Jess and Martyn met when she was a professional dancer and he a professional singer during rehearsals for a cruise ship contract in Italy. “We instantly connected,” Jess remembers. “We could talk like we’d known each other forever.” The two began to build a wonderful friendship becoming inseparable, and a few months later realised they were, in fact, much more to each other than friends. Their relationship blossomed from there. Martyn proposed on Christmas Eve while the couple were staying at Jess’ family home. Jess had popped out for some lastminute shopping and returned to a trail of candles and red roses leading her to Martyn who was waiting for her on one knee. “It was such a beautiful surprise,” she tells us. “Martyn knows Christmas is my favourite time of year, and my childhood home is so special to me. He really made it a moment we’ll never forget.” The Grand Lodge at Oaklands was the first and only venue the couple viewed and secured their date on the spot. “The natural beauty of the grounds blew us away and The Pavilion outdoor ceremony area reminded us of an amphitheatre,” Jess explains. “Not to mention the wedding coordinators, Andrea and Vicky, who are just the loveliest, most knowledgeable people, who couldn’t do enough for us.” Join us, as we find out more about W-day from the beautiful bride herself... LOOKING THE PART Jess wore Pastelle by Savin London, which was hand-painted in Italy. “The minute I stepped into it, I knew it was my dress. It was so beautiful and so comfortable, a win-win!” The bride tells us. She accessorised it with a simple necklace and flower bracelet, nothing else was needed. Martyn wore an olive green suit with a lemon-print pocket square. His brother, Scott, was his best man and he was dressed to match, with the exception of a green tie to differentiate from the groom’s neutral one. Jess’s best friend Nathan performed man-of-honour duties for her. He wore the same suit as Martyn and Scott, and chose a bow tie made from peacock-like feathers to accessorise it with. SETTING THE SCENE The couple planned to include as many ways to honour Jess’ late father as they could. He was Italian, so bringing a touch of the Mediterranean felt like the perfect way to do so. At cocktail hour Negronis were served as the couple’s signature cocktail, which they named ‘Father-of-the-Bride.’ Everyone also enjoyed pesto arancini and tomato brushetta canapés, while the band played an acoustic set in the sunshine. The ladies of Belle Bijoux created a gorgeous table plan using mismatched glass vases, each displaying handwritten names of the guests seated at each table, and was decorated with lemons and olive leaf. The centrepieces, also by Belle Bijoux, and Becky of Ivy Lane Florist, were tall, gold stands filled with masses of olive leaf. Lemons and tapered candles were scattered on the tables, and natural chiffon draped the chair backs. Favours were small, glass bottles of limoncello, setting the scene for an Italian feast provided by Annika’s Apron. Sharing boards of antipasti and huge portions of nduja stuffed chicken breast were accompanied by delicious focaccia. For dessert, Annika went above and beyond to surprise the newlyweds and their guests with the presentation of their chosen trio of desserts. REAL WEDDINGS 21
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