An Essex Wedding - November/December 2020 (Issue 95)

REAL WEDDINGS 35 C harlotte and Dean knew each other through friends, but they never really had more than a passing (drunk) conversation! That is, until a mutual friend thought they might have potential. “One Saturday evening I got a message from Dean. He asked if I ‘fancied a dance, like a tango or something’,” Charlotte laughs. Funny messages turned into funny dates – and the rest is history! Shortly after Christmas 2016, Dean decided it was time to pop the question. They had a trip booked to New York on the 26 th January, 2017, to celebrate his 30 th and he knew he wanted to do it before then. Charlotte tells us, “He asked my brother’s permission and went ring shopping with his mum, then came up with the most wonderful proposal, which still makes me tearful now.” The day before they were flying to the states, Dean drove them to a spot on the cliffs where Charlotte’s dad’s ashes were scattered and where the family had recently planted a tree in memory of him. “I had no idea it was coming, I thought Dean was just being nice taking me there,” Charlotte says. “When I turned around, he was on one knee! As my dad wasn’t around to ask permission, he thought it was best to have him nearby. I was shattered and stressed from work, but I don’t think it could have been more perfect.” Their week in New York was spent celebrating and talking weddings! THE PERFECT BACKDROP The pair took time at the beginning of their planning journey to decide exactly what they wanted from their day. “We wanted a hybrid of traditional and modern, formal and relaxed,” Charlotte explains. The first thing they did was book a meeting with Charlotte’s church reverend, Lee. “I got to know Lee when my dad reached out to the church after his cancer diagnosis,” she says. “Dean isn’t a follower of the church so was nervous to meet Lee, but they hit it off straight away. We confirmed the date for 9 th June, 2018, at St Saviours Westcliff. The hard part was finding the reception venue. “We needed somewhere that was local to the church, large enough for our guestlist, had plenty of indoor and outdoor space and was a complete blank canvas,” Charlotte says. “We basically asked for the impossible!” A family friend mentioned that they had a space at Garons Park, and they had been thinking how it could work for weddings. “After a year of meetings, planning, research, investment and determination, The Boundary was born,” Charlotte says. “It’s been one hell of a journey but we have made the venue that Southend was screaming out for, fulfilling the needs for ourselves and others who are looking for a friendly, flexible venue with stunning in-house catering.” SETTING THE SCENE Charlotte and Dean’s day was classic yet contemporary with botanical accents. The gorgeous bouquets were from Bunched in Leigh-on-Sea. “Mine was huge and wild,” Charlotte says. “It had olive leaves in it and it was tied with hand-dyed ribbon.” Being an interior designer, Charlotte has an eye for detail, so she got to work collecting vases and bottles from charity shops, boot sales and Facebook Marketplace, which her mum filled with greenery. There was also a showstopping wisteria installation hanging from the ceiling, decadent vintage furniture, which is now a permanent fixture at the venue, and a Victorian bath was repurposed and filled with beer and ice. The table plan was made from an old-school peg board. “We have one at home now with the lyrics to our first dance song on,” Charlotte says. The quirky place settings were made from plastic toy animals  Charlotte’s top tip: “Use local suppliers and get to know them. Building a relationship with your vendors gets them fully involved in your day and what you want.”