Melissa and Brandon met when her college began working with Brandon’s work to learn about business studies. “I came across his profile six months later and we matched on Tinder,” says Melissa. “We went on our first date and we have been inseparable ever since. It just felt really natural to be in one another’s company.” The couple had been together for just over seven years when Brandon proposed. “I chose my engagement ring and Brandon organised everything else,” shares the bride. “I knew he was going to propose while we were in Rhodes, Greece, but I didn’t know when exactly.” SETTING THE SCENE “When it came to our venue, I wanted something cosy and welcoming with attention to detail,” explains Melissa. “We had visited a few local venues, but they just didn’t feel quite right. When we visited The Glass House, we both agreed straight away that it was ideal in terms of atmosphere and as it was close to home, it was the perfect fit. The pricing was clear and the whole day was so easy to plan. The wedding coordinators were fantastic to liaise with in finalising all of the details. We met a lot of our suppliers at the venue’s showcase, so it was nice to chat with them and get a good feel for what the day would be like.” Melissa created all of the stationery and table plans. “I work as a graphic designer, so from a design perspective, everything was tied into the same black, white and gold theme, from the invites to the seating plans and newspapers,” recalls Melissa. “We had our own Mr & Mrs Howard signature and emblem on everything, so it was branded specifically for us, which was a lovely touch. I used gold foiling on a lot of the stationery, seating plan and welcome sign and we also had a ‘wedding memories’ frame filled with close family’s wedding photos, which was a nice way to include everyone from both sides of the family.” The centrepieces were sourced by Melissa. “I changed from my original choice of faux green and white floral centrepieces a few months before the wedding to keep the vibe the same as the stationery,” reveals the bride. “I opted for gold candelabras and the room dresser put candles and white roses around them to tie everything together. I wanted to be able to keep my flowers, so I ordered them online from Hidden Botanics. They were a mixture of dried and faux flowers. “Our cake was a retro heart-style design,” adds Melissa. “Everyone loved it and it was very us; we cut the cake with a champagne glass each. We then ate it out of the glass for a great photo opportunity. We loved it. I think cake cuttings are a bit awkward sometimes, so this was perfect for us.” To tie the theme together, the couple incorporated wisteria on the venue’s beams. “I went to one last showcase at The Glass House just before the wedding and it was a must-have,” explains Melissa. “I’m so glad I did it; it looked beautiful and tied everything together. “We wanted our guests to chat with one another and we also had a few fussy eaters, so we went for a feasting-style roast dinner,” continues the bride. “Rather than being served each course, our guests shared large plates and boards of meat, vegetables and potatoes, which got everyone to chat and share our love for good food.” 37 REAL WEDDINGS
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