As the Christmas season is in full swing, it’s reminded me of Lauren and Dave’s Gaynes Park wedding, which took place last year, just two days before Christmas. It was a beautiful day, with plenty of Christmassy delicate details. A year later, I thought it would be the perfect time to catch up with Lauren, who shares her favourite memories of their day.
Lauren, tell us about that proposal
Dave planned a trip to Paris over the Christmas period and I just assumed it was a normal break away. We spent the first day sightseeing and then that evening we had tickets booked to go up the Eiffel Tower.
As we were making our way, watching the lights sparkle on the Eiffel Tower, we were standing underneath and Dave starting acting a little suspicious. He started talking about our life together and then pulled out the most beautiful engagement ring and I couldn’t believe it. Shock is an understatement, and obviously I said yes.
When and where did you get married?
We were married at Gaynes Park on the 23rd December 2015. Given that it was so close to Christmas, we incorporated a Christmas/winter theme into our day.
How did you choose your wedding dress?
When going dress shopping the only thing I was certain of was that I wanted a sweetheart neckline. I wanted to try on more fitted dresses with a fishtail shape to them, but I found these styles were not working for me. The lady grabbed one I had already said no to and made me try it on. As soon as it was on I knew it was the dress. It was strapless with a sweetheart neckline, A-line silhouette with a lace top and a few diamantes and pearls to add some sparkle. The moral of the story? Go out of your comfort zone and be willing to try on different styles because that might just be your dress!
Who were your bridesmaids?
I had six bridesmaids in total. Claire my sister, was my maid of honour, while Jennifer, Dave’s sister, plus my friends Emma, Bex, Camron and Eloise were bridesmaids. Their dresses were a pale sage green, floaty and full length with a cowl neck at the back.
What did you love most about wedding planning?
I loved everything. The planning did not stress me out at all and I wish I could do it all again but the most fun I had was trying on wedding dresses.
What 3 tips would you offer other brides?
- Don’t stress over the silly little things. On the day you won’t even give them a second thought.
- Don’t tell people closest to you everything about the wedding. Keep some surprises for the day as it’s fun watching people’s faces.
- Enjoy everything and make your day exactly how you want it. It’s sad how fast it goes but it truly is the best day of your life.
Finally, how did you decide on Marc as your wedding photographer?
We met Marc at the Bluewater Wedding Fair and immediately liked his friendly and relaxed approach. We were able to book him for an engagement shoot and although we feel we are not naturals in front of the camera, Marc made us feel very comfortable. The pre-shoot really helped us to feel relaxed and gave us an idea of the type of photos for the day itself.
Seeing the different photos Marc was able to capture during the pre-shoot and the way he was able to make the experience enjoyable, we made the easy decision to book him for our wedding.
Having Marc as our photographer was honestly one of the best decisions we made when planning our wedding. We could not be happier with the pictures he captured on the day and the photo album we have is stunning. Even nearly a year later guests are still saying how good he was and how beautifully he captured our special day.
If you are still looking for your wedding photographer why not consider my photo experience. My photo experience sessions are perfect for ensuring that your money is being wisely invested and I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to email or call FREE on 0800-634-4455 or by mobile on 07961-101-725 to discuss your big day in greater detail.