Your Sussex Wedding - Page number 35 - October/November 2021 (Issue 93)

REAL WEDDINGS 35 GETTING TO THE CHURCH ON TIME “Because we had such a large wedding party and were going between two venues, we knew we’d need transport to carry a lot of people,” Cara tells us. Liking the idea of a double decker bus, but doubting its practicality given the venue’s country-lane location, they found Southcoast Motor Services, who offered a super-stylish vintage single decker – perfect. An oh-so cute VW Campervan called Candy took the bride and her dad to the church. Cara remembers, “She was the perfect vehicle, as the hoop underneath my dress would have been difficult to fit into anything smaller. Plus, she was such a fun and happy van, which really added to the atmosphere of our day.” FOOD FOR THOUGHT The couple knew early on that they would be looking for something other than the traditional three-course fare. They met Caroline from Gourmet Chef at a wedding fair and really appreciated how carefully she listened to their vision, enabling her to show them a few options they hadn’t considered. They settled on an informal barbecue along with a selection of desserts, which suited the overall vibe of the day well. Later on a pizza van arrived to serve the evening meal – “This was ideal after a few too many lemonades!” Cara confides. STYLE FOR THE AISLE The bride looked stunning in a Mark Lesley gown ( 7359 ), but it wasn’t a silhouette she’d pictured herself in. As she wasn’t sure what she was looking for on arriving for her appointment at Eva Rose Bridal, the consultants advised that she try on a variety to get a better understanding. Despite not being enamoured with her eventual choice when she saw it on the hanger, it was love at first sight once she’d glimpsed herself wearing it. Ollie wore a navy suit with a thin chalk stripe through it. The groomsmen were invited to choose their own suits, and all ended up selecting navy too, albeit in a variety of styles. Likewise, the bridesmaids were able to make their own floor- length, sage green or pink dress selections. THROWING SOME SHAPES During the drinks reception guests had great fun with the games laid out in the courtyard – giant Jenga, giant Connect 4 and Pass the Pigs. When the time came to hit the dancefloor later in the day a 10-piece funk/soul band provided the tunes. Cara recalls, “They went down really well as the music they played appealed to a wide range of people. They were wonderfully energetic and the floor was never empty.” There’s talent in this family as Ollie’s uncle is a singer in his spare time, although neither bride nor groom had seen him perform. Unbeknownst to them, he’d arranged with the band to let him sing for them and when he took the mic all assembled were delighted by his rendition of Johnny B Goode . MEMORABLE MOMENTS The bride says, “For me, one of the highlights was getting ready at my parents’ house in the morning. Having so many bridesmaids and friends, plus a huge family meant things were nicely chaotic. For Ollie, what stood out was seeing all of our loved ones together in one place, having such a nice time together after so long. Of course, we also loved the moment we stood at the altar together. I think it made the whole thing real. “Everyone involved in our wedding made it special, but ultimately we were so lucky with the timing. For many, it was the first sense of normality after the pandemic.”