Emily and Craig went to the same school, and years later, they reconnected via the internet. “We shared the same interest in films and found it easy to converse with each other,” says Emily. “Craig always knew how to make me laugh, and our bond grew over the years. Craig proposed on the anniversary of us moving into our first home together. He attached a ring he had made to our spaniel’s collar and asked me to be his wife.” SETTING THE SCENE “The grounds at The Garden Barn were stunning and we were drawn to the rustic and intimate feel of the barn,” shares Emily. “We risked choosing an outside ceremony because the setting and backdrop were so breathtaking. The owners were lovely and offered so much support, which meant we could make it the day of our dreams. The Garden Barn allowed lots of flexibility, including what suppliers we could use which was another selling point as some venues have restrictions. My family has a small catering business called Poppies Catering, who provided the canapés, cake, hog roast and buffet. For late night snacks, we also had cupcakes, cheeses and traditional pork pies.” The couple decided to keep the decorations simple so it didn’t draw attention away from the beauty of the barn. “We wanted people to sit where they felt most comfortable, so we didn’t create a table plan,” adds the bride. “We chose white tablecloths with navy runners across them and added clear gems to the tables so they looked like sprinkled diamonds. The flowers used on the tables were sourced from The Flower Shed in Isleham. We also made the groomsmen’s lapels using faux flowers and gave them a choice of Lego figures which they got to keep. “We created a cupcake tower with a cake on top which was used for the traditional cutting of the cake,” explains Emily. “All of the cupcakes were made by a family friend who is well known in the community for her baking.” DRESSED TO IMPRESS “I sourced my dress from Peter’s Bridal Warehouse in Soham, where they have hundreds of dresses and regularly get new ones in,” recalls Emily. “It was a one-off Italian dress with a sweetheart neckline and lace sleeves. I wanted to wear something completely different to what I would normally wear. It had a massive skirt and train, so I felt a veil would be too much. Instead, I paired it with the tiara my mum wore when she got married and blue sapphire earrings that matched my engagement ring. “Craig went shopping with his mum, sister and groomsmen to get his suit,” continues Emily. “After visiting several shops, he ended up choosing a Moss Bros suit as they were able to accommodate a tailored fit without the need for a custom design. He chose a grey three piece so that if he wanted to remove his jacket, he would still feel smart on the day in just the waistcoat, and it separated him from the groomsmen.” The bridesmaids wore chiffon dresses from Ever-Pretty. “I wanted a colour and shape that would complement everyone, so I chose navy as this also went well with Craig’s suit,” says the bride. “In case it was chilly, I purchased grey shawls for them to wrap around their shoulders.” 45 REAL WEDDINGS
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