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Early days…
Thirty-two-year-old Louise, a recruitment manager, met business analyst Matt, 29, on a dating website two years ago. "Matt is from NYC but was living in London and I had just moved back to London from New York," laughs Louise. "We met for a date at The Salt House pub on Abbey Rd in St John's Wood for our first date."
Matt feels that he and Louise met at the perfect time in their lives. "Timing is everything in life. I believe that things only happen for you when you are ready for them to," he says before adding: "Louise is an easy person to fall in love with." Louise was equally blown away the first time she met Matt. "From our first date there was a sparkle in Matt's eyes that had me enraptured," she says. "He is my best friend, and I knew he was the one from very early on in the relationship."
The proposal…
It was obviously love at first sight because just six months after their first date, Matt proposed to Louise, who happily accepted. "Matt took me away for the weekend to Thornbury Castle in Gloucestershire. At the hotel we were shown to our room, which was so romantic with a roaring fire, a fourposter bed, roses and Champagne. Just before we went down to dinner, I was sitting on the bed when Matt got down on one knee and proposed. After lots of happy tears and calls to family and friends, we had a beautiful meal in a private dining area in the castle. It was completely romantic, just like a fairytale," remembers Louise happily. Matt presented Louise with a two carat diamond ring that had been his great grandmother's.
Hen and stag parties…
Louise's fun-packed day started with a horseride in Hyde Park followed by a visit to a bakery for tea and cupcakes. After a relaxing afternoon the hens toured around London in a limo before enjoying a private karaoke party, dinner and drinks. "We stayed at a hotel in Primrose Hill afterwards," says Louise.
Matt went further afield for his stag do with a visit to Riga. "Twelve of my mates came along for the fun. We had a hell of a time shooting guns at a range and driving around the city... and we had the occasional beverage."
The venues…
Louise and Matt chose Buxted Park as they wanted a country house with several rooms that could be used for the ceremony and celebrations. "We used the orangery for a rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding and for the Champagne reception after the ceremony, and we used the ballroom for dinner. "The hotel has 44 rooms which we had exclusively for the wedding night as we needed somewhere for all our guests from the USA to stay for the weekend. "The food was amazing and the staff very friendly, not to mention the stunning suites. It really is a breathtaking venue," says Louise.
The attendants…
Louise's three bridesmaids were her best friend from Florida Kim Kasarda, her sister-in-law Samantha Hambury and friend and best man's wife Victoria Laor. "My niece Isabel was my flowergirl." The bridesmaids wore lilac two-piece gowns by Alfred Sung. The outfits were teamed with purple satin shoes and an amethyst bracelet and necklace set - a gift from Louise. The best man was Matt's best friend Laurent Laor, while uni friend Chris Kibler and brother-in-law Dan Hambury helped out as groomsmen. The three men wore outfits the same as the groom's.
The dress…
Louise wore a gorgeous princess-style Hollywood Dreams dress. "The bodice was embellished with ornate beading, tiny pearls and Swarovski crystals," she says. "The full skirt was made of Dupion silk." She teamed her fairytale dress with a vintage tiara and diamond drop earrings. "My veil was shoulder length and edged with tiny teardrop Swarovski crystals."
For his part Matt looked the part in a smart morning suit with tails, waistcoat, tie and pocket scarf. "I had Mont Blanc cufflinks, which Louise lovingly bought me for Christmas, and a Tag Hauer link chronograph watch," he says.
The flowers…
In keeping with the lilac and crystal theme, Louise had blue curiosa roses dotted with Swarovski crystals, bound with a satin ribbon for her bouquet. "All the flowers were shades of purple and lilac. The bridesmaids held simple posies of seasonal flowers in the same colours," says Louise.
The decorative touches…
The couple treated guests to a champagne and canapé reception followed by a sit-down wedding breakfast comprising of caramelised onion tart tatin with goat's cheese, grilled sea bream, creamed potatoes and basil dressing, and champagne and strawberry terrine with frozen yoghurt.
Play on... A harpist played at the ceremony, a pianist during the drinks reception and there was a live band in the evening. "We had a a great band called Funk Factor who played soul and funk classics; we danced all night."
The wedding cake had three tiers, one chocolate, the second blueberry spice and the third lemon. "The cake had lilac colour icing with whitesugar butterflies on each tier, and a white satin ribbon and a vintage brooch on the bottom tier," says Louise.
The table centres were decorated with tall vases with floating vanda orchids. On top of this was an arrangement of flowers which included stock, roses, and hydrangeas.
The honeymoon…
To start their honeymoom, Louise and Matt flew to LA where they spent two days. The couple then jetted off to Moorea in French Polynesia. "We spent five days on the most beautiful island at The Pearl Beach Resort. We then flew to Bora Bora to spend three days in a hut over the water where we could feed fish from the living room and snorkel from the back porch," says Louise. "It was amazing to combine the glamour of LA with the beauty of French Polynesia."
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