After a romantic proposal that saw Tommy propose in the exact spot where he and Hannah first met, it was time for this Tinder couple to start planning their perfect personal wedding.
The Wedding & Reception Venue
After finding Gaynes Park online, Hannah and Tommy secured their dream venue two years before the big day:
“I’d searched and searched for a farm-style venue and I knew I wanted our wedding not to be too far from home. I’d always pictured being outside among the flowers and the gorgeously idyllic scenery at Gaynes Park was perfect.”
“We loved the fact that the venue had everything we wanted together in one place and that it was exclusively ours. The venue, food, drink, accommodation, it was all totally wonderful.”
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Hannah and Tommy started their wedding planning with a fabulous Pinterest board and a beautiful wedding organiser that was a heartfelt gift from the Hannah’s mum. But, as you might expect, technology played a big part in the build-up to the day:
“We used the internet a lot and had a big, tailored spreadsheet to help us keep on top of all the vital information. That included contact details for all our suppliers and guests and I even created a calculator that told me what I was due to pay, what I had spent and our total budget. It was so useful as I could update it as we went along.”
When it was time to start the search for her wedding gown, Hannah made her way to Morgan Davies Bridal in London:
“I was particularly drawn to one designer, Kobus Dippenaar and Morgan Davies stocks these gowns. I tried on a dress that I’d visualised in my mind as my perfect dress, but it just didn’t wow me. But, as soon as I tried on a different option, it was totally and unexpectedly… me!”
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Hannah’s gown featured an intricate floral design and layers of a gorgeous sequined material that sparkled from underneath the lace. The overall effect was utterly dreamlike, and Hannah personalised the dress with bardot-style arm details.
She wore pink bow wedge shoes during the day and changed into flats for the evening reception. Hannah also wore little flowers in her hair and borrowed a bee brooch from her Maid of Honour which was pinned to her bouquet to complete her look.
Tommy chose his outfit and it suited Gaynes Park perfectly. His tweed suit fitted the relaxed, traditional vibe of the day and it was a huge hit with Hannah too:
“Tommy looked incredibly handsome in his suit and my heart skipped a beat when I saw him. I have to admit that I did cry a little when I saw him looking at me down the aisle and so did he when I finally stood next to him.”
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It was in the decorative touches that allowed Hannah and Tommy to really put their own personal stamp on Gaynes Park. So many of the details were handmade including the stationery, table plan and every single wedding favour – succulents and various cacti. However, it was the table decorations that really stood out:
“My mum and I made all of the table name logs which sat in the middle of each table amongst the stunning flower centrepieces by Boutique Blooms. Each table was named after a woodland animal and the logs were decorated with faux moss, stones, flowers, mushrooms and lots of little details. We sourced everything online and, armed with a glue gun, we created ten little mini worlds!”
Hannah and Tommy also created a super cute sweetie stand with big jars filled to the brim with sweets for guests, a card box and lots of other details, including T and H letters that were filled with faux flowers. Mediterranean Occasions added twinkling fairy lights and rustic chair bows. Hannah’s favourite detail however was the hanging wisteria in the Mill Barn – a delightful, almost magical touch.
Even the wedding cake, by Fondant Fox, matched the woodland theme with Black Forest Gateau flavours! The cake was decorated with mini meringues, glittered cherries, macarons, flowers and even coconut mushrooms!
For their beautiful, bright and intimate wedding ceremony in the Orangery at Gaynes Park, Hannah and Tommy knew just what they wanted:
“We played our favourite song called ‘Back roads’ by Lonely The Brave. That song is just one we’ve loved since the early days of dating. We wanted to steer away from the ‘traditional’ wedding music and it was important to have music that reflected us and our history together.”
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After spending plenty of time with their guests and celebrating their marriage with good food in great company, it was time for the evening reception and Hannah and Tommy hit the dancefloor. They first heard their band, Minibar Disaster, at a fireworks event at Alexandra Palace and knew straight away that they had to book them!
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Even when the evening party drew to a close, that wasn’t the end of the fun:
“Our closest friends and family stayed in the Coach House and we had a blast! We hung out with them once everyone else had gone home and we talked about the day, had a laugh and just caught up with each other. Everyone was so impressed with their rooms too, the décor has a Moroccan vibe to it, with a cosy cottagey personality. So much better than staying in a bland hotel room! It also meant that in the morning we could all congregate for a lovely breakfast together, it was just wonderful.”
Wedding Planning Tips
“I started booking my first suppliers about a year before the date and I would say that was useful in reducing panic as I wasn’t swamped at the end and I didn’t rush anything.”
“I’d definitely recommend making a wedding spreadsheet to calculate costs and record contact details. It also helped us keep a track of all our guests and RSVPs and so on. It really helped.”
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“I was very lucky as I had a really stress-free and fun time organising our wedding and I’ll look back on it with such fondness. Our families didn’t put any pressure on us, which enabled the day to be purely about Tommy and me, which is just how weddings should be.”
For more wedding inspiration, take a look at Emily and Tom’s Relaxed Spring Wedding, which had plenty of flowers and personal touches to give you great ideas!
