HEARTS Stolen Police officers Charlene and Lou tied the knot at Field Place on 30th August, 2025 Images courtesy of VP Photography Charlene proposed to Lou three years after they met when starting their police constable training with Sussex Police. The couple were away on a mini break in Budapest to celebrate Lou’s birthday and when Charlene insisted on enjoying their drinks outside in the cold along the river Danube, Lou began to grow suspicious. “Anyone would think you’re about to propose,” she said, patting Charlene down. At which point Charlene produced the ring box and did just that. The couple fell in love with Field Place as soon as they arrived. “We had six months to plan our big day but with the help of the team it was all possible and we had everything we wanted,” Charlene says. “Our plan was to get married among the beautiful gardens where our daughter, Darcie, could run around with the other children and have as much fun as the adults.” The witty theme featured a nod to the couple’s policing careers with tables named after various offences such as ‘drunk and disorderly’, ‘lawfully at large’, and ‘breach of peace.’ The palette included baby blue in memory of their son, Teddy, who was born prematurely with a heart defect in April 2023, and the couple displayed a QR code allowing guests to donate to the British Heart Foundation. Joanne from Elegant Stationery brought Charlene and Lou’s ideas to life using their baby blue palette and a thin blue line down the centre of the table plan to honour lost colleagues. The ceremony, led by celebrant Amanda began with a shot of strawberry Tequilla Rose shared with guests, and included the couple’s story. “This was the highlight of the day for us,” Charlene tells us. “Our celebrant got to know us and made our ceremony personal.” Next, newlyweds Charlene and Lou, accompanied by their nearest and dearest, headed out to the gardens for canapés and prosecco, and had laid out garden games to keep everyone entertained. It was then time to move into the barns where everyone enjoyed a three-course wedding breakfast of roast pork. The singing waiters were a huge surprise to guests and brought smiles to everyone’s faces. During the first dance, a drag queen interrupted within the first 30 seconds, as a further surprise for guests and belted out some top tunes to get the party started ready for the DJ. Charlene wore a beautiful white dress made by Katie from Velvet Birdcage in Findon. Katie also came up with the idea of wearing a baby blue petticoat beneath her dress, which would be seen when dancing. “Within three months my dress was made and when I tried it on for the first time, I fell in love with it,” Charlene remembers. Lou wore a white fishtail gown also from Velvet Birdcage. It was the third she tried on and instantly knew it was the one. Although it was the total opposite of anything she had in mind she could imagine walking down the aisle in it. The bridesmaids were dressed in long, flowing baby blue gowns, which could all be worn differently and carried bright yellow sunflowers, a flower the couple gift to Teddy on special occasions. “They brought vibrancy and even brought the sun out on the day,” Charlene remembers. REAL WEDDINGS 29
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=