These lovebirds met on a night out. Sophie spotted Ed from across the pub, surrounded by his friends, but soon, most of them decided to head to another bar. A couple of Ed’s friends stayed behind, and Sophie found herself chatting with them. In a moment of honesty, she confided in one of their girlfriends that she thought Ed was good-looking. That little admission led them to the pub where Ed had gone. To avoid looking like a stranger following him, they crafted a backstory that made it seem like she knew the girlfriend. However, things took a humorous turn when one of Ed’s friends approached him and blurted out that a girl had followed him in because she fancied him. They started talking before Ed asked her on a date. Years later, Ed proposed during a holiday in Cape Verde after they had been together for about six years. She had a feeling he might pop the question while they were away, but as their trip neared its end, she started to doubt it. One evening, they walked along the beach as the sun set, with some local dogs trotting alongside them—both were huge dog lovers. In that beautiful moment, with the sun sinking on the horizon, Ed asked her to marry him. They sat together, watching the sky change colours, and the dogs settled down beside them, almost as if they were all part of this intimate scene. She cherished a photo from that day, capturing them right after the proposal, with one of the dogs in the frame. It was simple, genuine, and beautifully spontaneous. SETTING THE SCENE Sophie loves to be creative and wanted to add personal touches to the venue. She and Ed aimed to reuse items to make the celebration more environmentally friendly. They sourced many decorations from Facebook Marketplace and charity shops, with plans to sell them afterwards. Sophie had no interest in extravagant floral displays. Instead, they opted for dried flowers that could be kept or reused. Many now find a cosy spot in their home. Finding a local venue was also important to the couple; they didn’t want guests spending loads on taxis or accommodation. They envisioned a unique space and loved the idea of being surrounded by nature. The Tournerbury Woods Estate perfectly fit the bill with its beautiful woodlands and close proximity to the beach. It was a place where they often took their dog for walks, making it even more special. The venue was stunning on its own, requiring minimal decoration. The ceremony area was lovely, and although they were fortunate with the weather, it was also equipped to handle any rain that might come their way. Sophie bought wood slices to line the ceremony aisle, adorning each with small lanterns and a bud vase. Their ceremony took place under a beautiful canopy, surrounded by woods, and they wanted to keep it simple to let the natural beauty shine through. At the top of the aisle, she created a special spot for them to stand on, complete with a patterned rug, lanterns, dried flowers and large vases filled with pampas grass. For the table plan, they opted for a multi-frame display filled with pictures of themselves, using the spare frames to add a personal touch. As for the centrepieces, they chose bud vases since they had long tables. For six tables, including the top table, they repurposed the bride and bridesmaid bouquets as centrepieces, surrounding them with flowers in bud vases on either side. They adorned the tables with rust-coloured runners and scattered tea lights for a warm ambience. When it came to table names, Sophie opted for gold and glass frames, designing them on Zazzle and having them printed. Instead of traditional table names, they decided to use photos of themselves at each table, adding a personal touch. When it came to flowers, their bouquets, flowergirl wands and buttonholes were crafted by Lulu’s Blooms, which specialises in dried flowers. Sophie cherished her bouquet, which brightens their hallway nearly three months later. The arrangement blended their colour theme with various textures, showcasing a wonderfully natural style she adored. Sophie and her bridesmaids spent six hours creating the table arrangements with dried flowers, picking out blooms that echoed her bouquet but didn’t match it exactly. They loved the shared experience of making something beautiful together. For the wedding cake, a talented friend and baker crafted a stunning three-tier cake. It featured Ed’s favourite, Victoria Sponge, alongside a rich chocolate fudge cake because Sophie couldn’t resist chocolate and a refreshing lemon, raspberry and white chocolate layer. The baker also helped the couple brainstorm decoration ideas, leading to the perfect finishing touch: pressed flowers from a friend’s mother-in-law’s garden adorning the top tier. To add a personal flair, they topped the cake with a bride and groom figure that Sophie’s dad had found in an antique shop in France, dressed in a green suit just like Ed’s. To further decorate the venue, the lovebirds hung floral chandeliers that Sophie had purchased from Facebook Marketplace, attaching them to the ceiling of the marquee. They also used lanterns for their ceremony, which were moved for the reception. To celebrate Ed’s love for The Beatles, they had a neon sign that read, All You Need Is Love, which echoed the song 31 REAL WEDDINGS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=