Their work brought Lauren and Alex together. Lauren found herself attracted to Alex’s fun-loving energy, thoughtfulness and impressive work ethic. Meanwhile, Alex immediately found himself smitten with Lauren’s silliness, kindness and drive. Their shared love for music and tennis laid the foundation for their friendship, leading them to concerts, tournaments, and ultimately to a love that blossomed beyond the workplace. Four years to the day after their first picnic date, Alex surprised Lauren with his proposal. “I pretended to be playing golf with a mate and asked one of Lauren’s friends to organise a brunch with her that morning,” Alex shares. “While she was gone, my friend (also my eventual groomsman) and I swiftly transformed our newly refurbished kitchen into a romantic haven with petals, candles and music.” Lauren very nearly scuppered the surprise, as noticing the house was a lot tidier than normal when she returned, she insisted her friend join her in the kitchen. However, thanks to some quick reactions from her eventual bridesmaid, Sarah, she managed to get Lauren to go into the kitchen on her own, where she found Alex waiting for her. “Initially, she thought it was an anniversary surprise. It wasn’t until I got down on one knee with my grandmother’s ring that she realised what was going on!” Alex remembers. The couple instantly fell in love with Southend Barns thanks to its blend of rustic charm and modern elegance. The spacious barn with its flow between rooms provided ample space for their 140 guests, while the stunning décor ensured a picture-perfect backdrop whatever the weather. “Beyond the aesthetics, the incredibly kind and thoughtful staff, coupled with the exceptional food and drinks sealed the deal,” Alex explains. Join us as the groom shares more memories of the big day – 17th August 2024... SETTING THE SCENE Having decided on a rustic glam vibe with a blue, white, green and pale pink palette, the two handmade pottery plates as their wedding favours, which not only fit the theme like a dream but added an element of their story. “We took a pottery course early on in our relationship and absolutely loved it,” Alex explains. The plates were dark blue and bore four different floral designs with a blue arch around the outside. Each one was packed into a small rustic bag tied with brown string. The table plan was designed by the maid-of-honour, Sophie. It was a map of Tooting where the couple live with the tables named after their favourite places. These included their favourite pub and restaurant, their house, Sophie’s house, Tooting Common and Tooting Market. Name tags were attached to the guests’ menus by blue ribbon. Lauren carried a cascading bouquet featuring white, pale blue and green blooms, a mixture of delphiniums and coral garden spray roses finished with eucalyptus. Alex’s buttonhole meanwhile included a white rose, coral spray rose, blue eryngium, white astible and foliage. Beautiful blooms provided many a feature in the form of an arch for the gazebo ceremony area including large blue and white hydrangeas with some light pink touches. The centrepiece on the ceremony table was used again for the guest book table at the reception. This was long and low and featured a blend of the same flowers used throughout. The five beams in the barn were also adorned with flowers and the table centrepieces were minimalist, delicate bud vases sitting atop light blue table runners. Also on the tables were matching napkins, blue water glasses and gold cutlery for extra warmth. Clear, textured charger plates framed the setting. Dotted throughout were the flower-filled lanterns, which had been used earlier on to line the aisle, and milk churns filled with flowers to make a feature of the bar area. “Lauren’s grandfather was a cab driver, so we wanted to give him a nod since he’s no longer with us,” Alex shares. They hired a white taxi to pick the bride and her parents up from where she was getting ready and drop them at the venue. 29 REAL WEDDING
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