REAL WEDDINGS 27 These lovebirds first crossed paths at school when they were 12 years old, playing on the playground. David’s mother decided to enrol him in a different school than his two older brothers. The moment David spoke to Abigail, he playfully made a flirty comment and flashed a charming smile that she couldn’t shake from her mind since that very day. They were just school friends for two years, while Abigail's friends had to endure her constant chatter about how much she fancied David. Back in May 2011, when they were both 14 years old, David asked Abigail to be his girlfriend under the trees outside of school. He then had to dash in front of everyone to catch the bus because she made him late! After school, they flirted over MSN and chatted for hours on the phone about random things, their future travels and building a life together. Two years later, when they were 16, David was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. This led to seven years of pain, numerous surgeries and countless hospital visits. They became accustomed to the 3 am A&E ambulance rides, sneaking in cuddles on the small hospital beds and finding humour in every situation they faced. Abigail comments, “Thirteen years on, our outlook remains unchanged. We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have what we do and experienced it since we first fell in love. Our hearts have never been broken, and we’ve never had to live apart. I can’t imagine what more we could ask for.” David popped the question after seven years together, catching Abigail by surprise! The date wasn’t planned; it was simply the earliest opportunity he had after getting the ring. The stress of hiding it in the house was getting too much. After five months of collaborating with a jeweller, he crafted a one-of-a-kind ring that was truly special. The proposal took place in the stunning gardens by a waterfall at Hever Castle, the birthplace of Anne Boleyn, knowing Abigail's passion for Tudor history. SETTING THE SCENE Abigail has envisioned her wedding since she was eight years old. She diligently saved her birthday and Christmas money to make her dream a reality. She comments, “My main objective was to utilise my crafting abilities to the fullest extent possible and achieve high-quality outcomes while getting the best value for my money. I left no stone unturned in my research efforts, such as thoroughly researching every photographer in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and London as well as visiting 14 boutiques to ensure I made the best decisions possible!” The pair had their eye on Ashridge House for a couple of years. They were determined to find a venue with a special touch and when they laid eyes on the staircase for the ceremony, they couldn’t stop thinking about the property. Nothing else seemed as stunning and memorable as exchanging vows on that gorgeous staircase. The couple was determined to ensure every aspect of the wedding reflected their personalities, so they personalised the day as much as possible. They set up a TV playing a rotating black and white video montage of all the footage they had taken together over the 13 years together, which ended up being 40 minutes long! The pair decided to go for a classy look with the table plan, featuring names on a beautiful antique mirror. There was a small tribute to David’s love for Liverpool with the phrase ‘You’ll never walk alone’, and titled the table plan ‘At every table, I’ll save you a seat’ as a nod to Abigail's love for Taylor Swift. They decided to name the tables ‘1 year together’, ‘2 years together’ and so on, each with a picture from that specific year. This way, each table showcased a different stage of their relationship, creating a personalised journey for guests to enjoy. The centrepieces were designed to match the classic white theme with delicate blue accents, giving a nod to the Cinderella style.
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