Rebecca stumbled across Owen’s Instagram after seeing his work as a PT at a local gym before following him and meeting at a local pub in Winchester for their first date. She says, “We actually only lived down the road from each other and were surprised that we had never encountered one another. After chatting for several hours, we realised that we were both very family-orientated with the same values, something which we were both looking for in long-term partners.” Fast-forward time, Owen had booked a trip to Devon for Rebecca’s birthday just before Christmas. He had been out the night before with his football friends and was not feeling particularly fresh, which meant Rebecca had to drive. After a long journey, they finally arrived and took the dog on a walk straight away. On top of a hill overlooking the sea, Owen got down on one knee and asked Rebecca to marry him with the perfect ring. She comments, “I was shocked and soon found out that this had been planned for at least six months, and he had asked for my family’s blessing. The date on which he proposed was the birthday of his grampy, who had passed away when he was younger and with whom he was very close to. Every year, the proposal adds a little happiness to a sad day for his family.” SETTING THE SCENE The couple’s main goal was to create a wedding where guests felt relaxed and enjoyed the celebrations just as much as them! They kept this in mind the whole time when planning the big day; it was why they invited children, had loved ones grouped together for the wedding breakfast and prioritised what to spend the budget on. St Bartholomew’s Church in Winchester was the ideal location for the ceremony, followed by a reception at Clock Barn. They knew this venue was for them when they arrived at the rustic setting, as it ticked all their boxes. The bride says, “Upon arriving, you could see how well-kept the gardens and buildings were! The staff continued to go above and beyond for us throughout the process. The whole standard of the venue was exceptional and being a property that solely does weddings, we felt that they were a well-oiled machine in running a smooth operation on the day; this meant we had absolutely nothing to think or worry about apart from enjoying it with those we love!” As weddings are an excellent opportunity to catch up with those you haven’t seen in a while, the pair organised the table plan so that all family and friends sat with those they were close to. After looking at so much wedding inspiration on Instagram and TikTok, the pair decided to go with a ‘less is more’ option for the reception and decided that round tables would allow people to chat freely. They opted for flowers in water vases provided by a local florist that the photographer recommended. Rebecca says, “I love that the team grew the flowers at their farm and were local. The only briefs I gave them was our white and green colour scheme, and they absolutely delivered!” The most fantastic baker created the cake and completely exceeded all the couple’s expectations. The design fitted their theme perfectly, and the pair wouldn’t have changed a thing! The bride says, “The cake was breathtaking in person, and I didn’t realise a cake could be so beautiful in real life. Again, I didn’t 33 REAL WEDDINGS
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