Your Kent Wedding -September/October 2020 (Issue 92)

REAL WEDDINGS 37  M elissa met Jamie on a dating app. She messaged first, but it was he who suggested they meet up. A quick drink soon turned into three on a summer’s evening in a local pub garden. Melissa says, “I remember coming away from our first date with aching cheeks from smiling and laughing so much.” Jamie remembers, “I was nervous, and I’m not the best at small talk, but the conversation flowed easily and we never struggled to find something to chat about.” The pair had been together for 18 months at the time they set off on a two-week holiday travelling around Italy. “I’d always planned to propose on a gondola in Venice,” Jamie explains, and it being the first stop on their trip he didn’t have to wait long. On the second day, he bravely got down on one knee in a gondola and produced the ring, which Melissa was completely unaware she’d been carrying it around in his sunglasses case the whole time. She said “yes” before Jamie even got to the all-important question, and tells us, “I’ve never been so surprised in all my life. Everything was perfect: the ring, the weather, the setting, the man!” Following their engagement, Port Lympne was the first and only venue they considered. They’d previously stayed at the hotel together, and having noticed the Aspinal Suite set up for a wedding while they were there, they both commented on what an incredible place it would be to get married. So, no time was wasted and the date was set for that coming summer, just nine months away. Join us as the bride tells us more about the big day… SETTING THE SCENE The overriding theme for this gorgeous wedding day, was Italy, where the couple got engaged. The stationery for example, including invitations, place and table names, and table plan, all featured maps, quotes and photos from their trip. The tables were named after each of the locations they visited with the top table being the city most significant to them – Venice. Sunflowers were the main focus of the floral displays along with purple lisianthus and ruscus. These beautiful blooms were featured in the bouquets, buttonholes, corsages, pew ends and centrepieces. “We’re lucky to have an incredibly talented family friend who did all of our wedding flowers. They were stunning and made our day even more special,” Melissa explains. The centrepieces were white lanterns with purple candles inside, surrounded by flowers to reflect the other arrangements. The top table boasted a linear floral display, which was complemented by the bright purple chair covers and sunflower clip accents. The big-day bake incorporated all of the couple’s themes with a purple ribbon, hand-painted map of the world, also in purple, and sunflowers. “It was simple but effective,” Melissa remembers. The bride’s father was appointed official wedding carpenter, as he turned his hand to making several fabulous wedding-day decorations including a Mr & Mrs sign, a giant outdoor light-up J ❤ M and a hand- painted photo booth frame. Her godmother also joined in making a wooden pallet decoration complete with sunflowers, lights and photos depicting the couple’s relationship over the years. LOOKING THE PART Melissa wore Washington by Diane Harbridge – a ruched satin gown with beaded applique on the side. She found the dream dress at a wedding show, having narrowed down the silhouette she wanted at previous boutique appointments. “Once I could see the dress fitting properly, I knew it was perfect, and really didn’t want to take it off on the day,” she remembers. She finished the look with something old, new borrowed and blue , including a little cat lucky charm that belonged to her grandpop, and a garter worn by her mum and auntie at their weddings. The groom wore a bright blue suit paired with a grey waistcoat