Catherine and John
06/08/2006 –
How and when did you meet?
We met at Eros nightclub in Enfield and were introduced by a mutual friend in August 1997. We were both 16.
Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?
John proposed in my living room at home. I didn’t want a big fuss and afterwards we went out for a Chinese!
Did you have hen and stag celebrations? If so, what did you do?
I arranged my hen night and went for drinks in Henry’s in Covent Garden and then on to Apollonia restaurant off Tottenham Court Road. The best man arranged the stag night which was a meal, then drinks in Leicester Square and onto School Disco at Hammersmith.
How did your groom help with the wedding planning?
John helped with everything and got really into it. I didn’t want to spend all that money on one day so told him that he had to enjoy the planning too! On the morning of the wedding he took a big box of things to the venue and a list of what to do with them and he didn’t let me down.
Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it
I had a Maggie Sottero gown, Angelina, which I tried on during my first wedding dress shopping trip and fell in love with it.
Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?
I had three adult bridesmaids. My sister was my maid of honour and my sister-in-law and one of my best friends were the other bridesmaids. They wore a periwinkle blue dress with white detail, from Forever Bridals.
Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?
John chose one of his best friends that he used to go to school with to be his best man and had three other ushers who were his two brothers and my brother.
Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?
We had a civil ceremony as neither of us is particularly religious.
Where did you hold your ceremony?
The ceremony was at Ponsbourne Park Hotel in Hertfordshire.
Where did you hold your reception?
The reception was also at Ponsbourne Park Hotel in Hertfordshire.
Did you have any special wedding transport?
I hired a gunmetal and dove grey 1930’s style Beauford Open Tourer, from Be Chauffeured Ltd in Kent and my bridesmaids, pageboys and mum had a white stretch limousine from County Limos in Kent.
How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?
We had 83 guests for the ceremony and wedding breakfast and another 80 people for the evening reception.
Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?
Our colours were lilac/blue with flowers, hearts and diamantes. Our table name theme was Greek Gods and Goddesses. We had lilac and white flowers on the tables in clear vases and our table names were made with colour and style in mind.
Did you give your guests favours?
The guests had Greeks biscuits as favours and we ordered enough for the evening guests to have some too.
Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?
My flowers were cream roses with cream and white lisianthus, lilac calla lilies, blue thistles and pink bouvardia. They were arranged by a friend who has just opened her own florist who I used to go to school with and she puts lots of lovely beads and crystals in the flowers too.
What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?
The venue handled the catering and we had chicken and bacon salad to start, lamb noisettes with chive mash and vegetables for main course and pear frangipane for dessert.
What did you choose for your wedding cake, and who made it?
We had a three tier fruit wedding cake, made and decorated by my mum’s best friend. It was absolutely stunning.
Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?
We had a Greek DJ in the evening that played a variety of English and Greek music. Our main evening entertainment was the Greek Money Pinning dance which we did instead of having a gift list.
Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?
No.
Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?
We spent our first night at the hotel and came down in the morning and had breakfast with our guests. We then went home and packed to fly out to the Maldives for our two week honeymoon.
What was your most memorable moment of the day?
Holding hands all the way through the ceremony and going out for a drive in the wedding car after the ceremony and having a few minutes on our own to catch our breath.
Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?
Enjoy it and try to notice what a good time everybody else is having too!
