HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

HomeIS WHERE THE HEART IS

Jess and Sam fi rst met in person at

Heathrow Airport at the start of their gap year volunteering in rural Uganda. He had his eye on her from the get go, but she was unimpressed after he cut his foot open after jumping off the roof of a boat on day two of the trip. However, from that ill-fated incident love blossomed. “He needed to get his stitches removed and asked me to go to the town with him a few weeks later. So, I did, thinking there was no way I would turn down a hot meal and a warm shower. Little did I know that Sam and I would talk for hours and hours. It was like rediscovering a best friend who you’d known for years but had lost contact with. It was the strangest feeling. I loved how comfortable I felt with him and how open we could both be with each other. He has the biggest heart and loves an adventure, even if it may be a little risky sometimes!” laughs Jess. “Having met Jess on Facebook before going to Uganda, I thought she was probably pretty cool. Then having the opportunity to spend time together in one of the most amazing countries, doing amazing stuff and eating incredible food, I realised I was wrong. She wasn’t pretty cool, she was far more than that and I knew very quickly that I’d fallen for her,” Sam adds.

During a camping trip in July last year, he got down on one knee in the mud and asked Jess to marry him. “The proposal was a complete surprise although I’d been nagging him for ages. I knew it was coming, but had no idea when,” reveals Jess. They tied the knot on 22nd May 2021 at St Peter and Holy Cross Church in Wherwell, Hampshire where both her mother and granny were married. They celebrated afterwards with a reception in the garden of her granny’s home in the village followed by Sunday lunch the next day. Read on for Jess’ account of their wedding weekend… 37

Jess and Sam’s wedding journey took them from rural Africa to Jess’ family home in the quaint Hampshire village of Wherwell

Images courtesy of Anna Rainbow Photography

Dad hired a beautiful vintage car for our wedding transport.

“Wherwell village has so many happy memories for me as my granny and other family have always lived there.” – Jess

I had my heart set on following in my mother’s and granny’s footsteps by getting married in the village church. It’s such a special place with so many memories, so I was really happy that Sam agreed. married in the village church. It’s such a special place with so many memories, so I I chose my Elgar dress because I always wanted something simple and elegant that fl owed nicely. The fabric was beautiful and I loved how it draped and looked great in all the photos.

The fl owers were just beautiful – pink and coral roses, with thistles, lavender and other varieties.

The bridesmaids wore gorgeous sage-green high-low dresses which were fi tted to the waist and then fl owed out.

The groomsmen all wore black morning suits with pastel-coloured waistcoats. We gave the groomsmen artistic licence over the shade as we didn’t want them all to match, but it had to be summery.

Sam wore a morning coat from Hacket with a bespoke silk waistcoat from Neil and Palmer in London, which was stunning. By complete coincidence, the base colour matched my dress perfectly and it was embroidered with little blue fl owers.

Our reception venue wasn’t our fi rst choice. However, due to COVID and the restrictions on guest numbers, we felt my granny’s garden was exactly what we needed. Looking back, I wouldn’t choose to have had it anywhere else; it was just the most perfect location.

“Aundi Mason Catering did the food and it was wonderful. We had an array of canapés, smoked trout, lamb with pomegranate and sorbet to go with the cake.” – Jess

Sam’s brother played jazz on the piano during the drinks reception. We also had fl owers hanging down from the walls of the marquee which created an incredible effect.

Our semi-naked citrus cake had a passion fruit and mascarpone fi lling and was decorated with fl owers to match the bouquets.

We used barrels for the pedestals and other fl ower arrangements and had lights hanging from the ceiling and along the river. We had fl owers in wooden boxes all along the table, spilling out and overfl owing so it looked like a continuous centrepiece.

We had Sunday lunch in the marquee the following day and our cake maker made a delicious chocolate brownie creation especially for the occasion.

“Just having 30 people meant everyone there had been involved in the wedding in some way and had been hugely involved in our lives before we got together and throughout our journey so far. We actually had conversations with all our guests. Everyone was so happy, especially as it was the fi rst event people had been to in over a year.” – Jess

THE LOVE LIST Photography | Anna Rainbow Photography | www.annarainbow.co.uk Bride’s dress | Rosa Clara | www.rosa-clara.com Hair and make-up | Victoria Haywood Hair and Make Up | www.victoriahaywood.co.uk Bridesmaids’ dresses | House of Fraser | www.houseoffraser.co.uk Groom’s suit | Hackett | www.hackett.com Waistcoat | Neal & Palmer | www.nealandpalmer.com Cakes | Reilly Cakes | www.reillycakes.co.uk Flowers | Flowers Buds Floristry | www.budsfl oristry.co.uk Transport | New Forest Limos | www.newforestlimousines.co.uk Stationery | Made by Wood & Wood | www.madebywoodandwood.com Marquee | Pole to Pole | www.poletopolemarquees.co.uk Catering and crockery | Aundi Mason Catering | www.aundimason.com