Our cake was made by our lovely caterer Andrea. She had catered at a friend’s wedding, and she had to put their wedding cake back together (not made by her) after it slid off the table and on to the floor in the heat ‒ I said to myself ‘whenever I get married, she is making my cake!’‒ she knew all about the foundations of building a sturdy wedding cake! Even though ours was very small and simple, it was utterly scrumptious – every piece was devoured. Tables were named after our favourite songs. We’ve had a cactus theme running throughout our lives, we won’t go into why as it’s rather personal, so we thought it rather apt to gift everyone a mini cactus as a favour. Initially I wanted simple florals for the centrepieces, but the courtyard is such a colourful place full mum’s favourite flowers, geraniums, it didn’t feel right. Dora, our gorgeous florist came up with the idea of a meadow theme; lots of different coloured flowers in different sized jars and vases running down the centres and it looked sensational. Megan and Sam met at a wedding; Sam’s brother Oli happened to be marrying Megan’s best friend Steph ‒ he was the best man she the bridesmaid – and the rest is history! “When Sam proposed, it was a complete surprise,” shares Megan. “Our relationship had progressed quickly, we took my family dog Henry on a walk to The Haycutter pub, in Broadham Green, Surrey. Walking across the field I was walking slightly ahead and turned round to find Sam down on one knee! Rachel Thornhill, who was to be our wedding photographer, was hiding in the bushes and captured the whole thing! “Needless to say, we never made it to the pub. Sam insisted we went back to the farm, as we call it, to tell my parents. Upon arrival all our best friends and family were there as a surprise to congratulate us – it was a good job I said yes!” Initially the couple had planned a huge marquee wedding with 200 people in the field right by where Sam had proposed – the farmer had given permission to use it – and the date was set for 29th May, 2021. As the pandemic continued, their plans for a big wedding got less likely, eventually they postponed to the following year. “Shortly after this we discovered that we were expecting a baby due to be born in December 2021,” shares Megan. “So our plans changed yet again. It was Sam’s idea to have the reception at the farm, my family home. My parents had recently had a beautiful courtyard renovated and it seemed a perfect setting for a small wedding of 30 people. I immediately had a vision of how the day would be, rustic, laid-back, intimate and most of all fun. The church is next door to the farm and my grandfather, Hugh, was the church warden when he was alive. It’s where my parents got married and where my grandparents are buried. Although we aren’t church-goers, it’s a place very close to the family and only a short walk!” The big date was set 13th August, 2021, with St Peter’s Church, Tandridge and Tandridge Court Farm setting the scene. Here, Megan tells us more about their day… 48
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=