Rutland Water wedding venue Celestial View to open at Normanton Park Gardens
A mum and three daughters have given up their teaching careers to open a new wedding venue.
The Lee family are founders and former teachers of Wilds Lodge School near Empingham.
Mum Amanda opened the school with her husband David, known as Robin, in 2007 and taught there along with their six daughters.
The couple sold the school shortly before Robin died of cancer in 2021.
His family gave up teaching and Amanda bought a property on the shore of Rutland Water, intending to move away from the family home.
She later had a change of heart and with the help of daughters Sophie, Catherine and Eleanor, Amanda is now converting the property into a venue for wedding receptions, with the first event due to take place in a few weeks.
Sophie said: “Family was the heart and soul of Wilds Lodge and when Dad died, we felt very lost and definitely needed a new focus.
“Mum bought Normanton Gardens almost immediately after Dad died with the intention of living there. Initially, when she decided that she didn’t want to move anymore, we were worried that we had made a big mistake, but it has actually been a blessing in disguise.
“It has given us something to focus on and put our energy into. We've always worked together as a family so it's been lovely to continue that."
The venue, based at Normanton Park Gardens in Normanton, will be known as Celestial View and offer a range of wedding packages. Initially it will host a few events each year, as well as being available to rent for luxury holidays through Airbnb.
The site includes a five-bedroom house and three additional cottages.
Sophie added: "We looked at wedding venues when my sister got engaged but nothing seemed to have a personal touch.
“Normanton Gardens is a really special venue and we want the events that are held there to be truly magical.”
Catherine added: “We have had so much fun renovating the properties. Every room within the large house and the three cottages is different and every detail has been considered,
"It's a beautiful setting and we can't wait for people to see it."
The renovation work started 18 months ago and is nearing completion. Progress can be followed by finding Normanton Park Gardens on Facebook and Instagram.
Sophie added: “We feel really lucky to be able to work together. Dad’s favourite moments were the ones where he was surrounded by ‘his girls’ and we named our company Celestial View because he promised that he would be watching us from his celestial viewpoint.
“We just hope that we are making him proud.”