These lovebirds met on the dancefloor at Fabric nightclub in the summer of 2018. Claire was with some girlfriends who weren’t enjoying the music, unlike her, which is when Dave caught her eye. She comments, “He smiled at me, and we got chatting. We’re both ravers, and we’ve been to many of the same events without meeting before. It was one of those serendipitous moments you never thought would happen to you. Dave gave me some of his best chats: as a teenager, he was a Team GB gymnast, and his bathroom had underfloor heating! He asked me to go for a drink with him later that week. I said ‘yes’ and we’ve been inseparable ever since. “Dave proposed on my birthday weekend at The Tawny, a stunning dog-friendly hotel in Staffordshire. In recent years, Dave’s taken me away for my birthday weekend to somewhere as a surprise, usually to a B&B. When we arrived and I saw the hotel, I thought it was a bit much for a 31st birthday. It turns out, he had a surprise up his sleeve and proposed in our lovely, secluded shepherd’s hut when we got back from dinner.” SETTING THE SCENE When it came to wedding planning, the couple’s goal was to have a Londonbased wedding, as that’s where they’ve spent their entire relationship together and the city means the most to them. Most importantly, they wanted to have a big party for all their loved ones to enjoy. When looking for the perfect setting. the couple only went to see one wedding venue − Clapton Country Club. Thanks to the unique style, they decided then and there that it was the perfect location for their big day. Formerly a Victorian tram depot, which didn’t require much styling, the pair loved the exposed brick walls and the giant disco ball in the reception hall, which was a perfect touch considering they met on the dancefloor. What better way to arrive at a city wedding than a black London cab? Rightly so, and one took the bride and her best girls to the venue! When it came to the florals, the couple was guided by Hackney-based florist Charlotte at My Posy Neighbour. The supplier chose some beautiful British seasonal flowers with lots of autumnal colours. Charlotte created a gorgeous flower arrangement for the ceiling orb in the reception room that looked beautiful. The lovebirds have a local spot for cakes, Mama Mae’s on Roman Road, where Dave got Claire’s 30th birthday cake; everyone had commented that it was terrific so, it was only fitting they stuck to what they knew best! They opted for a three-tier semi-naked cake decorated with eucalyptus, foliage and fresh berries. LOOKING THE PART Claire went to three different bridal stores but fell in love with Australian designer Prea James’ beautiful silk satin gowns at Fall Bride in Dalston. She chose a top and skirt style called Tyler, which she accessorised with a cathedral-length two-tier tulle veil by another Australian designer, Harriette Gordon. The bride says, “The veil was quite extravagant, but my dress design was pretty simple, so I felt they worked well together. Also, when else will you get to wear a cathedral-length veil again? I wore a necklace my aunt bought me for a birthday, which I only wear on special occasions. In the black cab on the way over, my mum asked me if I had something blue or borrowed, which I didn’t. So, she lent me my late grandmother’s blue sapphire engagement ring for the day. It was so lovely to have a part of my nana there with me. “One of the main concerns I had when trying on dresses was whether I’d be comfortable, and I was apprehensive about wearing heels all day. I rarely wear heels since I fell down the steps in Liquid Colchester, in stilettos, back when I was about 18 and couldn’t walk properly for a week! I researched heeled trainers, but none were as high as the heels I’d bought for the big day. I didn’t want to be tripping over my gown on the dancefloor in trainers, but I also knew if I wore my heels all day, it would limit how long I was on the dancefloor. While scrolling through the designer’s Instagram, I came across photographs of a bride who had also chosen the same gown as me but had a shortened version of it for the evening. I messaged her, and it turned out she’d bought a skirt from a high street store in Australia that, to the naked eye, looked like the same material as the designer’s and had it altered. So, I did the same and changed into a skirt paired with some chunky but comfortable trainers for the evening. The plan worked, and I 27 REAL WEDDINGS
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