Your Hampshire and Dorset Wedding - September/October 2020 (Issue 82)

43  REAL WEDDINGS PUTTIN’ ON THE GLITZ Touches of 1920s glamour added extra wow factor to Emily and John’s stylish wedding Images courtesy of SUCH Photography E mily and John bonded before they even met, chatting for hours on the phone after first getting in touch through an online dating site. She was working for the police at the time and he was in the Royal Navy on board HMS Illustrious which had just returned from abroad. “When we did finally meet, we both knew that we were meant to be together. We just clicked and had the same banter-like humour and outlook on life,” Emily reveals. “I was immediately attracted to him; he was your typical tall, handsome, bearded sailor and I’ve always had a thing for a man in uniform,” she laughs. John popped the question while they were on a joint 30 th birthday holiday in Sardinia. He secretly arranged with the owner of their resort for a romantic beachside meal for two. After enjoying a delicious fish dinner, observant Emily spotted a waiter from the hotel who seemed to be videoing them. A rowing boat then approached the shore with three people on board blowing whistles and holding up a ’marry-me’ sign. “I peered down the beach in search of someone proposing, but noticed a lot of people were looking back at me. I was confused, turned to John and he was down on one knee. He asked me to marry him and to say I was surprised would be an understatement. The waiter I spotted, had indeed been filming the proposal. I didn’t have a clue John had been planning it and when I said ’yes’ all the staff and bystanders on the beach started applauding and the Italian waitresses and waiters were in tears. It was so perfect, a memory to treasure and a video to be shared for years to come,” adds Emily. They tied the knot at Old Thorns, Liphook on 12 th July, 2019 and opted for a striking burgundy, blush pink, ivory and rose gold colour scheme with a touch of Gatsby glamour. Read on for Emily’s account of their big day...