An Essex Wedding - January/February 2021 (Issue 96)

REAL WEDDINGS 37 Rob and the father-of-the-bride looked suave in navy suits with dusky pink accessories, which coordinated beautifully with the bridesmaids’ V-neck Mori Lee dresses. “As we had an intimate wedding, we decided not have groomsmen,” Kendall explains. “Otherwise nearly all the men at the wedding would have been dressed the same!” TIME TO PARTY (AT HOME!) After meeting her two years before, the couple knew they had to have Zoe Alexandria playing the piano during the day. “She was fantastic and our guests loved her,” Kendall says. “Her ability to perform any request across all genres was a real hit. Having her play as I walked down the aisle was perfect.” As there were restrictions on wedding receptions at the time, the couple’s close family and friends returned to the newlyweds’ home to continue celebrations in their back garden. “We were hesitant having to move the evening party from our venue, but it worked out for the best and everyone had a fantastic time,” Kendall smiles. “We had a rustic heart-shaped photo booth in the garden and we got some fantastic pictures of our guests in silly hats and props!” NAVIGATING THE NEW NORMAL After two years of planning, the couple were concerned that the pandemic may mean they couldn’t get married at all. “For months leading up to the day we weren’t sure if it could go ahead,” Kendall remembers. “We remained positive throughout, and every time there was a new obstacle, we worked together to get around it. We were both so happy to finally be husband and wife – nothing was going to stop us getting married!” So looking back, how do they feel about their special day? “People tell you to try to take it all in, but everything went past so quickly; it was like a dream,” the bride says. “Being one of the first weddings after the lockdown eased, we were wondering how it would go. Luckily we didn’t have to change much, but our guests did have to wear face masks for the ceremony. We invested in clear masks so we could see our loved ones’ faces – it was totally worth it!” 