Lizi and Jack met during their third year of university, at one of the first social nights after the Christmas break. Lizi says, “I didn’t take to him immediately, but he won me over when I realised we were both as socially awkward as each other! His Geordie accent was, and still is, a winner for me.” While on holiday in Thailand in January 2020, they’d make it a routine to watch the sunset from their hotel’s private beach with a couple of beers. One day following a boat trip, Jack suggested they head back to enjoy the sunset as usual, so he grabbed the beers from the hotel room while Lizi made her way to the beach. When he joined her 10 minutes later, he pulled out an engagement ring and said, “You know you’ve been wanting a new ring... what about this one?” He’d had it hidden in the camera case the whole time – “I had wondered why we didn’t take many photos!” Lizi says. The couple had recently moved to Aylesford and while out walking one day they passed a venue that Lizi instantly fell in love with. She turned to Jack and said, “We’d better start saving as that’s where we’re getting married!” It was Bradbourne House. In the spring of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Chic Weddings launched a competition for one NHS hero to have the chance to win their wedding day. Many local suppliers generously donated their incredible services to the cause, and Lizi and Jack were the lucky, and deserving, winners. Read on as the bride herself gives us the lowdown on the big day... SETTING THE SCENE “I owe all of the finishing touches to Laurie and Steph at Chic Weddings,” Lizi explains. The expert duo interpreted what the bride describes as her, “vague and indecisive description” of what she thought she’d like and made it everything she’d dreamed of and more. Equally, she says, “Richard from ByBlossom and Shelley from Shelley’s Cakes were miracle workers, having created the most perfect stationery and cake display with very unhelpful input from Jack and me! Wedding favours placed on the tables were sparklers for each guest. After the wedding breakfast everyone went outside and stood on the steps of Bradbourne House, which created an impressive scene with all the sparklers lit, and was quite fitting since the wedding fell the day after Bonfire Night. LOOKING THE PART The lovely consultants at Victoria’s Bridal Boutique in Orpington picked out a selection of dresses for Lizi to try on ahead of her appointment. They even set up a flat screen TV allowing her bridesmaids and mother-in-law to join in virtually, since Covid restrictions meant they couldn’t be there in person. “I tried them all on and the one that made my girlfriends cry was the one I chose,” Lizi tells us. She continues, “The ladies were so lovely and skilled that they even suggested customising the dress with cap sleeves made from the same lace as the gown, making it unique to me.” Lizi had always planned to wear her hair down with no accessories, but during the second fitting, her mother and mother-inlaw talked her into trying a tiara, which she then found very difficult to take off! The bridesmaids wore lemon dresses, which was the only part of the wedding that Lizi had a definitive view on from the very REAL WEDDING 31
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