Cornwell Manor Destination Wedding, Cotswolds
mitch & paul
A Cotswolds estate buyout at Cornwell Manor
When New Yorkers Mitch and Paul approached us to plan their 200-guest, three-day celebration in the UK, it was clear from the outset that we would be collaborating with discerning, detail-oriented hosts. The couple envisioned a multi-day event offering a quintessentially British experience for their American guests, with each day distinctively styled around a completely different concept from the last. Reflecting on our collaborative approach, Mitch shared: "We are amateur event planners in our own right, so naturally we were down to be heavily involved in planning alongside Emma. With that said, Emma would be an ace wedding planner for a couple that perhaps does not want to be as involved as well. With what she can bring to the table, we would have had an incredible weekend even if we left her alone to plan the entire thing." To bring this large-scale vision to life, we secured an exclusive three-day buyout of Cornwell Manor, a private estate in the Cotswolds capable of accommodating 22 guests on-site while also offering multiple distinct event spaces we could reveal to guests across the three days.
Highlights
US-based client
Guests: 200 guests
Event duration: 2 build days + 3 event days
Venue: Cornwell Manor (Cotswolds, UK)
Guest accommodation: Cornwell Manor, Daylesford Village, Daylesford Farm
Design narrative: ethereal, dreamlike, refined
Key features: pub-themed welcome party, outdoor garden ceremony, 42-meter marquee, sheep escort card display, pearl-draped afterparty, polo club garden party, 9-vehicle transport fleet
Day one: “manor mingle”
We welcomed guests to the venue for the first time with a countryside pub experience in Cornwell Manor’s walled garden, guests arriving dressed in "classic cocktail with countryside elegance." We constructed an outdoor pub featuring dark wood bars, custom hanging pub signage, and ruffled lampshades. Guests enjoyed a floral crown workshop in the secret garden and music from a tweed-clad roaming folk band.
Day two: we’ll cry then party
The outdoor ceremony took place overlooking the fountain, accompanied by a string quartet. During the drinks reception in the topiary garden, guests found their escort cards designed as sheep grazing on Cotswold hills - a playful nod to the live flock of sheep we arranged to be present on the hill opposite the estate. Dinner and the first half of dancing took place inside a 42-meter marquee, with martinis served "your way" upon entry. We concluded the night by unveiling a final secret location: a pearl-draped "Murder on the Dancefloor" afterparty in the manor's ballroom and handed out custom printed clacking fans to guests as they entered the space.
Day three: “electric garden”
The final day was designed as a cross between a traditional British polo club and an English garden party. Guests sat in spectator chairs (spectating garden games instead of steeds) and relaxed across curated picnic areas, enjoying a dedicated Pimm's bar, traditional afternoon tea, and late-afternoon British pasties.
Transatlantic planning and logistics
Managing a multi-day event of this scale demands robust infrastructure behind the scenes and a non-negotiable eye for detail. We coordinated 22 supplier teams on-site, developed four proactive weather contingency plans, and managed a transport fleet of nine dedicated shuttles running continuously across six local hubs - resulting in a seamless guest experience across all three days.
By managing every moving part on the ground, we ensured Paul and Mitch remained completely present as hosts. As the couple reflected afterward, our "three-day-of coordination was flawless. We barely lifted a finger the entire weekend, and yet everything was perfectly placed and timed," adding that "even our guests made multiple comments about how Emma was one of the highest-performing wedding planners they had seen in action."
Design, Styling and Planning | Emma Jane Weddings
Photographer | Jessica Lily Photography
Videographer | Christopher Paul Films
Venue | Cornwell Manor