Your Sussex Wedding - Page number 30 - August/September 2021 (Issue 92)

Kats and paracetamol. “We always wanted our wedding to be a proper party even though it didn’t quite end up being the big bash we planned,” Charlotte explains. LOOKING THE PART Charlotte wore Marnie by Enzoani. “It was actually my second dress as I changed my mind about the first,” she shares. The bride fell in love with the extravagant back and train, even though it wasn’t a silhouette she’d ever pictured herself wearing. “I knew Josh would love me in this dress too,” she explains. Charlotte finished the look with simple accessories in the shape of ivory shoes, a pair of stud earrings and a bracelet containing a picture of her mum. Josh was dressed in a blue tweed three-piece suit. He wore a different waistcoat to his groomsmen and accessorised with brown brogues, a pocket square and the pocket watch his father-in-law gave him as a joint 30 th birthday and wedding gift. Charlotte’s bridesmaids wore dove grey dresses in two different styles – one an off-the-shoulder silhouette and the other with straps and a cowl neck. TIME TO CELEBRATE The newlyweds enjoyed their first dance together outside before sitting down to eat. “This was actually really lovely and made the day a bit different,” Charlotte remembers. All assembled were treated to a seven-course menu that the couple worked with the venue’s chefs to create, and each dish was paired with a different wine. “We can’t thank Roots Catering enough. Guests told us this wasn’t just the best food they’d eaten at a wedding, but the best full stop! Every part was perfection.” Deservingly, the chefs were invited out of the kitchen at the end of the meal to take their applause and a standing ovation. Following the wedding breakfast, everyone enjoyed his ‘n’ hers cocktails in honour of the bride and groom – espresso martini for Charlotte and an old fashioned for Josh. “As there were so few guests it gave us the opportunity to talk to them all, and there was a lovely relaxed atmosphere to the whole evening. Everyone commented on how special they felt being part of such an intimate day,” the bride says. MEMORABLE MOMENTS After all the stress and tears of planning and replanning a sense of calm washed over the pair on the big day as they finally felt they could relax and enjoy it. “My bridesmaids were concerned about how calm I was and kept asking if I was OK. But I was just excited that it was all finally happening,” Charlotte laughs. Saying “I do” in the venue’s gorgeous Secret Garden meant no one had to wear face masks and thankfully the sun shone. The bride continues, “I’d always had a fear of becoming overcome with emotion and crying as I walked down the aisle, but I was so happy that I smiled the whole way. Writing our own vows was something we’d always wanted to do and being able to say those words to each other was incredibly special. “The overriding emotion for both of us was an enormous sense of relief – after everything that’d happened it was finally our big day and it was absolutely perfect.” “I found it really hard to cope with all the uncertainty, but Josh was my rock throughout.” 30