We were delighted when our bride Lee agreed to share the details of her special day with us. She is probably one of the most relaxed brides we have ever had, with the biggest heart and one of my favourite wedding dresses to have ever graced our rails.
How they met & a proposal to remember in New Zealand
Steve & I met in upstate New York while working at a Summer Camp in the US. We got to know each other over the Summer, and what started out as a Summer fling, quickly turned into something much more. We moved to London together, and the rest is history!
We got engaged in New Zealand in January 2023 - a story we can look back and laugh at now. It was mid-summer in the Marlborough region. We rented bikes and cycled from vinyard to vineyard enjoying wine flights. After a recommendation, we made our last stop at a small family-run vinyard called Bladen. After the tasting, we settled in with a cheeseboard and a glass of wine having the whole vineyard to ourselves.
Steve popped the question, and we celebrated with another glass of wine! On the cycle back to return the bikes, I took my hand off the handlebars to look at my ring and, no word of a lie, it flew off my finger.
We started searching on our hands a knees. Passersby and rental company staff joined in the search, we soon had 20 people looking for the ring! We eventually had to call it quits, and cycle back empty handed. Luckily, Steve and my family know my clumsy ways all too well: the proposal ring was actually a token ring from my mum until we were back on solid ground in the UK!
It was the perfect proposal, aside from losing the ring. On the wedding day, my Maid of honour joked in her speech: “Ladies, if the diamond isn’t big enough, follow Lee’s lead and throw it in a bush!”
Choosing the Dream Venue: Curds Hall Barn in Norfolk
Since our friends and family would be traveling from all over, we started our venue search across Berkshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk. We booked a viewing at Curds Hall Barn in Norfolkfollowing a recommendation from a couple we met while travelling. We had a great feeling as we drove down the long country drive, arriving at a glorious converted barn. Finding a venue close to a church was essential to us, and after visiting the local church grounds, we knew this was the location.
We wanted our wedding day to be relaxed yet upbeat, so finding the right suppliers was key:
Entertainment: We picked Beat Banditos from Curds Hall Barn’s recommended supplier list for our reception drinks, and they set the tone perfectly for the rest of the day. For the evening, we booked Matt Strafford Band an incredible musician with a brilliant comedic touch!
Photography: I found Sally Faith Photography on Instagram. Her relaxed style captured the true moments of our day, along with gorgeous natural colours.
Floristry: Bracken and Twine Flowers hit the brief perfectly. Her soft, whimsical floral arrangements complimented the dark dining room beautifully.
Wedding Planning Tips & Favourite Details
Focus on what matters to you as a couple. It is easy to get lured in by industry expectations and social media pressure to create the “perfect” day. You’ll have the best time regardless of minor details, so try not to feel pressured.
Be deliberate with your guest list. You don’t need to invite everyone you’ve ever met. Invite the people who mean the most to you right now and who will feel the room with love or laughter.
Enjoy the process with your bridal party. Be a little extra! Have that extra hen party, bridesmaids’ brunch, or pre-wedding date night.
What was your favourite part of the planning process?
Crafting the little details that brought everything together. I made ribbon bunting incorporating Anderson tartan, alongside pale pink and white ribbons that tied into the colours of our crocheted coaster wedding favours.
What was the most memorable moment of the day?
Entering the church with my dad and looking down the aisle to see my husband-to-be, looking so handsome and wiping away a tear.
The Boo Bridal Experience
Where do I start? Firstly, the people, from my very first step into the boutique, Emma made me feel so relaxed and at home. I didn’t know exactly what style of dress I wanted, but after trying on a few options, Emma quickly understood my vision and helped me narrow it down.
The boutique itself is such a gorgeous luxurious space. I even arranged a lingerie fitting between selecting my dress and my final fittings, it gave me a lovely excuse to pop back in!
International Guests, Hens & Stags
We have friends living across the globe, including Africa and the US, and we felt so fortunate that they travelled to celebrate with us. Having two of my bridesmaids fly over from Africa to stand by my side made me overjoyed.
My Hen party was in the South of France. My Maid of Honour planned wine tasting around fabulous vineyards, fine French food, and a teddy bears’ picnic! Steve’s stag was in Ipswitch - the less said about that, the better!
Who was the most valuable person on the day?
My Husband!! Once my bridesmaids took their transport to the church, I had an overwhelming feeling of excitement to see him. Beyond Steve, I couldn’t have gotten through the day without my family and bridesmaids, having everyone together in one room was pure magic.
How has married life treated you both so far?
We have been together for 10 years, so marriage hasn’t changed our day-to-day dynamic, and there is something deeply comforting about that. After a mini-moon, a slight case of the wedding blues, and our main honeymoon, we’ve settled happily back into our everyday routine!
