Real Weddings – Hannah & Ben

Hannah and Ben married at New Forest Wedding venue Careys Manor Hotel in late summer 2021 with thirty of their closest family and friends. With a day full of laughter and entertainment they booked just eight week in advance! We caught up with the couple to see how the day went ...

How did you meet?

“Ben and I met when we both worked together at Hampshire County Council.  At the time, I was studying for my degree and not actively looking for love. But, when Ben asked me out on a date I said yes straight away. Our connection was immediate and we got on incredibly well, realising we shared many similar interests. It just goes to show that sometimes when you’re not looking for love, it finds you and is meant to be! We have now been together for over ten years and wouldn’t change a thing!”

The Proposal

“Ben and I went on a cruise of the Canary Islands and as we set sail on the final night Ben ordered red roses to the room at Sunset and got down on one knee! It was very romantic and the best surprise.”

The Venue

“We first came to Careys Manor for a treat for my 30th birthday. We absolutely loved it, the relaxation of the spa, the beautiful forest and the wonderful food! It’ our favourite place to come if we ever have a special occasion. We both love nature and being outside and the New Forest is such a great place to explore and relax. We chose Careys as it’s our favourite hotel and we also wanted to get married in a short space of time – 8 weeks! Françoise, the wedding coordinator, was brilliant. We loved that the venue included the food, chairs, sashes and some décor and they could recommend a florists to us. This all helped with the planning. As we both enjoy being outdoors and Ben loves gardening, we loved the idea of an outside ceremony. This isn’t available at many venues so this was incredibly special to us.”