Your Hampshire and Dorset Wedding - July/August 2020 (Issue 81)

REAL WEDDINGS 33  A lthough Hannah and Alex both went to the same school, he was in the year above and it wasn’t until Hannah’s friend’s 17 th birthday party that they met properly. They chatted all night and ended up exchanging numbers. Two weeks later it turned out they were both going to Reading Festival with the same group of friends. “We really hit it off, spent most of our time there together and shared our first kiss,” remembers Hannah. “We felt a connection straight away and really enjoyed each other’s company and making each other laugh.” POPPING THE QUESTION Fast forward to their fifth anniversary as a couple and a trip to the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour London where Alex popped the question in front of a model of Hogwarts Castle. “It’s a magical place for us as we both love Harry Potter and we’d been there before,” explains Hannah. “It was a massive surprise, I burst out crying and hugged him while he was still down on one knee.” LOOKING THE PART Hannah chose a fishtail mermaid-style Essence of Australia dress, Style D2322, from Anya Bridal Couture. “I saw the dress on Pinterest and when I walked into the shop and asked for something like it, they said they had the exact one in my sample size!” says Hannah. It was meant to be; figure-hugging, with stunning cut-out sides, a lacy button back and train for added flare. “I knew it had to be lacy and sparkly and this dress had all the perfect features, it also had to be comfortable as I needed to be able to dance in it. It felt perfect and I knew it was the one as soon as I tried it on,” adds Hannah. She decorated her veil with diamanté around the edge to catch the light. The bridesmaids wore mint green long floaty dresses with lace overlay bodices. Alex and his groomsmen looked smart in lightweight three-piece grey suits and Alex had a different tie and pocket square to stand out. He also sported a new pocket watch, a surprise gift from Hannah on the wedding morning. SETTING THE SCENE When it came to choosing where to wed, the all-inclusive option at Old Thorns ticked all the right boxes for a stress-free wedding. “The package we went for included food, drink, DJ, tables and cutlery, so we didn’t have to organise lots of different suppliers,” explained Hannah. “The golf course was perfect for great photos and we liked that people could stay over if they wanted to. We decided to stay in the new apartments with our bridesmaids and the best men, which made everything feel even more special. The ceremony was magical, full of memorable and emotional moments for them both. “The celebrant Beverley Geary was superb. We met with her many times before the wedding and, with her help, we were able to add our own touch and personalise the service, which made it extra special. We had a handfasting ceremony as well which was really romantic,” recalls Hannah. THE PERSONAL TOUCHES Apart from the gypsophila all the wedding flowers were artificial including the ones for the birdcage centrepieces. “They looked very real and everyone got to keep their bouquets and buttonholes,” says Hannah. The table plan was set on a decorated wooden ladder complete with small birdcages, which also featured in the design of the table numbers and invitations in a range of soft pastel shades. As a special personal touch, instead of traditional favours they attached charity pin badges to everyoneʼs name cards. “We chose around 12