1) What is your Role at Kalm Kitchen?

My role in Kalm Kitchen, as a wedding events manager, is to create a calm and unforgettable planning experience, leading up to the big day. We are passionate about providing creative and delicious food for your wedding day and providing an exceptional service throughout the journey, going that extra mile, with meticulous attention to detail. On the event day we will execute your plans to perfection and bring everything we’ve discussed to life.

 

2) What made you want to be an Event Manager at Kalm Kitchen?

My work life has always consisted of running events and the joy and accomplishment I get from them are next to none. My best friends got married in April 2017, before I had started with Kalm Kitchen, and I was heavily involved with the planning process. I knew from then that this was the industry I wanted to be in. Meeting new faces has always been a pleasure of mine and making my client’s dreams come true only makes it better. Kalm Kitchen had impressed me so much with their styling, food menu and work ethic, that as soon as I heard they were looking for an event manager, I didn’t think twice about applying for my dream role.

 

3) What do you love the most about being a part of the Kalm Kitchen family?

The word family is exactly what I would describe Kalm Kitchen to be. We all have our quirks and strengths, which I feel really develop us in our roles. The owners of Kalm Kitchen, Jen and James, have been such an inspiration to me and I cannot thank them enough for the time and effort they put into all of us, which then reflect in our events. Kalm Kitchen has not only given me great colleagues to work with, but friends for life!

4) What tips & advice do you give to couples during their planning journey?

I would tell them to enjoy every moment of it. I think it is natural to want perfection for the big day, which can add too much pressure and cloud the enjoyment of talking through their ideas.

 

5) What is your favourite part of a wedding day? 

Seeing our couples for the first time in the morning has always been so special for me. I love that initial catch up and excitement you share together. It is such a lovely moment that I wish I could bottle up every time.

 

6) What new wedding food trends should couples be looking out for over the coming year? 

Food stations are an amazing statement for the big day. The “wow factor” that comes with them offers such a great experience for guests and something delicious they do not expect. Our Lemonade and Lollipop stand works perfectly for a hot summers day and looks incredible! Or, for the evening, our Honeycomb and Hot Chocolate station satisfies those sweet cravings and brings everyone together as the night draws in. Complete Bliss!

 

7) If you could choose your dream Kalm Kitchen menu, what would it be?

I love the sharing experience for the wedding breakfast. I would have a middle eastern sharing board with an abundance of dips, breads and my personal favourite, halloumi!

As a vegetarian I would have our delicious arancini ball, which is available in an abundance of flavour and accompaniment combinations, to suit every taste. Mine would be a mozzarella, basil pesto and pine nut arancini on a bed of caponata and fresh basil. Dreamy!

A sharing dessert is a must! I am a chocolate fiend, so mixing this together with salted caramel and layers of meringue to create a slice at the table pavlova is perfection. You can nominate one person per table, and dress them in aprons, chef hats and moustaches, to collect the pavlova and serve the guests on their table. These are the little touches that create lasting memories of your special day. You just know it’ll be a talking point for years to come.

 

8) What do you love most about Millbridge Court? 

I know I can speak on behalf of all our couples getting married at Millbridge Court, that this is the dream venue.  The balance of contemporary design and country home works perfectly and instantly makes you feel at home when you walk through the front door.

 

9) What are your favourite linen and glassware colour combinations at the moment? 

I am in love with vintage oak trestle tables paired with our luxurious urbane napkin range, it effortlessly really brings an outdoor feel inside. Having a spot of colour in the water glass elevates the whole design of the table. An idea would be to speak with the florist to match the colour palette of the flowers and unite all the elements together in harmony. My personal favourite is to have a bronze coloured water glass with a chalk urbane napkin as showcased in the most recent May tasting evening.

 Chalk glassware & urbane napkin featured at our Tasting Evening

 Flowers: Lavender Hill Company, Photographer: The Springles

 

10) Who are your three favourite Wedding Industry professionals/brands to follow on Instagram? 

