Your Herts and Beds Wedding - December 2020/January 2021 (Issue 83)

FROM BRAZIL Bassmead Manor Barns set the scene for Aline and Michael’s modern yet rustic wedding day Images courtesy of Rafe Abrook Photography A fter a while of being with Aline, I realised I wanted to do this for ever and hated the thought of being without her,” shares Michael. He set about planning the proposal! “Aline had to go back to Brazil to finish her PhD for a few months before coming back to the UK to live permanently. I’d wanted to do it before she left, I’d booked a trip to Venice (where Aline had always wanted to go) as a birthday present and planned to pop the question in some sickeningly romantic location. However, we had to cancel the trip for financial reasons and I didn’t have a ring... “Fast forward a few months and I was in Brazil with Aline and her family over the 2016 Christmas holidays. I thought that while I was there I should do the honourable thing and ask her dad, as I probably wouldn’t see him again for a while. Luckily, I got his blessing while everyone else was out on one of the days. For New Year we went to Ilha Grande which is a beautiful tropical island with no roads, just down the coast from Rio. The island was special for us as we’d spent many long weekends there whilst living in Rio, it was where I’d first told Aline that I loved her. I decided that I didn’t want to leave the island without proposing, but could never seem to find the right moment and I still didn’t have a ring (I was also a little worse for wear on New Year’s Eve). We ended up extending our stay on the island by a few days but I still was no closer to achieving my goal but just had to do it. “On the day we were due to leave, I suggested a quick look around the shops near the beach to pick up some mementos, like maybe some jewellery. Aline seemed to like earrings, but cool as you like, I asked if she liked any of thing rings... Aline picked one out. So just before we picked up our bags from the guesthouse, I finally popped the question on the beach. At first Aline was a bit confused and was like ‘yeah I’m sure we’ll get married someday’. I had to say ‘No, no will you marry me?’ While waving the ring in front of her face. Aline twigged and said yes of course and started crying. She says it was completely unexpected.” “I was not expecting it at all.” she confirms. “Mike proposed to me in one our favourite places in Brazil. I always thought he was the type of guy that would take years and years to propose. It was wonderful moment and I couldn’t believe it! The big date was set for the 5 th May 2019, Bassmead Manor Barns was the perfect backdrop to the day where the aim was: “For everyone to have fun but also eat some really good food. We wanted it to be the sort of wedding we’d to go to as guests,” share the couple! Here, Aline tells us more  with love ... 43 REAL WEDDINGS