Will & Katya

At Rocket, we are only able to work on a select few weddings each year, and we are always incredibly excited when an opportunity arises to be a part of something truly extraordinary. Working with the brilliant wedding and event planner Natalie Hewitt, Katya & Will’s wedding took place across the Coronation weekend in Suffolk, with guests and festivities taking over the entire Wilderness Reserve estate. A little rain added to the romantic and ethereal mood of the weekend which was beautifully captured in the photographs.

Wilderness Reserve is a beautiful and unmistakably English estate set amongst 8,000 rural acres in Suffolk. Guests stayed across the estate in cottages, houses, and glamping pods, and celebrations took place across various locations across the property throughout the wedding weekend.

Throughout the weekend, the multitude of occasions offered a fabulous opportunity for a variety of styles and themes. From the intimate bee-themed welcome dinner on Thursday to Friday’s outdoor Fire Feast and Sunday’s 80s pool party, the personality of the couple shone through each occasion. The wedding day was whimsical and romantic with a mixture of exposed wood, green velvet cloth, daisy chain flowers, and lots of greenery.

For the wedding day, a drinks reception complete with roaming oyster shuckers and a caviar station was complemented by a variety of Rocket’s best canapés including seabass with a pickled ginger mayonnaise, asparagus with crispy chicken confit crumb and miso citrus hollandaise, and mini Beef Wellingtons with horseradish cream (to name a few!) Guests then entered the marquee for a two course meal which began with La Latteria burrata with courgettes, lemon, mint, and a black olive crumb, followed by pan-fried halibut with wild mushrooms, spinach gnocchi, and a smoked wild garlic velouté. Instead of a traditional plated dessert, the couple opted for a dessert stall that featured a variety of sweet bites and espresso martini coupettes.

After dinner, guests moved to the atmospheric glass marquee for dancing and merriment. Late-night bites included cheese and truffle toasties, prime rib burgers, and wood-fired pizza, fuelling guests into the late hours. There was even a surprise performance by James Blunt!

A relaxed and rustic-chic barbecue lunch provided the backdrop to recount the evening’s festivities. There were large platters of grilled Salt Marsh lamb with fresh herbs, sea bass with rose and harissa, Dijon and tarragon Cotswold White chicken, and an assortment of vibrant salads and sides. Lunch was followed by an 80s-themed pool party complete with boozy ice pops and snacks such as bao buns, mini fish and chips, and ceviche tacos.

Planning & Design: Natalie Hewitt
Photography: Benjamin Wheeler
Catering: Rocket Food
Tableware: Maison Margaux and Jones
Flowers: Liberty Lane Flowers
Production: Invisible Blue