@natspaperstudio is a must for stationary lovers. I am in love with her designs, and her “Crazy Cat” charm just adds to the personality of her amazing work

@bubblegumballoons Their installations are the work of dreams. With a huge range of clients under their belt, they have proven that balloons are stylish, luxurious and most importantly fun!

@kindredxstylingbyjen showcases creativity and adventure. If you want to feel inspired by the latest trends and interiors to elevate your style, Jen is your girl.

Here’s the Lovely Pete, in action

Photographer: Millie & Belle

Last Sunday, we hosted our Annual Spring Preview & what a gorgeous preview it was, thanks to the amazing MBC Partners that joined us; creating inspiring displays & chatting away with our lovely MBC couples.

Showcasing stunning tablescapes in our Dining Barn were Alice (Meadowfolk), Carrie (The Topiary Tree), Katie (Blackberry & Bloom) & Gill Pike who each created such varied arrangements, from the rustic to the bold & beautifully blowsy… there was something for everyone. We had amazing wooden banquet tables & cross back chairs provided by Academy Furniture Hire & each table was complimented by coloured glassware from Crystal Hire.

The beautiful flowers weren’t just confined to the Dining Barn with Gill Pike showcasing her breathtaking foliage Moongate Arch in our Ceremony Barn, the perfect backdrop to any Ceremony & Carrie Macey created a statement urn arrangement outside the Millbridge Court entrance, a wonderful way brighten up a rainy day!

Further brightening up the grey day was Laura from Laura’s Paper Heart who serenaded our guests so beautifully throughout the event.

In our Bridal Changing Suite we had the amazing Carolanne Armstrong & Sharon Roberts doing Express Hair Styling & Make Up Sessions for our Brides. Such a wonderful opportunity to ask these very knowledgeable & talented ladies any questions & to trial a hairstyle/make up look for their Big Day.

Showcasing gorgeous Wedding Cakes were Andi Freeman & Melissa ( Thirty One Cakes) who also had delicious testers for our couples to try & the even more tasty treats were provided by Kalm Kitchen who circulated Canapes, yummy bowl food & they also put together yet another incredible Patisserie Boutique, with added foliage & Spring Flowers from Blackberry & Bloom.

We had MBC Partners Philippa Sian Photography, Jon & Laura from VLA Wedding Photography, Neale James & Sophie Duckworth showing our Brides & Grooms the phenomenal Wedding Days they have captured at Millbridge Court over the years. Thank you also to Ash Videography & Chris & Amy from W4 Wedding Films for not only joining us, but for putting together really beautiful videos of Sundays Event (you can find these on our Instagram & Facebook page).

Thank you so much to everyone that came to our Preview, we hope that you all had a really wonderful time & left truly inspired for your Wedding Day.

Xx

Looking to have a wonderful day out with friends and learn an incredible skill at the same time? Well, look no further; we may just be holding the perfect event for you.

 

We are so excited to be hosting Gemma Milly’s Surrey workshop here at Millbridge Court on Sunday 26^th April in our Boutique Hotel. So many people have fallen in love with the undeniable delights of calligraphy, a skill that Gemma teaches in the most beautiful and indulgent way.

 

On the day, Gemma will be introducing the group to traditional copperplate calligraphy, working through the basics of letterforms and alphabets and looking in to ink, pens, nibs and papers. There will be time to practice all of the skills learnt while Gemma shares her knowledge with each attendee individually. But not only that, little touches of luxury are added throughout. Eating and drinking is heavily encouraged in class and with the wonderful Kalm Kitchen providing the nibbles throughout, no one will be going home hungry. There is also an instashoot area with props on hand so you can share what you’ve created and learnt on the day. Gemma will then be on hand via email to follow up after the workshop and answer any questions as well as being in touch with exclusive news and tips.

 

At the end of the 3 hours, guests will have created a beautiful piece of stationery that they can take home with them; they will also be given a beautiful goody bag stuffed full of loveliness. It will include some more surprises and all of the class materials (pen holder, nibs, ink, calligraphy workbook, tracing sheets and practice sheets) so that the skills practiced can be enhanced at home.

