Demelza and Iain met at university in 2005 where they were both in the same class for English Literature together. “In the final six months of the course, we were introduced by a mutual friend, Debbie,” Demelza tells us. “We spent a few months as friends first, working on finishing our dissertations and studying a module on American Literature. After impressing me with Keats poetry and cartwheels on the lawn, Iain asked me out after the ball to celebrate coming to the end of our time at university. Our unofficial first date was a hot chocolate at Macdonald’s! This was quickly followed by a proper first date at Mount Edgecombe Country Park where Iain had prepared an amazing picnic for us. I was too nervous to eat very much, although he stole my heart by packing real glasses for the picnic!” The couple became engaged during a surprise Christmas proposal. “Iain surprised me on Christmas Day in 2007,” Demelza tells us. “After I kept unknowingly putting off exchanging presents until the end of Christmas Day, he was patiently waiting (along with both sets of parents who knew about the proposal) to be able to give me a DVD. He had worked hard to create a documentary-style film where he was the presenter. He had visited various places around Plymouth, creating a historical timeline of our relationship and showing all of our favourite spots. The video ended with him asking what was next for Demelza and Iain and to look inside the book on the table where he had carved out a gap in a copy of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and inside was an engagement ring. Of course, I said “yes” but it was a long engagement and we didn’t start planning the wedding until after the pandemic.” SETTING THE SCENE The couple looked at various wedding venues online and wanted to marry local to Plymouth, where they are both from. “We also wanted a venue where everything could take place at one location,” Demelza explains. “We viewed St Elizabeth’s House and both fell in love with it right away. It’s such a beautiful venue and it’s hard to believe that you’re in the centre of Plympton because it’s so quiet! When we went for the tour at the venue, we thought the gardens were outstanding and Iain loved the outdoor area to get married. Inside the venue, the Darcy room was meant to be for us with the purple sofas matching our colour theme and the Pride and Prejudice link to the proposal. We viewed some of the bedrooms too, and they looked amazing boasting a jacuzzi “Our wedding was the best day for both of us and we wouldn’t have changed a thing. I was determined not to be a bridezilla and it was the best attitude to enjoy the day - I didn’t feel nervous at all. It was a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by family and friends who we love and share our special day with them.There were so many highlights – the weather was perfect and meant we could have our ceremony outside which Iain had hoped for, the venue looked pictureperfect and our guests were able to move around, enjoying the games we had hired.” - Demelza 37 REAL WEDDINGS
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