Zara’s Story

We were introduced my a mutual friend and bumped into each other some months down the line (in a really cheesy local nightclub which shall remain nameless!) and continued seeing each other from there on.

The Proposal

Adam proposed to me in Santa Monica, California and it was a total shock! While we were out for dinner he had arranged for our hotel room to be decorated with roses, champagne and strawberries. When we arrived back to the room Jack Johnson’s ‘Better together’ was playing in the background and Adam sat me down and produced a small scrapbook and handed it to me. The first page was all the words to the song playing at the time of the proposal and the second page was a collage of the date we met, where we met, where he took me on our first date and the song that was out at the time we met. The pages to follow were significant pictures of the 2 of us throughout our 4 year relationship each titled and a page on how he had felt when he first met me to the current day. Needless to say, I was in tears at this point and the final page was written in Roman numerals with the alphabet underneath for me to translate..…it said ’will you marry me’? I then untied the ribbons that held the rest of the pages of the book in place and there he had set the ring box into the book with my ring sitting inside it! He had the ring custom made and had based it on my grandmothers engagement ring, which he knew I dearly loved.

The Outfits

The Bride – My dress was made by Amanda Wyatt and was ivory silk taffeta. It was altered to have a slight sweetheart neck line and to be fitted close to the hips. It had pleating to the body and simple jewel detail on one side, the back pleats gathered at the base of my spine and had clear glass effect buttons running down the back of the dress. Finally the back of the dress had a large train that created a fish tail effect from the front as I walked and for later on in the evening was hooked up to create a bustle.

The Bridesmaids – Bon bon dress from Coast in colour Pebble with pale pink sash. Shoes were pale pink round toe stiletto’s from New Look.

The Groom and Groomsmen – Black suits with Ivory waistcoats, Ivory wing collared shirts and ivory cravat’s.

The Wedding and Reception Venue

We signed up to Country House Wedding Venues online and received details of venues around the Kent, Sussex and Essex areas. Gaynes Park stood out and after a visit I knew it was where I wanted to get married, we booked it 5 minutes after leaving there!

Gaynes Park offers the facility for both the ceremony and the reception, which was perfect for us. It’s a beautiful idyllic country setting and feels very personal and intimate. The work that has been done to the barn and the surrounding buildings is of a very high standard and the fact that it has been in the owners family for the last 200 odd years came across, as you can see the owners pride as he takes you round the venue.

The Decorative Touches

Room decorations – We kept the room as it was with no decorations other than the tables. We did however wrap large ivory silk ribbon around the Bay trees outside the Orangery and barn.

Table centrepieces – The guest tables were decorated with large fish bowls set on mirrored mats. They were filled a quarter with vanilla scented water and had pale pink Anthurium lilies and steel grass twisted around the bowl. The lilies stems were wrapped in wire and decorated on the end with a clear crystal to create a dripping water effect. Finally there were scattered pale pink and ivory rose petals around the table. The top table was a contemporary glass tank design, 6ft in length, with a full compliment of the wedding flowers; bouquet and guest tables, adding in pale pink Anthurium lilies and Heaven pink Vivaldi blown roses and orchids.

The Cake

It was a 3 tier white icing round cake with a chocolate sponge centre. We bought our cake for around £100 from Marks and Spencer then had our florist decorate it, it was delicious!

The Transport

I got ready in “The Apple Loft” at Gaynes Park, so did not need any transport.

Advice to other couples

Don’t leave anything to the last minute, plan out everything you need and try to budget accordingly. Keep a list or spreadsheet of all your outgoings as things add up quickly. Try and make the simple things that would ‘off the shelf’ cost you more such as confetti cones, table names and name cards etc. Finally have spare name cards and a clear table plan with you on the day so you are prepared for any last minute changes on the day.

The Suppliers

Wedding Reception Venue – Gaynes Park Barns

Venue found through Country House Wedding Venues

Bride’s dress – All that Glitters Bridal Wear, Croydon, Surrey

Bride’s accessories (veil, tiara, shoes) – All that Glitters Bridal Wear, Croydon, Surrey

Groom’s suit – Marc Wallace, New Kings Road, Fulham

Bridesmaid’s dresses – Coast

Wedding rings – A friend made them for us

Wedding cake – Marks and Spencer

Flowers – TJ Designer Studio

Invitations – Confetti

Wedding list – Thomas Cook Travel vouchers, which went towards our honeymoon.

Disco/DJ – Euan Anthony Ltd – Chris Ansell

String Quartet – Status Cymbal

Photographer – Richard Corbett

Videographer – Shaun Foulds

Magician – Paul Martin of Jumping Frogs