TRADITION
★★★
​We hope you will join us in October for this very special occasion to celebrate the arrival of Christabel Elizabeth "Bella" and Christoph James "C.J." Crowder-Bromley!
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The twins' christening and naming ceremony in England is an important continuation of tradition for our family. Thirty-two years ago, Christian was christened at the village church in Shipbourne, Kent. The magic of nearby Hever Castle - dating to the thirteenth century - became an absolute favorite during childhood visits with his grandparents, aunt and uncle, cousins, godparents, and (eventually) husband Christopher.
Christian first shared this beautiful part of England with Christopher on our second visit to England nearly a decade ago - just days before our engagement aboard RMS Queen Mary II. Now we will celebrate the two most important additions to our lives with those we love the most for a weekend in the same fairytale rolling hills of the English Countryside.
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Please RSVP to confirm your attendance and accommodation preferences ASAP. Space is extremely limited inside the Castle, so we must keep our guest list substantially tighter than we would prefer. We cannot wait for you to meet Bella & C.J. and celebrate this joyous occasion in such an incredible place!​
Please note for accommodations that we can prearrange Saturday evening for our guests at the 5-star hotel onsite at Hever Castle. Additional availability at the Castle on Thursday & Friday may open up 6-8 weeks before the event, and our party would have priority. If you would like to stay at Hever for one or more nights, please let us know and we will help with bookings.​
Weekend Events
★★★
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Thursday, October 17th
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Welcome Dinner Reception
The Papermakers Arms🔗
Attire: Smart Casual
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The Papermakers Arms is a traditional English village pub located in the heart of Plaxtol, Kent. Christian's late grandparents, Victor James & Freda Coppins Bromley, lived in Plaxtol for 70+ years. Christian's grandmother worked at the village bakery just a stone's throw from the Papermakers Arms with Christian's godfather, Clive Wakeman. For those who have not yet met, we are thrilled to introduce you to Clive and his wife, Sarah.
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Friday, October 18th
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Local Winery Tour & Dinner
Squerryes Winery🔗
Attire: Smart Casual
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Squerryes Winery is a lovely vineyard in Kent, which is quickly becoming a preeminent winemaking region as the area experiences a warmer climate akin to Champagne, France. We made a wine-tasting visit to Kent in 2023 to experience all the buzz and are so excited to share the experience with you all. Christian's godfather, Clive, gave Christian a bottle of spirits at his christening in 1991 (with strict instructions not to open it until 2009). Here's to finding a similarly worthy vintage to keep for the twins until they are old enough one day.
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The Winery Vine Tour starts at 3:00 PM, followed by a guided Wine Tasting (non-alcoholic options available!) at 3:45 PM. We will have Dinner together following the Tasting beginning around 4:30 PM.
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Please arrive by 3:00 PM if you are attending the Tour & Tasting.
Please arrive by 4:30 PM if you are joining only for Dinner.
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Saturday, October 19th:
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Christening & Afternoon Tea
Attire: Daytime Formal
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We are hosting the Naming Ceremony & Christening on the grounds at Hever Castle. The ceremony will be held in the Tudor Suite with Afternoon Tea to follow. The Tudor Suite is part of the Astor Wing, which is a charming Edwardian wing of Hever Castle commissioned by its previous American owner William Waldorf Astor in 1903. If you are staying onsite at the castle, this is adjacent to your accommodations.​​
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6:00 PM - Midnight
Cocktails & Dinner in the Great Hall
Attire: Black Tie
Our weekend will culminate at the Castle for an unforgettable evening beginning with a private tour of the Castle followed by a cocktail reception and dinner in the Great Hall. Among an undoubtedly immeasurable list of past gatherings, we've been told King Henry VIII was first introduced to Anne Boleyn in the Great Hall. Hever Castle is one of Christian's most favorite places in the world from boyhood playing in the maze with his cousins, Sarah Rooms and Vanessa Woodgate, to an afternoon spent picnicking with his aunt and uncle, Jackie and Neil Woodgate, before his study abroad in Scotland, to many visits since with Christopher over the years.
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Our private cocktail reception starts at 6:30 PM in the Castle's Inner Courtyard, followed by dinner in the Great Hall at 7:30 PM. Dinner should conclude by 10:00 PM, when guests are able to migrate to the private Tudor Suite for additional cocktails until Midnight.
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Guests staying at the Castle: Please arrive at the Music Room by 6:00 PM to be escorted to the Castle.
Guests arriving from offsite: Please arrive by 6:15 PM at the Castle Grounds to join the reception by 6:30 PM.
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Travel
★★★
Please plan to stay around Kent or at Hever Castle. Also plan to either rent a car, coordinate with other guests, or schedule traditional taxis (other than a ride from Heathrow or London city, Uber/Lyft will not be available in the countryside). Feel free to reach out to Christopher or Christian with any questions or additional recommendations!
​​Accommodations
We recommend staying close to Hever Castle and planning transportation in advance. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask Christopher or Christian about recommendations.
Hever Castle
As part of our event, guests have exclusive access to stay onsite at Hever Castle within the Astor Wing. This is a unique opportunity to stay onsite at the luxury five-star bed & breakfast of Hever Castle. Based on availability, it is possible to extend stays for additional days (i.e. Thurs to Sun), however additional nights outside of Saturday are unfortunately not guaranteed. Please reach out to Christopher by Aug 9 if you are interested in securing a guaranteed room at Hever Castle.
Airbnb & Vrbo
There are lovely apartments and homes available in the countryside of Kent near Hever Castle. We strongly recommend accommodations near Hever Castle to enjoy the scenery and for convenience to the venues. Many offer a uniquely English experience - especially an "Oast House."
Hotels in London
Due to transportation to the venues, which are well outside the city in the countryside, it is not recommended to stay in London from Thursday to Saturday. It is doubtful you will be able to get back into London without a private car in the evenings and it is a long journey for daily trips. However, if you plan to extend your visit before or after the events, we highly recommend a stop in London.
