Bride: Emily Daniels, 29 Groom: Jody Gray, 37 Home: Ashvale, Hampshire Venue: Brandshatch Place Hotel and Spa, Kent Date: August 6th 2010
Special Delivery Emily’s days as a shop assistant at Laura Ashley were brightened by delivery driver Jody, but it took a colleague to lock him in the shop before he plucked up the courage to ask her out! Seven years later, Emily received a special delivery of her own when Jody proposed, and last year they were married… I will never forget the first time I saw Jody. It was back in 2002 and I was working at Laura Ashley in Guildford while studying for a Degree in Retail Management at the University of Surrey. Jody was the store’s delivery man, and had the most wonderful smile and chatty, friendly manner. ‘Amtrack Man’ the other girls nicknamed him, and they’d giggle and whisper as he came in and made a beeline to talk to me. ‘Are you excited?’ they’d laugh as I knew a delivery was due. I’d tell them to be quiet, but secretly I’d think: ‘Oh please ask me out!’ I’d never have had the nerve to ask Jody, but it was obvious that I fancied him and I was sure he liked me too. ‘Something is bound to happen’ the girls would say, but I think they were getting fed up that nothing had! One day I was on my tea break in the staff room when one of the girls rang and said ‘Hurry up Emily, Amtrack Man is here and I’ve locked him in the shop!’ I had to rush back to the shop floor to let him out and then, finally, he asked me if I’d like to go for a drink. Hallelujah! Of course I said yes immediately and as soon as he’d gone everyone started cheering!
Worth the wait
My first date with Jody was at a lovely little Italian restaurant in Twickenham. While I’d built this date up
for months and months I can honestly say Jody didn’t disappoint. It was obvious from the start that he was a really special man. He was so trustworthy and kind. I’d had bad experiences in relationships in the past, but this just felt right. Perfect actually! He was fun and friendly and the perfect gentleman. After that date Jody and I saw each other practically every day and stayed with each other when we could. Once I left University a year later, Jody got a flat in Aldershot and I moved in with him and got a job in recruitment.
A special surprise
A few weeks after we began dating, Jody had announced that he had a daughter, Bethan, who was three at the time and who he cared for most weekends. I appreciated his honesty, but I must admit it was quite daunting at first. It was about a month later that I finally met Bethan and I shouldn’t have worried. We instantly took to each other and I found her to be a really lovely little girl. Luckily she was very young and so she has grown up with me always around, and I think the world of her.
Happy families
For the next six years Jody and I lived together happily, enjoying time with each other and with Bethan. Of
course I wanted to get married. It was something I’d always dreamt of even as a child because I could see what a wonderful relationship my mum and dad, Linda and Ken, have. They’ve been together for 40 years and, like me, thrive on family life. Marriage wasn’t as important to Jody however, as his mum Angela had passed away when he was young and he wasn’t that close to his dad, David. Still, we did talk about tying the knot. We’d even chosen a ring, a single diamond on a white gold band from Ernest Jones in Guildford, but Jody wouldn’t let me have it ‘until the time is right.’ One day in May 2009 we took our dog for a walk and Jody stopped by our favourite tree, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I couldn’t stop grinning as he slipped the longed-for engagement ring onto my finger.
A family wedding
everywhere but no one had it. Eventually we struck lucky with Pronuptia in London who said they could order it in. Luckily the dress was perfect and nothing else I tried on compared to it. For the bridesmaids, my best friend Gwen, Bethan and Jody’s niece Georgiana, I decided on a midnight blue theme. Gwen’s dress was from Coast and mum added a blue ribbon to Bethan and Georgiana’s white dresses from John Lewis, along with blue flowers to their pretty white headbands. I followed the colour scheme through for Jody and his best man Darryl Johnson’s suits, which we got from Moss Bros, plus I chose white roses and cute little blue flowers called ‘bluebies’ for my bouquet and the bridesmaids’ flowers, and our florist Karen Wolven even decorated our white Marks and Spencer three tier chocolate, vanilla and fruit cake with trailing blue and white blooms.
Once our engagement was official I got all caught up in the excitement of planning the wedding. I knew I didn’t want a church service or a large, glamorous do. I wanted to keep things simple. I don’t particularly like being the centre of attention, so the most important thing for me was to feel comfortable and to find a venue that was homely and relatively small. Sounds easy, but I looked at and turned down so many hotels and country houses before finding Brandshatch Place. I immediately fell in love with Brandshatch’s size, its
A family affair
In keeping with the family theme of the wedding I chose Sarah Daniels to do my hair. I’d known Sarah for many years, and wouldn’t trust anyone else. She gave me a fantastic ‘up do’ which shimmered with diamante pins. For the pictures I hired Sue Comber who works with my sister Anna Phipps and does photography part time. Then it was time to have one last girly night out before the big day. Anna, Vicky, mum and my friends went for Tea at the Ritz which was lovely and very refined. Then my friends and I said goodbye to my family and headed off for a night at a London cocktail bar, staying overnight at a hotel. Jody meanwhile was having fun with his stags paintballing and go-karting in Bournemouth.
intimacy and its staff. Because our chosen wedding date coincided with the Superbikes Weekend at the nearby Brandshatch motor racing circuit, the venue offered us a great discount and we were able to book the whole venue and all the rooms which avoided any chance of random bikers in leathers wandering in on our special day! That swayed it for us, and we booked on the spot.
