Your Herts and Beds Wedding - October/November 2020 (Issue 82)

REAL WEDDINGS 35 M elanie and Steven’s adventure first started back in year 11, when they realised they shared many interests and were instantly attracted to each other. Melanie says, “Our fathers are from the tiny island of Mauritius, and both of our mothers were born and raised in England. Funnily enough, both sets of parents met during nurse training many years ago.” She adds, “We understood each other’s cultures more than anyone else could – this created a lasting bond.” Within six months, it was clear that they shared something extraordinary and had an exciting future ahead. Melanie had always believed she’d know when Steven would propose, but this was far from the case. She says, “We were on a road trip across the west coast of America where he’d booked a secluded log cabin in the middle of the Mojave Desert. We watched the sunset from the decking one day when he got out the most amazing ring – which he designed himself – and popped the question.” SETTING THE SCENE It was important for Melanie and Steven’s day to be a beautiful mix of cultures, which felt and looked like a wedding should to them. Melanie says, “We made sure to include our parents in pretty much every step of the planning while still making sure it was exactly what we wanted. It made for an emotional and touching day.” Ashridge House was the perfect venue for the wedding. Melanie comments, “Steve and I are fairly introverted, but the grand staircase and the idea of having a dramatic ceremony sold the venue to us instantly. We saw the venue last because it was technically out of our budget, but we just had to make it work!” The nearlyweds didn’t opt for a colour scheme but knew they wanted a clean, bright, tasteful feel that oozed luxury. The stunning staircase featured vines, flowers, candles and rose petals, which created a romantic atmosphere. Other floral touches include a flower comb, a large fresh bouquet, a white rose with foliage for the groomsmen and a rose pin for the couple’s mothers. The three-tiered cake had chocolate fudge for the base layer, lemon for the middle and caramel for the top. This was covered in an Italian buttercream and had fresh flowers and foliage included. A lovely touch from the day was the favours that got everyone smiling. As the pair met in school, they decided to include two of their favourite childhood chocolates. Melanie’s was a Kinder Surprise while Steve’s was Cadbury Freddo Caramel Bar. Another treat was a sweet cart created by the groom’s mum.  Place names included traditional linen place cards written in calligraphy. Some guests went by their nicknames to add a personal touch. Each table had a number on a mini- wooden easel featuring menu’s on the back with funny titles. One was called ‘The one where Mel made Steve try goats cheese, and it blew his mind’ and ‘The one where it turns out Steve is an amazing cook... but only on date night’. In the evening, a delicious barbecue was offered to guests.  Melanie says, “Large gold mirrors were used for the table plan and welcome sign. With the help of our maid-of- honour, we wrote directly onto them with calligraphy chalk pen – it matched the venue perfectly.” 