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

WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND Hedingham Castle was the epic backdrop for Sarah and Ross’ festive fiesta Images courtesy of Chic Wedding Photography I t took Sarah and Ross a whole year to pluck up the courage to talk to each other after first laying eyes on each other at university. “When we finally spoke I was embarrassingly dressed as a smurf,” Sarah laughs. “We were both studying sport-related courses so our paths crossed quite a bit. I was the captain of the netball team and he was captain of the rugby team!” Fast forward to Boxing Day seven years later, and the loved-up pair are heading on a trip to Iceland, which Ross booked as a surprise. He was also brave enough to book a helicopter ride over Reykjavík, as he knew Sarah would love it. “We landed on a mountain, with nothing but snowy white landscape before us,” Sarah remembers. “Despite the -25 degree weather and loss of feeling, I thought this would be a wonderful place for a proposal. Cue me glaring at Ross, thinking he’d missed the perfect opportunity!” But he was just biding his time, as before they got back in the helicopter Ross got down on one knee. “Due to the strength of the wind and the ridiculous temperature, Ross asked if he could put the ring on my finger later. I said, ‘No, darling, I’m going to need that now!’” Sarah laughs. They were even lucky enough to see the Northern Lights that night. After a chilly proposal, the pair decided on a wintry wedding, setting the date for 23 rd December, 2019, and Hedingham Castle. Sarah gave us all the details… 47  REAL WEDDINGS