An Essex Wedding - Page number 31 - July/August 2021 (Issue 99)

W hen Catherine and Haider met while working together on a film shoot, it wasn’t long before they were ‘bumping’ into each other and staying after work to chat. “We even ended up on a rooftop watching fireworks together,” Catherine remembers. “I was sure he was going to kiss me – but no such luck!” A few days later, Haider had vanished to take a last-minute contracting job on the other side of London. “After an excruciating couple of weeks, I plucked up the courage to text him,” Catherine says. “Our relationship blossomed from there. He later told me that it never crossed his mind that I might like him more than a friend.” When the time was right, Haider popped the question in a beachfront restaurant. Knowing that Catherine was keen to design her engagement ring with him, he instead gave her a promise ring. Catherine explains, “When Haider scored his first ‘proper’ job after university, he spent his first pay check on a ring for his mum. Although flattered, his mum told him it was too much, and that she would keep it safe until he met the girl he wanted to marry.” With the date set for 14 th June, 2019, the pair got to work planning their dream ceremony at Chalkney Water Meadows, followed by a reception at The Barn Brasserie. And as the bride is a floral designer, it was always going to be absolutely beautiful! THE PERFECT SETTING The couple dreamed of a barn wedding, but they also loved the idea of an outdoor ceremony. “We’d come across the gorgeous 16 th -century The Barn Brasserie a few years back, when we were looking for a brunch stop on the way to the coast,” Catherine says. “We knew there was something special about the place, so we got a wedding brochure – despite it being years before we were engaged!” When it came to looking at venues, the couple returned to The Barn Brasserie, where they got chatting to the owner. They explained that they were hoping for an outdoor ceremony, which is when he said that he knew just the place: Chalkney Water Meadows. The pair snapped up the last summer date when both venues were available. “On the day, the meadow was full of wildflowers,” Catherine says. “We had a triple- hat tipi covered in fairylights, which I emerged from before walking down the aisle. It couldn’t have been more perfect.” PUTTING THEIR STAMP ON The couple gave the day a loose Alice in Wonderland theme, with a blue and white palette. The journey began with the invitations, which were designed in the style of a book, welcoming their guests to join them in their enchanted wonderland. “Arriving at the meadow, guests walked along the lakeside path following a set of themed signs,” Catherine explains. “They emerged into the meadow through a floral archway, which was covered in silk peonies and hydrangeas. Haider insisted on adding the Cheshire Cat on top!” They positioned large floral lanterns along the aisle and dressed the ceremony pontoon with an array of mini lanterns on long blue ribbons, each filled with a delicate silk bloom. The entrance of the tipi was adorned with stems of wisteria and bottles of meadow flowers. At the reception, a table plan was set up in the courtyard of the venue, with each table named after characters from Alice in Wonderland . “The printed table names were hung REAL WEDDINGS 31