Written by Helen-Louise Dudney

Photography by Amy B Photography

Despite being together for over nine years, Richard and Sally still got butterflies under the perfect star-filled sky on the night of their engagement. 

The Proposal

Whilst on a last minute holiday to a nature reserve in Tenerife, Richard and Sally took a late-night walk down to the beach one evening after dinner. Sally said that as they sat on the pebbles, gazing up at the stars, they felt like the only people in the world. It was there, with the sky sparkling above, that Richard said “I feel a bit nervous…” and in Sally’s usual way, she interrupted him to proclaim “Me too!!” Richard then went on to continue, “Well I feel nervous because I’m going to ask you to be my wife.” Through tears and laughter Sally kept saying “Really?! Are you sure?” 

Sally and Richard kept their engagement a secret until they were back in the UK, where they couldn’t have imagined the amazing feeling that came with just how happy their friends and family were for them. They enjoyed their engagement for just over a year and then planned it in about four weeks.

Theme

Although the couple had no specific theme, what emerged from their wedding was a beautiful combination of colour, joy, and love. They chose exactly what they wanted for their wedding based purely on what they liked. Their focus on feelings rather than aesthetics resulted in a day that looked and felt genuine and authentic. For this couple, the ethos of their wedding was centered around creating a truly special event for their loved ones. By forgoing lists of chores for the wedding party, they ensured that everyone could fully immerse themselves in enjoying the day. 

The Planning 

With Sally being in the wedding industry, she already had a clear vision of the suppliers she wanted to work with them for their big day. All that remained was to confirm their availability and get them booked! Sally and Richard had complete confidence in their handpicked vendors, knowing they would deliver an exceptional experience. This allowed the couple, along with their guests, to feel relaxed and fully immerse themselves in the excitement and joy of the day, without having to worry about the logistics.

Sally and Richard wanted their day to revolve around cocktails, dinner, and dancing, so they booked one of their favorite local restaurants. Picture this: dinner kicked off with mouth-watering antipasti sharing platters, followed by a delectable Asian-inspired deli board, and finished with an irresistible array of puddings. And let’s not forget the highlight—cocktail hour! Guests could choose between the specially crafted EspresSally Martinis and MargaRichards, adding another personal touch to the celebrations.

It’s clear just how much Sally and Richard loved making their wedding day a really special event for their friends and family and they had a further surprise for their guests, as they had booked secret singing waiters. Sally said “Not a single guest had any idea about them, the only people in that room who knew was myself, Richard and the staff at the restaurant. It was absolutely priceless to see all the looks on their faces but to also see how much they enjoyed singing and dancing along...I wish I could of bottled up that amount happiness and sold it, we would be millionaires!”

Making Their Own Traditions 

When asked which traditions they kept and which they tossed, Sally’s response couldn’t have been more perfect: “It’s hard to say for definite, what is a wedding tradition anymore?” It’s true, right? In a world where weddings are (thank goodness) becoming more personalised and less cookie-cutter, who’s to say what counts as a tradition? But this perfectly encapsulated the couple's cool approach to their wedding—choosing what felt right for them and leaving the rest behind.

Sally and Richard embraced this freedom, creating a celebration that was uniquely theirs, blending the old with the new and ditching anything that didn’t resonate with them. They chose to have confetti, speeches and a first dance, as well as cutting the cake (an awesome cheese one) together. 

What they did ditch was the ‘top table’. “We see our parents all the time so wanted to sit with our friends for dinner. We grouped people with who they knew already so they could sit and catch up with each other.”

Sally’s response to the idea of wearing white on the wedding day? A laughing emoji 😂 And as for matching bridesmaid dresses…. “We are all women in our 30’s, why are we wearing outfits we don’t like or would never normally wear?” Instead Sally gave her bridesmaids the money to choose and “buy whatever they wanted as long as it was a shade of pink or red. (Sally) just wanted them to feel like their best sexy selves!”

The Outfits

Sally always thought Richard looked incredibly handsome in burgundy, reds, or dark greens. So, after some research, they found a dark red suit that "fitted like a glove" when Richard tried it on in-store, making it an instant winner and the first outfit chosen for their big day. The finishing touch? Richard's tie, which was one of the last items they bought, as they waited to match it perfectly with the tones of their stunning floral arrangements.

Sally knew she didn’t want to spend thousands of pounds on an outfit she would wear once, especially when she felt that money could be better spent on their guests having more fun…and booze! Sally didn’t want to wear white, not only because it would it be too much pressure to keep clean on the day, but like she said, as it’s not a colour she normally wears, “it didn’t make sense to wear it on the brest day of (her) life!” Late one night, after a couple of glasses of vino she found her perfect dress on ASOS and sent the link to her ’best woman’, who ordered the dress then and there! The next day Sally got to try on her dress, and apart from needing a couple of tiny alterations at the back she was set!

Sally wanted to go with something simple with her shoes as her dress was so sparkly, and also because she knew that at some point in the evening they would be coming off and her Converse would be going on!

Details

Despite Sally’s extensive experience in the wedding industry and attending over 350 weddings, nothing could prepare her for the euphoria she felt on their own special day.

Richard and Sally’s focus was all about their guests throughout the planning process and every little detail of their wedding. Their only concern prior to the big day? Will their loved ones enjoy the day as much as they hoped. Spoiler alert: their guests looked like they felt every bit of the love and joy the couple poured into it!

Favourite Part Of The Day

Sally: “When it really really really comes down to it, the marriage. I loved absolutely every part of our day. Getting ready with all my best friends, my Dad walking me up the aisle, the confetti, the couples shots by the river, speeches and dancing with all our loved ones. It’s ALL amazing, but technically, I can do all those things again one day, but I only get to marry Richard once.

Richard’s reply to Sally’s text asking for his favourite part of the day: “Marrying you xxxxxxx”

Advice

1. Trust your suppliers wholeheartedly; you chose them for a reason, so let them work their magic. Don't sweat the small stuff; these incredible people are experts, and there's no need to worry.

2. Stay true to yourself; after the wedding, you don't want to be remembered as a control freak who stressed everyone out. Don't let wedding planning change who you are for the next year or so of your life.

3. Most importantly, let your hair down! We fully embraced every moment of our day and couldn't care less about our appearances or strict timings. Our only thoughts were to party like never before and make unforgettable memories with our favourite people in the whole wide world. We downed margaritas, danced down the aisle, attempted backflips (okay, maybe just me), banged the bongos, waved napkins high, and laughed so hard that we not only got double chins but triple ones! Our sheer bliss was contagious, and our guests couldn't help but get caught up in it too.

Suppliers

Photographer: Amy B Photography

Videographer: Will Wood Productions

Flowers: Hopyard Lane

MUA: Chloe Eleanor

Hair: Anika Hutchins

Church: St Paul’s (Father Luke was our neighbour)

Reception: Bridges Espresso Bar

Gospel singers: UpMass Gospel Choir

Singing waiters: The Astonishing Singers

DJ: Jolly Boys DJs