 

Millbridge Court Brides… if you’re a creative type, this might just be the perfect skill to learn so that you can add some handcrafted touches to your big day! Or perhaps it’s the perfect gift for a friend or relative so that they can hone a new skill and have an all round fabulous day out. There are very few spaces left so do get in touch with Gemma to secure your spot at the Millbridge Court workshop.

The team at Millbridge Court are delighted to finally reveal a secret we have been keeping for far too long!

Available from May 2017, The Lodge at Millbridge Court is designed with our brides and grooms in mind and will offer romantic and stylish accommodation during your stay.
The Lodge is to be tucked away in a currently undeveloped part of the grounds and will be constructed off site to ensure no disruption to our events and guests.
This cozy woodland setting will provide privacy away from the party and allow the bride and groom to wake up on the morning after their wedding overlooking the beautiful meadows, before joining their fellow guests for breakfast at the house.

Please ‘contact us‘ to speak to the team for more information about The Lodge or to book an appointment to come and visit us at Millbridge Court.

 

 

 

 

Completion is so very close and yet more drastic changes have taken place over the past seven days.

The grounds have been progressing wonderfully at both the front and back of the Millbridge Court site in the heart ofFrensham. The car park is being graveled throughout today and will be completed tomorrow creating a beautiful finish to the large front area where we will be able to fit 50 car’s on the day of a Millbridge Court Wedding. We are now just awaiting our gorgeous laurel hedging to be planted around the edge of the parking area to complete the front entrance.

 

In our Outside Ceremony area, turf has been put down from the fencing at the outer reaches of the Millbridge Court site to the surrounding hedging at the top of our aisle… all we are missing are some of our gorgeous chiavari chars, a Bride, Groom and guests and we’re ready!!

 

I also thought I’d take a picture of the extra guests we had today in the adjacent field to our Outside Ceremony area… The cows! Personally, I think they’ll be a fantastic asset to an outdoor Wedding in the Surrey countryside, so here’s to hoping it’s a permanent feature.

 

As you can see from the below photo looking up towards our Dining & Ceremony Halls, we just have a small amount of turfing to do before the grounds are finished and completely covered in luscious green grass ready for as many al fresco drinks receptions as the English weather will allow us to have.

 

Moving inside, I wanted to give you all another look at the Dining Hall which this week has had the walls finished, the up lighting put in, the wooden floor has had it’s final coat of varnish and it’s looking breathtaking! Just out of shot we have nine dimmers ready to set all lighting to whatever level of brightness or dimness happy couples would like at different stages of the celebrations.

 

Stay tuned for photos of our Venue bar which is being installed next week, leaving our ceremony hall completed, as well as photos of the finished car park area and much more!

One of the things that make us so unique at Millbridge Court is the fact that we have a stunning seven bedroom boutique Hotel connected to the Venue. Not only is this extremely convenient for those able to stay over the night of the Wedding (and if available, the night before) but with the interiors making the downstairs feel very much like a luxury private house, you’ll feel very much at home.

 

But before I get carried away, let me explain the details about the car park and outdoor area at the Hotel. High hedging will surround the car park, which will have hard packed gravel under foot and room for fifty parking spaces. We will also have a turning circle that pulls up next to our side entrance, perfect if a Bride and Groom are arriving to Millbridge Court straight from Church.

 

Now on to the interiors… the ground floor of the Hotel will be such an asset, used for a multitude of functions throughout the day. With soft furnishings, rustic fireplaces, exposed brickwork, a stunning alcove letting in lots of natural light, a fully functioning bar (the exciting and unique design of which will be revealed within the next month), a snug area lined with more comfy seating, it will be the perfect place for people to relax prior to the Wedding celebrations and catch up with the Groom, Ushers and other guests. In the hotel, we also have a breathtaking private dining room. With oak beams from the original build and a long dining table running down the middle of the room, it will be the perfect location for a pre Wedding dinner or post wedding lunch, if available, and a great way to have everyone who has stayed at the Hotel to congregate for Breakfast the morning after the celebrations.

