Your Sussex Wedding - February / March 2021 (Issue 89)

REAL WEDDINGS 31 Jonathan wore a navy blue tail suit paired with a grey tweed waistcoat, teal tie and pocket hanky. His look was kept from Laena until the wedding day as a surprise for her. The groomsmen were dressed similarly, but wore their suits with navy waistcoats instead. The bridesmaids also wore tea-length dresses, which matched the palette teal. The bride gifted both with pearl jewellery in colours to suit their personalities. TIME TO CELEBRATE The reception was kept simple given the restrictions in place at the time. The wedding breakfast was followed by speeches, cake and coffee, and the day drew to a close at 8pm. “It was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with our closest family and loved ones,” Laena says. The most memorable moment of the day for the bride was reaching the top of the staircase to see her groom across the room. She tells us, “I really had to try to stop myself crying with so much happiness. My cheeks hurt by the time I was standing next to him. The relief we felt having finally made it to the altar was overwhelming. Once the registrar announced us as husband and wife, we looked at each other and said: ‘we did it!” LOVE IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS Laena tells us more about the challenges faced when the Covid crisis destroyed the plans of so many: “We were actually already planning an intimate wedding of 30 people and had booked our suppliers well in advance of the pandemic hitting. The biggest adjustment was to the ceremony as the 30 permitted by the government had to include suppliers. Our venue suggested we stream the ceremony to some of our guests in the downstairs room and Jonathan was able to make this happen thanks to his knowledge of computers. We made the best of the situation for the guests watching the live stream providing them with popcorn and 3D glasses. “We also needed to spread our guests out across more tables to ensure the social distancing rules were met. Fortunately all I had to do was make more centrepieces, which I enjoyed doing. Our venue was extremely accommodating with the necessary changes, and the team was constantly on standby for us whenever new announcements were made. “The lead up to the big day was a complete rollercoaster. It was tough with so many constant unknowns, but the support we were able to give each other made us realise how important this day was to us and that we were definitely doing it for the right reasons.” WISE WORDS Laena says, “The most important piece of advice I can offer is not to do everything alone, and trust your suppliers – they can give you the best guidance based on years of experience. If plans have to change, before you start contacting suppliers and guests, just take a step back and let yourself process it. A good G&T will always help too! “Booking as many suppliers as possible well in advance makes a huge difference. Going to wedding fairs really helps with inspiration, and be sure to load up on magazines, they have great stories and ideas through all seasons.” 