Robyn and Kieran met in the very modern world of online dating, after liking each other’s images on Tinder! “Despite living within a very close radius, our paths didn’t cross until that all-important ‘swipe-right’!” laughs Robyn. “We hit it off instantly and enjoyed our first date three weeks later at a local Turkish restaurant. The rest as they say is history, as we became inseparable from then on in.” Five years later, the couple were enjoying what Robyn thought was a holiday at her second home in Crete. “I’m half-Greek and my dad lives there, so I didn’t have any inkling anything was up when we flew out in August 2020,” she continues. “Little did I know that Kieran had already asked for my dad’s permission to marry me, via a UK/Greek translated Facebook message and video call! On the night he proposed Kieran took me to my favourite restaurant, set inside an old mill, where a private table had been set up with floral displays and rose petals. After dinner we made our way to a bridge over the watermill to have our picture taken – and when I turned around Kieran was down on one knee. I will remember it forever as one of the best days of my life.” The couple set the date of Friday 1st October, 2021, saying ‘I do’ at The Holy Family & All Saints Catholic Church in Witham, before enjoying their reception at Chelmsford’s Hatfield Place. Here, Robyn tells us more about their amazing day… TO THE MANOR BORN The couple had always dreamed of a manor-house style wedding, but were put off by the interior of other stately homes. “Hatfield Place, however, took our breath away – stunningly simplistic but equally imposing from the outside, it was the inside that really won us over,” says Robyn. “It felt like we were walking onto a Bridgerton or Downton Abbey set, and we loved the fact that the Georgian veranda spanned the full exterior of the property, meaning it would be an ideal place for family and friends to gather. Then there was the modern Orangery extension, nestled at the back of the walled garden. Despite being newly-built, it made for the ideal party spot – with a 200-person capacity, twinkling dancefloor and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens, we were instantly sold.” With a theme of simplistic autumn-chic, the pair felt whites and greens were the ideal colours to tie their day together. “Gypsophila and white hydrangeas were central to our floral scheme and featured throughout, from the centre-piece displays and buttonholes to church pedestals,” the bride continues. “When it came to my bouquet, I wanted a whimsical feel, with more gypsophila and hydrangeas alongside eucalyptus, fern and David Austen roses. The sage green element was incorporated throughout, too, from the bridesmaids’ dresses to our invites and their satin bows. As a nod to my engagement ring, I knew I also wanted gold touches, with gold-foiling on the table-plan to gold wax seals and a gold cake topper. We also wanted to inject my heritage into the day, opting for Greek islands as our table names, and with the top table of course being Crete – where we got engaged.” ALL DRESSED UP Robyn knew she’d found her dream dress when it gave what she describes as ‘Hailey Bieber vibes.’ “It wasn’t what I’d first envisaged, but the second I tried on the Naroza Enzoani gown I REAL WEDDINGS 37
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