Race cars, Aeroplanes, a VW Camper van and a unique location, awesome! Nancy and Rich’s wedding was just what they wanted it to be and they managed to bring their personalities, their dogs, their loves and Nancy’s office (yup, she works at Dunsfold Park where they film the Top Gear shows) to the party.
Nancy’s beautiful lace Allure dress looks beautiful and her gorgeous locks looked stunning. I also love the DIY details the couples created for their reception, how amazing are their hand engraved pebbles as place names! Thanks to Tony Hart for these wonderful photos.
How would you describe your wedding day?
It’s such a cliché but it really was the best day of my life. It was happy, fun, unique, relaxed and a true reflection and celebration of our relationship with all the people we love.
What was your favourite part of the day?
There were so many, I can’t stop smiling when I think about the whole day! The registry office was full of humour and love (we basically got the giggles and the registrar was hilarious) and our reception venue was just so unique and totally us. Dunsfold Aerodrome (where I work) is such a beautiful location and allowed us to have a completely bespoke reception – we don’t normally do weddings but this may change after the success of mine! The novelty of driving the Top Gear track, having the time to greet and really talk to all the people we wanted to celebrate with and, not least, have a good old fashioned knees up that got everyone dancing until the wee small hours were just a few of the highlights.
Words of wisdom for couples planning their wedding?
Listen and, where you’re comfortable, compromise with your families’ requests without losing sight of the reason you are getting married. Politics will inevitably come into play but it is so important to remember and remind people why you are getting married. It is about you at the end of the day and if you can navigate this mine field and firmly (but sensitively!) plan how you want your day to be without deviating too much, it will be everything you hoped for and more – most importantly you won’t look back with any regrets. Don’t underestimate just how long it takes to plan and arrange a wedding. Don’t try and be clever with the seating plans – you don’t need to mix your groups of friends and families to enforce mingling, sit natural groups together and you’ll find they’ll be so relaxed after the meal, mingling will happen naturally. We also made sure that whilst we greeted and spoke with all our guests (we allowed a good 2 hours before the BBQ to do this), at 8.30pm it was our time, formalities and obligations were over and we then did what we wanted – for me it was spending the night on the dance floor with my friends whilst my husband propped up the bar! And the final MOST important bit of advice, don’t skimp on the photography. It’s an investment and will enable you to re-live your wedding every time you look at them so it’s really important you like your photographers work and trust them. Tony Hart (www.tony-hart.com) really captured the spirit of our day and the photos overwhelm me every time I see them – how happy we are and the forgotten moments that come rushing back. What was even better is that Tony fitted in so well at our wedding it was like having a friend take the photos! I love all the pictures, they’re our forever record of an incredible day.
The best advice you received for your big day?
Make every second count and at times throughout the day try and take a step back to enjoy and savour the moment. Also, if you need a break and 30 minutes quiet time away from it all, do it – refresh your make-up, re-gather your thoughts – it’s a really long day, you’ll come back on even better form and last much longer (I made it to 3am on this advice!). You don’t appreciate how overwhelming being in constant demand and having to talk all the time can be! And, easier than you might think (I managed it), relax – no one notices the little forgotten details which is SO true.
Anything you’d change?
No – even the British weather didn’t let us down. For someone who was so reluctant to do the whole marriage thing (took 10 years) I loved every second.
The Detail
Wedding Dress: In the end I wore an ivory and lace dress with a deep V front and back from Allure (style 8800). I had originally bought a dress on holiday in Florida (where I was proposed to!) where prices are quite reasonable. I always had the intention of trying on other dresses when I got home but nine weeks out from the wedding I hadn’t tried on any other dresses and had a major panic as I realized the one I had was not THE one. Lots of phone calls later only one bridal shop, Aurora Bridal in Woking, could see me at such short notice. The dress I loved was not in stock though (UK wide shortage apparently!) but they really went above and beyond the call of duty to get it for me. In the end they called another bride to ask if I could have her dress and they would re-order in time for her wedding in November. Thankfully she said yes! I had totally underestimated how important the dress was/is.
Brides Shoes: Jimmy Choo with matching bag – all bought before I’d even decided on the dress!
Jewellery: Vintage 1920’s drop earrings (bought from a flea market years ago) and a charm bracelet with the paw prints of our dogs attached
Hair: My nephews girlfriend. I never wear it up so had it long and curly.
Makeup: Bobbi Brown, applied myself on the morning (following a make-up lesson in store at House of Fraser Guildford).
Groom, Bestman, Fathers of the Bride & Groom Suits: Tom Fox Tailors
Bridesmaids: Coast & Ben de Lisi at Debenhams – different styles and shades of green to match their different personalities, colouring and shapes. Could have been a disaster but worked really well!
Bouquet: Calla lilies arranged in a long, trailing bouquet made by my next door neighbour.
Ceremony Venue: Dunsfold Aerodrome (Dunsfold Park)
Reception Venues: Guildford Registry Office
Photographer: Tony Hart Photography
Videographer: Brother in-law with a Flip. Totally amateur but captured all the magic moments and I’m so glad we filmed it.
Music: Mirrorball Band and our own ipod of music
Cake & Catering: ARM Catering helped us create a really relaxed and informal BBQ that guests could go up table by table to pick from a selection of meats and fish. Salads were laid on each table and dessert was a help yourself affair from a table positioned by the top table so everyone could chat to us as they passed. In the evening we had kebab and chips and fish and chips with cheese boards. The cake was a profiterole stack with wedding toppers from Goose Grease which were custom painted to our specification and included our three dogs – a brilliant keepsake after the day as well.
Favours: Pebbles engraved with our guest’s first name and on the back our wedding logo and date – all 110 hand engraved by us!
Save the Dates and Invitations: We made them ourselves and they were printed by Woking Print
Decorations: The marquee was a complete blank canvass so we bought and made everything to match our Manatee and water theme. A boat formed the centre piece of the bar area and displayed our table plan alongside crab pots decorated with seaweed (hand cut fabric) and seashells. The bar ceiling was covered with an old fishing net from ebay. The main reception had bubbles for lights and along the sides of the marquee we strung up three different shades of blue ribbon with clear plastic baubles for bubbles. The tables had a splash of colour with a turquoise runner down the middle which we then placed a mirror with a goldfish bowl on which had sand, a candle and seashells inside as the centre piece. Table names were also favours and were hand etched stones surrounded by glass tea lights. We also put a couple of games/ice breakers on the tables for guests to enjoy. The stage area ceiling was decorated with 44 metres of hand made seaweed bunting and helium bubbles. It was a lot of work and at the time everyone thought we were crazy but it all looked beautiful on the day and very unique. My Mum has gathered all the fabric (table runners, ribbons, bunting) to make into a patchwork quilt to commemorate the day
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