Kate and Alan
February 2000
How did you meet?
We met through work…our eyes met over a lunchtime drink and that was it.
Describe the marriage proposal.
Alan took us to Cornwall for the weekend and booked for dinner at a lovely harbour-side restaurant as it was the day before Valentine’s Day. After dinner, he apologised for not having a card or flowers for me, but said he had something else instead. At that point, he went down on one knee and popped the question. It was so romantic that a couple sitting at the next table bought us a bottle of Champagne to celebrate!
How long did you spend preparing for the day and how was it?
We got engaged pretty much a year to the day, so we had quite a long time to prepare. That was nice – it meant we could take out time and enjoy it all.
What type of wedding ceremony did you have and where?
We had a traditional church wedding at Worth Church in Crawley, West Sussex – one of the oldest churches in the country which features in the Doomsday book.
Where did you hold your reception and what was it like?
It was at the Gatwick Manor, Crawley, and it was fantastic. The food at the sit-down meal was wonderful and there was so much of it! We also had a buffet in the evening and they made sure everything was kept topped up. The service was wonderful too.
Thinking back to the ‘big day’ what did you especially enjoy?
I really enjoyed seeing everyone after the ceremony and knowing that all the important people in my life had been there to witness me marrying the man I love. It was great.
Is there anything you’d change, with hindsight?
Not a thing – it was perfect.
What advice would you give to couples currently planning their wedding?
Enjoy it – it’s true the day does go really quickly, so take lots of deep breaths and try to remember every last detail. Also, take loads of photos to remind yourself how amazing it was.