Natarsha had just moved to London on a two-year working holiday visa from Australia and got a job working at the pub down the road from where she had started housesharing with friends. Marcus was already working there as a bartender, and the pair became friends first before slowly falling in love. She says, “I was new to the City, trying to find my feet, and Marcus worked up the courage to ask me on a date after a few months. I was surprised as I had been so overwhelmed with the move with finding somewhere more permanent to live, finding freelance work, trying to wrap my head around the fact that I was living on the other side of the world, getting used to the everyday small things that make up life in London such as Oyster cards and what a Tesco was that I wasn’t even thinking about dating. Marcus had been thinking about it since the moment we met and was waiting for the right time to ask. I had always found him funny, playful, always ready to laugh and cheeky. More importantly, I he was kind to his colleagues, friends, customers and people in the street.” Marcus says, “I was attracted to her smile that always seemed full of life. Natarsha always seemed on the precipice of her next adventure; she was brave to move somewhere completely new with no security blanket just because she wanted a new experience to challenge herself. Life is always a little unexpected around her, which I love.” The lovebirds had booked a weekend away to the countryside, staying in a charming Airbnb when Marcus proposed. He had cooked dinner and popped the question while chatting over a glass of wine. Natarsha says, “We were talking about ordinary things, everyday kind of stuff. I broached the subject of the fact that one of us will always have to sacrifice for us to be together, coming from opposite sides of the world. I was saying that it will never be easy and that one of us will always have to give something up. He pulled out a ring and laughed, saying, ‘I wasn’t going to do this now, but does this answer your question?’ I was shocked and couldn’t stop laughing! It felt surreal, and I couldn’t stop focusing on the fact that Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver was playing. SETTING THE SCENE The couple didn’t want anything too formal; they wanted to create a day that flowed and felt natural. So, they opted for a ceremony at Islington Town Hall and a reception in the beer garden at The Albion Islington that was simply magical, thanks to the gorgeous fairylights. The newlyweds ate great food, drank and laughed under the London sunset. The bride comments, “We knew that our wedding would likely be the only time in our lives where we would have so many friends and family from opposite sides of the world in one room. So, we wanted it to feel intimate and in the moment while not taking anything for granted. We didn’t want to feel like a prop; we wanted to be immersed in the day while making memories. We aimed for the day to feel like a celebration with the people we love the most existing in each other’s worlds for this special day – that’s exactly how it was!” The pair had two long rustic tables pushed together that could’ve easily felt too simple, but it turned out to be charming. The beautiful table plan was displayed to help guests find their seats. The bouquets and centrepieces were all done by Gail Smith Flowers. The results were gorgeous and understated, which suited the venue and the casual feel the pair wanted. The natural table runners were paired with napkins in a light orange to give the space a pop of colour, while the vases were gorgeous almond colours to tie in with the bridesmaids’ dresses. The lovebirds ordered a wishing well to rent and candles in holders from The Luxe Collection. They also had extra flowers at the venue entrance and decorated the bar area to create picture-perfect backdrops. The bride’s mother-in-law made the big-day bake, a traditional Norwegian cake called Kvæfjordkake that was a big hit with guests. LOOKING THE PART The bride opted for a stunning Pronovias gown that matched the wedding theme perfectly. She says, “I always pictured myself in something more classic, but the dress featured long sleeves and elegant buttons that felt a bit more modern, which suited the London vibe we were going for.” Natarsha also never pictured herself in a veil, so she wore her hair in a ponytail with a loosely tied ribbon. She accessorised her look with shoes by an Australian designer, Harloand, and her mother’s pearl earrings. “I wanted everything to be simple, hoping that the simplicity would help each item stand out. I was so caught up in the excitement of getting ready, having a glass of Champagne, practising the vows and ensuring I hadn’t forgotten anything that I didn’t think there was this one ‘wow’ moment. I was too busy laughing, stressing, talking and being supported by my wedding party and my immediate family, including my brothers and niece. But whenever I looked in the mirror that 46
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