Your Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wedding - April/May (Issue 94)

Catherine and Tamsin were introduced at a mutual friend’s drinks in London. “We instantly clicked,” the couple tell us. “I was attracted to Tamsin’s great sense of humour and cheeky smile and little did she know but I had fancied her for some time before the drinks!” Cat says. “I loved Cat’s banter and love for life,” Tamsin adds. The couple became engaged after two-and-a-half years together. “Tamsin asked me to marry her at sunset on Durdle Door beach in Dorset, with the proposal engraved into a specially-made pebble,” Catherine tells us. “She had a little help from our Labrador, Hendricks and even though we both knew that we wanted to get married, it came as a wonderful surprise!” SETTING THE SCENE Catherine and Tamsin chose Ardington House as their wedding venue. “It’s a stunning building with manicured grounds within walking distance to where we live,” the couple explains. “We regularly walk Hendricks in the grounds so we couldn’t think of anywhere more fitting to get married.” The couple held their ceremony there, as well as their reception and had a surprise for their guests. “We’re so glad that we had an owl ring bearer called Juliet who flew down the aisle holding our rings,” they tell us. “It added something special to our ceremony!” The couple chose a pink, cream and navy colour theme to decorate their special day. The centrepieces were a mix of high and low-level flower arrangements and the varieties complemented those in their bridal bouquets. “We chose the blooms that both sets of grandparents and parents had on their wedding days which included roses, carnations, gypsophila and wispy ferns,” they tell us. Catherine and Tamsin made bespoke bags for the children’s favours to keep them entertained. “Our favours for the adult guests were matchbox puzzles for them to play between the courses of the wedding breakfast which seemed to be a hit!” they explain. “We also had wooden place names that our guests could take home. After our wedding, some sent us photographs of these hanging in their houses and even decorating their Christmas tree!” Starlit drapes and chandeliers were suspended from the ceiling of the venue which set the scene for the evening reception. “We wanted our cake to make a statement in keeping with the venue and our wedding theme – it also had to feed more than 200 guests!” Catherine and Tamsin tell us. “We chose a design of five layers with different flavours including lemon drizzle, a Mars bar tier and vanilla with passionfruit curd because we love passionfruit martinis! The cake featured a cascade of pretty handmade sugar flowers “All of our suppliers were fantastic, we can’t recommend them enough. Our hairdresser, Amie and make-up artist, Jade deserve huge praise not only for keeping us calm during our wedding preparation and for their impressive skills but also for Amie stepping in to help with my dress - it was like having two extra friends with us on the day.” –Tamsin 46

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