Your Sussex Wedding - April/May 2020 (Issue 84)

REAL WEDDINGS 33  FOOD FOR THOUGHT The catering is where the Salt Room really came into its own. The venue’s chef created a menu for the pair based on their own ideas, which gave loved ones a choice of four starters, four mains, and three desserts. Main course options were venison, squab pigeon, sea bass or turbot, and we’re reliably informed that each was exquisite. Giving guests a choice may sound complicated, but it was a process made all the easier by the venue staff who coordinated the responses via an online ordering system. Special mention should go out to bar manager Kriss, who created a red cocktail especially for the event, which was named “The Great Godsby,” a play on the newlyweds’ surname. It contained vodka, chestnut liqueur, vanilla, lemon and raspberry. DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION Alison knew exactly what she was looking for when shopping for her wedding dress began: a glamorous red ballgown. Despite this proving a little tricky in reality, she did find the perfect design in the shape of Laguna by Ian Stuart. Alison tells us, “I asked him to make it for me in scarlet dupion silk, minus the long train so I could dance in it. It was a bit nerve-racking as I didn’t get to see it until four weeks before the wedding, but it was absolutely my fantasy dress, so fabulous that it needed minimal accessories.” Peter has a great sense of style and put together a coordinated blue jacket and waistcoat by Ray Robson with Boss trousers and some super-stylish Jeffery West shoes. He paired the ensemble with a red silk tie to complement the bride’s dress, as did the best man and his son, Sam. The bride’s 16-year-old niece performed bridesmaid duties and wore a beautiful blush gown, the top of which was adorned with rose gold sequins. TIME TO CELEBRATE The fabulous soul singer Alison David got everyone dancing from the moment she started singing until the night drew to a close. Alison remembers, “She has the most fantastic voice and with the cordless mic, she was down on the dancefloor, joining in the festivities as she sang. We felt very lucky to have someone so talented and charismatic to make our wedding reception so memorable.” MEMORABLE MOMENTS Alison reflects on the day’s highlights: “I was a bit late arriving at the Royal Pavilion for the ceremony, thanks to Brighton’s new one-way system. So when my entrance song started, At Last by Etta James, everyone erupted into fits of giggles! No doubt it was also something to do with the fact that I waited until the age of 58 to get married for the first time! I waited for the laughter to die down before walking in, but it did put a smile on my face too. Seeing each other for the first time was an incredibly emotional moment. Amy, my niece and bridesmaid, who has a beautiful soprano voice, sang A Thousand Years by Christina Perri as we signed the register.” ALISON’S TOP TIPS “Choose your florist carefully, as they absolutely set the atmosphere of the wedding. They make dreams come true so it’s worth making them central to your budget. Chirpee Flowers really did make the impossible happen. Hire a wedding planner, or at least on-the-day coordination. It was such a relief only having to think about getting myself ready. Sally Gallis of Events by Design brought everything together beautifully. She worked 15 hours that day and still found time to look glamorous when the guests started arriving!”