Robyn and Lauren met during their first year at secondary school. “We sat one seat apart in form, but didn’t like each other much!” remembers Lauren. “I always referred to Robyn and her friends as ‘the mean girls’, and Robyn thought I was a nerd! It wasn’t until Year 11, when we both started playing for the same local football team, that Robyn realised I was the only person that could get the ball off her. One training session, as her way of flirting, Robyn soaked me in Lucozade – and the rest is history. We’ve been together since we were 15!” Robyn proposed to Lauren on New Year’s Day, 2019. “It’s tradition that Robyn’s family gather at her Gran’s, but this year was particularly special, as Robyn had been in America for over a year on a football scholarship,” continues Lauren. “She was flying back again a few days after New Year, so her leaving was tough. Unaware of what was about to happen, we gathered in front of the TV, before Robyn streamed a video she’d made of photos of us together, over the soundtrack of Bruno Mars’ Marry You. When the video ended, she got down on one knee, before passing me a Christmas cracker that Robyn and her mam had hidden the engagement ring in. Obviously, it was a very easy, ‘Yes!’ from me!” The couple set the date for the 30th July, 2022, choosing Newcastle’s The Willows at the Woodmans for their big day. Here, Lauren tells us more about their amazing wedding… AGAINST ALL ODDS When searching for their venue Robyn and Lauren stumbled upon The Willows at the Woodmans by chance. “We were meant to get married in 2020, then Covid hit, and our first venue went into liquidation,” says Lauren. “Our second venue was gifted to us by a family friend, however, Covid meant we had to cancel again the following year. 2022 came, and we thought we were over the worst – until our venue was damaged by weather and our wedding was postponed once more. We then went on the hunt for our third venue, hoping it would most definitely be the case of fourth time lucky!” In fact it was Instagram that came to the rescue, with the couple’s friend, a wedding coordinator, posting a message on her story asking for help. “Ruth, the wedding planner at The Willows, replied, inviting us to go and see their venue,” continues Lauren. “We took both mams along – and every one of us cried. It was everything we’d ever wanted, a combination of vintage and rustic meets class. Ruth was so accommodating, and in that time of pure stress was the calming voice we needed. The views were amazing, the ceremony and wedding breakfast rooms needed no decoration, plus it embodied everything we could possibly wish for. When we walked in our favourite country song was on – it was as if they knew us from the second we arrived!” ROSES ARE… PINK When it came to wedding flowers the couple knew exactly what bloom should take centre stage. “We opted for the pink Mondial rose, choosing them because Robyn often surprises me with bouquets of roses when she’s coming home from work,” says Lauren. “We wanted a baby pink rose, as they look more timeless, plus pink is our favourite colour. I decided on a structured bouquet, asking for eucalyptus around the outside to match Robyn’s rustic bouquet and centrepieces. Structured is very much ‘me’, as everything has to have its place, whereas Robyn wanted something wilder to match her personality. For the bridesmaids, we chose bouquets of gypsophila, and I also incorporated them into my hair. All the men wore rose and eucalyptus buttonholes, while our mams were given corsages of the same blooms.” As The Willows at the Woodmans was already beautifully decorated, Robyn and Lauren didn’t feel the need to add much. “We kept the venue’s wooden chairs as they were to keep in with the rustic theme,” continues Lauren. “There are also huge chandeliers in all rooms, which again made everything classy and worked perfectly. We used eucalyptus rings for our centrepieces, which tied in with both of our bouquets, but without the expense of adding roses. A little gypsophila was added to break up the green, then in the centre we used vases filled with a mixture of pink pillar candles and floating candles. On our top table, we also had candles of different heights, with a mixture of white and pink pillar candles and floating tealights.” 35 REAL WEDDINGS
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