A stylish affair

Posted by Claire Ridley on 18 November 2022

Daisy and Ed met in their final year at Loughborough University in 2016. "During our time at university, we had lived close by to one another and had heard of each other through mutual friends but did not meet properly until our final year," Daisy tells us. "When we did meet, we instantly hit it off as friends first, and then we started dating a few months later."

Ed proposed to Daisy on 25th September 2022 at Durdle Door in Dorset. “I’d always wanted to visit the iconic Durdle Door for the beautiful views of the Jurassic Coast and Ed knew that I wanted to be proposed to somewhere picturesque,” Daisy explains.

“We visited one morning and even though it was foggy and we could hardly see the view, Ed persevered to find a secluded space to pop the question. He stood behind me and said can I ask you a question to which I turned around and saw the ring. It was a complete surprise and I said ‘yes’ through my happy tears!”

Car Daisy had previously visited Danesfield House Hotel and Spa for work Christmas parties and knew it would be the venue for her wedding one day. "It's so beautiful and every part of the hotel offers a photo opportunity," Daisy tells us.

"Having hotel rooms on-site for our guests was important to us and we loved the fact that the property has such a good reputation. The outside terrace and grounds are so pretty and we loved the Grand Hall and the romantic Versailles Suite, with its chandeliers and pale pink walls, where our ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception were held."

Daisy arrived at the hotel in a silver-grey Jaguar Mk2 decorated with white ribbons which were then used for the couple's photographs after the ceremony.

The couple's flowers set their blush pink and powder blue colour theme.

"Our beautiful bouquets, buttonholes and corsages included ranunculus, forget-me-not, muscari, delphinium, spirea, lilac, sweet pea, tulip, narcissi, anemone, viburnum and plenty of textured foliage," Daisy says.

"Our centrepieces were gold urns filled with these flower varieties placed alongside gold candlesticks with long powder blue tapered dinner candles that we also styled on the fireplace in the Versailles Suite during the day."

Daisy designed the light pink and blue watercolour table plan, place names and table names that featured speckles of gold, and the couple gifted their guests gingerbread biscuits as favours handmade by Ed's mother, Alison.
"They were iced in light pink, blue and "The part that stood out the most for me was when the doors opened to the ceremony room and I saw Ed standing at the end of the aisle with a huge grin on his face. I couldn't stop smiling." – Daisy gold," Daisy tells us.

"We chose a three-tier Victoria sponge cake covered with buttercream and decorated with a light pink and blue watercolour effect. Gold leaf was added to the buttercream and the design was finished with fresh flowers so that everything tied together."

Venue Daisy and Ed enjoyed a menu tasting at the hotel before their wedding. "The food options were delicious and we finally decided on some mouth-watering choices including smoked haddock fish cake to start followed by rosemary marinated lamb rump as the main course and a classic lemon meringue pie for dessert."

Daisy chose a dress by Allure Bridals from the Allure Romance range.

"I loved the lace detail, sparkling tulle and the full skirt with a fitted bodice," she tells us.

"I accessorised it with a two-tiered veil with lace trim and crystal droplets, a handmade tiara with natural freshwater pearls and crystal leaf detail and a freshwater pearl back-drop necklace."

Ed chose a blue suit with a matching waistcoat teamed with a light blue tie to match the couple's colour scheme. "His white shirt had D&E embroidered on the cuff," Daisy describes.

"Our best man wore the same suit and both he and Ed had a buttonhole featuring a pale blue flower and fresh herbs. Our beautiful bridesmaids wore matching soft blue halterneck chiffon maxi dresses. Their hair was styled half-up-half-down and I bought them personalised pearl bracelets with their first name as an initial."

Speech "The speeches from my father, Jamie, and Ed and his best man, Ben were so special, along with the two readings during the ceremony from my brother Edward and Ed's mother Alison." – Daisy

"During our ceremony, Charlie Davies (nee Grimsey) who is a friend from secondary school played the harp," Daisy tells us.

"She's incredibly talented and performed a range of classical songs, including Canon in D for the entrance procession."

The evening reception started at 6 pm and the couple hired the seven-piece band The UnSwung Heroes which came with a DJ as part of the band. "They started with a cover of How Long Will I Love You for our first dance which was fantastic," Daisy tells us. "They specialise as a dance band and play a mix of pop, soul and funk covers in a vintage style. The guests were dancing all night long and they were a big hit!"