REAL WEDDINGS 33 This couple's love story began in 2010 on Hannah’s 21st birthday! She says, “I invited my work friend out for drinks to celebrate who already had plans for another birthday, but it turned out we were going to the same place. Mat happened to be a mutual friend who tried to impress me by ordering a big round of drinks, but his card was declined! The bar could only swipe cards, and his magnetic strip no longer worked as it was always next to his phone. This is before contactless; I’m feeling old! His mate had to pay for him, but I don’t remember that with it being my 21st. However, this wasn’t the first time we had met. We met at another mutual friend’s birthday, but I was seeing someone else at the time. I even had a photo of us both that we didn’t realise.” Mat proposed on the couple’s 10th anniversary. They went away to the Cotswolds and stayed in a lovely hotel with beautiful grounds. Hannah comments, “We decided to go for a walk, and I was wandering ahead, looking at lovely locations on the grounds. Mat left his bag open while unpacking and thought I had seen the ring box in his bag - I hadn’t – and he thought I was leading him to different spots where he could pop the question, but I was just being nosey and wandering around. In the rose garden, he knelt to ask, ‘Shall we make it forever?’ and I couldn't believe it!" SETTING THE SCENE The couple aimed to create a wedding that represented them both while being fun and involving loved ones. As they got engaged between Covid-19 lockdowns, they didn’t want to plan and then reorganise the wedding like so many had to do with restrictions. So they waited more than a year to make official plans and book the venue and suppliers. Hannah had spent a year researching everything wedding online. She had waited ten years for a proposal; what was one more year? The Farmhouse at Redcoats is a family-owned hotel with a 15thcentury farmhouse full of quirky details, historical features and warm hospitality for memorable stays. It’s no wonder the couple both fell in love with the setting! Hannah says, “We both wanted a barn and had looked around a few venues. I knew it was the perfect setting when Mat saw the wooden antler chandeliers and said, ‘I can get married in a Viking hall’. The venue complemented our styles, and the staff were amazing from the very first interaction.” The white and blue flowers, especially the flower arch, were beautiful on the day. The bride worried it might be too much, but the blooms turned out beautiful throughout the day! The lovebirds opted for a unique table arrangement, choosing nine round tables for a more friendly aspect, each named after a different type of fish Mat has caught as a keen fisher. The centrepieces were equally unique, with wooden bases adorned with small floral details and floating tealight candles. Wooden place names helped guests find seats, where a box of chocolate favours awaited. The pair had a three-tiered cake with white chocolate and raspberry sponge with jam and white chocolate buttercream and a red velvet sponge tier with white chocolate buttercream. It was delicious, and there wasn’t a piece left." LOOKING THE PART The bride wore a Justin Alexander dress in style 8799. While looking online, she had seen the gown and tried it on as a wildcard. Hannah
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