Lydia and Mike met while at work, Mike was the general manager of a gastro pub and Lydia worked there while at Uni. “We got talking and he eventually asked me out on a date,” shares Lydia. Although, their first date was a disaster where they ended up driving round the M25 for a few hours! “We spent that time getting to know each other and realised we had a lot in common and a similar sense of humour,” adds Lydia. “I was attracted to his beautiful smile, humour and the ability to always put a smile on my face, no matter what! “We’ve now been together for 13 years and wouldn’t change it for the world, we are best friends and soul mates rolled into one.” Mike proposed on 7th April 2021, on the day the couple picked up their puppy, Norman. “We’d got home and I’d gone upstairs to work (I was working from home during lockdown). Twenty minutes later Mike was calling me to come downstairs and he’d filled the lounge with flowers, candles and my favourite champagne and was on one knee with Norman next to him, asking me to be his wife! We spent the day celebrating and drinking then our family joined us in the evening. I was shocked and didn’t expect him to propose when he did but it will forever be one of my favourite days.” The big day was set 2nd September 2022, with Bingham Riverhouse, Richmond setting the scene. Here, we find out more about their day… PLANNED TO PERFECTION When dating, Lydia and Mike would always go to Richmond for dinner and drinks and always said they would marry there. “It was actually the only area we considered when looking at venues, it has a very special place in our hearts,” shares Lydia. Wanting a black-tie wedding with champagne and cocktails, Bingham Riverhouse was everything the couple imagined it would be and knew from the moment they saw it, it was the one. “We wanted it to feel more like an event than a wedding,” shares Lydia. “The reception room and gardens are stunning, and the interior matched our vibe exactly. The inside of the venue is pale green with lots of gold accents and has an Art Deco feel to it. It has the most beautiful reception bar, decorated with extravagant floral arrangements, for guests to get a drink before the ceremony, and it boasted an extensive cocktail list!” The venue has stunning grounds offering al fresco nuptials, which the pair had set their hearts on, and luckily for them the weather was dry and they were able to host their ceremony outside. For the finer details of the day, the couple’s table plan was a black and white design fitting to the ‘modern and elegant’ design brief. The flowers even reflected the theme, a mix of roses and orchids in neutral tones in a black vase. “Our florist designed our table centrepieces and they were perfect. We wanted floral displays which would stand out, not take up too much space and have a contemporary, timeless aesthetic,” shares Lydia. “We deciding not to have a cake but opted for a champagne tower instead which felt more fitting to the theme and our personalities.” – Lydia LOOKING THE PART Knowing years before tying the knot that she wanted a crepe-style material, tight-fitting dress from Made with Love it was a simple dress shopping experience for Lydia. “I wore a dress called Rosey by Made with Love. I saw Made with Love on Instagram a few years back and knew it would be one of their dresses. I made an appointment with the London shop and it did not take me long to decide and I managed to buy the sample dress meaning I took it home the same day!” Day to day, Lydia loves wearing headbands so made sure she wore one on her wedding day. “I choose a pearl headband, from Six Stories, which I paired with a plain cathedral-length veil also from Made with Love,” shares Lydia. Wanting the dress to speak for itself, Lydia felt little jewellery was required and simply opted for her mum’s gold and pearl drop earrings and a couple of her sister’s bracelets. The groom wore a black custom tuxedo from Suit Supply which had satin REAL WEDDINGS 37
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