Wedding at St Elizabeth's House

Laura and Damien first met on a blind date nine years ago. The laidback encounter, comprising of bowling, a drink and a stroll along Plymouth Hoe, led to an oh-so romantic proposal in New York. "I bought the ring while we were over there," says Damien, "I asked Laura to marry me while we were on a rowing boat in Central Park."



On their return, planning began for a classic wedding with an elegant vintage twist in the picture-perfect setting of St Elizabeth's House. Soft shades of dusky rose and cream carried from the gorgeous flowers, arranged by Damien's aunt, which included an abundance of roses and gypsophila, to the beaded '20s' inspired bridesmaid dresses which echoed the exquisite embellishment of Laura's dreamy Maggie Sottero gown.





"Laura was fashionably late by 45 minutes, which caused everyone waiting in the Beatrice Room to sweat!" says Damien. Once the vows had been taken, guests tucked into Pimm's and canapes while the newly-weds enjoyed some photographs and time to themselves in the scenic grounds.



The wedding breakfast was served on tables dressed with pretty roses and birdcages woven with pearls amidst the ambient glow of candlelight; dishes included salad of Parma ham, mushroom and tarragon soup, sirloin of beef and chicken with dauphinoise potatoes followed by vanilla creme brulee and chocolate sponge.



The speeches turned the usual format on their head, as Damien explains: "The best man speech seemed to pick on the bride rather than the groom which I was more than happy with, although the 'real' best man speech was delivered just to the lads later in the evening!"



"Our favourite moment was the ceremony itself although the whole day was fantastic and ran without a hitch," says Damien, reminiscing on their magical wedding. He endorses a team effort when it comes to wedding planning. "Plan it together - it should be a joint effort - and start in advance. Enjoy the whirlwind of it all because it's over in the blink of an eye." And, wisely, he recommends: "make sure the stag and hen dos are well in advance of the wedding so that you're not too tired on the big day."





Photography Picshore Photography www.picshore.co.uk
Venue St Elizabeth's House www.stelizabeths.co.uk
Dress Maggie Sottero at Prudence Gowns www.prudencegowns.com
Bridesmaids' dresses Koko Rose Boutique www.kokoroseboutique.com
Hair and make-up Adele Hack www.weddinghairplymouth.co.uk
Groom's outfit Debenhams www.debenhams.com
Entertainment Chocolate Frogz Disco 01752 290462
Transport Westcountry Wedding Cars www.westweddingcars.co.uk
Mr Alfie's Jaunts www.mralfiesjaunts.co.uk

Copyright Wed magazine 2015