REAL WEDDINGS 27 Richard and Catherine met at university, where they were training to become actors. The pair reconnected a few years after graduation as they had lost contact, but this time saw each other in a new light. It took a while to build up the courage to admit their feelings as they didn’t want to lose their friendship if the feelings weren’t reciprocated. It was no surprise to their mutual friends when they finally took that next step; it was the start of something special. The couple had escaped to Cornwall for a week just before Christmas to attend a wedding, so love and marriage were indeed in their thoughts! They walked down to a secluded beach that Catherine had known since she was a little girl and admired the sea views when Richard got down on one knee. He says, “We both knew we wanted to get married at some stage, but it still came as a surprise for Catherine! The pebbles were slightly uncomfortable, but it was worth it!” SETTING THE SCENE As the lovebirds were coming out of a Covid-19 lockdown when they started wedding planning, they knew they wanted a big party with as many loved ones as possible. They exchanged vows in the beautiful Hertford Baptist Church before heading to their reception at Brook Farm Cuffley. The venue created the perfect backdrop to their reception, thanks to the beautiful lake and gorgeous surroundings. Richard comments, “We loved being outdoors and so close to nature, which inspired us when planning the big day. We loved the freedom of tailoring every decision to reflect who we are as a couple.” During the lockdown, the nearlyweds got into growing their own herbs, which became the inspiration for the wedding décor. They wanted the favours to be something people could use, so they gave out little pots of mixed herbs and strawberry jam. When planning the table plan, the pair found it easy to group guests on big round tables. To help everyone find their seats, they created a gardening scene for the table plan on a hessian board plonked onto a wheelbarrow and covered in flowers. Each table was named after a location special to the pair and had a corresponding piece to match. For example, the ‘Strawberry Field’ table featured a punnet of strawberries, while the Cornwall table included some clotted cream fudge – all these things made great talking points for the guests. The couple used mixed herb pots, which the bride’s mother helped arrange to carry on the herb theme. Some guests were lucky enough to take them home. The stunning flowers were sourced and arranged by the wonderful Alison McCollum, and the blooms were exactly how the couple imagined. The deep reds worked well against the sage green colours. The flowers for the ceremony were arranged by members of the church congregation, who also worked extremely hard to get everything right. After the wedding, the bride’s mum divided up the arrangements and gave a bunch of flowers to various members of the church community. The guests knew how much of a sweet tooth the couple had, so they were excited to see the cake. Catherine says, “I love icing, so there was no chance of a naked-style cake. We had a real showstopper with lemon, vanilla and orange flavours. The baker supplied us with a gluten-free chocolate cake for those with dietary requirements.” The couple displayed 300 pictures of loved ones around the marquee, which was a massive hit with guests. They included photos from their weddings, which was a great way to make them feel included. It can be hard to cater for different tastes when it comes to keeping guests from going hungry. The bride comments, “We tried to have a good mixture of options for the food without forcing ideas or beliefs onto anyone. Kingfisher Caterers were great with this; the food was plentiful and delicious.” She adds, “In the evening, we provided a
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