From Dubai, with love

Lisa and Allan’s wedding was a relaxed intimate affair

Lisa and Allan met in modern fashion on a dating app over Christmas 2019 but didn’t meet in person until February 2020; it turned out that Allan was only in the UK to see family at Christmas and was actually living in Dubai! “He came back to the UK on a business trip in February, and we met up for a drink and then another couple of dates during the week he was here,” recalls Lisa. “It was all a bit of a whirlwind, but we knew straight away that we really liked each other and who was going to let the matter of a couple of thousand miles come between us!”

After Lisa then visited Allan in Dubai, both the UK and the UAE were going into lockdown due to the pandemic, she didn’t know when they might see each other again. “Allan had always wanted to move back to the UK and that plan was brought forward in the April when he was made redundant and decided it was time to put that plan into action,” adds Lisa. “In June 2020 he arrived back, with all his worldly possessions from living overseas for nearly 30 years following behind in a shipping container! It seems a bit mad after only spending 10 actual days together, but we were suddenly living together during lockdown in the UK! Luckily for us our instinct about each other was spot on and our relationship continued to go from strength to strength.”

After the whirlwind start to their relationship, Allan’s proposal was just as exciting which took place in Koh Samui, Thailand on Valentine’s Day 2022. “We’d gone out for a holiday but also to check on a condo he owned on the island that, for obvious reasons, he hadn’t been able to travel to and check on during lockdown. It was very romantic, being served dinner on the beachfront but the proposal was a complete surprise. We both knew we wanted to be together and that it would lead to marriage eventually, but I was surprised when he suddenly produced a ring and asked me to marry him. I had no hesitation in saying yes!”

The big date was set, 10th September 2022, with Leatherhead Registry Office and The Station pub Nutfield, Surrey setting the scene.

Planning The Day

Having both been married before, both Lisa and Allan wanted a small wedding with their respective families and then a party for friends in the evening. “It was important to us that it was relaxed and informal, with a party/celebratory feel to the whole day,” shares Lisa. “Leatherhead Registry Office has lovely grounds for photos; I had been to a 40th birthday party at The Station pub in the past and had a brilliant time, so it seemed an obvious choice after talking to Jeanette the pub manager, who had some great ideas and suggestions.” The happy couple and 14 loved ones dined at the pub in a little side room, called The Waiting Room. “It turned out to be a beautiful September day so we had drinks on the outside terrace before eating,” recalls Lisa. “After the meal, the DJ arrived to set up in the main bar area and we had 60 guests turn up to dance and drink the night away with us. The Station served a delicious Asian-inspired menu, starting off with sharing platters of chicken wings, spring rolls, pork dumplings and barbecue ribs. We then had fish and chips or gourmet burgers, followed by chocolate brownies with ice cream or sticky toffee pudding! In the evening there was a selection of pizzas from their wood fired pizza oven for guests as well as slices of wedding cake.”

The Finder Details

Lisa and Allan’s intimate wedding breakfast was hosted around a horseshoe-shaped table; the tables had old apple crates personalised with their names and the wedding date, they were filled with flowers to match the bouquets in a very relaxed, country-style arrangement of pink and cream roses with eucalyptus leaves. “Greensleeves Florist in Redhill, Surrey, provided bouquets for the bridesmaids and I, the groom and best man’s buttonholes, centrepiece flower arrangements and flowers for the cake,” shares Lisa. A home baker in Redhill, Hannah’s Cakes and Treats, provide the big-day cake. “I’d seen cakes she had made online, and she came highly recommended. I wanted a two-tier naked sponge cake with a strawberry and cream filling decorated with wedding flowers.”

For their place name settings, guests found their seat with a card featuring a eucalyptus leaf design which Lisa, after practising some basic calligraphy, had written each guest’s name on, “There were a few dud attempts, but I was able to write my own place cards!” adds Lisa. “The venue has a lovely vintage shabby-chic look, we felt we didn’t need to add any additional décor. Our romantic flowers, cake and centrepieces were perfect for the type of low-key wedding we wanted to have.”

When Allan came back from Dubai he also shipped back his large Jeep, that he used over the desert dunes, so the couple used this as their wedding car with some cream ribbons added. “My friend’s partner is a London Cab Driver, so a Black Cab with wedding ribbons was our other car. Vinnie our French Bulldog loved travelling in the cab with the grownup kids who were all involved in the wedding!” shares Lisa.

BIG-DAY ATTIRE

“I wanted a dress appropriate for a registry office wedding and being an older bride, but also something that was romantic and suited my personal style,” shares Lisa. “I tried loads on! But finally settled on a vintage-style lace design with a button-up back. I accessorised with high strappy heels and a headband of dried hydrangea petals.”

Allan and the groomsmen wore dark navy suits with pale pink ties and buttonholes, while the bridesmaids, Lisa’s daughter Lulu, Allan’s daughter Lizzie and his granddaughter Kylah wore dresses of their own choosing in either navy, pale pink or sage. “As it turns out, they each chose one of the three colours I’d suggested,” adds Lisa. “Kylah, who’s not a fan of dresses, chose a jumpsuit. Their matching bouquets pulled everything together and I felt that informal look and feel complemented the overall theme and our approach to the whole day.”

On The Day Delights

The day passed in a whirlwind for the happy pair, “All I can remember is my cheeks aching from smiling so much,” shares Lisa. “We were both on an absolute high all day long. I think we were both nervous in the morning but once we saw each other that all melted away.”

For Allan, his standout moment of the day was seeing Lisa for the first time coming down the aisle. “He said it took his breath away,” adds Lisa. “For both of us, saying our vows was very meaningful and emotional especially in front of our families who all get on brilliantly, there was a lot of love in the room. Everyone was on brilliant form, the drinks were flowing and we had a fabulous time with everyone in the evening too!”

“Not funny at the time, but we were due to leave to go to the registry office at 2pm, and I received a text at 12 noon from our DJ to say he wasn’t well and had tested positive for Covid! Cue some very frantic ringing around to find a replacement,” recalls Lisa. “I was sitting on my bed, with my daughter, doing our wedding make-up while simultaneously calling DJs left, right and centre. Thankfully we managed to secure a replacement who went above and beyond to help us out and who proved a great hit on the night!”

Continuing the festivities, the newlyweds and all of their children and their partners, who were staying over, all went for a celebratory breakfast the next morning. Feeling a bit worse for wear, Allan decided ‘hair of the dog’ was the answer and ordered a glass of sauvignon blanc with his fried breakfast! Needless to say he turned green after a few sips!” laughs Lisa.

We Are Family

It was a true family affair; Allan’s son Robert was his best man, and Lisa’s son Jack walked her down the aisle with their French Bulldog, Vinnie, in his new cream bow tie and lead. “My bridesmaids were my daughter, Allan’s daughter and his granddaughter, and our witnesses were my brother and Allan’s oldest daughter Shana. Having them all involved made the day so special and having both our mums there too was amazing. Getting lastminute permission for Vinnie to accompany me down the aisle made the day, he was very well behaved and was picked up from the venue by his dog walker before we sat down to eat our wedding breakfast.”