Bride: Laura Christian, 30 Groom: John Martin, 30 Home: Rochford, Essex Venue: Newland Hall Date: April 15th 2011
VINTAGE DREAMS Laura always dreamt of a wedding tinged with olde-worlde charm, and she managed to create a stunning, art-deco inspired ceremony and reception in just six months! Read her romantic story and find out how she achieved it…
John and I first crossed paths when we went to the same school – Bromford in Wickford, Essex – but, though I knew his face, we didn’t really know each other to talk to. Years later, in 2003, I was working as a barmaid in a pub in Wickford, before going to study for my teaching degree, when he came in. I recognised him immediately and thought: ‘Ooh, you’re all grown up!’ He was very handsome, and though quiet, very funny and cheeky too. John bought a drink and told me to keep the change and treat myself – 2p! For some reason I put that coin in my pocket and kept it. Over the next few months he was in and out of the pub, and we always chatted and had a laugh. The pub ran music nights and John and I discovered we shared a love of music and festivals. I found myself looking forward to his visits, and was thrilled when one night he asked if I fancied going to the cinema in Southend, on my day off. It was summer 2004 by now and we had a fantastic time. I have no idea what we saw and John later admitted he didn’t really like the pictures anyway because he preferred to talk, so we went for a romantic stroll along the seafront. The next week he was going skiing with some friends and I couldn’t believe how much I missed him. When he came back I found he had missed me too. At that moment I knew this wasn’t just a fling, but the start of a serious relationship. For his part John said ‘I want you to be part of my family’. He’d lived alone since he was 16 and his parents had broken up so I knew how important family was to him, so I was flattered and deeply moved. As soon as my university training was
finished, in December 2009, we moved in together and were incredibly happy.
An Italian engagement
In August 2010, it was my 30th birthday. John had booked a trip for me to celebrate, and even though I didn’t know where we were going until a few days before, I never dreamt he’d propose there. The trip was to Italy and it was incredible. John knew I’d always wanted to go there, so it was a real treat. We headed to Florence which was so romantic. We took in all the sights and then got a train to Pisa to do the sunset climb up the Leaning Tower. I’m not great with heights, but John was insistent. We were the first people up, when I got to the top I was breathless and clinging on to the small rail, scared to look out. I put my head down as I felt a bit dizzy, and when I looked up John was on one knee. ‘Will you do me the honour of being my wife’ he asked. With the sun going down it was the most romantic moment of my life. Of course I said yes and all the visitors who’d followed behind us broke into applause and cheers. I was terrified of wearing my lovely ring – a huge diamond on a platinum band – in case I dropped it over the edge! Then I thought about how John had got the ring the right size – I was full of questions! Well, John may be quiet but I realised he is a diehard romantic too. He’d asked my dad’s permission before we left the UK and he’d drawn round one of my dress rings on his railcard and took that to the jewellers. I was stunned!
Jumping in with both feet…
I had no idea when John and I would marry. To be honest we were in no rush, but I did know what sort of service I wanted. I’d always dreamed of a vintage look as I was really into shabby chic and the art deco period. In the October half term John and I had a week off work. It was miserable weather and we decided to go and look at some venues. We liked Leez Priory, but it wasn’t exactly right. We went on to view six or seven other places, but none of those were right either. To be honest, I was getting a little down with the whole thing, then John suggested Newland Hall as he’d fished there before. The minute we got inside I fell in love with it. It was perfect. The outdoor marquee was dreamy and the Henry VIII room where vows were taken, was full of charm and ancient history. The lady at Newland Hall priced up weddings for summer 2011, but there were very few dates left. She then offered us an amazing deal for Easter 2011, which was so reasonable that we both just looked at each other, then at her and nodded. That gave us just six months to plan the whole event, but we were so excited we didn’t care!
First things first
The first thing we did was look at invitations on confetti. com. One was an art deco imitation fan in distressed cream with matching tassels. That invitation was the basis of the whole look of the wedding and it was amazing how easily, and quickly, it all came together. My chosen dress was the very first one I tried on. I’d booked four appointments in four shops, but the champagne gown from Precious Moments in Hollbridge was ‘the one’. When teamed with a white feather and diamante headpiece from Accessorize it was just the look I wanted. I had to have it! My four bridesmaids – Chloe, Lottie, Emily and Cherisse were a little more difficult to buy for, but I eventually got their beautiful dresses from Littlewoods and their vintage style fur shrugs from Debenhams. They looked so expensive that nobody could believe the outfits were from online catalogues! For his best man John chose his oldest friend Ed and for his usher another old friend, Mark. It had been very difficult for John because he had no brothers, yet had many very close friends. For his suit we settled on a
mink colour from Anthonys of Billericay and for Ed and Mark the same style, but in a dusty grey/blue.
