PLANNING THE DAY Having both been married before, both Lisa and Allan wanted a small wedding with their respective families and then a party for friends in the evening. “It was important to us that it was relaxed and informal, with a party/celebratory feel to the whole day,” shares Lisa. “Leatherhead Registry Office has lovely grounds for photos; I had been to a 40th birthday party at The Station pub in the past and had a brilliant time, so it seemed an obvious choice after talking to Jeanette the pub manager, who had some great ideas and suggestions.” The happy couple and 14 loved ones dined at the pub in a little side room, called The Waiting Room. “It turned out to be a beautiful September day so we had drinks on the outside terrace before eating,” recalls Lisa. “After the meal, the DJ arrived to set up in the main bar area and we had 60 guests turn up to dance and drink the night away with us. The Station served a delicious Asian-inspired menu, starting off with sharing platters of chicken wings, spring rolls, pork dumplings and barbecue ribs. We then had fish and chips or gourmet burgers, followed by chocolate brownies with ice cream or sticky toffee pudding! In the evening there was a selection of pizzas from their wood fired pizza oven for guests as well as slices of wedding cake.” THE FINDER DETAILS Lisa and Allan’s intimate wedding breakfast was hosted around a horseshoe-shaped table; the tables had old apple crates personalised with their names and the wedding date, they were filled with flowers to match the bouquets in a very relaxed, country-style arrangement of pink and cream roses with eucalyptus leaves. “Greensleeves Florist in Redhill, Surrey, provided bouquets for the bridesmaids and I, the groom and best man’s buttonholes, centrepiece flower arrangements and flowers for the cake,” shares Lisa. A home baker in Redhill, Hannah’s Cakes and Treats, provide the big-day cake. “I’d seen cakes she had made online, and she came highly recommended. I wanted a two-tier naked sponge cake with a strawberry and cream filling decorated with wedding flowers.” For their place name settings, guests found their seat with a card featuring a eucalyptus leaf design which Lisa, after practising some basic calligraphy, had written each guest’s name on, “There were a few dud attempts, but I was able to write my own place cards!” adds Lisa. “The venue has a lovely vintage shabby-chic look, we felt we didn’t need to add any additional décor. Our romantic flowers, cake and centrepieces were perfect for the type of low-key wedding we wanted to have.” When Allan came back from Dubai he also shipped back his large Jeep, that he used over the desert dunes, so the couple used this as their wedding car with some cream ribbons added. “My friend’s partner is a London Cab Driver, so a Black Cab with wedding ribbons was our other car. Vinnie our French Bulldog loved travelling in the cab with the grownup kids who were all involved in the wedding!” shares Lisa. BIG-DAY ATTIRE “I wanted a dress appropriate for a registry office wedding and being an older bride, but also something that was romantic and suited my personal style,” shares Lisa. “I tried loads on! But finally settled on a vintage-style lace design with a button-up back. I accessorised with high strappy heels and a headband of dried hydrangea petals.” Allan and the groomsmen wore dark navy suits with pale pink ties and buttonholes, while the bridesmaids, Lisa’s daughter Lulu, Allan’s daughter Lizzie and his granddaughter Kylah wore dresses of their own choosing in either navy, pale pink or sage. “As it turns out, they each chose one of the three colours I’d suggested,” adds Lisa. “Kylah, who’s not a fan of dresses, chose a jumpsuit. Their matching bouquets pulled everything together and I felt that informal look and feel complemented the overall theme and our approach to the whole day.” ON THE DAY DELIGHTS The day passed in a whirlwind for the happy pair, “All I can remember is my cheeks aching from smiling so much,” shares Lisa. “We were both on 45 REAL WEDDINGS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=