A Ray Of Light In The Darkness

It brings me great joy and comfort to remember Sarah & Dean's wedding. It was held in December 2020 at a time when the pandemic was creating fresh misery to the UK. The regions were put into different tiers dependent upon the case numbers and restrictions were imposed depending upon the tier you were in. Sussex was in Tier 2 surrounded by a sea of red restrictions, Sussex (East & West) were the last Counties standing.

Everything about this wedding felt miraculous from start to finish. When Sarah made initial contact to book us for our wedding I took the booking fully expecting that it would not be allowed to go ahead. We'd already seen the 2020 burgeoning diary evaporate with each fresh news report. I remember briefing my colleagues that this wedding would probably not go ahead. I remember the lead up to the wedding, Sarah was positively calm and quietly determined.

It's just as well Sarah was so calm as two days before the wedding the wedding reception venue went into a different Tier to the Church which meant the reception could not be held there. All credit to Emily at Tying The Knot, the wedding planner, who pulled out all the stops to find a new reception venue. This is worth saying again, this was done with just 2 days notice!

We were positively euphoric when the day of the wedding came. I feel I can use the phrase: triumph in the face of adversity as that is exactly what the wedding felt like. Wedding suppliers often meet for the first time on the day and we each know our role in the day so well that we are able to join together seamlessly to create a memorable day for our mutual clients. But this wedding gave us a special bond due to the extraordinary circumstances in which we all found ourselves. It gives me great pleasure to type out the list of everyone involved in this wedding, happy in the knowledge of what we achieved that day!

Reception Venue: Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club

Wedding Planner: Emily @ Tying The Knot

Photographer: Sarah Williams

Videographer: Anneka Ireland Videography

Hair and Make Up: Stephanie Dorelli (assisted by Caitlin Scott Make Up)

Dress: Bride by Aster

Suits: Dapper of Dorking

Flowers: Silk Flower Events

Masks & dress date patch: @cwiebclothes

Cars: https://www.premiercarriage.co.uk/

Music for Ceremony & Reception: Us!

Entertainment: Nicolas Clement and Sassy Steve