Your Real Wedding
Tiffany and Robert’s relationship started in 2004 whilst Tiffany was training to be a Stage Manager at University and Robert was a Music Technology and Digital Arts Lecturer. Their paths first crossed when Tiffany was working on a production that required some sound design and was directed to Robert’s department for advice. It took Tiffany some time to pluck up the courage to ask Robert out, so in the end she bombarded him with emails until he ‘caved in’!
The Proposal
After just over a year together, Robert proposed to Tiffany at Audley End House on the Essex/Cambridgeshire border. They had stopped for lunch and a look around when Robert got down on one knee by the river and proposed, with an engagement ring specially designed by Tiffany’s father.
The Bride’s Outfit
Tiffany’s wedding dress, made by her mother, took her breath away. It was a 1930’s bias cut style gown with beaded shoulders, a style she chose after trying on several dresses in various boutiques.
The Groom’s Outfit
After leaving it to the last minute, Robert chose a deep grey design from Marks and Spencer and teamed it with a great pair of leather brogues. He made the conscious decision not to wear a tie as it just wasn’t his style.
The Bridal Party
Tiffany and Robert had four bridesmaids who all wore stunning deep blue silk cocktail dresses from Monsoon and their own choice of shoes. They also wore bespoke necklaces from Etsy that Tiffany had found to match their individual styles.
Wedding Theme
As Tiffany has real passion for 20th Century history, they had a subtle 1930’s theme. They chose deep blues, purples and antique gold as their colour scheme. Although the wedding venue was already beautiful inside and out, Tiffany collected vintage tablecloths to cover each table and made place cards from 1930’s wallpaper swatches.
Flowers
Tiffany’s wedding bouquet was an over-arm bouquet containing deep purple irises and peacock feathers, which was very much in keeping with the 1930’s theme. Tiffany chose irises as there was a Victorian walled garden at Audley End House full of irises when they got engaged which she thought was a nice symbol. Robert also wore one as his buttonhole. Burnt orange roses with rosemary were used for the bridesmaids’ hand tied bouquets and the male family members also had these for their buttonholes. The reception flowers were packed displays of deep blue and purple hydrangeas in vintage bottles, decanters and tea cups with displays of peacock feathers.
The Ceremony & Reception
The ceremony and reception both took place at Pembroke Lodge. Tiffany and Robert had a beautifully intimate civil ceremony with 40 guests. Tiffany walked down the aisle to a song sung by their friend and Basement Jaxx singer Vula Malinga and Tiffany’s stepsister recited a reading during the ceremony.
After the ceremony they enjoyed a drinks reception outside in the grounds of Pembroke Lodge, followed by a wedding breakfast with their own design Italian inspired menu. They decided against having favours and instead had an old fashioned sweet station set up in the bar area with paper bags so their guests could help themselves. This turned out to be a great talking point!
They invited a further 20 guests for the evening reception where they had a phenomenal wedding band containing a fabulous line up of musicians which was arranged by friends Vula Malinga and Ben Jones.
The Cake
Tiffany and Robert’s stunning wedding cake was made by Carolyn Mackenzie who Tiffany describes as ‘a true artist when it comes to sugar flowers’. Their two-tier chocolate sponge cake had Kahlua flavoured buttercream and was decorated with purple sugar roses, hydrangeas and gold leaf.
The Photographer
Tiffany and Robert chose Matt Faber of Matt Faber Photography as their photographer. They were really impressed at how his sensitivity really came across in their photographs and how he captured the emotion of the day. Tiffany’s favourite picture is of their first kiss as husband and wife. “I could feel my legs about to go from underneath me from nerves and Rob caught me just in time”.
The Honeymoon
Italy holds a huge place in their hearts so Tiffany and Robert went to the Amalfi Coast, just outside a famous fishing town called Positano. Although they had to climb almost 300 steps to get back to their apartment each day it was ‘well worth it’.
