Cassie and Xander met in modern fashion on a dating app in 2021 and it was love at first sight! “We moved very quickly because when you know you know!” shares Cassie. “Our first date was at a chicken wing shop, outside in the freezing cold (we were just coming out of lockdown). It wasn’t the most romantic start but we chatted and laughed all evening; we have a love of musical theatre in common and just clicked right away!” After love blossomed, Xander surprised Cassie with an epic proposal flying her to St Kitts and Nevis as a surprise – a place that was very special to his family. “Despite the threat of a hurricane, he hired a yacht to take us on a sunset cruise, complete with cheeseboard, rum punches and our favourite champagne he had smuggled from home,” recalls Cassie. “He had made a custom playlist of our favourite songs, timed to finish as the sunset hit the horizon; he went down on one knee and proposed with a stunning trilogy diamond and rose gold ring – he had designed it himself from Queensmith London. The weather held out, giving us the perfect sunset and the most incredible and memorable experience.” The big date was set, 14th September 2024, with Farnham Castle providing the bigday backdrop. Here we find out more about their day… SETTING THE SCENE Farnham Castle was one of the first venues the couple looked at and instantly loved the glamour and history of getting married in a castle. “We were also impressed by how light and airy it felt, particularly the Lantern Hall where we held the ceremony,” remembers Cassie. “We knew we wanted an exclusive-use venue so our guests could stay.” The stunning views, the delish catering and gorgeous Honeymoon Suite also ticked every box! “The Great Hall was perfect for our wedding breakfast, we had the Great Lawn for our drinks reception and cocktail hour, and then back to the Great Hall for a huge party!” adds Cassie. From the outset, Cassie and Xander wanted their wedding to look elegant, romantic and timeless. “We went for a warm neutral colour scheme, with the bridal party in champagne and sage, with lots of ivory and blush florals, candles, fairylight curtains, and classic signage and stationery,” shares Cassie. “We also wanted to add in details throughout to make our wedding unique and reflect our personalities.” Xander’s brother, Oliver, sadly died the year before the wedding, so to honour him on the day Cassie and Xander’s favours were gold pins from mental health charity Mind, which were placed alongside the table settings. Cassie adds, “This personal touch meant a lot to us, as it meant we were able to donate in Oliver’s name, and seeing our guests wearing their pins all night felt like he was there in spirit.” The table plan comprised long, banqueting-style tables to allow people to chat freely and to give the room a more sociable feel. “We also chose to have a sweetheart table for the two of us to give focus for our speeches, but also to allow us to have a moment to ourselves as a couple whilst we ate dinner – in a very busy day, it felt good to have that quiet time to connect,” shares Cassie. Fine Flowers Company designed the tablescapes which featured lots of bud vases, with tall centrepieces in clear vases, placed strategically down the tables so as not to obstruct views and conversation. “When we walked in to see the final set up, I gasped, it was so beautiful!” recalls Cassie. “Our flowers were neutral colours with a hint of blush. As well as the table decorations, we had garlands down the Chapel Stairs, and a beautiful moongate which served as the backdrop for our ceremony, and later our photo booth background.” The cake was made by a local bakery, The Maplewood Bakery, which was a three-tier cake with layers of white chocolate and raspberry, chocolate and salted caramel, and lemon and elderflower. It was simply decorated with an ivory buttercream, adorned with fresh flowers from the Fine Flowers Co and a custom-made gold cake topper which said ‘The Robinsons’. There were also gluten-free and vegan cupcakes in double chocolate flavour for those with dietary requirements. Cassie adds, “Our guests all complemented the delicious cake, and we were even able to take some of the bottom tier home to enjoy the next day!” Other finer details were gold, wooden, carved place names which looked stunning but could also be taken home by guests; the table names reflected the couple’s shared love of musical theatre using titles of classic love songs from musicals (and a test for other theatre fans!). The table names were: A Heart Full Of Love, The Story Of Tonight, Come What May, As Long As You’re Mine, Show Me Love. Other venue décor included bathroom boxes of essentials and flipflops for guests, heart-shaped sunglasses for evening pictures and the dancefloor, and signage 39 REAL WEDDINGS
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