From a hilltop proposal to a country garden theme, Laura and Kieren’s wedding was truly the best of British!
How they met
Laura fell for Kieren at the age of 19, when they met on a night out. “He was talking to one of my friends, and I was attracted to him straight away and wanted to know who he was,” Laura explains. “We started talking online, and a few weeks later, had our first date in a local restaurant.”
The proposal
After being together for six years, Kieren chose a perfect moment on holiday in Wales to propose to Laura. “We were staying in a beautiful old cottage in a valley in the middle of nowhere, and on our first night, Kieren suggested that we walked to the top of the hill,” Laura remembers. “I took some convincing, but I’m so glad I agreed. The views from the top were spectacular, and then Kieren got down on one knee – so romantic! He had already asked my father for permission, which meant a lot to both my dad and me.”
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The bride’s outfit
Laura looked divine in her stunning Benjamin Roberts dress from Bellissima Weddings. It was a fitted lace style with narrow straps, a contrasting bow at the back, and a long train. “As soon as I put it on, I knew it was ‘the one’. I felt beautiful,” she smiles. Laura accompanied her gown with an elegant pearl beaded headband, also from Bellissima Weddings, and pretty shoes with a pearl butterfly trim from Next.
The groom’s outfit
Kieren cut a dash in a hired grey lounge suit, matching waistcoat and ivory tie from Anthony Formal hire. “I went to the first fitting, but he knew what he wanted and had his heart set on grey,” Laura says. “he chose well – he looked so handsome and grown up.”
The bridesmaids
Laura was attended by her three close friends – Emma, Laura and Jess. the maids wore dusky pink knee-length dresses from BHS, with pearl necklaces. “They looked so beautiful,” Laura smiles.
The ceremony
Blake hall, a lovingly restored 17th-century barn in Essex, was the location for Laura and Kieren’s civil ceremony. “I walked down the aisle to Songbird by Fleetwood Mac, and my friend Thea did a beautiful reading,” Laura says. “Then we signed the register to the music from Star Wars! It was so special to walk down the aisle and see Kieren looking back at me, surrounded by all our friends and family looking so happy.”
The flowers
With a country garden theme, flowers were an important part of Laura and Kieren’s day. The Flower Mill put together the pretty bouquets, featuring pale pink roses, delicate gypsophila and bright, fresh greenery.
The reception
Immediately after the ceremony, the guests whetted their appetites with canapés and Pimm’s, followed by a wedding breakfast of prawn and crayfish salad, chicken wrapped in ham with seasonal vegetables, and baked vanilla cheesecake. the afternoon was whiled away with games of croquet on the lawn, before the band Arizona took to the stage for the evening. “Our first dance was to Lovesong by The Cure – they’re one of our favourite bands, and we didn’t want a traditional slow song,” Laura explains
The details
Laura and Keiren’s pretty country garden wedding theme came to life with a selection of vintage-inspired details, including jugs, vases, milk bottles, picture frames and candles. “We hung white bunting indoors and floral bunting outside, and had a vintage wicker basket for our cards,” Laura says. The wedding transport fitted the theme perfectly – a white retro Beetle owned by the maid of honour’s partner.
The cake
Maid of honour Emma baked a lavish spread of six cakes, including lemon drizzle, coffee and walnut and chocolate. “She even had a surprise topper made of me, Kieren and our dog, Daisy!” smiles Laura
The honeymoon
Thailand was the destination for Laura and Kieren’s dream honeymoon, where they spent their time elephant trekking, canoeing and swimming in a blue lagoon. “The perfect ending to our dream wedding,” Laura smiles.
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