REAL WEDDING
NATALIE AND PAUL’S LITTLE BLACK BOOK VENUE: Leez Priory (www.leez-priory.co.uk) PHOTOGRAPHER: Laura Lea Photography (www.lauraleaphoto.co.uk) VIDEOGRAPHER: Taylor’s Lens (www.taylorslens.co.uk) STYLIST: Fool Flowers (www.foolflowers.co.uk) FLORIST:
Cherubs Florists (www.cherubsflorists.co.uk) WELCOME SIGN & TABLE PLAN: The Emma's Emporium (Instagram: @the_emmas_emporium) HAIR: Hair So Boho (www.hairsoboho.com)
The big day arrives The wedding morning itself was a whirlwind. From the moment I started getting ready it was filled with laughter and excitement. Our ceremony began at 2pm, and it kicked off with the incredible Lula Weddings, a wedding singer I had found months ago and who Paul had booked as a surprise. Hearing the strains of A Thousand Years by Christina Perri, as I walked down the aisle was a moment of pure magic. I was a bit nervous as I walked towards Paul with my dad on my arm, but as soon as I saw his beaming face, all my nerves disappeared. Our closest friends and family, including Paul’s mum Jacqueline and stepdad Nigel cheered us on, creating an electric atmosphere. The ceremony was conducted by a registrar and was made even more moving by a tribute to Paul's late father, David who had passed away when Paul was 18. We played his favourite song and placed a picture of him on one of the chairs. Paul also wore a pin with a picture of his dad and a little note in his pocket which I’d given him as a wedding gift. Peaches couldn't be at the ceremony, but we included her in the wedding newspaper, which was part of our order of service. Each of our 75 guests cheered as we were pronounced man and wife and walked out to Marry Me by Bruno Mars. Dancing the night away The reception that followed was equally fantastic, with canapés and champagne, accompanied by a saxophonist. At 4.30pm we moved inside to the Coach House for our wedding breakfast. The room looked stunning and exceeded all my expectations. It was decorated with lots of greenery and looked beautiful.
Paul delivered an amazing speech, followed by the best man, my dad, and my bridesmaids who all gave heartfelt speeches, leaving not a dry eye in the house. After dinner, we had an undercover waiter, which was such fun. Only Paul and I were in on the secret. He pretended to drop a bucket, and everyone rushed up to help him. But then, he got up and sang for 30 minutes with our guests dancing on chairs and him leading a conga line. We wanted our wedding to be fun and memorable, and it truly was! Our first dance as husband and wife was to Perfect by Ed Sheeran. We’d been practicing our steps for about a month, as neither of us is particularly skilled at dancing. Thankfully it went well, and we had so much fun. Paul and I share a love for Ibiza, so we had a saxophonist and a bongo player to kick off the party and get everyone grooving. The dancefloor was never empty and to top off a perfect day, Paul surprised me with a dazzling firework display at the end of the night - it was just incredible. We partied until 12.30am with a handful of diehards staying up until 2am before heading to our rooms at Leez Priory. Paul and I were lucky enough to have the stunning bridal suite, a lovely way to savour our first moments as a married couple. Reflecting on the perfect day The highlight of our wedding for me was undoubtedly seeing Paul waiting for me at the altar. He looked so happy, and it filled my heart with joy. The undercover waiter's performance was hysterical and a big hit with our guests, adding a unique and entertaining twist to the evening. I would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone planning their wedding. The next day we had a family lunch, before packing for a mini moon to Stella Island in Greece, followed by our main honeymoon trip to Dubai and the Maldives in January 2024. Our guests' generosity in contributing to our honeymoon fund made our journey even more special and memorable. We still find ourselves on cloud nine now, grateful for the love and support of our family and friends and excited for the adventures that lie ahead in our happily ever after.’
MAKEUP ARTIST: Makeup by Faye Neill
(www.makeupbyfayeneill.co.uk) BRIDESMAID DRESSES: Wed2B (www.wed2b.com) SUITS:
Dapper Dorking (www. dapper.co.uk) TABLE & COCKTAIL SIGNAGE: Bewilderly (www.bewilderly.com) WEDDING SINGER: Lula Weddings (www.lulaweddings.co.uk) SAXOPHONIST: Sister Sax (www.sistersax.co.uk) SINGING WAITER: The Undercover Waiters (Instagram: @theundercoverwaiters) BONGO PLAYER: Dan Rawley Percussion (Instagram: @danrawleypercussion)
102 ABSOLUTE BRIDAL
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