30 solution as they could put the kids to bed to continue the party. Around the home, fairylights, baby’s breath flowers, chiffon, and candles decorated the space. For an evening treat, the pair had a simple circular iced Victoria sponge cake from Hertford Cake Co with Mr & Mrs Farrugia written on top. The father-of-the-bride drove Ellie to the venue in his white Jaguar with attached ribbons, while a K7 Minibus transported guests from the restaurant to their parent’s house for anyone who wasn’t driving. LOOKING THE PART Ellie wore an ASOS Edition Lucinda satin maxi dress with blouson sleeves. She comments, “Since we planned the wedding in five weeks, I knew I wouldn’t have time to get a dress from a bridal shop, so ASOS was a convenient and speedy option. I wasn’t sure what style I would go with initially but after trying on a few different options, the one I chose felt the most like 'me' and fitted the type of wedding I envisioned – it felt elegant and timeless! The style was simple but still had a bit of character with the sleeves and open back. I accessorised with an antique necklace from Cromwell Antiques in Sawbridgeworth that Steve bought for me and some earrings from Opal & Iris in Ware. I added a bow to my hair, which really topped off the whole look.” “I didn’t get a chance to take in how I looked once I was dressed as I was in such a rush. I was using my daughter’s baby monitor as a clock and hadn’t realised it was an hour behind, so I had to rush to get dressed and leave. It was only really when I saw the photos back that I had the chance to appreciate how well everything came together.” Ellie had a beautiful bouquet from The Sage Garden in Ware with pink and purple hues throughout, which perfectly matched her necklace and earrings, as well as the buttonholes. The groom bought his suit from M&S the year before, when he was a groomsman for his friend’s wedding. Since it was a classic navy suit, the pair thought it seemed silly to get a new one. Steve and his dad accessorised with the same paisley print navy tie from John Lewis and a white pocket square. The bride comments, “I immediately burst into tears when I reached the top of the aisle. I had been waiting for this day for eight years, and it felt so surreal. Steve looked handsome in his suit, and I just couldn’t wait to marry him!” The couple had their daughter and niece as the flowergirls. They wore white tulle dresses with pastel flower embroidery, and both wore baby’s breath flower crowns. Their nephews were page boys; however, they didn’t have specific outfits to wear. TIME TO CELEBRATE As it was a small party, the couple played a fun playlist and poured plenty of bubbles! Everyone had a great time and commented on how special and intimate the gathering was. The bride felt calm for the most part. She comments, “I’m so glad we ended up having only our closest family members there! If we had the number of people we had originally planned, I would have been extremely nervous to walk down the aisle. The wedding seemed to go by quickly, but it was such a lovely day.” Steve had a lovely leisurely morning. Two hours before arriving at the venue, he had a photo of himself walking back from town in the rain in muddy boots and shorts, where he’d treated himself to a full English breakfast. He felt calm, excited and nervous all at the same time. It was all a bit surreal for him because it came about so quickly. There were many memorable moments throughout the day! The bride says, “Our daughter wanted to be held midway through the ceremony, which meant she joined us in exchanging the rings and our first kiss. Walking through town together after taking our couple photos and having people congratulate us was so special, as was having our closest family together for the first time. My dad gave a lovely speech in the evening. A funny moment was when Steve messed up his name while saying the vows. It made us all laugh and cracked through all the seriousness of the day. “Everyone who was there made our day feel so special. Sophie, our
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