REAL WEDDINGS 31 Venue and catering, www.ashridgehouse.org.uk | Photographer, https://jessypapasavvaphotography.com | Bride’s dress, https://inna-voronova.co.uk | Bride’s accessories, www.thediamondstore.co.uk | Hair, www.bespokebridalhair.co.uk | Bridesmaids’ dresses, ASOS, New Look and Pretty Little Things | Groom’s suit, www.mrmackys.com | Flowers, www.appleblossomflowers.co.uk | Entertainment, www.elementdjs.co.uk | Light-up letters, www.savethedateuk.com ABIGAIL AND DAVID’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK and the girls pulled it off beautifully. They paired their dresses with gold shoes and carried stunning Calla lilies in classic white, while the bride wore blue shoes with a gold frame around the heel and her bouquet had a pop of blue. TIME TO CELEBRATE The string quartet was absolutely fantastic! They played from the moment guests arrived until the end of the canapés. They even performed as the bride walked down the aisle. Then Element DJs impressed the couple during the evening, and a surprise bongo player got everyone dancing! The dancefloor was always full, and Abigail hardly left it all night! The bride comments, “The guests loved the surprise of the bongos, and the string quartet brought the class of the day together. They were my husband David’s absolute must; he loves a string quartet, and I think them playing while I walked down the stairs was the thing that set him off!” MEMORABLE MOMENTS David and Abigail felt absolutely over the moon! The bride’s jaw hurt so much from smiling throughout the day, and the groom was on an absolute high. Abigail says, “I had to take some time out during the wedding breakfast, and we went to another room to lie down. A part of me had ignored that I suffered from anxiety and hoped that it had nothing to do with the day. But it hit me physically, and I only realised it was the cause of my discomfort after ruling out any other reasons for feeling unwell. All of my suppliers made me feel so much better by saying that it happens all the time, but I feel like it’s something not spoken about at all. I’m a very extroverted person, and I haven’t spoken about my mental health to a lot of people, so it was hard for me to know that people would have wondered why we had left the room for a while. But the wonderful food at Ashridge House was taking over more than I thought, and I had nothing to worry about. After my time out, I was straight back to get onto the dancefloor and finish the evening in style. A hiccup will always come; your guests want you to have the best time. I’d spent so long organising the guest experience that I was worried my taking time out was affecting that. “Walking down the stairs to the aisle is something I will never forget, and both my husband and I felt that it was the standout moment of the day. We wouldn’t have been able to have that experience at any other venue, and we can’t believe our luck in living close enough to get married there. Although, I would have travelled the country for this venue! My bridesmaids were thrilled that they didn’t stumble down the stairs. I decided to walk down on my own and took it slow to avoid mishaps in my high heels. “The speeches were a highlight, with David’s best man - who has known us since we were 10 sharing many funny and personal stories – it was touching. My sisters and Joe's auntie also gave speeches, which meant the world to us. “It was such a memorable experience dancing in the evening with friends who travelled from near and far, including one from Australia! The music played by our amazing DJ and all the songs I had requested were perfect!” HONEYMOON The couple spent their honeymoon in Japan for just under three weeks. It was a fantastic experience, planned mainly by Abigail, and they made sure to visit as many places as possible. The bride mentioned, “The best part was the people and the food. The locals were incredibly friendly, happy to have us there, and welcoming. Just walking down the street, we felt uplifted by how kind everyone was and how they respected their country and environment. I also felt safer in Japan than in any other country I’ve visited. We’ve always loved Asian food since we started cooking together as adults, and the food in Japan was outstanding. My favourite has to be the Pizza bun! It’s a soft, doughy bun filled with cheese and tomato sauce – the best snack ever!”
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