How they met
“I remember feeling really happy and safe,” says Cassi. “We were put in the same student house at Bournemouth University, along with five others, and Paul made me feel very safe living away from home for the first time.”
The proposal
Cassi’s work trip turned into something a lot more exciting, when Paul arrived to meet her. “We were in Santa Barbara, California. I had been on a business trip in Anaheim and Paul flew out to meet me, because we had planned a road trip up the Pacific Coast Highway for a week. Santa Barbara was our first stop and Paul wrote ‘will you marry me?’ in the sand. I had just finished faffing around with my cardigan and when I walked over to him, he was just finishing off the question mark. He then got down on one knee, and asked if I’d do him the honour of marrying him. I was a blubbering mess at this point and said ‘yes’… quite a few times!” smiles Cassi
The bride’s outfit
Cassi looks every inch like a blushing bride in her picture-perfect Maggie Sottero gown.
Her wonderful Mum lent her a selection of pearl bracelets, and gave her a beautiful garter with ‘Cassi’ and ‘Paul’ stitched in blue cotton on the ribbon. “I felt like a real bride, with a little bit of princess thrown in!” smiles Cassi. Her elegant bridal style was completed with Faith shoes and underwear from Debenhams
The groom’s outfit
“Because our ushers are spread far and wide across the country (and Switzerland!), we chose Moss Bros for their suits, because it has a national presence, allowing them to go in individually and get fitted closer to home,” explains Cassi
The bridesmaids
Cassi kitted out her three stunning girls in full-length, pale pink dresses from The Bridal Centre in Farnham
The ceremony
Was a religious service, that included readings from 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13, Love read by Catherine, Paul’s sister and Anonymous, read by Claire Runham and Kay Cross – Cassi’s two closest friends. “One of my favourite memories from the day was walking down the aisle with my dad who was looking so proud. It was so lovely to share that special moment with him,” beams Cassi
The flowers
Flowers were bought at Long Acres Garden centre, and the bouquets and buttonholes were put together by Cassi’s friend Claire Trevethan of The Little Flower Meadow
The reception
Took place in a grand marquee, standing proudly in the grounds of Chawton House Library
The food
“For the main course of our wedding breakfast, Paul and I went around and handed out a paper bag to a selected guest on each table. Inside the bag was a bright pink apron and a piece of paper explaining that they were the ‘chef’ of the table. Our caterers then gave them a joint of beef on a carving block, and they had to cut the meat for everyone on the table! It was a great talking point,” recalls Cassi
The decorations
Cassi and Paul chose beautiful blooms to form the main aspect of their wedding decor. “Friends and family made us a floral arch to line the entrance of our marquee, and it was stood next to two white rose trees, which we gave away as gifts to our mums at the end of the day,” remembers Cassi. Our favourite idea, however, has to be how Cassi used her Mum’s pink and white china tea set as centrepieces, which her Grandma filled with her own flower arrangements. Such a lovely and unique way to add a personal touch, and include special family heirlooms
The favours
Alongside the slate heart place cards that guests could take home, everyone could also sample the delights of Cassi and Paul’s homemade cake table. “We asked certain friends and family to make cakes and treats for our English cake table, it looked (and tasted!) amazing,” remembers Cassi
The honeymoon
The couple spent their first night in a cottage about 15 minutes away from the reception. “It had a four-poster bed, open fires and candles – very romantic,” smiles Cassi. “Then we went to my parents’ house before flying on to Bali the next evening.”
Cassi and Paul’s real wedding gallery
