When planning a wedding, it’s easy for couples to get caught up in the details, making sure it stays true a theme, ensuring the colour codes are right and going crazy if everything isn’t perfect. And while Lauren and Tom’s beautiful wedding could have been taken straight from a Shakespeare love story or magical wonderland, for them the most important theme on the day was their relationship.
Taking place on the 17th June at Penton Park in Andover, both Lauren and Tom were keen they didn’t lose sight of what their wedding was actually about, celebrating them as a couple and making a commitment to each other. Because of this they ensured throughout the day they took time to have a quick ten minutes together and really appreciate what they were doing.
However, staying true to tradition, the day started with them apart. Lauren arrived at Penton Park at 8.30, where her and her bridal party began their preparation with hair and make up by Elegance Bridal Coiffeur. Tom then got to the venue at 11.30, along with the couple’s dogs, who thankfully were well and truly tired out by the groomsmen before the big event began.
At 2pm it was time for the ceremony and just before Lauren was pleased to share a special moment with her now Mother-in-Law, who came up to talk to her before all the action began. Lauren and Tom then exchanged their vows in the ceremony which was very personal to them, with a their registrar who they’d grown particularly close to. During the ceremony, Lauren was walked down the aisle by her Hungarian Puli and her dad towards Tom, a memory she’ll treasure for a lifetime.
After the pair were wed, the wedding party joined together for the food, provided by Fat Hog Big Pan catering. As a great lover of all things cake and being a non-drinkers, Lauren and Tom opted for afternoon tea as their wedding breakfast, with little sandwiches, scones and fresh cream and jam and of course mountains of cake! This menu also had the added benefit of reducing the risk of spillage over Lauren’s ivory dress. Each of the tables were decorated with crockery towers, collected by family and friends from all over the country. The room was then further decorated with flowers created by Lauren and her bridal party from Covent Garden Flower Market, with the only exception of her bouquet from Little Lilliies.
Once the food had been eaten, everybody enjoyed Tom and his groomsmen’s speeches. Lauren found her dads’ speech particularly touching and thankfully he kept embarrassment to a minimum. Tom then gave a funny but heartfelt speech, while the best man left everyone laughing to the point of tears. Lauren was also delighted that her Maid of Honour gave a speech, sharing an intimate insight into their friendship.
The fun of the wedding continued with a Cookie Dough Cheesecake and a surprise bouncy castle on the grounds of the park where guests relaxed with picnic blankets in the midsummer English sun.
The day was completed with Lauren and Tom’s first dance to Ed Sheeran’s “I see Fire”, chosen because of their love of The Hobbit and the fact they didn’t want anything too traditional. Sticking with the untraditional theme, Tom also shared a first dance with his best man and best friend Tim, before everyone tucked into a hog roast, vegetarian Paella and about a tone of cheese.
Blog written by Alana Hebenton Twitter is @alanahebenton
Thank you to my second shooter Zoe for some of the photographs used in this blog