 

Once the celebrations commence, although guests will be in the Venue, the Hotel will still be available to use if perhaps there are littler guests who require a crèche service or a guest would like a quiet area to sit if the music is too loud for them later on in the evening.

 

Our bedrooms on the first floor of Millbridge Court Hotel are all en-suite and of an equal size, the majority of which overlook our neighboring meadow and the River Wey. Designed elegantly and with neutral colours, it’ll be a welcome place to rest your head after a wonderfully busy day and offering the unique ability for those occupying the rooms to be able to get ready on site.

With high ceilings, stunning oak beams throughout and our breathtaking glass wall, the Millbridge Court Ceremony Hall will be the most gorgeous setting for Bride’s and Groom’s to take their vows. There will be room for 150 guests to be seated comfortably on our elegant limewash chiavari chairs, which will be arranged lengthways down the room creating a beautifully long aisle for the Bride and her bridesmaid’s to walk down.

 

The Ceremony Hall at Millbridge Court has been designed in a way that will allow a vast amount of natural light to come flooding in during the daytime celebration, which will be a welcome asset throughout the year. The outside will be brought inside as this will create the ability for the guests and the lovely couple to fully appreciate their tranquil Surrey surroundings without having to be outside for those colder months.

 

Four sets of glass double doors surround the CeremonyHall, with two opening out directly to the spacious patio, allowing the rooms and outside spaces to flow as if they were one. Our bar will be at the back of the Ceremony Room, closed off by doors throughout the ceremony but opened immediately afterwards so that guests can help themselves throughout the day if they would like a refreshment other than that on offer for the drinks reception.

 

Once the Wedding Breakfast is underway, the Ceremony Hall will then be transformed ready for the evening’s celebrations. The two separate rooms provide the perfect opportunity for the band or DJ to set up while the guests are enjoying their meal, which creates the unique ability in a Barn Wedding for the Evening celebrations to get underway seamlessly from the moment the speeches are over. Music can continue and the bar will stay open until 12am.

The beautifully landscaped lawn at Millbridge Court will make the perfect setting for your wedding guests to socialize throughout the day, with the vast expanse of un-spoilt countryside that precedes it making for the most breathtaking backdrop for your wedding celebrations.

With doors from the Ceremony Room leading straight out on to the patio, this area lends itself perfectly to the post ceremony drinks reception, with the lawn offering a great space for garden games for children (and adults!), as well as numerous photo opportunities. Come nighttime, it can also be a great place for guests to have some evening food in a less formal environment than the Dining Hall. A Hog Roast or Barbeque on the lawn would be the perfect way to end a summers evening.

If you are looking for a late Spring or Summer wedding then we can offer the opportunity of getting married outside underneath our Arbour. This beautiful wooden structure situated at the end of the lawn will make for the most picturesque of wedding ceremonies and will really allow both Bride and Groom as well as guests to appreciate the panoramic view of the Surrey Countryside that Millbridge Court has to offer.

For those who are wishing to have a Winter Wedding, the venue has been designed to allow the outside to be visible from the inside with the ends of both the Dining Room and Ceremony Room having ceiling to floor glass. This will mean that the surrounding countryside can be appreciated throughout the day, at any time of the year, with the up lighting on the exterior of the building and outside walls allowing the lawn to be visible during the evening celebrations.

Kalm Kitchen at Millbridge Court: The Tasting Experience

When our fabulous in-house caterers Kalm Kitchen, offered to give me the Wedding Breakfast tasting experience that we will provide for all of our Bride’s and Groom’s, I was so excited! Having seen so much imagery of their innovative & vibrant dishes that are presented to wedding guests in such inspiring ways, I was dying to see if they tasted as good as they looked.

It’s safe to say that being gluten intolerant, I am aware I can be a tricky customer and as a result have become accustomed to eating very plain food when dining out, this however was not an issue at Kalm Kitchen HQ.

