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

We liked the idea of our family and friends getting a feel for the wedding before even entering the building, so we had a welcome sign made by Quill London. It tied in with the invites and on-the-day stationery. In the party room, we had a light-up sign saying “Til Death Do Us Party” from Vowed and Amazed – it definitely set the scene! The cake was traditional, classy and elegant – five tiers decorated with shimmer icing and fresh roses. It was handed out on personalised lilac and gold napkins. In lieu of a sweet cart, my dad made us a doughnut wall. It was painted lilac with gold calligraphy – the Krispy Kreme doughnuts went down a treat! Appollo String Quartet created a magical atmosphere for the ceremony; they also performed during the drinks reception along with a magician. Our loved ones made good use of our gold shimmer photo wall from Vowed and Amazed, before the evening kicked off with a DJ from Piano DJ. Our wedding was on the hottest day of the year, so we got to have our dream outdoor ceremony! There were scattered petals to create an aisle and beautiful blooms hanging above us on the gazebo. We made a last-minute purchase of some Spanish-style fans, which our guests said were a godsend! LAUREN’S TOP TIP: Pre-wedding, be as organised as possible. I had a spreadsheet covering everything from an inventory of items to timetables for hair and make-up. On the day though, you just have to lose control and enjoy the moment! REAL WEDDINGS 53 