Holly and Thanasis met in the summer of 2014, whilst having drinks in Soho and hit it off immediately. “We spent the next few hours laughing and discovering shared interests and similarities,” Holly recalls. “We’d arranged the second date before we’d even finished the second round of drinks!” It was obviously meant to be because five years later, Thanasis proposed. “It was a complete surprise, albeit a lovely one after a long work week!” she says. They celebrated with Champagne before heading out for dinner. “Amusingly if anything I might have expected Thanasis to propose the following week as we were going on holiday to St. Lucia. However, I got to pack my bag with lots of wedding magazines and we enjoyed kicking off the planning process from our sun loungers with cocktails instead,” says Holly. TREASURED MEMORIES Having a church ceremony was important to Holly and Thanasis, and All Saints Church and Fulham Palace provided the perfect location next to the River Thames. “It’s rare to find a location in London where the church is next to the venue, and where there’s so much beautiful greenspace so it really hit the mark,” Holly recalls. “The church service was beautiful, and the choir provided gorgeous moments to really pause and take it all in,” she says. “Walking up the aisle with my dad will be a memory I treasure forever and thinking back to the moment I saw Thanasis stood with his brothers at the alter always makes me smile,” she adds. Two of the duo’s great friends agreed to do speeches, each reading ‘Song of Solomon (2.10-13, 8.6-7)’ and ‘The Art of Marriage’ by W. A Peterson. “They were brilliant, and we were so happy that they played such an important role in our day,” Holly says. LOOKING THE PART Holly wore an Alma Novia, style Turiol gown that she altered to include an organza insert for the cut out back with button detail for the ceremony. This was then removed for the reception. The satin buttons continued to run the full length of the train and she accessorised with a cathedral-length crystal embellished veil that sparkled in the sunshine. She wore a crystal hair pin, diamond stud earrings and a diamond bracelet which were a gift from her father. “I also wore Manolo Blahnik Hangisi shoes in blue, which I’d wanted for years and always longed to have as my ‘something blue’ on the big day.” Thanasis and his groomsmen wore matching navy suits with pastel Hermes ties and their bridesmaid looked gorgeous in a eucalyptus green full-length dress with a satin bow tied at the back and a small puddle train. SIMPLE ELEGANCE “Our venue was a lovely marquee overlooking a path that was overflowing with giant hydrangea blooms, so we kept the décor clean and elegant,” Holly says. Green, white and blush floral centrepieces mirrored the flowers from the church, a hanging ivy wall framed the top table and stunning blossom trees were placed around the courtyard for the drinks reception and in the marquee. The table plan and place card designs were elegant and simple and continued the floral theme and the marquee sparkled with fairy lights strung from the canape. “For the REAL WEDDINGS 37
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=