Your Surrey Wedding- February / March 2021 (Issue 87)

P enny-Jane and Samuel started messaging each other on a dating app in 2016. “We spoke constantly for around two weeks before meeting for our first date,” says Penny-Jane. “We went to Covent Garden in London and hit it off straight away.” Samuel asked Penny-Jane to be his wife in Las Vegas. “I surprised him by booking the trip as a Christmas present in 2018,” shares the bride. “On the evening of our third anniversary, we were in a special restaurant when he proposed. It was a complete surprise, and we couldn’t have been happier.” SETTING THE SCENE “We originally had a different venue booked for our wedding pre-COVID-19,” explains Penny-Jane. “We had planned to have 65-day guests with an additional 40 in the evening but ended up pushing our date back several times until cancelling altogether as we’d given up hope. One day, I spontaneously messaged Samuel asking if we should go for it and we made arrangements for two weeks later. Samuel did all the research, and we decided to book the Holy Family Catholic Church for our ceremony and Wotton House for the reception.” “We were only allowed 13 guests, so we decided against a traditional table plan,” explains Penny-Jane. “For our place names, we chose gold laser cutouts that we ordered from Etsy.” Their big-day bake was made by the talented Jeannette’s Great Cakes. “We opted for a very plain semi-naked design,” shares Penny-Jane. “We finished the look with a beautiful cake-topper.” Penny-Jane and Samuel hired Flowers by Elaine to create their centrepieces. “We had one long table with all 15 of us, so we didn’t want anything too big blocking anyone’s view,” says the bride. “For my bouquet, the bridesmaids’ posies, the buttonholes and blooms for our mothers we contacted Wabana Flowers. We opted for an all-white design that looked wonderful. For the reception, we used Flowers by Elaine to create table flowers, floating candles, scattered rose petals on the floor and hanging decorations throughout the venue.” The happy couple hired a Mercedes from London Luxury Chauffeuring to transport the bride and her father to the church on the morning of the wedding. DRESSED TO IMPRESS Penny-Jane chose a beautiful dress from the Bridal Rogue Gallery in London. “It was the 14 th gown that I’d tried on, and I knew immediately it was the one ,” says Penny- Jane. “I originally imagined myself in a fitted slinky dress, however after my daughter encouraged me to try on a princess-style I completely changed my mind. I wanted everything very plain and timeless, so I went to Swarovski the week before the wedding and purchased very subtle earrings and a thin diamanté bracelet.” REAL WEDDINGS 45