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Holly and Mike met at secondary school.

“We were in different sets but in year nine we started sharing some of the same classes,” Holly tells us. “Mike was a joker and I was too shy to speak to him for a long time but he always managed to make me laugh. He was also persistent - after the second time of asking, I agreed to go out with him and we’ve been together for 15 years now.”

Mike proposed to Holly a few weeks before their tenth anniversary. “He was about to retire from his rugby career and I had just left my job so that we could go travelling to South America for three months,” Holly explains. On a Wednesday evening the week before we were due to fly to Colombia, and the night before Mike was leaving for Toronto for his last rugby game, he was insistent that we go for a walk to our favourite park. When we arrived, it was dusk and the park had closed. I turned to go home but Mike suggested that we jump the fence! After trying to convince him that this wasn’t a good idea, I spotted candles on the grass under a tree. Mike led me into the circle of candles and asked ‘well, will you then’ to which I replied ‘yes!’ As we hopped back over the fence, two of our friends were holding glasses of bubbly – and there’s still a candle buried at the bottom of the tree in the park!”

Setting The Scene

The couple wanted a wedding that enabled them to spend as much time with their close friends and family as they could, so they decided on a two-day celebration. “We wanted a venue with beautiful gardens for an outdoor ceremony and one where we could enjoy a pre-wedding dinner with our loved ones the evening before,” Holly says. “The first time we viewed Pauntley Court, it was raining hard yet we still loved it, so we knew it was the one

The couple decided on an English country garden theme. “Our florists Christiane and Beth created a stunning floral archway as the ceremony backdrop which looked amazing!” Holly tells us. “Walking down the aisle is something neither of us will ever forget.”

Mike’s auntie is also a florist so as their wedding present, she made the table flower centrepieces displayed in rustic urns. “They suited our English garden theme perfectly,” Holly says. The couple decided on a long table for 16 guests as their top table and round tables for the rest. “This worked well for my blended family,” Holly tells us. “I’d seen a mirror design on Pinterest for the seating plan which I recreated by bringing my hallway mirror from home and sticking the names of each table on it. I loved how it turned out so it was worth the stress of packing two large mirrors in the car! We also used our lounge mirror for the welcome sign and some candles, lanterns and blankets from home to decorate the inside of the marquee and around the firepits. I also brought some plants from our garden to place at the end of the aisle and then move inside the marquee to add some greenery to the bar area. The bouquets and arrangements of flowers that lined the aisle were positioned on the circular bar in the middle of the marquee.

Mike’s dad, Martin, is well-known for making sloe gin so he created a special batch ahead of the wedding that became the couple’s favours and place settings. “Names and nicknames were printed on the gin bottles and our table names were after places and countries that mean a lot to us both,” Holly tells us.

Holly and Mike had two large Kilner jugs of cocktails at their drinks reception named after their dog, Bobby. “Mike loves his food so I left that decision to him!” Holly says. “We had steak or sea bass for the main course and shared sides and salads on the tables to create a summer barbecue-at-home vibe.”

The couple’s budget was almost spent by the time they decided on their cake so they purchased a two-tier naked cake from M&S for £40. “I ordered a pack of pressed flowers and stuck them on,” Holly tells us. “It was just big enough to cut for the photographs and for some guests to enjoy a slice in the evening if they fancied it.”

Looking The Part

Holly wore a bridal dress by Enzoni. “I thought I wanted a tight, floral or lace gown to suit the venue and our outdoor ceremony but I ended up with a style that was the complete opposite!” she says. It took me a few weeks to decide to buy it but when I took my maid-of-honour, Jade, with me to see it and I saw her reaction, I purchased it!

Mike and his groomsmen wore cream linen suits with dark green ties and socks. “They all wore the same outfits and looked amazing, Holly says. “Mike is really into his clothes so they all went on a trip to London to pick their suits! “We both loved getting ready with our closest friends and family on the morning of our wedding.”

The maid-of-honour dresses were sage-green styles with a floral lace design on them. “They featured a small train and gorgeous button detail down the back, which I had added to my bridal dress,” Holly tells us. “They all have different figures and I loved how the chosen style suited each of them. They looked beautiful with their matching necklaces which I gave them as a thank-you gift.”

Time To Celebrate

“Music is a big part of our relationship and was a priority for our big day,” Holly says. “The live band who performed during the evening made it so special and we’re so grateful for what they did. We also had a saxophonist playing whilst our guests arrived before the ceremony, a roaming band during the drinks reception a DJ in the evening.”

THE DREAM TEAM

Photographer and video, Alicia Victoria Red Maple Photography, https://redmaplephotography.com | Venue, Pauntley Court, www.pauntleycourt.com | Marquee tables and chairs, Boutique Marquees, https://boutiquemarquees.co.uk | Dresses, Surrey Brides, https://surreybrides.co.uk | Bride’s earrings, Lua Studios, www.lua-studios.com | Bride’s necklace and bracelet, Lily & Roo, https://lilyandroo.com | Bride’s wedding ring, Vashi, www.vashi.com | Suits, Hawes & Curtis, www.hawesandcurtis.co.uk | Grooms ring, Ernest Jones (Windsor branch), www.ernestjones.co.uk | Hair stylist, Juta Zorubiene, www.jutahairstylist.com | Make-up artist, Emily Fausset Bridal, www.instagram.com/emilyfaussetbridal | Suits, Hawes & Curtis, www.hawesandcurtis.co.uk | Cake, M&S, www.marksandspencer.com| Flowers, HoneysuckleFlowerCo, www.honeysuckleflower.co.uk | Save the date stationery, www.paperlesspost.com | Wedding website and invites, https://withjoy.com | Catering, Hey Pesto Catering Company, https://heypestocatering.co.uk| Live music, Eight Ray Music, https://eightraymusic.com | Bar hire, bar and bar staff, The Bar Bros, www.thebar-bros.co.uk | Napkins and tablecloths, Alba Timeless Tableware & Venue Styling, www.albatableware.co.uk | Pizza truck (evening food), Taste the Good Life, www.tastethegoodlife.co.uk | Wedding planner, Holly Evans, https://hollyandrebeccaweddings.co.uk | Celebrant, The Cotswolds Celebrant, https://thecotswoldcelebrant.co.uk

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