At Eleven Eighty, we often say that every wedding has a story. We invite couples to start your story, your way, and we often wonder what these old walls would tell us if they could talk. After all, our beautiful old schoolhouse has stood here for more than 150 years, quietly collecting thousands of moments, memories and stories along the way.
But every now and then, a story comes along that feels just a little more magical…
Richard and I feel incredibly privileged to have witnessed this story unfold from the very beginning, and we’re so excited to share Adrienne and Stuart’s unique Eleven Eighty story with you.
Some stories come full circle. This is one of them.
Adrienne and Stuart didn’t discover Eleven Eighty while searching for wedding venues. They didn’t stumble across us on Instagram or through a recommendation from friends.
Their story started here years before they were ever engaged.
Back in 2022, they travelled to Eleven Eighty to help create some of the artwork you’ll still find scattered around the property today. If you’ve admired the Banksy-inspired pieces or the playful reminders of the children who once filled these old school grounds with games of tunnel ball and hopscotch, you’ve already seen a little piece of Adrienne and Stuart’s story.
As Adrienne tells it…
“After our first date in October 2021 (when I friend-zoned Stu!), a road trip to paint some art around the venue in July 2022 turned our friendship into the start of something special.”
The first weekend was all about painting.
Well… mostly.
“Stu did most of it while I was his assistant. During that first weekend we realised how well we worked together as a team and how much fun we had hanging out, although I still didn’t want to cross the line.”
It wasn’t until they returned to finish the murals that everything changed.
“The second trip down to Eleven Eighty was when it all escalated!”
Needless to say, Stu’s persistence eventually paid off.
Adrienne laughs now as she remembers arriving at Eleven Eighty for an Open Day all those years ago.
“I remember saying to Stu that everyone was going to think we were together and looking at wedding venues. If only I’d known that two years later we’d be driving down to an Open Day to do exactly that.”
Coming Full Circle
When it came time to choose a wedding venue, there was really only one option.
“It was only right to get married at the venue where our relationship began.”
Watching these two stand beneath the willow trees to exchange their vows was incredibly special for Richard and me.
Not only because we’d watched their relationship grow from the very beginning…
…but because they chose to surround themselves with the artwork that had unknowingly helped bring them together.
When we asked Adrienne what her favourite part of the day was, the answer couldn’t have been more fitting.
“Saying our vows underneath the willow trees, surrounded by our stencils.”
Sometimes life really does come full circle.
The Wedding They Imagined… Only Better
Having already spent time at Eleven Eighty before it became their wedding venue, Adrienne knew exactly how the property made her feel.
But somehow, their wedding day still exceeded every expectation.
“It was so much better than we imagined. The venue is beautiful and because it’s part of our love story, it made the day extra special. The history and character give it such charm. It’s welcoming, warm and familiar. The space is magical, yet calming.”
That balance is something we hear often.
Couples love that Eleven Eighty already has so much personality that it doesn’t need to be overstyled, yet it still becomes completely their own.
For Adrienne and Stuart, the vision was simple.
Vibe: Fun. Good times. Love all around.
Feel: Relaxed, spring and summer, completely stress-free.
Style: Rustic English countryside with just a hint of glam.
And judging by the comments from their guests, they absolutely nailed it.
“Everyone loved the venue… and the story that came with it.”
Advice From Someone Who’s Been There
Adrienne is an experienced event planner, so if anyone thought they could manage every little detail themselves, it was probably her.
But one piece of advice stood out above everything else.
“Hire the venue for the three days if your budget allows.”
Being able to arrive the day before, enjoy a relaxed pizza night around the fire pit with family and friends, wake up on-site on the morning of the wedding and stay again after the celebrations removed so much unnecessary pressure.
“It was worth every penny. We could set everything up on the Friday, have a chilled lead into the wedding day and not stress about travelling. Pack down was so much easier too.”
Her second piece of advice?
Hire a wedding coordinator.
“I’m good at planning events, but if I’d also been dealing with vendors, styling and making sure everything ran smoothly on the day, I would’ve cried with the added stress. No one can prepare you for how you’ll feel on the morning of your wedding.”
It’s advice we couldn’t agree with more.
A Few Final Words
When we asked Adrienne if she’d recommend Eleven Eighty to other couples, this was part of her response.
“Our wedding at Eleven Eighty was everything we dreamed of, and more. We knew it was going to be special because it played a part in our love story, but even without that, having Eleven Eighty as the backdrop gave it an added sparkle.”
She also left us with some very kind words about our team.
” The whole process from booking through to the wedding day was made easy with Clare always on hand to answer my questions.”
And, of course…
“Oh… and the art around the place is fabulous too!”
Thank you, Adrienne and Stuart, for trusting us with such an important chapter in your story.
Every wedding we host becomes part of Eleven Eighty’s history.
Yours just happened to become part of it long before the wedding day itself.
Every couple who walks through our gates leaves a story behind. Adrienne and Stuart’s story just happened to begin here too.
Photography: KLD Weddings:
