Charlotte and David’s Real Life Wedding
Charlotte and David
31/07/2004 – The White House in Hampton, Middlesex
Chessington Golf Club, Surrey
photos by Pauline & Leila Cutler
How and when did you meet?
We met at college studying Audio Engineering – David was the college manager.
Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?
In a diamond shop in South Africa. As he was paying for my ring he asked if that meant we were getting engaged!
Did you have hen and stag celebrations?
David went go-carting followed and then had a meal with ten of his mates.
I went for a meal with 12 hens at an Italian restaurant in Richmond.
Did your groom help you with the wedding planning?
We found the venues together and also chose music, had wine tastings and chose cake flavours.
Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?
We bought a bride and groom figurine for the top of our cake of a tall bride and small groom. I’m 6 foot and David is 5 foot 6.
Do you have a confetti web page?
No.
Did you buy any confetti products for your wedding? If so, did you visit a store, buy online or by mail order?
We ordered the figurine online.
Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it.
I bought a two-piece silk Jasper Conran dress off the peg at Debenhams. It took three hours to find the dress with my mum and sister and I collected it two weeks later. It had a boned bodice with spaghetti straps and a full length skirt with a small train.
Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?
My sister was my bridesmaid and wore a dress in a red wine colour.
Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?
David’s best man was Richard Bignell. He wore a morning suit with red cravat and gold waistcoat. David wore a morning suit with colours of the cravate and waistcoat in reverse (red waistcoat, gold cravat. Our usher, Tony, wore his own suit.
Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?
We had a civil ceremony.
Where did you hold your ceremony?
The White House in Hampton, Middlesex.
Where did you hold your reception?
Chessington Golf Club in Surrey.
Did you have any special wedding transport?
My brother-in-law put a white ribbon on his gold car and drove us.
How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?
We had 80 guests and they came to both venues.
Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?
We had a traditional South African braii (BBQ) and chose South African wines as David grew up in Cape Town.
How did you incorporate this in to your table settings?
We had no table settings, our guests sat wherever they wanted at benches outside in the balmy evening. It was 25 degrees.
Did you give your guests favours?
No.
Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?
My sister and I had bouquets of ivory and white roses and lisianthus. We had two displays of lilies in cream vases at the ceremony which were taken to the reception afterwards.
What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?
Barbecued lamb, South African sausage, chicken and vegetable kebabs, stuffed mushrooms, an assortment of salads, garlic bread, new potatoes. For pudding a friend of ours made trifles (v alcoholic!).
What did you choose for your wedding cake?
My sister in law made our cakes. We had four tiers: carrot, coffee, chocolate and lemon sponges decorated with miniature and giant sweets (to symbolise tall bride small groom) and we hired a cake stand and put our figurine on top.
Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?
We had an 80’s disco in the evening.
Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?
Yes, we had a list with John Lewis.
Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?
We spent our wedding night at home and then went to Dorset to stay in my mother-in-laws holiday flat.
What was your most memorable moment of the day?
Being sung down the aisle by my good friends (they sing on the Jonathan Ross chat show and insisted on singing for us on our wedding day).
Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?
ave the wedding that you want because otherwise you’ll regret it. Don’t spend too much money! We had the most amazing wedding and chose every element of our day.
