Sophie and Alex first met at school and dated during their teens before going their separate ways. Alex went to study in Hong Kong after taking a year abroad towards his studying to become an engineer at the University of Bristol, and Sophie lived in Spain after studying history and politics at the University of Leicester. Throughout the years, they vaguely stayed in touch before moving back to Hitchin and bumping into each other while commuting to London one day. They reconnected as friends and decided to date again. Alex proposed in Scotland on a road trip through Skye. The pair were staying on a secluded beach in an eco-lodge and went for a walk at sunset when Alex popped the question. Sophie says, “It was a total surprise – so much so that I didn’t say anything for a few minutes while I took it all in. Alex had started acting slightly odd ten minutes before, which made me think something may be about to happen.” SETTING THE SCENE The couple set the date for October 10th 2022, and set out to use as many local suppliers as possible to support small businesses. Their number one goal was to avoid adding any extra pressure because as long as they were together with loved ones, that was all that mattered. When finding the backdrop to their day, the lovebirds wanted a property close to home where guests could feel comfortable and enjoy the day. After viewing several venues, they discovered Offley Place and fell in love. The bride says, “It was everything I wanted when I imagined myself getting married; it looked grand but still intimate. We knew the grounds would look spectacular in Autumn, especially the beautiful vines around the building, and there were plenty of rooms for our guests to stay over.” The groom made his grand entrance in a red Austin 7 vintage car, which made the perfect backdrop to photos during the day. The newlyweds went for a drive after the ceremony, which was the ideal opportunity to spend time together and reflect on their vows as they drove around the block. The couple had framed wedding photos from their loved ones’ weddings inside the property, a lovely personal touch that was a huge hit with guests. They also had a pick ‘n’ mix table, flip flops in a basket for guests, sparklers before the firework display and an LED sparkle dancefloor that came with ‘Mr & Mrs Coles’ light-up letters. The table plan was displayed on a giant map, usually found in the pair’s house, and pins indicated all the places they had travelled or lived. Table names were displayed in gold frames with an image of the couple at that location. Alex has a blog from his travels, and the pair used snippets on the back of the frames that people could read and a link for them to view the whole post. They also had QR codes on the tables, which linked to a shared Google image folder for loved ones to upload their snaps from the day – some of the photos are incredible! Alternating tower stands and short vases with flowers inside comprised the centrepieces, which matched the colour scheme perfectly. The bride wanted the tall golden stands to be full of flowers and absolutely loved the final result. The flowers were mainly white and light pink with eucalyptus greenery around the edges. The pair enlisted the help of a local florist, Ellice from Willow & Blossom Floral Design, who made their dream vision come true. Sophie says, “I cried when Ellice first dropped off the flowers as it was the first time I saw everything coming together – they were just so beautiful!” Guests were given ceramic pots for favours with tea lights inside, matching the day’s intimate and relaxed vibe. The pair now love visiting guests and seeing the pots on display. The confetti used on the day was homegrown by a family friend, who cut and dried litres of confetti. The personal touch meant a lot to the lovebirds; they still have some leftovers to keep forever. LOOKING THE PART The bride unintentionally fell in love with an off-the-rack dress after thinking she had already found the one. She says, “I was adamant I wasn’t wearing a sleeveless dress, and I knew I wanted something really classic that I would be comfortable in. I took my cousin, mum and aunt dressing shopping for a bit of fun and to try on some dresses in different styles. I picked a white Mikado gown because I just felt like me – plus I loved the pockets and huge train.” Sophie wore 34
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