An Essex Wedding - Jul/Aug 2019 (Issue 87)

REAL WEDDINGS 39 T ara and Terry first met at work, but it didn’t get off to a fairytale start. “I found him really annoying at first,” Tara laughs. “Over time, we got to know each other and I fell for his kind soul and caring personality.” Clearly Terry felt the same, as it wasn’t long before he was planning to ask a certain question. “As Terry went to collect my engagement ring, he took a phone call from the estate agents to say that he could pick up the keys to our first home,” Tara remembers. “That evening, as we were about to step inside our new house, he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.” Of course she said “yes,” and he carried her over the threshold as his fiancée. The pair soon got to work planning their dream day for 12 th August, 2018. They wanted something to reflect their fun-loving personalities, so a colourful Mad Hatter’s tea party vibe was chosen. We chatted to Tara to find out how they pulled it off… SETTING THE SCENE With a theme already decided, the couple had to find a venue. “Prested Hall is the most gorgeous setting,” Tara tells us. “Plus the afternoon tea catering they offered was great. The cakes were delicious and fit the bill perfectly.” They got to work pulling together some incredible suppliers to make their vision a reality. “We spent months scouring charity shops and boot sales for vintage jars and teapots to fill with flowers,” the bride says. “Credit has to go to our amazing florist, Passion Flowers by Emma Spowage. I cried when I saw what she’d created; the bouquets and venue styling blew me away.” The fun theme ran throughout the day, with the place settings being a real talking point. “We had chequered place mats, mismatched crockery and I made white rabbit napkins by adding fluffy tails and pink foam ears!” Tara says. “They went perfectly with the artificial grass table runners, raspberry- liqueur favours with “Drink Me” labels and other Alice in Wonderland details.” For a quirky touch, the table plan was written in tiny font and guests used a magnifying glass to find out where they were sitting. “We went against tradition and decided not to have a top table, instead having three long tables for a more laid-back feel,” the bride says. It worked perfectly with the relaxed afternoon tea feast they provided for their loved ones. This was followed by a delicious wedding cake, which looked almost too good to eat. “We told our talented cake designer our ideas and what flavours we wanted and left it up to her,” Tara explains. “She really worked her magic; it was unbelievable.” Entering the venue, guests followed little white rabbits down the driveway and then into the marquee entrance, which was decorated with clocks, picture frames and playing cards. LOOKING THE PART Although Tara tells us she’s not a dressy person, she found bridal shopping surprisingly easy. “I tried on four and picked one,” she laughs. “I loved the Swarovski-crystal cape the boutique recommended as I wanted to cover my shoulders. I teamed it with a sparkly veil for a bit of glam.” Tara and Terry held a Mad Hatter’s tea party at the picturesque Prested Hall Images courtesy of Aaron Crowe Photography 