“Three Coins”
Alastair knew it was love at first sight when he met Ashleigh at Southampton University. By 2012 he had decided to whisk Ashleigh off to Rome for a weekend break where he romantically proposed in front of the famous Trevi Fountain.
As the saying goes
You must throw three coins into the fountain: the first guarantees your return to Rome, the second leads to a new romance, while the third lead to marriage!
Ashleigh agreed to become the new Mrs. Sheppard and once back in the UK, they started to plan for their big day.
Ashleigh and Alastair looked at 6 venues in total, but instantly fell in love with Gaynes Park. They proceeded to set a date and then went on to visit Gaynes Park numerous times before the big day to ensure every little detail was just as they had imagined.
Ashleigh wore a Paloma Blanca dress which she purchased in Tunbridge Wells, while Alastair’s suit was from Jack Bunnies in Barking.
Ashleigh and Alistair’s colour theme was dusky pink and sage green, inspired by the sage green bridesmaid’s dresses that Ashleigh had fallen in love with. Combining Ashleigh’s ideas with Designer Flowers’ expertise, it was not long before we found the perfect shades of roses and hydrangea to complete the look.
Ashleigh used the light and open space of the orangery at Gaynes Park to create the weddings of her dreams we brought in a Perspex/ clear table which we added a heart of flowers to the inside of the transparent table made with roses, and antique hydrangea, while scattering crystals inside the table to finish the look. On the wall we hung a vintage dusky pink and green heart and also added hearts to the back of the bride and grooms chairs. Designer flowers also hung pomanders on Sheppard’s crocks down the isle.
In the mill barn we dressed the tables with silver candelabra with a ball of flowers placed inside the candelabra arms made with memory lane roses, dill, avalanche roses and antique hydrangeas, and seasonal foliage.
Ashleigh enjoyed the wedding and her words of advice for all you brides to be would be “Enjoy every minute of planning the wedding it lasts a lot longer than the day itself! On the day it goes so quickly so make sure you take a moment (with your new husband!) to step back and take it all in and don’t forget that everyone is there for the two of you!”
Photographs by Expression Photography