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

REAL WEDDINGS 37 LOOKING THE PART When it came to finding the perfect gown, the bride-to-be fell in love with an A-line ballgown and elbow-length veil. She says, “Everyone expected me in a fitted number with lace, but I wanted something that would match the drama of the venue and make me feel like a proper bride.” Pearl studded shoes, a pearl necklace, earrings and bracelet finished off the look beautifully. She adds, “The earrings and necklace were a gift to me from Steve on the day, and the bracelet was from my maid-of-honour. I wanted to wear pearls because my mother wore them on her wedding day.” The groom wore a three-piece suit and a champagne coloured tie while the groomsmen wore the same but with dusky teal ties to match the bridesmaids’ dresses. These were beautiful halter-style gowns, which tied up at the nape of the neck in a beautiful bow. TIME TO CELEBRATE A talented harpist played as Melanie walked down the aisle and during the drinks reception to make the moment even more special. A live band played in the evening to continue the celebrations all night. The bride says, “They played mostly indie songs to match our taste and some wedding classics to get everyone dancing – they were a massive hit with guest!” When it came to the father-daughter dance, Melanie’s mother started singing with the band as a surprise.  MEMORABLE MOMENTS The pair felt very nervous on the day but that didn’t stop them from having the best day of their lives. Melanie says, “A special moment was when I had the reveal with my dad. He completely crumbled the moment he walked in with floods of tears and told me how beautiful I am – every single person in that room was an emotional mess!”  Steve’s favourite moment was waiting at the bottom of the staircase for his bride. He says. “All my groomsmen were grinning down at me and everyone behind was talking and whispering. The moment everyone fell silent stands out to me because I knew it was about to happen.” One of the groomsmen (Jack) was the toastmaster for the day, which made for plenty of entertainment. Melanie comments, “He announced every moment with a huge ‘ding’ of the little gold bell we gave him. We didn’t want the overly formal language and style from a hired toastmaster, so we loved that he put his spin on the role with his Watford accent that we know and love.” Throughout the day, many suppliers worked hard to create Melanie and Steven’s perfect wedding, but one stood out to them. Melanie adds, “Our coordinator at Ashridge House (Ella) made sure everything ran smoothly – she was also in floods of tears at my reveal with my dad! What a lovely person inside and out.” HONEYMOON The couple jetted off to the Amalfi coast for a week to celebrate their wedding day. Melanie says, “We planned our trip and decided to travel in a tiny little car and stayed a night here and there. We enjoyed every minute and don’t think we’ll taste pasta like that ever again!”  The couple shares their top tip saying, “Make sure to take 10 to 15 minutes at least to go for a walk with your new husband or wife across the grounds or duck into a room just you two. Steve suggested we do this just after dinner, it was so special and a perfect moment to be alone and reflect.” 