LET THE FUN BE-GIN

be-gin LET THE FUN

Tom and Steph had a Gin-themed wedding with lots of personal touches

Images courtesy of Steve Mulvey Photography

Stephanie and Thomas met when Steph went to buy a secondhand car and Tom was the car salesman. Steph certainly got a good deal and a lot more than she bargained for! “Tom was over 45-minutes late for the appointment and I almost walked away!” she laughs. “However, his wit and charm won me over! We were attracted to each other’s smiles and sense of humour hitting it off from the start – despite my children climbing in the boots of all the cars in the showroom! We met for breakfast a couple of weeks later and then took things gradually.”

Fast-forward to Christmas Day when Tom proposed. Steph was slightly annoyed as all her presents had come from one shop Joules. Tom asked if Steph wanted to go for a walk – she didn’t as it was raining – Steph then persuaded Tom’s mum to join them! Tom popped the question on one knee on a bridge, crossing The Wash, in Stowmarket! “I thought he had fallen over!” recalls Steph. “I never thought Tom was the marrying kind as we had never really discussed it, so it completely took me by surprise!”

The date was set, 21st May 2022, with Little Green Wedding Barn, Norfolk, setting the scene. Here, Steph tells us more about their big day…

SETTING THE SCENE

Initially, Steph and Tom were due to get married pre-covid, so had to rethink their plans when their original venue never re-opened after the pandemic. Steph fell in love with Little Green Wedding Barn the moment she saw it. “It’s the perfect mix of old and new,” she says. “It has so much character and charm in the older part, and the new extension, with the bar and dancefloor, provided the ideal setting for the evening. Also Paul Yaxley, the owner, was just amazing, he couldn’t have done more to help. He was so thoughtful and understanding especially when we mentioned we had already had the original venue cancel and were on our third date already.”

For the finer details of the day, the pair offered guests mini gin bottles with a personalised label tied with either a pink or grey ribbon to match the colour scheme, while the children’s favours had sweets in them. The table plan was a feature wooden ladder with gin bottles to represent the table. For their place settings, Tom and Steph collected grey pebbles from their favourite beaches they’d visited, and Steph hand-painted them with people’s names. The centrepiece continued the gin theme and were matching bottles to the table plan with pink and white flowers in, a complimentary tonic bottle that had the top cut off which contained a floating candle, and a miniature gin bottle with a bud on a grey base plate.

The big-day bake was a layer of vanilla sponge with grey fondant, a lemon flavour with white fondant icing (Tom’s favourite), and a layer of chocolate orange with pink fondant icing (Steph’s favourite). “On top we had two wooden birds with our initials on as birds are Tom’s favourite animal,” adds Steph. The cake stood on a hand-decorated crate with ‘and they lived happily every after’ on.

On the day, the couple had the beautiful ‘Tilly’ from Beautiful Day Wedding Cars, a lovely old-fashioned convertible car. The food was provided by Little Green Wedding Barn and boasted homemade pâté and onion chutney with walnut and raisin bread to start, followed by mustard crusted roast chicken, millefeuille potatoes and seasonal vegetables, the wedding cake was served as dessert. In the evening they served pulled pork rolls with apple source which went down a storm with guests.

elegant which is exactly what the bride wanted. “I accessorised it with silver and pearl necklace and earrings set and wore two silver bracelets: one which was a present from my ‘hens’ and the other was sent from a dear friend in America who couldn’t make the wedding. I also wore a veil which had tiny pearls and diamantés on also purchased from the boutique.”

The groom wore a simple grey three-piece suit from Suits Direct which he accessorised with a pink tie and personalised pink handkerchief. To stand out, only Tom and the best man wore waistcoats, and the groom’s buttonhole also had a budgie charm on it as he lost his beloved budgie during lockdown.

“My bridesmaid Daisy wore a simple blush pink full-length dress and carried a beautiful bouquet with a personalised ribbon,” shares Steph. “Reuben, my son, gave me away and wore a grey three-piece suit with a pink tie, personalised ‘wing man’ socks and a buttonhole with a tractor charm on it as he loves tractors.”

TIME TO CELEBRATE

“We were both so excited that our day had finally arrived. After three postponed dates which were so heart-breaking, for the day to finally arrive was just the best feeling ever,” shares Steph. “Tom was quite nervous in the morning but was calmed by an amazing, cooked breakfast at his parents’ house. I was relaxed from the break of dawn that morning! I loved having my hair and make-up done and enjoyed having that time with the children.”

There were many standout moments for the pair, from Reuben falling asleep in the car on the way to the venue to the collective gasps as Steph walked into the ceremony room. Steph adds, “Reading our personalised vows to each other and having 10 minutes just us as a couple prior to the wedding breakfast was special. My daughter Daisy’s speech was unforgettable, it blew everyone away and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room – she totally stole the show!”

AND RELAX…

After the ‘I dos’ the couple stayed for two nights at The Pigs just outside Holt in Norfolk. “It was the perfect setting; our room had a steam room and sauna, along with a double-ended bath and outside area with sun loungers and a firepit. We ate, slept, explored and were totally able to unwind.”

ROLL CREDITS

Venue, Little Green Wedding Barn, www.littlegreenweddingbarn.co.uk | Photographer, Steve Mulvey Photography, https://stevemulveyphotography.com | Dresses, Peters Bridal Warehouse, www.bridaloutletweddingshop.co.uk | Hair stylist, Loose Ends, www.looseendshairdressers.com | Make-up artist, Beauty by Alison, www.facebook.com/thettreatmentroom | Suits, Suits Direct, www.suitdirect.co.uk | Flowers, Hall Lane Flowers, www.instagram.com/hall_lane_flowers | Transport, Beautiful Day Wedding Cars, www.beautifuldayweddingcars.co.uk | Wedding rings, Romark Jewellers, www.romarkjewellers.co.uk | Photo booth, Pitcher Perfect, www.pitcherperfectevents.co.uk | DJ, The Party Starters, www.thepartystarters.co.uk | Post-wedding accommodation, The Pigs, www.thepigs.org.uk

A fresh event catering company, with an established team catering for all occasions in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and beyond! From christenings, wakes and weddings to corporate dinners, bars, dinner parties, launches and more...

With over 10 years experience in the hospitality industry including Corporate Catering, Outside Event Companies and Michelin starred restaurants, Stour Valley Catering are ready and waiting to be part of your occasion and make it one to remember.