Louise and Stephen met while out one evening after work in a wine bar in Fleet Street, London. “We quickly discovered a mutual love of good wine and good bread. Oh, and obviously attraction to each other!” shares Louise. “We met the following week, on three separate evenings. We spent the evenings, chatting, really listening to each other, laughing and getting to know each other. And there was an instant feeling for both of us, that this person gets me, and we both knew pretty quickly during those first few dates that our lives were going to look very different from how we had envisaged and that we would each have a starring role in each other’s lives!” After romance blossomed, Stephen proposed in June 2022. Hinting at a proposal on Louise’s birthday − which Louise deflected wanting two separate occasions – fast-forward three weeks, and Stephen announces he would like to go to Margate for breakfast and a wander around. “We’d eaten and walked about, I sensed something was awry as Stephen was a bit quiet and not himself,” shares Louise. “We went to a jeweller and picked a beautiful ring, which the jewellers were able to re-size within a couple of hours, so we mooched around in a bit of a daze (alcohol may have been involved!). After collecting the ring, Stephen suggested a walk on the beach and he proposed there! It was beautiful, we both cried (happy tears!) and celebrated with some fizz. Stephen later said he wanted to do it before our trip to Malta so we could tell my dad (who we were visiting) the good news face-toface. My dad was over the moon for us, though he did say he never thought he would see the day! I asked him, ‘Why, because I am fussy?’ and he replied, ‘No, because you’re getting on a bit.’ − thanks dad!” The big date was set 21st May 2023, Ashford’s Secret Garden set the scene. Here, we find out more about their day… THE BACKDROP Louise and Stephen planned an intimate registry service for 18th May 2023 at Rye Town Hall complete with a town crier! “We picked this date as it would have been my mum Mary’s birthday (she passed away in 2008) and we wanted to mark it in some special way.” shares Louise. “We knew we wanted an all-in-one venue for the second part of our wedding. Somewhere that could hold both our celebrant-led ceremony and wedding breakfast/reception. As soon as we visited Secret Garden, we knew it was right for us; a beautifully maintained walled garden, a gazebo for an outside ceremony and lots of lovely outside spaces for guests. Plus, the coach house was intimate enough for guests to mingle in one area, but also big enough to not have people tripping over themselves – plus space for a band and dancefloor!” THE FINER DETAILS When planning their wedding, Louise and Stephen knew they wanted to try and use local providers where possible, and to adopt the less is more approach, both from a budget and sustainability viewpoint. “Luckily for us, Secret Garden being such a beautiful venue made it easy for us to showcase it by adding a few little extra finishing touches.” The favours were handmade chocolate truffles in little card boxes with a name tag meaning they could also double as place names. The table plan was an old vintage suitcase decorated with fairylights and photos of the pair on their adventures interspersed on twine with each table plan number. The numbers were framed and in the same style and palette as the wedding stationery. “We designed all our own stationery and signage taking inspiration from various mid-century influences (which we both love) including Bauhaus, Saul Bass and also the Own Label: Sainsbury’s Design Studio:1962-1977. And while it was great fun to work on this together and see the result, we’re pretty sure no one else noticed the design we created was made to look like a proof for a supermarket 39 REAL WEDDINGS
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