LOUISE AND STEPHEN’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK Venue, Secret Garden, https://secretgardenkent.co.uk | Photographer, Meg Mari Photography, https://megmariphotography.mypixieset.com Dress, Beautiful in Curves, https://weddingdresskent.co.uk | Suit, Bespoke & Tailoring, https://bespokeandtailoring.com Wedding rings, F. Hinds, www.fhinds.co.uk/stores/ashford | Make-up artist and hair stylist, MakerOver, https://www.facebook.com/makerOver | Cake, My Lavender Kitchen, https://mylavenderkitchen.carrd.co | Flowers, Hops & Flowers by Essentially Hops, https://essentiallyhops.co.uk | Entertainment, The Redfords, www.theredfords.com | Seamstress, Bridal Alterations Kent, https://sandra-barlow.co.uk | Celebrant, Alex Hilder Celebrant, www.alexhildercelebrant.co.uk | Videography, Love Luck Productions, www.loveluckproductions.com for centuries as a traditional gift. It’s a heart-shaped symbol that was once sold from a small shop or ‘lock booth’ in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, which is where the symbol gets its name from.” MEMORABLE MOMENTS On the day, both Louise and Stephen were overcome with emotion, “I was both nervous and excited,” shares Louise. “I was also sad about not having my mum there to share in our day. But the overriding emotion was of sheer excitement knowing that we were going to declare our love and commitment to each other in front of our friends and loved ones.” Stephen adds, “I felt a rollercoaster of amazingly positive emotions. Excited to be getting married to such a wonderful person in the company of dear friends and family. Nerves, being first at the venue, were quickly gone with the arrival of others. There was such happiness when I saw Louise walk down the aisle, and lots of love throughout the day.” There were a couple of standout moments on the day. Prior to Louise and her dad, Mark, walking through the gardens to meet Stephen at the gazebo, one of the event team took Louise’s handbag for safekeeping. It wasn’t until about half-way through the ceremony before Louise realised, she didn’t have her glasses and wouldn’t be able to read her vows without them! Luckily, on sharing the mishap with guests, Paul, a neighbour, came to the rescue with his pair of ‘readers’. With them perched on the end of her nose, Louise was just about able to read her vows. “In a way, it was good to have the interruption, because it gave everyone a chance to have a giggle and gave us time to drink some water before relaxing into the vows.” Additionally, with a budget in mind and no groomsmen or bridesmaids to transport, Louise and Stephen accepted the very kind offer from friends in the village to drive Louise and her dad to Secret Garden in their new car. “Nigel and Anita were celebrating their wedding anniversary on the same day,” recalls Louise. “They were all dressed up in their finery and even added a huge wedding ribbon to the car to make it extra special, the journey was only 15 minutes but in that time Nigel and Anita managed to impart words of wisdom, love and calm.” LOVED ONES “It was amazing, having my dad there! He’s an incredible man and the most wonderful dad. Our photographer Meg arranged for dad to be the first person to see me ready. She captured some beautiful moments on the bridge over the stream in our garden and I will cherish that time I had with him forever. He was nervous too and we both might have shed a few tears before we reached the aisle. “Alex, our celebrant was simply wonderful, supporting us through all of the planning, curating a beautiful script for our ceremony that took us and our guests on a rollercoaster of emotions. It really made our day unique, special and one we will remember forever. We were able to personalise and add in little stories and anecdotes that had we gone for a more traditional approach would not have been possible. We had a handfasting ceremony built into our day and chose some of our friends to each bring a ribbon for us to tie. Each ribbon was a different colour and represented a value we wanted to underpin our marriage, and the person we picked was the person we thought best displayed that value.” Due to illness Louise’s auntie Sandra and uncle Trevor (who are also her Godparents) were unable to make the day. But they managed to get a letter that included their joint speech to one of the wedding guests. It came as a complete surprise and it was wonderful, that even though they were not there, they were able to add something to the day. More tissues needed all round for that one! 42
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