An Essex Wedding - March/april 2021 (Issue 97)

38 The groom looked dashing in a grey check suit, and the buttonholes featured a thistle to celebrate the family’s Scottish roots. “We wanted the groomsmen to feel smart but a little raw around the edges, which complemented the down-to- earth feeling of the wildflowers,” Sasha explains. The bridesmaids rocked beautiful 30s-style embellished dresses from Monsoon. TIME TO CELEBRATE Sasha is a member of a choir called Songbirds, and they performed after the ceremony. “Near Vaughan’s parents’ house is a distillery, Burleigh’s Gin, where we were able to design our own gin,” Sasha says. “We ordered a big batch so during the choir’s beautiful performance we were sipping our very own tipple.” The newlyweds were keen to reflect themselves and the things they love in the day. “We painted a face-in-hole board in homage to Brighton, where we met,” Sasha says. “We also love lawn games, so we got some for our guests to play during the drinks reception.” The pair knew they wanted a live band, and after hours of searching came across Ruby and The Rhythms. “The band were an amazing choice,” Sasha says. “They even performed I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers for my mum, who was going through chemotherapy and recovering from surgery at the time. The song brought so much joy, and dancing to it with my mum is one of my fondest memories.” To capture the antics of the evening’s festivities, Sasha and Vaughan set up a DIY photo booth, with plenty of playful props. “We have an extra 800 photos that really capture the fun, joy and coming together of our loved ones,” Sasha smiles. MEMORABLE MOMENTS The pair both had stressful mornings, with Vaughan having to rush into town after finding his shirt had a stain on it, and Sasha waking up to find there was no hot water. “The moment we saw each other, all the nerves dissipated. We were incredibly happy and it all just felt so right,” Sasha tells us. The pair booked dance lessons before the big day. “We didn’t want anything over the top,” Sasha says. “We just wanted to feel more confident on the dancefloor. We had a simple routine to Nina Simone’s Feeling Good , and even though it may not have looked that exciting, it made us feel the part and have some real fun.” The dynamic trio of photographers Matt Wing and Greg Coltman alongside videographer Phil Smith not only captured Sasha and Vaughan’s day beautifully, but they also helped them to feel relaxed and allowed them to enjoy special moments together. SASHA’S TOP TIP: “You can’t make everyone happy, so just remember that it’s your day.”