Elegantly Intimate & Contemporary: Real Wedding

Elegantly Intimate & Contemporary: Real Wedding

Morning lovelies, no word of a lie, the wedding I’m sharing with you today has actually made me cry. Yes. I am a soppy bugger, but I don’t normally actually cry. There’s just something so tender and beautiful about this couple and their love for each other and it really shines through in the stunning images and cinematography captured by CKP Weddings. Watch it… and seriously, have those tissues on standby!

Darren & Jill’s wedding took place at St.Mary in Boltons church in Chelsea and the reception was held at Stoke Park (James Bond was filmed there so it has to be a good venue choice for potential bride and grooms to consider). The bride got ready at Claridges hotel in London.

It’s really lovely change to hear about about a wedding from the grooms perspective. So, over to you Darren (don’t miss his proposal story).

The Church was picked because it was our local church and also it is a beautiful church in the city. Stoke Park was originally discounted because of distance, but then we couldn’t find anywhere that compared to its spectacular setting so went back to it.

Completely unbeknown to me Jill had organised a surprise 40th Birthday Party with all my friends and family. I thought we were going out somewhere for a romantic dinner since a few hints had been dropped since I took Jill to Claridges for Valentine’s Day.

On the morning of my birthday I had decided to propose that evening and went to Tiffany to get an engagement ring ready. We were a bit early so went for a drink on the way out, and to my total surprise when I entered the bar there everyone was. As I got over the shock, my thoughts then turned to what to do about the engagement ring I had strapped to my ankle (no pockets!!).

I confided in a few friends and after a few glasses of Champagne had the confidence to pop the question anyway. I was called up to make a speech for my birthday during which I announced I had a surprise of my own and dropped to one knee as Jill just stood there speechless…

Our day was styled around elegance. It was quite small by some standards for number of guests (80), but we wanted everything to be that bit extra special.

‘If we could impart any words of wisdom? Relax and enjoy it, the day goes by so quickly and you don’t want to miss it. Leave everything to other people on the day’.

Our first dance was to Unforgettable (Nat King Cole) performed by the band and our Fireworks display was put to Magnificent by U2 as a very special song to us. The fireworks were a complete surprise to everyone (including the Bride).

The most memorable moments were.. finally getting to be together at the Church having not seen each other since the night before and seeing Jill’s face when the Fireworks started.

Oh gosh, I thinking I’m gonna sob again! Where do I start with the love? The beautiful dress, venue, couple? Jill kissing their daughter Scarlet {a-flippin-dorable}? Darren taping the Tiffany’s engagement ring to his leg (eek)? ALL amazing parts of this beautiful wedding, but for me… what really ‘gets’ me, is the emotion. The emotion of this wedding has touched me and also made me wonder?

Are we all getting too caught up in the wedding details? Now don’t get me wrong, the details are properly addictive eye candy, but to me, this beautiful wedding goes to show, when you strip it all back, there’s only one thing that matters and that’s love…