Your Surrey Wedding- Page number 43 - June/July 2021 (Issue 89)

C harlotte and Ben first laid eyes on each other at sixth form in 2009. “We met properly when volunteering with Handicapped Children’s Pilgrimage Trust on a trip to Lourdes,” says Charlotte. “We went from only having said a few words to each other to a couple during our week trip to France.” Ben popped the question at Charlotte’s master’s graduation in 2016. “We’d spent the whole day celebrating, and I was about to return my gown when he insisted we visit a spot for another photo,” shares the bride. “Little did I know he was actually going to propose. My family knew and recorded the whole thing.” SETTING THE SCENE “Ben attends the Holy Angels Church, so we didn’t consider anywhere else for our ceremony,” explains Charlotte. “We used the small room at the side to provide tea, coffee and home-baked cakes before the service for all our friends and family as many had travelled from Norfolk and Suffolk. For our reception, we looked at a few options, but Weybourne House won hands down! It’s a hidden gem with some beautiful spaces both inside and out, and of course, it’s right beside the River Wey. They took care of all the food, and it was delicious! We had a huge cheese board in the evening, which we had great feedback on, although I never got to eat any as I was too busy dancing!” The happy couple organised a barge trip after the ceremony. “Our guests had drinks in the bar area while we took our National Trust boat trip from Guildford town centre past the venue and back again,” adds the bride. “Our loved ones stood outside as we stepped off the boat onto a red carpet. The trip was wonderful and our favourite part of the day.” “Our favours were Cancer Research UK pins and broaches,” recalls Charlotte. “Ben’s mum, unfortunately, passed away from cancer the Christmas before our wedding, so it was important for there to be things that remembered her.” Charlotte and Ben named their tables after their favourite places in Surrey and Hampshire. “We thought it would be nice to share a little bit of where we live with the people who aren’t local,” says the bride. “Our table plan, invitations and place names were designed and printed by Aimee Paints Illustration. The original pencil drawing she created is now hung in our house.” “Our centrepieces were beautiful blue jugs filled with yellow flowers sitting alongside pictures of our favourite places,” Charlotte shares. “I loved our flowers, and I’ve since had my bouquet preserved. We used Cathey’s REAL WEDDINGS 43