Stephanie and Tom met via the dating app Bumble. “I liked the look of Tom, so we started messaging and soon arranged our first date,” Stephanie tells us. “Soon after that, we were meeting up most evenings after work!” The couple became engaged during a trip to Dublin. “We went on a coach trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Giant’s Causeway, which I told Tom I would really like to visit,” Stephanie tells us. “It was very cold and windy, but we walked down to the rocks, and Tom insisted that we get a photograph together, so we asked a lady to take one. Little did I know that Tom had already told her he was going to propose! He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him with a five-stone ruby ring with diamonds set on a gold band. I found out later that he had asked my parents for their permission, which was so special.” The couple wanted a summer wedding in the hope of having good weather. “We chose a church wedding in Tom’s local Methodist church, so that decision was an easy one,” Stephanie tells us. “We wanted a venue with plenty of outdoor space, but also an indoor option. I came across the Concorde Club in Eastleigh, which offers a large marquee with one side that opens up, which is set in a pretty garden. We arranged a meeting with Lynn, the events coordinator, and were able to book the venue the same day!” Stephanie had always wanted a big white wedding. “Everything was traditional,” she tells us. “We had a light-blue colour theme mixed with pastel shades, and I wanted flowers everywhere, like a timeless English country garden wedding. Our florist did an amazing job ensuring we had a variety of flowers, and to add more, my mum created bud vase centrepieces that looked pretty on the tables. The stationery was floral themed with the invites, menus, seating plan and orders of service all matching.” The couple also wanted their personalities to be reflected in their special day. “I’m a big Taylor Swift fan, so she featured prominently in our wedding, from the music choices to the speeches,” Stephanie tells us. “Tom loves Lego, so our guest book was a Lego mini figure design.” The Concorde Club offers a variety of wedding menus, so, in keeping with their traditional theme, Stephanie and Tom chose a three-course menu of pate, chicken with potatoes in a creamy sauce, and crème brûlée for dessert. “The food tasted amazing!” they tell us. “In our wedding package, we didn’t have any drinks included except for a welcome drink, so we had three bottles of wine on each table and a crate of beers.” 36
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