These lovebirds met at a vocational university focused on backstage theatre, where they essentially worked for free. Jess was a Scenic Artist, and Jay took on the role of Stage Manager, which often meant that Jay would tell Jess what to do, and Jess would playfully ignore the instructions. Their connection blossomed through mutual friends, who would end up being their bridesmaids six years later. Fast forward time, the pair had a heartfelt conversation about how they felt about each other and their dreams for the future, which led to Jay catching a bus to the nearest Pandora store to purchase some rings. Meanwhile, Jess found herself in a bit of a panic while Jay was gone. By the time Jay returned, it was dinner time, and Jess whipped up some ham sandwiches. They shared a cup of tea, and then, in the cosy kitchen of their student digs, Jay proposed. In a sweet twist, Jess accepted with the ring and proposed back. Just thirty minutes later, they attended a university event and excitedly shared the news with everyone SETTING THE SCENE When it came to planning their wedding, Jess’s number one goal was sincerity. She wanted to genuinely express her feelings for Jay and reflect on how far they had come together while looking forward to their future. Beyond that, Jess was thrilled at the thought of having all their friends and family in one place. Since her family had never met Jay’s due to the distance, the essence of the day was all about the vibes and the warmth of togetherness. Jess and Jay took on the ambitious task of designing and decorating their wedding themselves, with a little help from the wonderful bridesmaids the day before. Their chosen wing of The Renaissance Kelham Hall, which felt almost like two levels, had one side dedicated to the ceremony and the other to the reception. Jay’s favourite colour is green, while Jess adores orange, so it made perfect sense that the ceremony and adjoining rooms were adorned in soothing sage and wood tones, while the evening reception burst to life in vibrant burnt orange – complete with a disco vibe. Rather than splurging on new items, the couple scavenged over the year, hunting for treasures in charity shops and antique stores, and even crafting some pieces by hand. They infused their personalities into every detail, tucking away quirky little nods to their home within the foliage – like a charming tribute to Princess Diana on the memorial table. Beyond just aiming for fun and beautiful décor, they wanted to weave in functionality and sentimentality. Guests were encouraged to interact with various displays, filling out cards or taking home little mementos. One of the most delightful surprises upon returning home after the wedding was discovering all the Polaroid snapshots taken by their guests and diving into the heartfelt entries in their guestbook that the pair will treasure forever. For favours, the couple offered a mixture of dog treats, wildflower seeds and shots – something for everyone! For their bridesmaids and those who played a supportive role in their journey, they hand-hammered and stamped bracelets reminiscent of their engagement rings. It was a monumental task, but Jess and Jay always believed in going all out. The wedding design emerged from a blend of loose ideas and spontaneous creativity. Jess recalls setting up one of the dinner tables when her maid-of-honour, Daisy, and her partner, Flora, playfully chimed in with, “Aye aye, captain!” and jumped in to help recreate the vision. But perhaps the best highlight of the day? The bouncy castle! It was a whimsical touch that brought endless joy and laughter to their celebration. LOOKING THE PART Jess wore a white button-up shirt paired with high-waisted beige trousers, complemented by white high-platform Vans adorned with flowers and a green bolo tie – a Texan in the crowd gave Jess a cowboy pass. She had a soft spot for the bolo tie; having seen it worn at other queer weddings, it struck a chord as something unique and stylish. The shirt and trousers were from Next, a memory tinged with a bit of annoyance due to a parking ticket Jess had received that day. 27 REAL WEDDINGS
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