Wyre Forest man ties knot at his childhood home
A Worcestershire man is celebrating after tying the knot with the love of his life in his own childhood home.
Former Chaddesley Corbett resident Julien Petitjean recently married Clara George at the four red star Brockencote Hall Hotel – where he lived and worked himself up until 2011 when he was 18 years old.
Julien’s parents, Joseph and Alison Petitjean, reinvented Brockencote Hall as a hotel in 1985 before eventually selling to existing owners Eden Hotel Collection in 2011 – and 13 years on Julien has made a return in unusual circumstances.
Julien said: “Getting married at Brockencote gave me and my family an opportunity to relive 25 years of cherished memories over our wedding weekend – it was truly special – and Clara loved the idea of it.
“I had never intended to get married there until I popped the question to Clara – and during the three-day wedding we even got to spend the night in my old bedroom.
“Brockencote Hall is a really special place for me, as it’s all I ever knew growing up in a working hotel.
“I have loads of fun memories playing in the fields surrounding Brockencote where I was making camps, bonfires and chasing sheep, through to working in the bar in my later years – and now I can add my wedding to the list!”
Julien and Clara, who initially met at work four years ago and now live in Nottinghamshire, wed at nearby church St Cassian’s.
This was followed by a reception at Brockencote Hall Hotel as part of their two-night stay for themselves and their guests – just five months after Julien had proposed.
And the proposal took Clara by surprise for one particular reason.
She added: “Julien was recovering from a serious skiing accident and had his leg in a brace, but despite this, he managed to get down on one knee to propose overlooking the countryside on our favourite walk.
“I felt so lucky – and to be able to have tied the knot with him within five months at such a special place makes me feel even luckier.
“The three days at the hotel were perfect and nothing was too much trouble for the staff there – from helping us to visualise our dream countryside wedding, through to catering for our 100 guests with personalised menus – and even going out of their way to source a particular French champagne that pays homage to Julien’s parents’ home town in France.”
Brockencote Hall Hotel is part of the Eden Hotel Collection – which was named Small Hotel Group of the Year at last year’s AA Awards – and boasts 24 luxury bedrooms, 3 AA Rosette dining in its Chaddesley Restaurant and more than 70 acres of stunning countryside.
Jack Hartshorne, General Manager at Brockencote Hall Hotel, said: “We were delighted to welcome Julien, Clara and their families back to the hotel in what was an emotional weekend in more ways than one.
“Their wedding typifies the rising trend we are seeing for three-day weddings – which we are ideally set up for as we have everything on-site, from St Cassian’s church on the doorstep, through to accommodation, award-winning fine-dining, and picturesque walks around our landscaped grounds.”
For more information about Brockencote Hall Hotel visit brockencotehall.com
