FIVE MINUTES WITH... MARTIN FOX-ROBERTS, PROUD FOX CEREMONIES www.proudfoxceremonies.com This month, we caught up with the utterly fabulous Martin Fox-Roberts of Proud Fox Ceremonies, and his alter ego, drag queen Maria Hurtz. We wanted to know everything about how he became a celebrant as well as what it’s like to have a ceremony conducted by the mischievous Maria. Click play or scan the QR code to find out the answer to these questions and more! SABAN DEMIRBASA, STONE COURT HOUSE www.stonecourthouse.com Having recently thrown open its doors to weddings, Stone Court House in Maidstone is one of Kent’s newest venues and will be taking bookings from May, 2023. Itching to know more, we chatted to owner Saban Demirbasa. Tell us about the history of Stone Court House. Stone Court House is Grade II listed with both national and historical importance, and early records confirm that the building was the private residence of Lady Margaret Sackville (1562-1591) of Knole House, Sevenoaks, one of the top five National Trust properties in the country. Thereafter, it became the Crown Judges lodgings until the 1960s. In more recent times it sadly fell into disrepair until we purchased the property in 2019. We understand there’s been extensive renovations going on. Can you tell us more about that? We spent three years restoring Stone Court House, investing millions in the process. Only historical and natural building materials were used, such as sheep wool insulation, 45 tons of horsehair lime plaster, oak, wool carpets and water-based paints. Historic England officially removed Stone Court House from the Risk Register in November 2022, and we were shortlisted for the Historic Building Restoration Awards 2022. What’s your favourite part of the venue? All of it! It’s a truly beautiful and unique place, pictures don’t do it justice, and we’ve been told by numerous guests that it’s like staying overnight in a museum. When the lights go down its wonderfully atmospheric. What’re you most looking forward to about hosting weddings? Happy guests who’ll keep memories of our home for a lifetime. We live here in our very own private quarters, it’s our family home. We ask our guests to take off their shoes and walk around on the 100 per cent wool carpets, making themselves at home. We even see guests coming downstairs in their nightwear! It’s very comfortable and private, quiet for it’s town centre location and we’re not open to the general public. We’re able to accommodate a maximum of 18 guests ensuring they have plenty of room. AMANDA WHITE, STYLED TO REMEMBER www.styledtoremember.co.uk Formerly Amanda Jane Events, Styled to Remember is a fresh new look, feel and lease on life for owner Amanda White. We got the lowdown on the rebrand, and heard of the business’ exciting plans for the future. What sparked the rebrand? Amanda Jane Events began more than 12 years ago, and after dealing with some life-changing moments, it felt like the right time for a fresh approach, new ideas and a business partner to share the highs and lows of our wonderful industry. Changing the company name and rebranding was by no means out with the old and in with the new. We’re not trend-chasers, we listen to our clients’ ideas and needs, keep them within budget and ultimately create a wedding that’s unapologetically unique. Are you doing anything different now that you didn’t do before? When the industry was put into lockdown, it was debilitating for us as a supplier, but our couples missed sharing their love declarations with family and friends. Finding alternative ways to share moments took us out of our comfort zone and look to alternative ideas. We realised quickly that smaller weddings became more intimate, somewhat more meaningful. So, we decided to incorporate a service for intimate dining experiences. We now have many new products that we love; our flower walls are very popular for example. Being known as a rustic-style supplier is something I’m proud of, but the classics are elegant and fresh, so we’re looking froward to seeing more of this. What does the future hold for you? We hope to develop our relationships with venues, suppliers and clients to provide a bespoke service for each of our events. In focusing on our venue styling and incorporating new ideas, we hope to pass on our passion for weddings and events to those we connect with throughout our journey. What’s your favourite trend at the moment? We’re huge fans of whimsical meadow flowers, monochrome palettes, bows on dresses and floral patterns. www.teddypigphotography.com Scan to view video Scan to view video www.tonypullenphotography.co.uk www.peggy-pollock.com/weddings 10
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