Your Hampshire and Dorset Wedding - Page number 29 - November/December 2021 (Issue 89)

REAL WEDDINGS 29 W hen Carli met Alex she knew instantly that he was the one . “I fell head over heels for his blue eyes. It maybe a very cliché thing to say, but as an American his British accent was like kryptonite to me,” recalls Carli. “I then became entirely smitten as I discovered how caring, considerate and fun-loving he was. I was also terribly forward and told him the day after our first meeting that I’d fallen for him and he was very British and said, ‘Oh, thank you,” she laughs. Despite his natural reserve, he was feeling the love too and romance blossomed. POPPING THE QUESTION Alex proposed in the autumn of 2020, after postponing his initial plans due to the pandemic. After the first lockdown, they were fortunate to get away on a trip to the Scottish Highlands, where Alex had booked a log cabin for a few nights. Little did Carli know, but he had planned for them to hike around Glen Affric where, surrounded by the ruggedly beautiful Scottish wilderness, Alex went down on one knee under an ancient pine tree overlooking the valley and lake and asked her to marry him. A stunned Carli burst into tears and immediately said ‘yes’. “We spent many minutes in each other’s arms, just smiling and taking in the view, cherishing every moment,” remembers Carli. The celebration extended well into the evening, with bubbles, haggis and Scottish salmon at a restaurant on Lock Ness. SETTING THE SCENE They opted for a romantic theme set in Hampshire’s beautiful Lainston House in Sparsholt near Winchester. “It was such a beautiful setting, right out of a fairytale, complete with a ruined Medieval stone chapel in the grounds where we had some gorgeous wedding photos taken. The stately manor house is so elegant, and made the day feel extra special. We also loved that our guests could stay on site at the hotel and walk directly from the ceremony to the reception,” enthuses Carli. “The details were all impeccable and we wanted our wedding day to be special for everyone, especially as we had all been in lockdown for ages and this was the first real chance to get together and celebrate with our friends and family.” They tied the knot on 23 rd July this year and to echo the romantic feel, went for a lavender rose colour scheme chosen by Alex to signify love at first sight. LOOKING THE PART Carli stayed at Lainston House the night before the wedding in order to get ready there in the morning with her two maids-of-honour, best friend Jesse and sister Kirstin. Putting on her 1960’s Chantilly lace, ancestral wedding gown was a truly memorable moment as both her mother and grandmother had worn it for their weddings. “It meant so much to me and I know it did for my mum too. I never met my grandma as she passed away before I was born, but wearing her dress on my big day was really special because it felt like she was with us. I also wore my mother’s pearls and diamonds to go with it.” Alex looked smart in a fitted Ted Baker suit alongside his eight groomsmen who wore blue tailored suits with matching lavender ties and pocket squares, apart from one who sported his traditional Scottish attire. The bridesmaids completed the picture in floor-length pleated lavender dresses from Coast with fitted tops and flowing skirts. “They made the bouquets from faux flowers tied with lace as a 