Your Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wedding - October/November 2019 (Issue 79)

K atie and Jonny met on the bus on the first day of school and soon became best friends, before dating in the sixth form. “Jonny was funny and a real social butterfly,” says Katie. “I was attracted by his outgoing nature and kindness.” Initially, Jonny had planned to propose on the top of Mount Toubkal in Morocco but had to cancel at the last minute. Instead, he proposed on Coombe Hill in Bucks. “In the end, it was the perfect place, and one that we will always be able to return to,” says the bride. SETTING THE SCENE The couple went to Berkhamsted School, so having the ceremony at the chapel was perfect. For the reception, nowhere stood out quite like Latimer Estate. “The views over the Chess Valley are simply beautiful,” says Katie. “We also liked that it had a link to Jonny’s military service, as The Secret House during WWII.” The theme for the reception was travel, with the colours being cream and green. Instead of traditional favours, they had small suitcases filled with chocolates, with slips inside explaining that they had donated to Parkinson’s UK, which Katie’s dad has. The table plan was a map of the world, and the centrepieces were tall goblet vases with beautiful bouquets made up of roses and lilies and green foliage. The cake was decorated with peonies, the bride’s favourite flower, with flavours of chocolate, raspberry Victoria sandwich and salted caramel – and weighed a whopping 48kg. LOOKING THE PART The bride’s dress was Cavetto by Suzanne Neville. “I really loved how it made me feel, with the full skirt and buttons down the back,” says Katie. She also wore a double-layer chapel-length veil, which reached the end of the train. For accessories, she wore pearl earrings and a small hair pin. Her bouquet was made up of white garden roses, peonies, tulips and freesias with eucalyptus and greenery. Jonny wore his regimental army ceremonial blues (for the Queen’s Royal Hussars) with a gold crossbelt, spurs and a sword. His buttonhole was a cream rose with green berries, and the groomsmen wore freesias. The best man wore tails and a green tie to match the bridesmaids’ forest green dresses, and the other groomsmen wore their blues. The civilian best man and the bride’s and groom’s fathers also wore a sterling silver galloping horse broach under their buttonhole to match the army uniform, which had the regimental silver White Horse of Hanover on the red collar. To have and to honour High school sweethearts Katie and Jonny tied the knot in their school chapel and then had an amazing reception at Latimer Estate Images courtesy of Wendy Aldiss Photography REAL WEDDINGS 33 