Magic Moments
When Claire met Nick there was magic in the air, and though their love didn’t run smoothly at first, magician Nick had obviously cast a love spell on Claire. So much so that in January this year they became husband and wife in a glittering winter wedding at the stunning Gosfield Hall‌
Bride: Claire Goddard, 30 Groom: Nick Crown, 29 Home: Chelmsford, Essex Venue: Gosfield Hall Date: January 7th, 2011
When friends turn into lovers… ‘The minute Nick walked into the classroom at Epping Forest College where we were both studying performing arts, he made me smile. He was a lad’s lad but I could see he also had a huge heart and so much charisma. We hung out together in a group of friends, as time passed we found we were spending more and more time together and then one day - hallelujah! – he came clean about his feelings for me. From that day on, six years ago, we were inseparable.
Stand by me… Though I was over-themoon to be Nick’s girlfriend, the course of true love didn’t run smoothly. A year into our relationship I suffered the double trauma of losing my beloved dad and grandma within the space of 2 months. Nick was a rock and I don’t know what I’d have done without him, but part of me just wanted to get away from the grief. To Nick’s credit he encouraged me to go away for five months, travelling to Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. What he didn’t know was that every time I called him to say hello I’d be in floods of tears afterwards. That made me realise just how much I wanted this man to be in my life and I wasn’t about to let him go.’
A Highland fling… On the eve of my 28th birthday Nick and I flew to Edinburgh. We hired a car and drove to Inverness where we stayed in the most incredible hotel overlooking Loch Ness. The next day we went for a walk. It was freezing cold, I had no make-up on and my hair was a mess, but as I snuggled up to Nick beside a breathtaking waterfall I couldn’t have been happier. Suddenly Nick dropped to one knee and asked me to be his wife! I was so shocked that I put my head in my hands and wept. Nick was flustered and thought I didn’t want to say yes but of course I did – I was just so overwhelmed and even more so when he gave me a beautiful, princess cut diamond ring on a platinum band!
Perfect planning… As soon as we returned from Scotland Nick and I invited our families – his mum Frances and dad Martin and their partners and my mum Tina and my sister Holly, 26, out for dinner to break the good news. I asked my godfather Rob Ackred to give me away. Dad and Rob had been like brothers and it seemed the right thing to do – he was thrilled to be my surrogate dad for the day! Then it was onto planning the big day. We wanted a winter wedding because Nick and I both suffer from bad hay fever and didn’t want to risk a summer with the threat of streaming eyes and constant sneezing! Though we had a year to make arrangements we knew it would pass quickly so it was all hands on deck!
A time and a place…
Finding our dream venue proved to be easy. Nick and I wanted a civil ceremony and needed the venue to have accommodation on site and be small enough to make our wedding cosy and intimate for our 60 invited guests. In the end we went to about six places but both fell in love with Gosfield Hall which was just stunning. We decided on January 7th for the wedding as it would extend the festive celebrations which we both loved for another week and give everyone something to look forward to after the excitement of New Year had passed.
An extra special Christmas delivery! Not long after our honeymoon, Nick and I were thrilled to discover we were expecting a baby. Little Harrison Jay Crown is due on December 21st, an amazing gift and the very best way to round off a spectacular 2011!
Stand by me… Dressing to impress… I chose my gorgeous Ian Stewart ‘Florentina’ dress from Matchmakers in Brentwood. My sister Holly, my only bridesmaid, had a similar style gown in burgundy from A White Wedding in Hornchurch. The guys – Nick and his best men Adam and Jake - matched us in black suits with contrasting burgundy ties from Anthony’s in Billericay. Donna from Elegance flowers in Chelmsford carried on the theme with stunning burgundy and cream bouquets with winter berries. She also decorated our three tier ivory wedding cake from M&S and made stunning winter themed table centrepieces in our chosen colours.
The best day of my life… I always thought I’d be strong when marrying Nick and he’d be the one who crumbled, but the minute our string quartet, La Scala, began playing and I set off down the aisle to become his wife, the tears started, which set the whole congregation off! Nick, meanwhile, stayed composed and just beamed all the way through the wonderful ceremony which was conducted by two fantastic registrars. I can’t tell you what the highlight for me was because the whole event – from my friends Katie and Nicola who did readings, to the speeches, the wonderful wedding breakfast, our first dance to Harry Connick Junior’s It Had To Be You and the fantastic set by X Factor Star Nicole Laurence - just passed by in a blur of happiness. Sitting in our bridal suite later that night, as man and wife, was just incredible. Downstairs the party continued without us and it was just lovely to hear all those we held so dear having a fantastic time. For me though, being alone with Nick at that moment was a dream. We’d come so far together and here we were, a married couple at last. There’s not a moment I’d change and now, every Christmas time, I know I will reflect on the pure joy of our wedding day.
Recreate Claire and Nick’s Wedding VENUE: GOSFIELD HALL www.countryhouseweddings.co.uk/gosfield-hall/ PHOTOGRAPHY: DAN CASSON www.dancasson.com DRESS: MATCHMAKERS, BRENTWOOD www.matchmakerbride.co.uk BRIDESMAID DRESS: A WHITE WEDDING HORNCHURCH/GIDEA PARK www.awhiteweddingshop.co.uk GROOM/BEST MAN SUITS: ANTHONYS of BILLERICAY www.anthonyformalwear.co.uk STRING QUARTET: LA SCALA (COLCHESTER) www.lascalastringquartet.co.uk FLOWERS: ELEGANCE FLOWERS, CHELMSFORD www.eleganceflowers.co.uk ENTERTANMENT: NICOLE LAWRENCE MAKE-UP: DEBBIE LLOYD, BASILDON www.debbielloyd.co.uk CAKE: MARKS & SPENCER www.marksandspencer.com NICK CROWN MAGICIAN www.weddingmagicianessex.co.uk