Katy + Mike at Chilham Village Hall | April 2026
“Despite having 4 weddings in one week, Sarah managed to make us feel like the world revolved around us and we had her full attention, not only on the day but in the weeks leading up...”
Sometimes attending a wedding you can sense a theme of sorts: the great outdoors, a colour scheme, maybe festival-vibes. At first look you might have thought there was a dinosaur theme to Katy and Mike’s wedding day (a nod to Mike’s job at the Natural History Museum and a love for all things prehistoric) - her bridal dress, little daughter Phoebe’s bow, and Mike’s pocket square all with the same fabulously-unusual dino-print fabric.
These were our beaming faces all day
Or perhaps you might think - seeing the wedding began mid-morning over brunch - that the theme was a relaxed, breakfast vibe. Another fabulously unusual factor: an early start and with food to enjoy while guests witnessed the ceremony.
And both those things are true. Hand-on-heart I’ve never seen a bride in a dinosaur dress before and perhaps I never will again. I’ve also never been part of a brunch ceremony before…but I’ve been recommending it ever since!
Photography by Dominika Tutak Wedding Photography
But actually, on closer inspection, if there was a theme it was the closeness of family. And absolutely nothing else mattered. Katy and Phoebe, having been a little mother-daughter team of two for a few years, Katy having fallen in love with Mike, Phoebe having been over-the-moon about the whole situation and a new trio having taken shape.
Not only that but the closeness of family extended to the intimate group the couple invited to share in their joy. The giddiness in Chilham Village Hall was absolutely palpable.
The nicest village hall you’ve ever seen, by the way.
Loved ones were sat in a horseshoe of support around the couple as I told their love story and they shared their personal vows. I say “the couple”, Phoebe was there front-and-centre by mum and Mike’s side through it all.
Their family of three did a sand jar together - pink for Phoebe, purple for Katy and green for Mike - a keepsake from the day and a visual reminder of the different strengths, dreams and colours they each bring to the family whilst also being an inseparable whole. Like millions of sand grains in a jar, mixed together for good.
For the kids in attendance there was plenty to keep them entertained - not least of which were activity books made by the bride and groom themselves. The books featured colouring-in pages for the children with drawings by talented artist Mike, but also by children in teacher Katy’s class.
Dedicated teacher Katy also had the sweetest, most unique bouquet: homemade cupcake-case flowers each containing a photo of one of the kids in her class.
Phoebe read Your Personal Penguin (by Sandra Boynton) with me, chosen because not only was their wedding date (April 25th) World Penguin Day, but a miniature fluffy penguin was the first toy Mike ever bought his future stepdaughter. She brought the house down with her incredible reading ability and delivery.
Into their new chapter
I often leave before the wedding “breakfast” but since this one actually was at breakfast time and my long train back wasn’t til the afternoon, I stayed for a delicious avocado and halloumi on toast, chatting to some of the couple’s church community, MeetUp app friends and family. Social app MeetUp got a few mentions as it’s how the couple first met, and there were a fair few fans in attendance.
In the ceremony I have to admit I got quite emotional, and not just witnessing Phoebe’s excitement! I had tears in my eyes talking about the gorgeous things Mike had said about his wife; and about how - with these two - it’s not just a love that means you want to be close in proximity, but close in character. They really admire each other.
They say sometimes in planning a wedding you can forget to prepare for a marriage, but with Katy and Mike quite the opposite was true. It was obvious to us all that being a married family unit was what it was all about. The brunch was just a nice way to kick it all off.
“As my daughter would say, I would HUNDRED-EIGHTY-THOUSAND recommend!! One million stars!”