Natasha and Bill
10/06/06
St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s,Wadhust, East Sussex
Finchcocks Music Museum, Goudhurst 
How and when did you meet?
We met through work. I had worked in the same office for about three years before I even said hello.
How old are you both?
I’m 27 and Bill is 30.
Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?
Bill whisked me off to Paris for New Year’s Eve in 2005. We were in a posh restaurant and I had gone off to the toilet. When I came back Bill asked me to pass him his napkin and when I picked it up, there was a box underneath. I just welled up and also started to giggle a lot before Bill asked me to marry him. I said yes as soon as I had stopped giggling – then made him ring my Dad to ask if it was ok.
Did you have hen and stag celebrations? If so, what did you do?
I went to Oxford for one night with eight friends. There was lots of drinking and a gangster and molls theme – everyone had bought costumes and looked brilliant. The next day we all relaxed at a spa at the hotel. Bill went to Bath with eight friends. They went go-karting and drank too much.
How did your groom help with the wedding planning?
Yes – every step of the way (when he was allowed).We did almost everything together – flowers, cake, invites. Bill also designed our table plan and table names.
Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?
I loved the real life weddings section.
Do you have a confetti web page?
No
Did you buy any confetti products for your wedding? If so, did you visit a store, buy online or by mail order?
I bought plain white place names and pretty pink and white disposable cameras.
Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it
It was an Anna Christina dress – silk satin strapless design with a sweetheart neckline and quite a dramatic fishtail. I also had a shoulder length veil with a satin trim (which kept falling out!)
Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?
I had two bridesmaids-my best friends from school. They wore calf-length ivory dresses with hand painted peonies on them. They were from Watters & Watters. We also had our nephews (3 and 4 years old) as page boys. They wore ivory linen trousers and white linen short sleeved shirts.
Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?
He chose one of his best friends, Dave, as his best man and then had another five ushers. They all wore traditional morning suits with ivory waistcoats. The ushers all had ivory ties and Bill and my dad had pink ones.
Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?
Religious.
Where did you hold your ceremony?
St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s in Wadhust, East Sussex.
Where did you hold your reception?
Finchcocks Music Museum in Goudhurst.
Did you have any special wedding transport?
We had two brand new silver Mercedes
How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?
There were 90 in total – no separate evening guests.
Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?
Pink, green and white – a sort of English garden theme.
How did you incorporate this in to your table settings?
We had tall, lean flower arrangements on the table with pink, green and white flowers and co-coordinating favours. Pale pink table cameras and alternate pink and green ribbon tied around white napkins.
Did you give your guests favours?
Yes, they each got a little white box (tied with either pink or green ribbon) filled with pink, green and white jelly beans.
Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?
My bouquet was a hand tied arrangement of dusky pink Old Dutch roses, with eucalyptus. My bridesmaids’ had the same, but smaller and with white roses. The table decorations were in really tall, slim glass vases made up with flowers to match the bouquets – lots of roses and peonies. We had short, round versions on the top table and our florist was Kim from The Flower House in Mayfield – she was brilliant.
What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?
We had outside caterers and ate sweet pepper and cherry tomato tarts with balsamic dressing for starters, followed by chicken breasts stuffed with wild mushrooms in a cream sauce with dauphinoise potatoes and fresh veg. For pudding we had strawberry shortcake with Chantilly cream.
What did you choose for your wedding cake, and who made it?
We had a square three-tiered cake. It was iced white and had a green icing bow and pink icing roses – it was so pretty. The middle layer was lemon cream sponge – which disappeared very quickly. The other two were fruit. My grandma’s friend made it for us.
Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?
We had a string quartet playing in the church and in the walled garden where we had reception drinks. Later we had a DJ who we gave a list of songs to. It was such a nice evening though that most people stayed outside rather than going into the bar to dance.
Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?
Yes, with John Lewis.
Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?
We spent two nights at The Alexander House hotel in Turners Hill – which was amazing. Then we flew off to The Blue Palace in Crete for two weeks – it went far too quickly!
What was your most memorable moment of the day?
Filling baskets with petal confetti with my mum at 6 am because we couldn’t sleep. The journey to the church with my dad holding my hand. My brother winking at me as I walked down the aisle. Bill mouthing ‘I love you’ as I got to the end of the aisle and trying to hold my hand before he was supposed to. Our first dance and leaving at night while everyone waved us off with sparklers.
Did you experience any ‘nightmare’ moments in the run up to your wedding or on the day?
Nothing major – oh, except my Dad only tried on his waistcoat the day before and it didn’t fit so he had to rush out and get another one. Apart from that though, nothing.
Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?
It was a beautiful day and I loved every second. I would advise other brides to have their hair trial with their veil – mine kept coming loose and in the end I had to take it out straight after the ceremony which I was a bit sad about. I would probably not have invited quite as many people – just close friends and family – I felt a little bit overawed at all the people and can’t remember lots of it because of my nerves.