Dressing to impress
My priority after booking the venue was my dress. I looked on the internet constantly and fell in love with a gown by Maggie Sottero called ‘Caprice’ with the most remarkable beaded detail on the back. The problem was finding a stockist! Mum and I rang
Wedding day nerves
The night before the wedding I stayed at my parents’ house and we all drove to Brandshatch Place the next morning so I could get ready for the 1.30pm ceremony. I don’t know what was wrong with me that day, but from the minute I awoke I was filled with nerves, literally shaking! To make matters worse I could hear the roar of the Superbikes as I neared the venue and burst into tears. I had to sit in the car outside as Jody had stayed at the hotel the night before and mum had to make sure he wouldn’t see me. It was like a Carry On film as mum and Sarah, who was already waiting for me, ran around making sure the coast was clear! As I hurried to my room I was in a state of panic, and even Gwen
looked at me, raised her eyebrows and said ‘It’s not good’. ‘Oh my gosh, are we going to hear this all day?’ I replied. Luckily by 12 0’ clock the noisy drone had died away, but my nerves hadn’t! Even though I was thrilled with my dress and hair I couldn’t stop shaking. Barry, the Toastmaster, said I was the most nervous bride he’d ever seen and my dad thought I wouldn’t go through with the wedding!
honeymoon – two weeks in sunny California - it was amazing! Being Jody’s wife is incredible but still feels a little odd at times. We joke as we say ‘Hello my wife’ or ‘Hello my husband’ – funny but lovely. A little while after the wedding I bumped into someone who used to work at Laura Ashley. ‘Are you still with the AMtrack man?’ she asked. ‘Actually, I married him’ I answered, proud as punch!’
All’s well that ends well
Thankfully as soon as the doors opened and I heard the opening bars to the entrance of The Queen of Sheba I knew I’d be fine. I could see Jody waiting patiently for me at the altar and I took a deep breath and smiled. And then just couldn’t stop smiling – and giggling! As dad and I walked in through the doors and the eyes of our 90 guests turned to look at me, my shoulders began heaving – I was in fits. I’m sure everyone thought ‘What is she on?!’ Don’t get me wrong, I was incredibly happy, just still so nervous and thinking ‘Oh gosh I’m going to do something stupid!’ Then I couldn’t get Jody’s ring on. When we’d tried it on in the shop it had fitted perfectly, but now it was just stuck and I had to really shove it to get it on. It could only happen to me!
A new beginning
Thankfully we got through the ceremony without me doing anything crazy and after that I was fine – all my nerves melted away – I was Mrs Gray and I was ecstatic! We’d enjoyed beautiful music throughout the ceremony from a string quartet, and then while Jody and I signed the register Vicky played the oboe. Jody had chosen the piece Gabriel’s Oboe and it was lovely. Our guests enjoyed drinks and canapés while Clint’s Jazz Band performed Rat Pack songs and Sue took pictures. Then it was off for a wonderful wedding breakfast. Later we cut the cake and then had speeches from Darryl and my dad. I hadn’t known Jody was going to speak, but he stood up and said he just had to mention his mum. I knew how close they had been and it was incredibly moving. I felt so lucky at that moment to have married such a wonderful, loving person and I couldn’t help welling up. As our extra 30 evening guests arrived the brilliant disco provided by the hotel began. Our first dance as man and wife was to Van Morrison’s Have I Told You Lately and the lyrics really couldn’t have summed up my feelings any better. Despite all the nerves earlier in the day I really didn’t want to say goodnight at midnight. It was just idyllic to be stood with those I loved eating bacon sandwiches looking out over the Kent countryside and reminiscing on what was such a wonderful day!
A day to remember
I couldn’t tell you what the highlight of my wedding day was - it went by so quickly and was so perfect. I can’t imagine anything that could have added to it. Perhaps I will remember the moment, back in our room, sat with Jody on our bridal bed surrounded by cards and presents. I’d insisted on opening everything in an effort to keep the day going. I was far too happy to sleep! Luckily I didn’t have time for post wedding blues, because two days later Jody and I jetted off on
Recreate Emily and Jody’s Wedding Venue
Brandshatch Place Hotel and Spa www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/ hotels/brandshatch-place/
Photography Sue Comber
Dress
Pronuptia www.pronuptia.com
Flowers
Karen Wolven www.kwfloraldesign.co.uk
String quartet/Rat Pack music www.clintsjazzband.co.uk
Disco
Clive Austin
Toastmaster
Barry Simms www.toastmaster-barrysims.co.uk
Hair
Sara Daniels www.yourweddinghair.co.uk