Inside: A Wedding Journey From The Cotswolds To Marrakech

From The Cotswolds to Marrakech, luxury wedding planner Jessie Westwood of Studio Sorores reveals the secrets and dreamy details behind her unforgettable multi-day— and multi-destination— wedding celebrations.

The Story So Far

Henry and I met online during the pandemic. We spent most of our early dates walking or dining in the garden, wrapped in blankets. It was a unique way to bond, without the usual distractions, and we quickly discovered mutual friends and realised we must have crossed paths before, as Henry used to live near my old neighbourhood.

In 2022, Henry proposed on a family skiing trip in the French Alps, flying my children and grandmother over Mont Blanc in a helicopter for the big moment. The proposal featured an heirloom gold, diamond, and sapphire ring, which I later redesigned with Rosie Clayden to suit my personal style.

The Venues

For our UK celebration, we had a small ceremony with immediate family, our bridal party, and children in The Cotswolds. The day before, we hosted a relaxed dinner at Lucknam Park. I spent the night before the ceremony at home with my maid of honour and children, enjoying the familiarity and comfort of my own space. We married at our local church and then celebrated at a private dinner party in our family garden in a beautiful tent, dining under the stars by candlelight with the children running free through the fields and gardens.

Three months later, we hosted a four-day celebration in Marrakech with friends and extended family. We began with my birthday on the rooftop of El Fenn in the medina, followed by relaxation at Kasbah Bab Ourika in the Atlas Mountains. Our welcome party was in the Agafay Desert at Scarabeo Camp.

Our main wedding day and subsequent pool party took place at Jnane Tamsna in the Palmeraie, a venue I fell in love with after visiting with my daughter.

The Outfits

I had three bespoke dresses made by Charlotte at Sewn Right. My UK wedding dress was a backless silk gown with ruffles and a long train, paired with pale blue Jimmy Choo heels and later, floral LoveShackFancy x Superga trainers. Henry wore a traditional morning suit with a Hermes tie and Russell & Bromley shoes, opting for a signet ring with his mother’s family crest.

For my birthday dinner in Marrakesh, I wore a yellow embellished dress by Needle & Thread paired with Carvela wedges and locally made artisan jewellery.

At the welcome party I wore a bespoke ivory and gold polka dot maxi dress with Chloe espadrilles and sunglasses, topped with an ivory denim jacket adorned with crystals. Henry sported Ralph Lauren attire.

On the main wedding day, I wore a vintage lace piece, relaxed kaftans, and a sparkly green mini dress by Attico with Jimmy Choo heels for the evening. Henry wore a bespoke black tie suit with a dusky pink velvet jacket by Caroline Andrew, lined with a world map silk print.

For the pool party, I donned a Gucci gown with bumblebees, nodding to how we met, and later changed into a Missoni swimsuit with a Camilla kaftan and Isabel Marant sunglasses.

The Jewellery

In the UK, I wore a diamond and gold horseshoe necklace from Henry, a bracelet from his late mother, and simple gold leaf studs. In Marrakech, I switched to a mini locket with my children’s picture and small gold and diamond hoops.

The Bridal Party

In the UK, my daughter designed her sage green dress with Charlotte, my maid of honour wore a floral maxi dress by Rixo, and my son wore a Bonpoint suit with a Ralph Lauren shirt and Superga trainers. The flower girls and page boys wore their own white dresses or beige chinos for a relaxed countryside feel.

In Marrakech, my bridesmaids wore burgundy silk gowns by Ghost London, and the groomsmen wore traditional black tie.

The Tablescapes

In the UK, we dined under a Raj Tent Club tent, with Maison Margaux rentals on the table for an elevated country garden feel, stationery I designed and flowers by Paula Rooney. As a wedding planner myself, I love the idea of storytelling through scent, so Diptyque Figuier and Roses candles were also scattered throughout.

In Marrakech, I created a horseshoe style table set up so that guests would appreciate the view of the dunes surrounded by thousands of candles in an intimate layout. Our desert tablescape featured Berber rugs, fire pits, and thousands of candles, with bespoke napkins and last-minute stationery.

For the main wedding, local suppliers provided linens and decor, with floral displays by Laura from The Bloom Room. Above the tables we hung giant lanterns with candles which shimmered and created the most amazing glow – with white roses grown locally in simple glass and bronze vases.

Food & Drink

In the UK, my friend Alex Head from Social Pantry created a five-course menu with local ingredients, and late night snacks and cakes made by my talented friend and sweet treat designer Krishanthi. We served a mix of English and French wines, including Henners sparkling white and Lady A rosé.

In Marrakech, we featured local dishes like tagines, couscous, artichokes, tomatoes, olives, figs, mint, grilled meats, artisan breads. We also served all Moroccan wine, focusing on traditional flavours and local produce.

The Entertainment

In the UK, we had no formal dance floor, but my friend Ciara Haidar sang for us. Our impromptu first dance was to “Until I Found You” by Stephen Sanchez. In Marrakech, traditional desert music played during the welcome party, and a cellist performed at the ceremony. Our first dance was to “Lucky Ones” by Lana Del Rey, and DJ friend played at the pool party.

Hair & Makeup

My great friend Gemma Sutton did all our hair and makeup for all events, which I talk all about in my blog post here.

The Wedding Gifts

Given the effort our guests made to attend our celebrations in Morocco, we had a completely optional gift list with The Wedding Shop. Every gift was cherished!

The Honeymoon

We had a mini moon with the children and our beloved Labrador in Cornwall in the UK after our first wedding. We are waiting to plan the honeymoon of our dreams when work and life are less busy!

Advice

Hire a wedding planner to manage all the little details and reduce stress, especially with multi-day and destination weddings.
Pay attention to the smallest details; they make a difference.
Have fun and cherish every moment—it’s the best day of your life with your loved ones.