A Wedding Filled With Love, Family and Little Moments: Natalie & Stephen’s Darver Castle Wedding

Nanny Cat
Jun 15
10 min read

Arriving at Darver Castle

Darver Castle provided the perfect backdrop for Natalie and Stephen’s beautiful family-focused wedding day. As their wedding nanny, I had the privilege of caring for their little ones from the ceremony through to bedtime, helping them enjoy every part of the celebrations while giving their parents complete peace of mind. From an emotional ceremony to an unforgettable evening hosted by DJ Magiggs, this was a wedding filled with love, laughter and family from beginning to end.

There is something extra special about being asked to look after the little ones at a fellow wedding supplier’s wedding.

As suppliers, we spend our weeks helping bring other people’s wedding days to life, so being trusted to play a part in one of our own industry’s celebrations always feels like a huge privilege.

I arrived at Darver Castle ahead of the bride and guests and honestly, I don’t think I stopped smiling once. Everywhere I looked there was another detail more beautiful than the last.

Thoughtful Details Around Every Corner

The first thing that caught my eye were the hand-drawn portraits awaiting guests as they arrived. Not just a handful of illustrations, but portraits of every single guest attending the wedding and every supplier too. Created by the bride herself, the incredibly talented Wedding Portrait NI, they immediately set the tone for the day ahead. Thoughtful, personal and completely unique.

Then there were the cakes.

And when I say cakes, I mean cakes that stopped you in your tracks.

Created by the unbelievably talented mother of the bride, Claire Press Cakes, they looked almost too beautiful to cut. Sitting alongside every place name were handmade personalised shortbread favours lovingly created for every guest and supplier attending the wedding. Not a single detail had been overlooked. Everywhere you turned there was another thoughtful touch, another reminder that this wasn’t simply a wedding being planned, but a labour of love created by a family pouring their hearts into every corner of the day.

One of Natalie’s sisters had created the sweetest soft play area through Serendipity Soft Play for the younger guests, while Artisan Photography, Rory McKeever Film and Content Le Gra moved quietly around the venue preparing to capture everything that was about to unfold.

What struck me most was how personal everything felt.

Nothing felt chosen simply because it looked beautiful, although it certainly did. Every detail seemed to have a story behind it.

The Excitement Before “I Do”

From the hand-drawn portraits and handmade favours to the involvement of family members throughout the planning and styling of the day, there was a real sense that this wedding had been created by people who cared deeply about the experience they were creating for everyone around them.

The castle was already filled with excitement long before the first guests arrived. Suppliers were putting final touches in place and conversations about the day ahead drifted between rooms. There was a wonderful sense of anticipation everywhere you looked, the kind that only comes when months of planning are finally about to come to life.

And as I stood taking it all in, looking around at the extraordinary amount of thought, creativity and love that had gone into every corner of the day, it was hard not to feel incredibly excited for what was still to come.

Creating a Space for the Little VIPs

After spending some time taking everything in, it was time for me to get to work.

With temperatures already climbing and the promise of a beautiful summer day ahead, I knew the children would want to make the most of the sunshine, so I decided to set up my wedding childcare area for the little VIPs in the front courtyard just outside the reception room.

Tucked beneath the awning, it was the perfect spot. Close enough to the celebrations that the children could still feel part of everything happening around them, while offering a little shade from the afternoon sun

Image captured by The Wedding & Events Nanny

Before long, books were stacked ready for story time, colouring activities laid out across the tables and baskets filled with toys waiting to be discovered. There were figurines for imaginative adventures, magnet tiles and duplo for little builders, fishing games, skittles and plenty more besides.

It wasn’t long before Darver Castle appeared with VIP ropes for my little VIP area which honestly made my day. In a wedding where so much thought had gone into making every guest feel special, it felt fitting that the youngest guests would have their own little VIP section too.

As guests began arriving and the courtyard filled with conversation and excitement, our little corner was ready and waiting for the day’s smallest wedding guests..

A Ceremony Woven With Family

With everything set up and ready for the little guests, I headed to the front of Darver Castle to await the arrival of the bride.

On the drive to the venue, Natalie’s little girl had fallen asleep in the car and, thanks to the family WhatsApp group we had set up before the wedding, her mum and I were able to chat through the options before they even arrived.

Our original plan had been for her to be involved in the ceremony, but with a sleeping little one in the back seat, we quickly came up with a Plan B. The idea was that her granny would transfer her into the pram on arrival and I would take her for a walk during the ceremony so she could continue her nap undisturbed.

As it turned out, she had plans of her own.

The moment the car arrived and she woke up, it became very clear that she had absolutely no intention of sleeping through any of the excitement. Suddenly Plan B was out the window and we found ourselves right back at Plan A again, with one very alert little girl ready to be part of the day.

It was one of those lovely reminders that, for all the planning that goes into a wedding, children often have their own ideas and sometimes those turn out to be the best moments of all.

Before long, it was time for the little ones to make their way down the aisle and then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.

As the music changed and Natalie appeared at the top of the aisle, the atmosphere in the room shifted completely.

Every head turned towards her and as I looked around, there were smiles everywhere. Proud family members, emotional friends, eyes glistening and more than a few tissues appearing. It was one of those moments where you could feel just how loved the couple were by everyone around them.

The ceremony itself, led by Ceremonies by Catherine, struck such a beautiful balance between warmth, humour and storytelling. There was laughter, there were tears and, woven throughout it all, was a real sense of family.

What stood out most was how naturally their children were included in the day. They were such an important part of the story being told.

One of the loveliest moments came as Natalie and Stephen tied the knot using ribbons brought forward by their little ones. It was such a lovely moment, one that felt incredibly meaningful. A reflection not only of the promises being made that day, but of the family they had already built together long before they walked down the aisle.

