and James