REAL WEDDINGS 29 Chloe and Tom first met while working for an accountancy firm back in 2014. The pair became friends after meeting and went on a group holiday two years later to the Amalfi Coast, where they confessed their love for the first time. Tom proposed in November 2020 after a year of not so subtle hinting by Chloe, who had been sending ring pictures and outright asking when he was going to propose. During the second Covid 19 lockdown; the pair started the day by going for a walk in their local park and spent the afternoon playing the latest version of their favourite board game that had just been released. During that game, called Pandemic Legacy, players must open boxes at various points throughout the game. Tom had hidden the ring inside one of those boxes. She says, “The most special thing about our proposal is that we were at home on a cosy Sunday evening where I was wearing pyjamas and slippers. Although I was hopeful a proposal was coming soon, it wasn’t expected that day!” SETTING THE SCENE When planning the big day, the couple’s goal was to have a classic and elegant wedding that reflected their personalities. They always knew they wanted to incorporate their love of board games into the day. So, the pair not only had some available for guests to play, but featured games in the table names and centrepieces too. To highlight their shared love for Harry Potter, movie quotes were incorporated into the registrar’s ceremony script. To ensure a stress-free day, Chloe and Tom wanted to find a venue that could host the whole wedding from start to finish. They fell in love with St Michael’s Manor Hotel as the property ticked all their boxes; it was close to home and was somewhere the pair could visit after the special day. They could also hire the hotel exclusively, so loved ones could stay the night of the wedding or the whole weekend for the ultimate celebration. To make the day extra special, the couple decided to write their own vows for their ceremony. Chloe repeated the exact words she shared the first time she confessed her love to Tom in Italy and highlights of the trip that attracted her most to him – this included his sense of adventure and the ability to keep a calm head. Tom’s speech ended with a toast of Limoncello to celebrate the night of drinking too much in Italy, which resulted in Tom and Chloe starting a relationship. After the drinks reception, guests tucked into a four-course Italianinspired menu. St Michael’s Manor suggested Peddling Pizza to keep guests from going hungry in the evening. The local pizza van is a favourite at the St Albans Market and has won an award in the 2022 British Street Food Awards. Heaven is a Cupcake created a delicious three-tiered cake, which included chocolate and raspberry, lemon drizzle and apple strudel flavours – yum! The bake featured vanilla buttercream frosting, gold leaf and fresh flowers from the florist. There were also some cupcakes suitable for vegans. Another sweet treat loved ones enjoyed was iced lemon biscuit favours, with guests' names stamped into the icing. A mix of burgundy, blush and green blooms were selected for the flowers. The bride wanted a wide and loose bouquet to contrast her simple and fitted dress, which Vicki’s Floral Designs perfectly delivered. The supplier also created a long and low floral arrangement for the registrar’s table, which was then placed on the top table for the reception. One of the bride’s favourite elements of the day was the memory table with photos of the pair’s grandparents, who unfortunately aren’t here anymore. They also had pictures from their parents and grandparents' weddings.
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