From a surprise proposal in Budapest to ‘I Do’ at Leez Priory
Tell us about the proposal – how and where did it happen?
Chelsey was on a trip in Budapest with her three friends, and on their last night, as they were walking to dinner, I was waiting in the square holding the engagement ring. Her friends and I had planned it all, and I had flown out that day to surprise Chelsey.
What was your first step in planning your wedding?
We started by arranging viewings at local venues we had heard of. We put together a Pinterest board, but found that once we had booked our venue, we were able to get an idea of what theme we wanted, as we could picture it at the venue.
What were your wedding ‘must-haves’?
The most important thing for us was having a venue which allowed many of our guests to stay as we really wanted to share the breakfast with them the next day. We also just wanted everyone to have fun, which included having a band that interacted with the guests.
How did you organise your wedding budget?
We spoke with family and friends and made sure to get quotes from different suppliers, so we could see what the average price was for certain things.
How did you find your venue and what made you choose it?
Chelsey used to make cakes and, years ago, delivered a wedding cake to Leez Priory. At that time, she saw how beautiful the venue was and when arranging viewings, we knew we had to include it. When we looked around, we just knew it was the venue for us. The grounds are beautiful, as are all the buildings. We loved that there were so many rooms for our guests to stay. We also tasted some canapés on our first viewing, which was a bonus as they were delicious.
How did you personalise your big day?
As we had chosen blue bridesmaid dresses, we wanted to tie this into our wedding décor, so opted for subtle blue flowers on our table decorations. We loved the staircases at the venue, so we chose garlands to go around these. We wanted to go for a classic and elegant look, so we had mainly cream flowers with hints of greens and blues dotted around the venue.
For our wedding favours, we personalised little bottles which we filled with a spirit and used it to toast in one our speeches.
‘We also chose the candle package as we love the look of fairy lights and candles.’
Did the venue provide any memorable extras or nice personal touches that stood out?
The venue included all the fairy lights, which really added a lovely feel. The night before, Chelsey and the bridesmaids stayed at the Fisherman’s Cottage, which includes robes, which was a lovely touch.
Describe your wedding attire and favourite accessories
Chelsey’s dress was quite simple – a fitted Bardot style with a train. Her favourite part was the veil, which had embedded sequins which sparkled when the light caught them.
What did your partner wear?
I wore a double-breasted dark navy suit with a bow tie. We chose it together, and we always knew we wanted to opt for black tie, but going for the double-breasted really elevated the look and looked very smart.
Tell us about your wedding party and their outfits
Chelsey had four bridesmaids – her three best friends and sister. She put together a photo album of all their memories to ask them to be her bridesmaids, and they wore dusky blue dresses and all looked beautiful.
I had four groomsmen – my three closest friends and brother. I asked them whilst doing their favourite activity – golf. All the boys wore black tie, and looked very smart.
What was your ceremony like?
Chelsey was walked down the aisle by her Dad to an instrumental version of the Frank Sinatra Song – ‘The Way You Look Tonight’. We had two readings by our Sister-in-Law and Chelsey’s Grandad, which were both very special.
Tell us about your drinks reception and wedding breakfast
For our welcome drinks, we had Raspberry Prosecco, Pimms, Mojitos and buckets of beers. There were so many to choose from!
For our wedding breakfast, we had pork belly or brie & onion tart to start, roast beef or butternut squash gnocchi for the main, and sticky toffee pudding or vanilla cheesecake for dessert. The food was one of the highlights of our day – we had so many of our guests commenting on how amazing the food was.
We had two speeches before the meal – the bride and father of the bride, and then the me and the best man’s after the meal. It was nice to have them spread out before and after.
Did you have a band or DJ for your evening reception? Did you have a first dance – what song did you choose?
We had a band in the evening up until 11pm, and then had the Leez Priory DJ for the last 2 hours. For our first dance, we had Becky Hill – ‘I Could Get Used To This’. It was a great choice as it got everybody joining in.
Based on your own experience, give us some top tips:
I would say that the most important thing is to remember it is your day, and although it is easy to listen to the opinions of your guests, you should choose things that you want and that you’re going to remember.
I would also recommend getting a few quotes for different aspects so you can make sure you are getting the most for your money.
Did you go on a honeymoon or mini-moon?
We went to Crete for a week, two days after our wedding and in February, we are going to the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos.
“If we could do it all again, we’d…”
Change nothing! It was the most perfect day and we couldn’t have asked for anything more.
Tell us who your suppliers were:
Wedding attire: Grace Loves Lace and Reiss
The accessories: Grace Loves Lace
Wedding Party outfits: Asos Bridesmaids, Moss Bross
Wedding rings: Blue Angel
Invitations: Vista Print
Photographer: EPS Photography
Band/disco/DJ: Band 1 – Simply Swing, Band 2 – Groove Habit, DJ – Leez Priory
