Astor Wing wedding at Hever Castle

Anglo-french wedding at Hever Castle

Weddings at Hever Castle in Kent, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, take place in the Astor Wing, attached to the old castle. Joined by a covered bridge, crossing over the moat, the Astor Wing is an Edwardian extension, built in the Tudor style, using traditional tools from the period. Commissioned by the, castle owner, America’s richest man at the time, William Waldorf Astor. It looks smart and old, lots of beams, old firplaces, wood panels, portraits of monarchs, etc. But I can’t see you getting planning permission to build such an extension, to a 13th-century castle, these days? But it’s there and this is where  Tammy and Adriens’ wedding took place, in April.

Tammy got ready with her mother and sister. Tammy and Adriens’ young daughter, Mathilde, come in too – after a nap in her pushchair. Mathilde would help lead her mum to the wedding ceremony room – the Astor wing is a maze of similar -looking, long corridors. Inside the Tudor Suite sitting room, overlooking the moat and the castle, Adrien waited. Once at the door, and all those faces turning to look in that direction, Mathilde had second thoughts – but she made it in. She would serenade her mum and dad, during the ceremony, with ‘wheels on the bus’ singing. Maybe that led to the name forgetting – it got a laugh.

Ceremony done – instead of confetti on the lawns, Mathilde got some swings, from mum and dad. A family celebration. Drinks on the lawn and some croquet, before back in for the meal, in the wood panelled Tudor Suite dining room. Tammy led the speeches. After the meal, no disco opr first dance. Once the cake was cut, a chance for a few pictures outside, now that the general public had left the grounds. A relaxed evening of chat and drinks.

Here are few images from the day…