Martin and the groomsmen wore suits by Marc Darcy. The groomsmen opted for brown shoes and navy ties, while Martin wore a different tie, waistcoat and shoes in order to stand out. The couple’s bridesmaid chose a burgundy dress that matched Martin’s waistcoat. TIME TO CELEBRATE “We wanted to keep the guests and kids entertained,” shares the bride. “We had Karen Daniels play the piano throughout the ceremony, the drinks reception and the breakfast. She played a range of songs that added a romantic and tranquil atmosphere to the day. All the guests commented on how lovely she played, and she brought her own portable piano, so she was able to follow us around the venue. We also had a vintage ice cream van from Dotty About Ice Cream arrive just after the ceremony, which added a lovely touch for the guests whilst Martin and I were whisked away for a private moment. “We handmade all of our lawn games, which the kids loved and kept them entertained for hours,” shares Emily. “Along with the games, we made a large photo frame containing the wedding photos of each of our married guests, labelled ‘generations of love’.” MEMORABLE MOMENTS “We felt nervous and excited on the morning of the wedding, but were blissfully happy,” remembers Emily. “I remember standing looking at Martin during the ceremony with all our family and closest friends behind us, I can’t remember a single word that we said to each other as I was so nervous, but the moment I looked at Martin, and he looked back I felt so happy and in love. Martin sat at the top table after he had finished his speech and took a moment to look at all the guests enjoying themselves, holding my hand and feeling on top of the world. These are two moments we both talk about regularly when reminiscing about our wedding day. “As Martin has family and friends in Ukraine, one of the most special moments of the day was having a FaceTime call from one of Martin’s friends, Viktor, who couldn’t make it to the wedding day,” adds the bride. “Viktor found the time to FaceTime Martin just before I walked down the aisle to wish him good luck and again in the evening to say congratulations. This was an amazing thing which we both loved. Viktor has since been killed in the war, so this moment is even more special to us both now.” Chris from GingerJam Photography captured the couple’s stunning day. “Chris really did go above and beyond and deserves so much recognition,” explains Emily. “From the moment we sent an email enquiring about the packages he offered he was nothing but helpful and friendly, and on the day, Chris was more like a wedding planner, organiser, coordinator, drink holder and therapist all in one! He was such a calming influence on the morning whilst I was getting ready, chatted away with the guests and making people laugh, there was never any pressure to pose too much or have our photos taken at a certain time. Chris’ style meant he captured even the smallest of moments whilst we were all busy enjoying ourselves. I’ve tried multiple times to sum up how brilliant Chris was as our photographer, but nothing seems to come close to how truly amazing he is! Each time we look at our wedding photos, it’s like living the whole day again.” HONEYMOON “We went to Praiano in Italy for two weeks for our honeymoon,” says Emily. “We both planned the trip as we wanted something luxurious and nothing gets more luxurious than drinking cocktails along the Amalfi Coast. It was a little slice of paradise and the perfect spot to start life as newlyweds.” 31 REAL WEDDINGS
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