An Essex Wedding - September/Ocotber 2020 (Issue 94)

REAL WEDDINGS 41 salad,” Megan says. “Then it was on to Matt’s favourite: sausage and mash! We finished with an Eton mess, cheesecake and chocolate brownie trio.” LOOKING THE PART Megan’s dress was from a friend’s boutique back home in Canada. “This meant a lot because it brought a little piece of my home province to the day,” she says. “I fell in love with the beautiful embroidery, plunging neckline and sparkle of Riley by Made With Love. It was classy, sexy and so easy to dance in! I had it altered by the lovely ladies at Stitch in Time, Leigh-on-Sea.” The bride had a wonderfully relaxed wedding morning, staying at the venue’s guest house the night before with her wedding party. “It made the morning so hassle- free as our hair and make-up artists came to us,” she says. The men all looked dashing in navy suits with a tweed waistcoat and maroon tie. Megan’s brother, Matthew, was her “brosmaid-of-honour” and her sister-in-law, Melissa, was her bridesmaid. “Matthew wore the same as the groomsmen, while Melissa looked stunning in a mocha-coloured maxi dress with a plunging neckline similar to my gown.” The newlyweds shared their celebrations with their nephew, Wesley, who turned one on the same day! TIME TO CELEBRATE The couple entertained their guests with giant garden games outside, which suited the rustic vibe. “We also invited our make-up artist to come along in the evening to provide some festival sparkle,” Megan says. “Beards, collar bones, cheeks and eyebrows were all taken over with glitter and glam – one friend even left with a sparkly bald head!” Their talented band, Wandering Three, performed the newlyweds’ favourite songs, as well as the first dance and father-daughter dance. “It was uncanny how good their rendition of Mumford & Sons was,” Megan remembers. “It really set the mood for the night, and we were so sad when they finished their last set.” MAKING MEMORIES The couple agreed that everything on the day was even more amazing than they could have imagined. “We just kept saying ‘this is the best day of our lives’ to each other!” Megan says. Like many couples, it was the ceremony that brought on the nerves. “It actually ended up being our favourite part of the day,” Megan remembers. “We wrote our own vows, which made it so special. Another treasured memory was when we had our couple shots. Our photographer, Michael Briggs Pictures, took us away from everyone and played our first dance song and told us to dance in the street. We got totally lost in the moment – it was magical!” Megan’s top tip: Take a moment on the day to talk, dance and just be with your partner. Look around you and soak up the moment.