When and how did you and your partner meet?
Andrew and Ellie’s story, demonstrates how modern love can exist with true chivalry still in tact! “Like many modern couples, we met on an app and had our first date in an underground bar in Victoria. Andrew very smoothly paid for the bill while I’d popped to the bathroom, being the true gent. Little was I to know on our first date that he would be moving back to America a few months later and we would spend the majority of our time dating long distance during COVID.”
What was the proposal like?
Ellie’s proposal story, truly takes our breath away and we can’t wait for our readers to hear it too! “He was due to fly in from the States and stay with me for a week, what I didn’t know was that he’d actually flown in a day early, arranged for my best friend to take me out that evening, got my keys from a neighbour and when I came home was standing in a candle lit corridor with rose petals all the way down it and got down on one knee. I was completely shocked as I had no idea he was in the country, it was a perfect surprise.”
Did you have an inspiration for the theme of your wedding?
“We knew we’d get married where I grew up in Swanage, by the seaside and I knew I wanted a plain dress and dark bridesmaids so I could have really colourful flowers. I chose forest green bridesmaid dresses and coloured flowers (sunflowers, pink & orange gerberas) and balloons for the venue and bouquets to make the colour pop. We also wanted to bring our two cultures together so we had an American and GB flag on each side of the entrance which was a fun entrance.”
Was the style of gown that you chose, what you always imagined or did it surprise you?
“I knew I wanted something quite plain without lace/sparkles, Meghan Markle style, but I went into the boutique absolutely clear I didn’t want a strapless dress and bought the first dress I tried on – a beautiful and classic strapless Stella York.” A prime example ladies of ‘the gown will also choose you.’ Wedding gowns are designed like no other. Like Ellie, stay open minded and you may be pleasantly surprised.
Can you tell us more about your venue?
“We actually decided to have a marquee in the garden, my parents got married in their parents’ garden and I always thought it was nice to have it at home and be able to have complete control over how it looked and the suppliers we could use. It was great being able to decorate it how we wanted and made the whole wedding week exciting as I was able to create the look I wanted over a few days once the marquee was up.”
What advice would you give future brides when looking for their dress?
“Definitely have an open mind, I was totally surprised that something I thought was a complete deal breaker (strapless) was what I actually chose in the end. And secondly, pick the dress that makes you feel amazing, don’t go for the safe choice!
Did you have a favourite element of your dress?
“It had POCKETS!! Which was amazing for the lipstick top ups through the day. And just the beautiful satin it was made out of which was so soft to touch.” Pockets are one of our favourite touches too! Very subtle but also very effective, great for tissues as well!
What was your routine / plan the night before?
“Well being an American/English fusion, the night before was our rehearsal dinner where we had an early dinner with all our family and bridal party, it was so lovely to spend quality time with them the night before because we felt less pressured to have long conversations with them the day of the wedding. After the dinner, I went and played a fun game with my bridesmaids to try and chill out before heading to bed for a fairly sleepless night.” This is very wise advise for future brides who may be worried about the lengthy conversations on the big day with the risk of missing out on other fun! A dinner or small gathering the day prior, seems like the perfect solution and allows you to be even more involved on the big day.
What was your highlight of the special day?
“Honestly the whole day with all your friends and family there was so special but getting into the rolls royce to drive to the church with my Dad when everyone else is there waiting for you and that moment of walking in and down the aisle to my husband was the highlight and something I’ll never forget. We had also had a nervous week in the run up to the wedding of the weather looking awful, as it turned out we had beautiful sunshine all day and the clifftop we went to for our couples shoot was just perfect with blue skies so that was a real highlight too.”
How did it feel looking back at your wedding photos?
“Our photographer was AMAZING, so friendly and really put us at ease (and she even joined in with the party in the evening!) and the day after our wedding sent us 24 pictures which I just couldn’t stop looking at. When the full set came through we were so excited, they bring back all the memories of the day and it’s so nice to see the pictures of your friends and family at the reception which you don’t see all of on the day.”
What was your first dance song?
L.O.V.E – Nat King Cole
