TOGETHER AGAIN

from Your Sussex Wedding - October/November 2021 (Issue 93)

NEARLYWED NEWS

Together againCara and Ollie’s joyous big day provided the perfect opportunity for loved ones to let their hair down and enjoy each other’s company post-lockdown

Images courtesy of Steve & Tania Photography

Cara met Ollie in 2014 while they both worked at the same company. They hadn’t previously encountered each other though until their worlds collided at an event Cara had organised where Ollie had an exhibition stand. “After that we found ourselves bumping into each other at pretty much every event I organised,” she explains. The pair soon became fast friends, meeting up on their lunch breaks or seeking each other out at a colleague’s leaving drinks, and eventually became a couple in 2016. Cara tells us, “I expect we were always going to end up together; but we were the only people at the time who couldn’t see it!”

Ollie proposed in London while getting ready to see a show. “I was running seriously late and hadn’t yet finished my make-up, so I wasn’t best pleased when I was interrupted... Until I knew why of course,” Cara laughs. He’d always told her that he’d pop the question when least expected, so he was indeed true to his word.

Given her career as an event organiser, venue hunting was second nature to Cara. Keen to ensure their reception space was completely different to the locations they’d used professionally, they both fell in love with Fitzleroi Barn. Cara explains, “The staff spent a lot of time showing us around without piling on any pressure, and it felt extremely personal with the owners having been married there themselves before hiring it out to other couples.”

We were excited to learn more and caught up with the bride herself for the lowdown on the big day, 21st July, 2021...

RUSTIC ROMANCE

Cara and Ollie settled on a relaxed vibe for their big day, which was themed to fit in beautifully with their barn surroundings and styled in a palette of white, cream, sage green and pink hues. The centrepieces then fell into place naturally. “We liked the rustic and ever-popular log slices, so I bought those very early on in the planning process and waited until further inspiration struck,” Cara shares. Then the tin milk churns presented themselves and everything came together once filled with flowers and placed atop the log slices. Crucially the blooms were carefully selected so as not to hamper guests’ conversations with their size, as well by virtue of their seasonality and having been grown in the UK. The overall effect was completed with glass jars holding candles and wooden table numbers. Place names slotted into wine corks were also added to the tables: “We do a lot of wine-tasting experiences together, so this seemed like a nice personal touch,” Cara says.

The table plan was one of the final elements the pair decided on. They painted a large frame in white and hung up cards displaying each table’s guests using little wooden clips. Then for the finishing touch, their florist wound some foliage around it to complement the rest of the styling, before placing it on an easel.

When it came to the big-day bake, Cara and Ollie opted for a semi-naked cake decorated with fresh flowers. The bride says, “Too many times we’ve been to weddings where the cake wasn’t eaten, so we were keen that it should be served as one of the desserts.” This went down a treat. Each tier was different involving Cara’s favourite – carrot cake, Ollie’s favourite – lemon, and Victoria sponge, sure to be popular with everyone.

The first time they saw Fitzleroi Barn it was resplendently decked-out in white bunting and fairylights. It was a look the duo fell in love with, so they hired the same talented team responsible: venue stylists Bells and Bunting.

“Because we had such a large wedding party and were going between two venues, we knew we’d need transport to carry a lot of people,” Cara tells us. Liking the idea of a double decker bus, but doubting its practicality given the venue’s country-lane location, they found Southcoast Motor Services, who offered a super-stylish vintage single decker – perfect.

An oh-so cute VW Campervan called Candy took the bride and her dad to the church. Cara remembers, “She was the perfect vehicle, as the hoop underneath my dress would have been difficult to fit into anything smaller. Plus, she was such a fun and happy van, which really added to the atmosphere of our day.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The couple knew early on that they would be looking for something other than the traditional three-course fare. They met Caroline from Gourmet Chef at a wedding fair and really appreciated how carefully she listened to their vision, enabling her to show them a few options they hadn’t considered. They settled on an informal barbecue along with a selection of desserts, which suited the overall vibe of the day well. Later on a pizza van arrived to serve the evening meal – “This was ideal after a few too many lemonades!” Cara confides.

STYLE FOR THE AISLE

The bride looked stunning in a Mark Lesley gown (7359), but it wasn’t a silhouette she’d pictured herself in. As she wasn’t sure what she was looking for on arriving for her appointment at Eva Rose Bridal, the consultants advised that she try on a variety to get a better understanding. Despite not being enamoured with her eventual choice when she saw it on the hanger, it was love at first sight once she’d glimpsed herself wearing it.

Ollie wore a navy suit with a thin chalk stripe through it. The groomsmen were invited to choose their own suits, and all ended up selecting navy too, albeit in a variety of styles.

Likewise, the bridesmaids were able to make their own floorlength, sage green or pink dress selections.

THROWING SOME SHAPES

During the drinks reception guests had great fun with the games laid out in the courtyard – giant Jenga, giant Connect 4 and Pass the Pigs. When the time came to hit the dancefloor later in the day a 10-piece funk/soul band provided the tunes. Cara recalls, “They went down really well as the music they played appealed to a wide range of people. They were wonderfully energetic and the floor was never empty.”

There’s talent in this family as Ollie’s uncle is a singer in his spare time, although neither bride nor groom had seen him perform. Unbeknownst to them, he’d arranged with the band to let him sing for them and when he took the mic all assembled were delighted by his rendition of Johnny B Goode.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

The bride says, “For me, one of the highlights was getting ready at my parents’ house in the morning. Having so many bridesmaids and friends, plus a huge family meant things were nicely chaotic. For Ollie, what stood out was seeing all of our loved ones together in one place, having such a nice time together after so long. Of course, we also loved the moment we stood at the altar together. I think it made the whole thing real.

“Everyone involved in our wedding made it special, but ultimately we were so lucky with the timing. For many, it was the first sense of normality after the pandemic.”