Caroline & Matthew

Our wedding reception was held at the beautiful Caswell House in Oxfordshire – a collection of lovingly restored barns surrounded by landscaped gardens right in the heart of the Cotswolds. The moment we walked through the gates we knew it was the place for us. The honey-coloured stone, the peaceful courtyards, the flowers in full bloom… it all felt like stepping into our own little world. Even now, we think it’s one of the most stunning settings you could wish for, and it couldn’t have been more perfect for a summer wedding.

We wanted the whole day to feel like a relaxed English summer’s afternoon – soft, elegant and easy-going. After such a difficult year for everyone, and after postponing three times ourselves, our biggest wish was for our guests to feel at ease, surrounded by beautiful things and good company. We kept everything light and natural to complement the Cotswold stone and the gardens: fresh seasonal flowers, gentle colours, and lots of little touches that felt personal to us without being overly formal. It all came together exactly how we’d imagined.

We always knew live music would be a big part of the atmosphere, so we started off by browsing local Oxfordshire bands… but very quickly realised that our hearts were already set on one act: The Sweet & Lowdown.

We’d actually heard them play seven years ago at our friends’ wedding – the very first wedding we ever attended together! They were so good that we talked about them for weeks afterwards, and honestly at nearly every wedding we've been to since. So once we were planning our own big day, there was only ever one choice.

They didn’t just live up to our memories – they somehow exceeded them. Even with the restrictions meaning the dancing had to take place outside, it only added to the magic. The atmosphere under the evening sky was incredible, and they had everyone on their feet from the very first song.

It’s almost impossible to pick just one. The sun came out exactly when we needed it for our outdoor ceremony, which felt like a sign of good things to come. Our magician had guests completely baffled during the drinks reception, which created such a fun buzz. The wedding breakfast was delicious, the speeches had the perfect mix of belly laughs and emotional moments, and once the band started playing the dancing didn’t stop until the very end. It truly felt like the happiest, most joy-filled day after such a long wait.

Book The Sweet & Lowdown! They were honestly one of the best decisions we made. After multiple postponements and changes to the set-up, they adapted so smoothly and never once added stress to the process. On the day itself, they created an unbelievable atmosphere and so many of our guests said they were the best wedding band they had ever heard. We couldn’t agree more – thank you for making our day unforgettable.