‘The best day ever’: bridal party arrives in horsebox for the perfect Brightling wedding
What do you do when you’ve got a bride and six bridesmaids to get to the wedding venue together? You use the horsebox, of course!
Four-star event rider Alycia Port came up with the idea, for her wedding to Hugh Brown at former international venue Brightling Park on 24 May.
“I just thought it was a good idea as it was really hard to get everyone there,” Alycia told H&H. “We had sofas and everything in there too, and the photographer came with us. And luckily one of my bridesmaids’ partners has a valeting business so it went there first. It was a bit of a shame to put a horse back in it afterward as it was so beautifully clean!”
Alycia said Hugo is completely non-horsey but easily persuaded to marry at the stunning East Sussex venue, the scene of Alycia’s best international result, fourth with Klotilde in the three-star just before Covid.
And although the weather was blustery, the rain held off all day, for the happy couple and guests including a host of other event riders – and Heidi the Browns’ dachshund.
“She came down the aisle with a bridesmaid, and sat on a throne behind us while we ate lunch, Alycia said. “And she definitely got a few mentions in the speeches! It was perfect. The best day ever.”
The Browns enjoyed a three-night honeymoon in the Cotswolds, after which Alycia got back in time to to compete at Little Downham on 31 May, where she and Eaudevi finished on their dressage score.
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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.