Pretty in pink

from Your Herts and Beds Wedding - April/May 2023 (Issue 97)

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Sophie and Alex’s stunning wedding at Offley Place featured plenty of local suppliers Images courtesy of Nikki Watkins Photo & Film

Sophie

and Alex first met at school and dated during their teens before going their separate ways. Alex went to study in Hong Kong after taking a year abroad towards his studying to become an engineer at the University of Bristol, and Sophie lived in Spain after studying history and politics at the University of Leicester. Throughout the years, they vaguely stayed in touch before moving back to Hitchin and bumping into each other while commuting to London one day. They reconnected as friends and decided to date again.

Alex proposed in Scotland on a road trip through Skye. The pair were staying on a secluded beach in an eco-lodge and went for a walk at sunset when Alex popped the question. Sophie says, “It was a total surprise – so much so that I didn’t say anything for a few minutes while I took it all in. Alex had started acting slightly odd ten minutes before, which made me think something may be about to happen.”

Setting The Scene

The couple set the date for October 10th 2022, and set out to use as many local suppliers as possible to support small businesses. Their number one goal was to avoid adding any extra pressure because as long as they were together with loved ones, that was all that mattered.

When finding the backdrop to their day, the lovebirds wanted a property close to home where guests could feel comfortable and enjoy the day. After viewing several venues, they discovered Offley Place and fell in love. The bride says, “It was everything I wanted when I imagined myself getting married; it looked grand but still intimate. We knew the grounds would look spectacular in Autumn, especially the beautiful vines around the building, and there were plenty of rooms for our guests to stay over.”

The groom made his grand entrance in a red Austin 7 vintage car, which made the perfect backdrop to photos during the day. The newlyweds went for a drive after the ceremony, which was the ideal opportunity to spend time together and reflect on their vows as they drove around the block.

The couple had framed wedding photos from their loved ones’ weddings inside the property, a lovely personal touch that was a huge hit with guests. They also had a pick ‘n’ mix table, flip flops in a basket for guests, sparklers before the firework display and an LED sparkle dancefloor that came with ‘Mr & Mrs Coles’ light-up letters.

The table plan was displayed on a giant map, usually found in the pair’s house, and pins indicated all the places they had travelled or lived. Table names were displayed in gold frames with an image of the couple at that location. Alex has a blog from his travels, and the pair used snippets on the back of the frames that people could read and a link for them to view the whole post. They also had QR codes on the tables, which linked to a shared Google image folder for loved ones to upload their snaps from the day – some of the photos are incredible!

Alternating tower stands and short vases with flowers inside comprised the centrepieces, which matched the colour scheme perfectly. The bride wanted the tall golden stands to be full of flowers and absolutely loved the final result. The flowers were mainly white and light pink with eucalyptus greenery around the edges. The pair enlisted the help of a local florist, Ellice from Willow & Blossom Floral Design, who made their dream vision come true. Sophie says, “I cried when Ellice first dropped off the flowers as it was the first time I saw everything coming together –they were just so beautiful!”

Guests were given ceramic pots for favours with tea lights inside, matching the day’s intimate and relaxed vibe. The pair now love visiting guests and seeing the pots on display.

The confetti used on the day was homegrown by a family friend, who cut and dried litres of confetti. The personal touch meant a lot to the lovebirds; they still have some leftovers to keep forever.

Looking The Part

The bride unintentionally fell in love with an off-the-rack dress after thinking she had already found the one. She says, “I was adamant I wasn’t wearing a sleeveless dress, and I knew I wanted something really classic that I would be comfortable in. I took my cousin, mum and aunt dressing shopping for a bit of fun and to try on some dresses in different styles. I picked a white Mikado gown because I just felt like me – plus I loved the pockets and huge train.” Sophie wore pearl earrings, a necklace and a bracelet from loved ones to accessorise her look. Later in the evening, she swapped into a diamanté necklace, her grandmother’s sapphire ring and a bracelet Alex had gifted her on the morning of the wedding. Silk flats finished off her look with a bit of bling around the edges. The bride comments, “I felt happy and comfortable with my look. I had this odd moment where my bridesmaids and mum were all out of the room getting ready, and I was standing alone in my dress. I remember feeling completely at ease, which is all I could have asked for.”

The bridesmaids wore beautiful off-the-shoulder chiffon dresses with beautiful details on the back with buttons and ribbon.

Alex wore a morning suit hired from HRH Holmes & Son Ltd in Hitchin. He had a different waistcoat from the groomsmen to stand out; he wore blue while the others had grey. The company shared plenty of advice with the pair and were fantastic throughout the process – they even sorted last-minute alterations.

Time To Celebrate

The pair hired a DJ and saxophonist to help keep guests entertained in the evening; they were great and really got the party started. The bride says, “The team nailed the playlist! It’s hard to entertain loads of 30-year-olds and 60-yearolds, but they did a great job of catering to all.”

The pair both felt at ease and really happy during the day. Sophie says, “During the ceremony, I felt a bit like a dear in headlights as everything happened so quickly – we couldn’t remember afterwards what we’d even said! We took moments to sit back and enjoy it together during the day, which we’re grateful for. I remember desperately wanting to remember every moment and detail by trying to be as present as possible.”

The couple had rehearsed their first dance and set up fireworks as a surprise for all of the guests, and they felt more relaxed after this had taken place.

Seeing all their guest together was so special for Sophie and Alex. The bride says, “After spending months trying to plan and visualise the day, seeing it all come together in front of you is a great feeling and a bit surreal! We also had so many happy guests – lots of love and happiness all day.” She continues, “One thing that stood out was the staff at Offley Place. Our on-the-day coordinator, Angela, was absolutely incredible and was there before you needed her every time. She covered everything and made us feel so at ease – the whole team were outstanding, and we couldn’t have asked for more. We felt as though everyone really cared about our day, and they were so happy to help.”

The couple’s parents and the wedding party helped the day come together –the pair will forever be grateful to everyone involved. The fantastic photographer and videographer Nikki and Kane Watkins are wedding experts! They were excellent at directing guests to ensure everyone was in the right place and at the right time while making the pair feel relaxed in front of the camera. They knew the venue and the timings to the minute – a benefit of using local suppliers! The team helped the lovebirds envision the day before it happened and captured the most incredible shots that the newlyweds will treasure forever, including excelling at the almost impossible task of surprise firework photos!

Most guests commented on one hilarious moment: how the flowergirl dropped a wedding ring during the vows. After the unmistakable ‘ding’ as the ring hit the floor, the whole room erupted into laughter – thankfully, the piece was located and it helped everyone relax while setting the tone for day!

Colette is a dynamic and versatile violinist and electric violinist, who’s playing has taken her all around the World. From Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, to Switzerland and Serbia, Colette has wowed audiences globally. She has performed to crowds of up to 50,000 and played with the cast of Lord of The Dance on the Britain’s Got Talent ﬁnal to an audience of over 13 million.

Playing on a striking wireless, LED light-up violin, Colette’s electric style spans from Cafe del Mar Ibiza chill out to house and pop club music, solo or improvising alongside a DJ.

@charlottewhitebridal www.charlottewhitebridal.co.uk

Colette has brought her unique oﬀering to corporate functions, private parties, weddings and club nights, and has held residencies with DJs across the UK’s marquee venues, including brunch parties and evening showcases.