The 'Big Reveal'...

Above: The courtyard with the pond, awaiting placement of the fountain in the centre and some goldfish.

Well, the first Wedding was a huge success with a very happy bride and groom and family. Everyone seemed to have a great night, and it was Peter's and my pleasure to host such a wonderful event. So, with our first event behind us we can now start to share all the progress over the past few months. Because I'm a bit of a tease I'm going to reveal a little bit more everyday until you have seen everything, so for the next fortnight please stop by for your daily dose of dazzling beauty as we unveil Willowbrook Park.

 Day One: The Foyer

Welcome inside the front doors to the foyer. Trevor is busy arranging flowers ahead of the wedding...

What a wonderful job. The flowers were from the gardens at Willowbrook, as well as from my Grandmother's garden. In the background you can see the 2 framed etchings I bought in Dubbo of classical urns. They are paired with a display case flanking either side of the front door, and a bronze and ormolu winged urn continuing the classical motifs. I am going to use the cases to display our intaglio collection, which is too large to frame, and will look quite dramatic on the backdrop of the red felt which is lining the bottom of the display cases.

Above: View towards The China Room and the hallway towards The Dining Room. You can just catch a glimpse of the chandelier above.

Below: Another arrangement on a little gilt wood table in the spiral nook of the staircase. In time this is where our replica of the rape of the Sabines will stand.

 Below: A view of the foyer from the entrance to the Salon.

Below: A view down into the foyer from the staircase.

Time for lights out. Sleep well. Come back tomorrow to see more of the chandelier and how they raised the 6 foot crystal colossus up into the dome.

Blushing Brides and Bouquets...

For added depth and colour to the entrance of Willowbrook we've decided to plant a low hydrangea hedge in front of the Leylandii Hedge (on the exterior side). We picked up the hydrangeas at the weekend, which were a gift from Peter's mother, Marie. 

 

Above: Hydrangea 'Bridal Bouquet'

Peter at Ngaroto Nurseries ordered in the hydrangeas specially. He knew we wanted stunning white ones, which would not fade to brown as the season progressed, and when he came across Bridal Bouquet he thought they would be most appropriate. 

It is also that time of year again when the frosts start to come. We covered all our citrus in The Orangery area with frost cloth, which Willoughby found most amusing...

The Launch of 'personalweddings.co.nz'...

As many readers will know, we are hoping in the fullness of time to offer Willowbrook Park as a venue in which couples may celebrate their weddings and civil unions. In the interim it gives me great pleasure to announce that Peter has now received confirmation that he is a registered marriage celebrant within New Zealand.

He has just launched his own website/blog: www.personalweddings.co.nz

Whilst Peter offers this service independent of Willowbrook Park, and there is no commercial connection, there will be his natural association with Willowbrook, of which couples may wish to take advantage.

" We turned to Peter for advice about planning the ceremony. He was very helpful to us, with lots of good advice about the details of the service - his background as a priest made him a great source of information. Peter is patient, supportive, and has a wonderful sense of humour, and manages a great rapport with all whom he meets...and we would recommend him to any future couple."

- Kahl and Cristina Betham.

"I commend him to you wholeheartedly for his ability to conduct weddings in a most wonderful manner, with sincerity, empathy and thoughtfulness...he was able to put the bride and groom at ease which greatly helped them overcome their nerves on such a momentous day. Peter also brought great warmth to his service in welcoming everybody who was there to witness the marriage, and all the guests remarked on the delightful way in which he conducted the celebration."

- Angela Harris, Baroness Harris of Richmond