Hannah and Declan met in 2014 at work. "I had transferred across from another store and Dec, thinking I was temporary staff for Christmas, took it upon himself to show me the ropes!" Hannah tells us. "He won me over with his cheeky personality and a few weeks later we started dating, much to our manager's disappointment! We had to be separated at work because neither of us got much done!"
The couple became engaged on holiday in Fuerteventura on 20th July 2019. "We enjoyed a walk along the beach after dinner and there, in front of the sunset was where he proposed!" Hannah says. "It was a big surprise although I should've seen it coming because there were some tell-tale signs!"
The couple chose Stonehouse Court Hotel in Gloucestershire as their wedding venue. "We loved the mix of classic and modern touches that it offered," Hannah tells us. "We wanted to host our entire day in one venue and Stonehouse Court Hotel had a variety of options with more than one room licenced for ceremonies. The catering was taken care of and we adored the photo opportunities in the pretty grounds, for example, the view of the canal at the back of the hotel."
The couple wanted their decorative touches to be meaningful and personal to them so they designed the stationery including the invitations, place cards and seating plan themselves. "Dec is fantastic at graphic design so he was able to create exactly what we wanted," Hannah tells us. "One of our bridesmaids provided the illustrations for the order of the day and because we originally had our heart set on having a spring wedding, we chose a pastel pink and blue floral design. This was carried through in every detail from the napkins to the ribbons on the vases for our centrepieces. The cake was made by my talented mum, Fiona and sister, Abby which fitted the theme beautifully. It tasted delicious and was finished with some fresh flowers."
Hannah chose a stunning wedding dress by Maggie Sottero. "I wasn't initially sure that I wanted a fitted gown but when I tried it on, I loved it!" she tells us. "The detail and beading sparkled beautifully and my mum's reaction to it was what sealed the deal! I chose a full-length sheer veil so that you could see the back of the dress through it."
Dec wore a three-piece navy suit with a subtle check print. "The other groomsmen wore two-piece versions and they all had matching pale pink ties the same colour as the bridesmaids' dresses finished off with a vibrant pink rose buttonhole," Hannah explains.
"Having a toastmaster who will organise the day is so important! Ours was Dominic from the team at Stonehouse Court Hotel who ensured it all ran without a hitch." – Hannah and Dec
The bridesmaids wore pale pink full-length dresses which suited them perfectly. “It could’ve been a bit tricky to get all six to agree on a style but it turned out to be a dream!” Hannah says.
Hannah and Dec had to change their plan regarding their wedding entertainment because their celebration took place while restrictions were in place due to the pandemic. "Luckily, we were blessed with sunshine so most of our reception and evening party took place outside," Hannah explains. "We had lawn games including rounders which was such a hit with our guests!"
The first dance was very special because Hannah and Dec got their bridesmaids and mother-of-the-bride to join in a flash mob, finishing with the other guests learning the steps and joining. "We couldn't stop smiling as we watched everyone enjoying themselves," Hannah tells us. "The speeches were also very special. Before the wedding, my younger brother Matt asked whether he could make a speech which we were excited about - he had so many lovely things to say."
The couple booked to go on honeymoon to Dubai and the Maldives through travel consultant Stephanie Chipping. “She was fantastic about booking (and rebooking) our dream trip,” Hannah says. “We described what we wanted and she has made it happen. We just can’t wait!”
"I don't think either of us can put into words how special the day was for us. People always say that your wedding is the best day of your life but I don't think we quite appreciated this until it happened! The celebration was brimming with love and laughter." – Hannah and Dec