Family ties
John and I had both experienced our parents divorcing, so we had to do some quick thinking. We wanted to give all the parents and step-parents equal importance in the day, so I decided to ask my dad to give me away and Bob (my step-dad) to do a speech and to seat everyone at the top table. Happily everyone was in agreement. With the seating plan sorted I found my lovely photographer, Jasmine, on-line and then booked my hair and make-up. Finally, there were the cars. John chose a Bentley, which fit the theme, but I couldn’t get the idea of a Beetle from my mind. Though it isn’t an art deco car, I had dreamed of having one at my wedding since I was a little girl, so I made allowances! The one I chose from Polly Pootles was so cute and special that I knew I had made the right decision!
A very special day
We’d booked our ceremony for 2.30pm and the night before we arranged that I would stay at home with my cousin Wendy, and John and Ed would stay elsewhere. In the end we couldn’t bear to not see each other, so John and Ed came over for dinner. The next morning I was up at 7.30am for breakfast with mum. I hadn’t slept all night! The hairdresser, Louise, was there by 9am and then Hannah arrived to do my make-up. By the time dad arrived I was ready. Dad was really emotional when he saw me. It was his birthday too so it was doubly eventful. Not long after, Helen from Polly Pootles arrived with her lovely car. She’d fitted it out with drinks and plenty of tissues for the tears! The Beetle was very small and could only go 50mph, but she was gorgeous. Dad had to sit in the front and only my eldest bridesmaid could fit in with us. However, it was a real experience. Everyone loves Beetles and we got so many looks and beeps.
Newlands awaits…
I was surprisingly calm about the ceremony and wasn’t at all phased about walking down the aisle in front of our 76 guests. The music John and I had chosen reflected our love of indie music, so dad and I set off to One Day Like This by Elbow. There was a funny moment when I
couldn’t get John’s ring on and we fell about laughing. Apart from that it was all straightforward and we were just wreathed in smiles. We walked out as man and wife to Close To Me by the Cure and then, as the guests headed for drinks and canapés on the lawn, we went off to have pictures taken. I was determined to spend some special time with John that day, because I’d seen lots of brides and grooms who are so busy talking to their guests that they don’t share the precious moments. So we made sure we had a glass of champagne before heading back to our guests and a feast of French onion soup with parmesan croutons, fishcakes, lamb medallions (goats cheese tart for me as I’m a veggie) and the most wonderful toffee cheesecake.The speeches by Bob, John and Ed were great. I hadn’t planned to speak, but I felt I had to. John was very close to tears anyway, but when I told him about the time he’d told me to keep the change when he bought that drink in the pub and the fact that I’d kept the coin he was off! It was such a moving moment
The night drawn to a close...
Later in the evening we had a disco provided by Newlands Hall and the DJ was great. We’d sent a play list and he played everything we asked. In the evening we had a further 35 guests till midnight and then we had a leaving circle, where John and I said goodbye to everyone while the DJ played I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles. That was a great touch as all the family are West Ham fans. We came home together that night in the Bentley. We’d decided against staying at a hotel as we just wanted to be in our own home, in our own bed. The next day was fab. We sat and opened all our cards and presents and spoke to all the family who were on a downer as they’d had such a great time and hadn’t wanted it to end. Luckily, John and I had a few days in Devon planned where we had a champagne picnic overlooking the harbour. Later in the year we went to Cayo Levantado, an island off the Dominican Republic, but until then we had our memories of the best day of our lives firmly in our mind. It couldn’t have gone any better had we had years to plan it.
Recreate Laura and John’s wedding
Venue: Newland Hall www.newlandhall.co.uk Photographer: Jasmine Jade www.jasminephotography.co.uk Cake: A Spoonful of Sugar www.a-spoonful-of-sugar.co.uk Invitation: Confetti www.confetti.co.uk Dress: Precious Moments Bridalwear www.preciousmomentsbridalwear.co.uk Groom/usher’s suits: Anthony of Billericay www.anthonyformalwear.co.uk Accessories: Accessorize www.accessorize.com Bridesmaid’s dresses: Littlewoods www.littlewoods.com Shrugs: Debenhams www.debenhams.com Hair: Louise Scrivener at Headlines, Wickford www.headlines-hair.co.uk Car hire (Beetle): www.pollypootles.co.uk Car hire (Bentley): Aristo Cars