SWEETHEARTS Childhood Ellie and Ben’s wedding day was elegance encapsulated Images courtesy of Tom Halliday Ellie and Ben met on their first day of secondary school! Ellie shares, “We became inseparable friends for many years which turned into a relationship when we went to college. We were true childhood sweethearts and each other’s first (and last) loves – which was the common theme of our vows and speeches!” After romance blossomed, Ben proposed to Ellie in Champagne, France overlooking the vineyards. “We were all dressed up for a fancy meal towards the end of our holiday at a château,” recalls Ellie. “As we were leaving, we decided to take some photos together on our balcony. Ben told me to do some candid photos looking across the vineyards with my back to him (which I happily did, knowing the photos would be cute for Instagram) and, after a delayed moment, I turned to find him on one knee. After lots of tears and FaceTimes to loved ones at home, we celebrated with lots and lots of Champagne!” The date was set 10th August, 2025, and after viewing more than 10 venues the couple settled on Wotton House, Surrey. Ellie explains, “As we live in Essex, we viewed venues there first, but nothing quite felt special enough so expanded our search area further. When I found Wotton House online, I immediately got butterflies in my stomach – it looked magical with its many beautiful spaces inside and out, and it had that unique flare I’d been looking for.” The picture-perfect Italian Gardens blew the couple away and ticked every box for their dream outdoor ceremony. “The stunning Old Library interior equally had wow factor for our wedding breakfast,” adds Ellie. Ben knew he wanted to wear a black tuxedo, so Ellie themed the wedding around this classic and timeless aesthetic. “Our details were predominantly monochrome with hints of green to reflect the lush gardens,” shares Ellie. “As a graphic designer, I was in my element when it came to envisioning the look for the day. With the help of The Styled Chapter and Ether Events, we created a day which was timeless but a little different to match our personalities.” The florals were teamed with pampas grass and fans, which were present in the displays in all three areas of the wedding, “I wanted the indoor space to feel as lush and alive as the gardens outdoors, and we achieved this with moveable floral structures, which were also used as our centrepieces; and lots of vines and garlands which transformed the ceilings and pillars.” The theme continued in the styling with black cutlery and charger plates on the tables, and a bespoke acrylic seating plan and welcome sign – crystal candelabras also added to the luxe, traditional setting of the Old Library. When it came to the dress, Ellie knew she wanted something unique. “After looking in more than six stores I was worried I might not have the ‘wow’ moment other brides have. My luck changed when I went to Bride by Aster. After falling in love with a couture designer, Bride by Aster worked meticulously hard for me to track down my dream dress and have sent to the UK. “I was in tears just seeing it on the hanger! I’ve never seen such incredible intricate detail on a dress with so many embellished accents of sequins, pearls and feathers! It all came together with a cathedral-length cape which I opted for instead of a veil. I felt like a princess and will never wear anything as beautiful as that again in my life.” Ben and his groom’s party rented tuxedos from Dapper Chaps, finding the process smooth and the service brilliant. Each of them had matching suits, including shirts, trousers, waistcoats, braces, bowties, blazers and cufflinks all included in the package. Ellie adds,“I loved the dresses on Six Stories which offer a range of colours and styles all in the same fabrics, meaning my girls were all able to pick a dress which suited them and yet all still matched as bridesmaids – I opted for a mossgreen hue in keeping with the fauna in the gardens.” The couple had singer Hope Davies perform their favourite songs during the ceremony and drinks reception making it more magical and intimate. Ellie adds, “We also had a retro-styled photo booth complete with feather backdrop and fun props. For a personal touch I had my uncle play guitar with his band all evening which had guests on the dancefloor until the very end. “It’s impossible to pick a favourite part of the day as it was all so perfect,” shares Ellie, “however highlights include getting ready with my mum and bridesmaids in the morning singing to Beyoncé and drinking prosecco; we spied on the groom’s party out of the big bay windows while they were having their photos taken outside; my husband’s beautiful tear-jerking vows, and some hilarious heartfelt speeches! All beautifully captured by our incredibly talent photographer Tom and our content creator Charlie, who spent the entire day making us feel special and hyping us up in our very editorial-styled shoot – which I have spent every day staring at since we received the photos!” REAL WEDDINGS 41
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