THE DREAM TEAM Photographer, Captured by Crissi, www.capturedbycrissi.co.uk | Venue and catering, voco Lythe Hill Hotel & Spa, https://lythehill.co.uk | Lizzie’s dress, Bridal Way, https://bridalway.co.uk | Bridesmaids’ dresses, JJ’s House, www.jjshouse.com | Jewellery and accessories, Pandora (Camberley branch), https://uk.pandora.net/en and Not On The High St, www.notonthehighstreet.com | Wedding rings, H. Samuel, www.hsamuel.co.uk and Ernest Jones, www.ernestjones.co.uk | Make-up artist, Rachel Maslin, www.rachelmaslin.com | Hair, Alida K (Laura Denny), www.alidakhair.com | Cake, Cake Maid by Catherine, www.cakemaid.uk | Florist, Someflower, https://someflower.co.uk | Stationery, Canva, www.canva.com/en_gb/ and Etsy, www.etsy.com | DJ and wedding entertainment, Twilights, www.twilights.co.uk | Venue dressing and décor hire, The Little Details Company, www.thelittledetailscompany.co.uk | Wedding dress and bridesmaid dress alterations, Alla Moda, www.instagram.com/allamodauk/p/Booj0usgEIW | Wedding dress cleaning, Executive dry cleaners, www.facebook.com/people/Executive-Dry-Cleaners/100063620078338 “Our suppliers were brilliant – a great team of women who went above and beyond for us. Rachel and Laura, our hair and make-up artists helped us into our dresses and filmed our big reveal to our dads. Along with our wonderful photographer Crissi, they kept us both feeling calm during the morning of the wedding.” - Catherine and Lizzie ceremony backdrop and were moved after the ceremony to sit behind the top table during the wedding breakfast. They were re-purposed again during the evening when they were moved to either side of the DJ booth - they were a standout feature of our wedding!” LOOKING THE PART Lizzie wore a Maggie Sottero floral lace fit-and-flare gown with a cathedral-length veil adorned with pearls and crystals. “I wore my hair up, a pair of pearl drop earrings and some ivory heels,” she tells us. Catherine wore a gown with a sweetheart neckline and lace sleeves styled with a double-tier, elbow-length veil with teardrop crystals. I wore my hair down in a wavy style with a matching silver heart necklace and earring set and a pair of round-toe lace heels.” The couple kept their dresses a secret from each other. “One of the things we were most excited about was seeing what each other’s dresses were like,” they tell us. “On the morning of the wedding when we were getting ready, we were excitedly telling our family and hair and make-up team what we thought the other would have chosen! We were so happy that our gowns looked great together.” Catherine and Lizzie’s dads and their four ushers (who were Catherine’s two older brothers and Lizzie’s two older brothers) all wore matching buttonholes. “Our four bridesmaids, which consisted of our nieces aged between 10 and 13 wore floor-length, A-line chiffon gowns in a shade called slate blue,” they tell us. TIME TO CELEBRATE Each guest received a card alongside their favours which had a QR code taking them to an online portal to upload their photos and videos from the day. “We could also look at other guest’s photos and we added a fun I Spy game,” they tell us. “We provided a list of moments for our guests to capture, including a selfie under the blossom trees, a group picture of their table, and the best dancefloor moment!” Catherine and Lizzie also had a cocktail hour. “In keeping with our table names, the bar team set up a cocktail station from 8 pm and created our favourite two cocktails,” they tell us. “Catherine’s choice was an espresso martini and Lizzie’s choice was a mojito. Symi’s mocktail, named after our cat was a cranberry kiss. Cocktail hour went down a storm!” Top tip: “We feel very grateful that as a same-sex couple, we celebrated getting married in much the same way as other couples but there are still a few obstacles to overcome. For example, having to fill out forms that ask for a groom’s name and bride’s name, or when meeting people at wedding fayres, having to word introductions specifically so that they don’t mistake you for two friends getting married at the same time of year. Finding a cake topper we liked that didn’t feature a bride and groom wasn’t easy!” - Catherine and Lizzie 50
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