These lovebirds first met at school and have been together ever since. Tom proposed to Katherine during the Jubilee weekend on a trip to Evershot. She says, “We went for a walk in deer park when he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!” Here the bride shares details about their special day… SETTING THE SCENE When planning their special day, the couple wanted a timeless and elegant wedding to remember for years to come – they achieved just that. Built-in the 1830s, Highcliffe Castle is a stunning property known for its stunning architecture, cliff-top location and peaceful atmosphere. So, it was no surprise that the pair fell in love with the setting when they drove down the winding driveway and saw the big stained glass windows. The bride used to work for Merlins Catering, so she had waitressed at a wedding there before and knew the castle was stunning. It’s right on the coast and the perfect spot for some beach shots. After getting ready, the bride was driven to Highcliffe Castle with her dad in a classic Jaguar Mark V, while the bridal party was taken by a friend in his VW Campervan. The ceremony was beautiful, with guests eagerly waiting for the bride to walk down the aisle. As Katherine took her first step, she walked towards their next chapter with Tom proudly and lovingly waiting for his bride. Katherine’s childhood piano teacher played during the ceremony and wedding breakfast, which added so much to the atmosphere and made the day even more memorable. A mirror decorated with greenery and white roses made up the table plan, with each table name held in place with personalised wax stamps. Natural dried flowers attached to little brown tags were used for the place names, while guests received wildflower seeds for favours. The centrepieces were large candelabras with greenery and white flowers. The added height elevated the room and drew attention to the lovely grand space with a stained glassed window. All along the middle were floating candles, and at the end of the rows were lanterns with large candles inside. Fairylights hanging from the ceiling with a disco ball and spotlights added a magical atmosphere to the day. A pizza van kept the guests happy, serving numerous flavours to ensure no one went hungry. Guests also enjoyed the twotiered cake with a vanilla and salted caramel tier, while the other was white chocolate and raspberry. There were also cupcakes in different shades of green to tie into the colour scheme. LOOKING THE PART The stunning bride wore a Sophia Tolli gown called Emma, a bardot classic fit-and-flare dress. She accessorised this with a cathedral-length veil and her nan’s necklace for something borrowed. She says, “It was exciting to get into my dress, having had my hair and make-up done. My mum did up the buttons on my gown and I felt emotional at this point that after 12 years together, we were finally getting married today.” The bride had a classic and timeless bouquet of cream roses with greenery and gypsophila. She’s also planning to have the blooms preserved in resin and is excited to see the results. Tom wore a herringbone tweed three-piece suit in navy. His groomsman wore the same, but Tom wore a beige waistcoat with a navy tie to stand out. The bridesmaids were in elegant sage green and dusty blue dresses in chiffon. 35 REAL WEDDINGS
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