Finding Her Feet

After the ceremony, guests spilled out into the sunshine for drinks reception and photographs while the excitement around Darver Castle continued to build.

For their youngest little one, however, it all felt rather overwhelming.

Although she was surrounded by people she knew and loved, suddenly everyone looked different. Family members were dressed up, emotions were running high and there were unfamiliar faces everywhere she turned. Understandably, it all felt like a lot to process.

Rather than trying to encourage her straight into the celebrations, I spent some time sitting with her inside the house where she felt comfortable. While family members chatted nearby and the wedding carried on around us, we simply slowed everything down for a little while.

Sometimes children don’t need entertaining or distracting when they feel overwhelmed. They just need time, space and someone willing to meet them where they are.

We chatted together, took everything in at her pace and gradually I could see her beginning to relax. Once she seemed more comfortable, I introduced some bubbles which quickly became a lovely way for us to connect without placing any demands on her.

Before long, we found ourselves taking the bubbles outside and wandering through the gardens together. What began as a quiet moment indoors gradually became an afternoon of exploring, chatting and enjoying the sunshine, giving her the opportunity to build confidence in her surroundings while knowing she had a familiar person by her side.

By the time family photographs were due to begin, she was settled, smiling and happy to be involved.

Knowing their little ones were comfortable and enjoying themselves meant Natalie and Stephen could fully immerse themselves in this part of the day, safe in the knowledge that their wedding childcare was completely taken care of.. Family photographs were captured first while the children were happy and engaged before we made our way back to the little VIP area for some quieter play.

The setup proved a huge hit with the children. Throughout the rest of the drinks reception they moved happily between books, games, toys and photographs whenever they were needed, always returning to their own little corner of the celebrations afterwards.

It created a lovely balance throughout the afternoon. The children were able to experience the wedding in a way that felt natural and enjoyable to them, while the adults could relax knowing they were settled, happy and close by.

An Entrance to Remember

Following drinks reception and photographs, it was time for guests to make their way into the reception room and what an entrance it turned out to be.

With the legendary DJ Magiggs taking on MC duties and the best man arriving with their little boy in what can only be described as the world’s classiest miniature BMW, the atmosphere inside the room was incredible from the moment the doors opened.

Guests were on their feet, music filled the room and the excitement that had been building throughout the day seemed to burst into life all at once. It was impossible not to smile watching everyone become completely caught up in the moment.

While many of the little ones were loving the energy of it all, their youngest daughter wasn’t quite sure what to make of the sudden noise and excitement around her. Rather than joining the celebrations, she decided my arms were the safest place to experience it from and that was exactly where she stayed.

As the speeches began and dinner was served, she happily sat on my knee taking everything in from a distance she felt comfortable with. The wonderful team at Darver Castle made sure I was looked after too, so while she enjoyed her dinner from my knee, I somehow managed to eat mine one-handed beside her.

It was one of those lovely little moments that probably won’t appear on any wedding timeline but perfectly summed up the trust we had built throughout the day. She was happy, settled and content, which meant her family could relax and enjoy the celebrations knowing she was exactly where she wanted to be.

The Magic of a Magiggs Wedding

As the evening celebrations began, the atmosphere inside Darver Castle lifted once again and there really is no one quite like DJ Magiggs when it comes to creating a party.

I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside him on numerous occasions over the years and every time I leave reminded of why couples speak so highly of him.

Of course, he’s an incredibly talented DJ, but what makes him stand out goes far beyond the music.

He takes the time to get to know his couples, understands the atmosphere they want to create and has an incredible ability to read a room. There is a warmth about him that immediately puts people at ease and throughout the evening he seemed to instinctively know exactly what the room needed at any given moment.

The result was a dancefloor that remained full, guests who were completely invested in every part of the evening and an atmosphere that felt joyful from beginning to end.

Natalie and Stephens little ones absolutely loved being part of it all.

One of the things that worked so beautifully throughout the evening was having the little VIP area positioned just outside the reception room. It meant the children could move naturally between the excitement of the party and the quieter play space whenever they wanted to. They could join the dancing, soak up the atmosphere and then retreat for a story, a game or simply a few quieter minutes before heading back in again.

As the evening went on and the excitement of the day began to catch up with one tired little guest, we took a gentle walk around the grounds in the pram for a much-needed power nap. After a little rest, he was refreshed and more than ready to rejoin the celebrations.

Eventually though, even the most enthusiastic little party guests reach the end of their day.

Mummy headed upstairs with Granny to begin bedtime while I stayed behind to gather together everything we needed before joining them shortly afterwards. Once the little ones were settled, I remained with them into the early hours while the celebrations continued downstairs, sending updates to their parents and making sure everyone remained happy, comfortable and settled until the night finally drew to a close.

A Wedding Full of Love

Looking back on the day, what stays with me most is the overwhelming sense of love that seemed to follow Natalie and Stephen everywhere they went.

It was there in the way family gathered around them. In the pride on people’s faces during the ceremony. In the excitement that filled every room of Darver Castle. In the way their little ones were included throughout the day and in the joy that followed everyone onto the dancefloor that evening.

Before the wedding, I had been gently warned that their youngest little girl didn’t really go to anyone. By the end of the drinks reception, she barely left my side. To be able to give little ones that feeling of safety and security, while giving their parents complete peace of mind, means everything.

What Natalie and Stephen created felt so much bigger than a beautiful wedding day. It felt like a celebration of the people they love most and a reflection of the family they have built together.

Being trusted as their wedding nanny on such an important day was an absolute privilege. This really was one wedding I will never forget.