From the moment the canapés were put down in front of me, I knew I was in for a fantastic experience, one that would completely change my view on what can be achieved in mass catered events. They looked (almost) too good to eat & tasted simply delicious. There was a great mix of more robust options like the rare roasted beef skewer served with horseradish and lighter, more cleansing canapés like the Tomato essence with parmesan and basil dust, perfect on a hot summers day. The most exciting canapé for me however was the pork belly on garlic dauphinoise with applesauce & crackling. It looked so neat and yet had so many components, with the miniature crackling on top really being the icing on the cake, so to speak. And what was so remarkable for me, personally, was that I wasn’t left feeling like I wished I could have eaten the tempura, toast, basket based canapés that my fellow colleagues were eating, certainly a first.

With the stunning look and taste of the canapés, I was not surprised to see the meticulous fashion in which my chicken dish had been plated up. The browned, crispy chicken skin & moist chicken breast, upon the creamy mashed potato & vibrant garlic and parsley sauce with a sprinkling of edible flowers; visually it was such a delight, and to eat, even more so. A far cry from the plain chicken dish some people have come to expect for big events and Weddings.

With the knowledge that Bride’s and Groom’s get to taste two main meals, it required a lot of will power to leave half my chicken dish (in all honesty it was probably only a third once I’d put my knife and fork down) but this feeling was short lived once the rack of lamb was placed in front of me. Such a perfect dish for spring and summer weddings and thankfully with it being left slightly pink in the middle, for my taste buds, it couldn’t have been more perfect. With the classic combination of the mint sauce, and spring vegetables underneath the cutlets I could have eaten it twice over.

When I thought I’d got to grips with what to expect, Kalm Kitchen really did save the best ‘til last with the presentation of a sharing Mille-Feuille for dessert. Arriving on a wooden board, with alternate layers of pastry and zesty, thick cream, drenched in berries and, of course, flowers; it really did look too good to eat. Well… for me it was, being filled with lovely gluten but a taste of the lemon cream and blueberry’s were enough to get a gist of just how gorgeous it was. Looking (and taking lots of pictures) was enough, especially when I had my very own deliciously refreshing elderflower jelly to eat. Amidst all of this gorgeous weather we’ve been having it really was the perfect summer meal.

Beyond the food & spectacular visual display that I experienced throughout my tasting, being able to sit in a private dining room with a view of the them hard at work in the kitchen was such a special, unexpected extra & really made me feel involved. As per all tastings that Kalm Kitchen do, to have the chef come through with each meal to explain the dish in detail & ask for feedback must make Bride’s & Groom’s feel really cared for; such a crucial component throughout the Wedding experience, one which Jen, James and there fantastic team evidently take very seriously.

I have to admit, my expectations were high before the tasting even began having spent time with Jen & James beforehand and heard about there fabulous work ethic but I wasn’t prepared for those expectations to be superseded. What they offer is truly like nothing else I have seen or even hard of in my career & I just cannot wait for Millbridge Court to be up & running so that I can work alongside the team in our brand new kitchen on a daily basis.

The Kalm Kitchen experience really is one of a kind!

The Dining Hall at Millbridge Court offers the perfect mix of traditional barn characteristics and contemporary design. The rustic beams are a wonderful focal point and can be utilised and decorated with twinkling lights or floral arrangements, which emphasises the height of the room. The neutral colour scheme and chairs are also perfect in enabling Bride’s and Groom’s to put their own stamp on the room with no risk of clashing.

In contrast to old fashioned barns, the windows along the ceiling, to the patio and out towards the lawn at Millbridge Court allows for a huge amount of natural light to come in from all angle’s, so whether it’s a December Wedding or a July Wedding, the room will always seem light and open in daylight hours. There will also be contemporary up lighting inside the Dining Hall that runs along the floor, with two grand chandeliers hanging between the beams. These can both be dimmed to the level of brightness you desire, adding a romance to the hours after sundown and the reflection of which will look magical in the many windows.

This grand room can fit 150 guests on 6ft round tables with the top table situated either on the right hand sidewall or against the glass windows at the far end of the room. Access to this room will be from 9am the day of the wedding and staff will be around to lend a helping hand to the bridal party/ Groomsmen, family and friends.

For any further information Contact Us.