The coach house rooms
Eight rooms above the old stables, a courtyard away from the hall. They go first and they go quickly, so mention it on your reply and we will pass your name along while any are left.
The invitation
Come and spend the day with us
We met on the wrong train, kept riding it for two more stops, and have been going in the same direction ever since. Nine years later we would like the people who carried us there to be in the room.
Coda Lumen is an old working estate above the valley — a walled garden, a long stone hall, and a bell that has been rung at every wedding held there. Everything happens in one place, so once you arrive you can put the car keys away and stay until the lights go out.
We would love to have you there. Aurelie & Marin
Order of the day
Saturday, hour by hour
Nothing here needs to be memorised — there will be signs, and someone at the gate who knows where everything is. This is simply so you can plan the drive, the shoes and the babysitter.
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3:00 pm
Gates open
Arrive through the lower gate and follow the lime avenue up to the courtyard. There is tea, lemonade and somewhere to sit while everyone gathers.
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3:40 pm
Please be seated
The bell rings twice. Seating in the walled garden is open — sit wherever you like, on whichever side you like.
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4:00 pm
Ceremony
Half an hour, outdoors under the pear trees, with the stone hall ready in case the weather turns.
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4:30 pm
Drinks in the courtyard
Photographs happen quietly in the background. You are free to wander the garden, and the orchard path is worth the walk.
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6:30 pm
Dinner in the long hall
Seated, four courses, served family style down the middle of the table. Speeches arrive between courses rather than all at once.
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9:00 pm
The band starts
Tables are cleared to the sides and the floor opens. A fire is lit in the courtyard for anyone who would rather talk than dance.
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11:30 pm
Late supper
Something hot and unfussy for everyone still standing.
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1:00 am
Last dance
The bell rings once more and cars are called from the courtyard.
Sunday morning there is coffee and something baked in the walled garden from nine until noon, for anyone staying on the estate or nearby. No need to tell us — just appear.
Coda Lumen Estate
Getting there, and what to expect underfoot
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Arriving
The estate sits at the top of a single-track lane above the valley, signed from the main road with a small brass plate. Give yourself twenty minutes more than the map suggests — the last stretch is slow and beautiful and not a place to hurry.
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Parking and cars
There is a gravel field beside the lower gate with room for everyone. Cars may be left overnight and collected before noon on Sunday, which is the easiest plan if you would rather not drive home late.
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Grass, gravel and weather
The ceremony is on lawn and the courtyard is gravel, so narrow heels will fight you. September here is warm by day and genuinely cold once the sun drops behind the ridge — bring something with sleeves for the evening.
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Access
The garden, hall and courtyard are all on one level with a firm path between them, and there are seats at the ceremony for anyone who would rather not stand. Tell us on the form if there is anything we can make easier.
Where to stay
Somewhere to sleep it off
Most people make a weekend of it. Three options, roughly in order of how far you will have to travel in the morning.
Inns below the ridge
Two small inns and a handful of guest rooms sit a ten-minute drive down the lane. Booking under “Coda Lumen, September” holds the rooms we have set aside until the end of July.
The market town
Twenty-five minutes away, with more choice and a later breakfast. This is the sensible option for anyone travelling with children or arriving on a late train.
In pictures
The look of the place
Three corners of the estate we fell for, so you know what you are dressing for.
Good to know
Questions people keep asking
If yours is not here, write it in the notes box on the reply form and we will answer it properly.
What should we wear?
Dress as though you are going somewhere you like. Suits and long dresses are right, black tie is not expected, and colour is very welcome. Practical note: lawn and gravel, and a cold hour after sunset.
Are children invited?
Yes, and there will be others. The walled garden is fenced with one gate, and a quiet room off the hall is set aside for naps and meltdowns from six o'clock. If you would rather come without them, that is entirely understood.
Can I bring someone?
Your invitation names everyone we have a seat for, and the reply form asks how many of you are coming. If your circumstances have changed since the invitation went out, say so in the notes and we will work it out.
How do you handle dietary needs?
Dinner is served family style with vegetarian dishes on every table by default. Tell us about allergies, intolerances or anything you avoid on the form and the kitchen will plate separately for you rather than leaving you to pick around a dish.
What time should we actually arrive?
Any time after three, and no later than twenty to four. The lane is single track, so a late arrival means meeting the cars ahead of you head on. Earlier is genuinely easier for everyone.
Is there a gift list?
There is not. We have been keeping house together for years and need nothing. Your being there — particularly if it means a long journey — is the whole of it.
Can we take photographs?
Please put phones away for the half hour of the ceremony; we would rather see faces than screens, and our photographer will cover it. Afterwards, photograph everything and send us the unflattering ones.
When do you need to hear from us?
By 3 July 2026. Numbers go to the kitchen and the seating plan that week, so a reply after that date is difficult to fit in. If you are unsure, reply anyway and tell us what you are waiting on.
Reply
Tell us if you are coming
One person per household is plenty — just say how many of you there will be.