Style & Trend
Sammy and Jake’s Stratford-upon-Avon wedding
A sophisticated ivory theme and plenty of heartfelt personal touches made this Stratford-upon-Avon wedding super special. Our WED2B Real Weddings feature reveals more…
18|03|2023
Sammy and Jake met online in March 2020, just before the pandemic, and have been inseparable ever since. “We each have a daughter, so our families of two became a family of four,” says Sammy.
“Our first date was at The Castle at Edgehill and we got on so well that they kept the pub open, so our date could continue past closing. We also had our pre-wedding photoshoot there, where it all began. We knew what we had was special from the moment we met. It was as if we’d known each other all our lives. Being together felt like coming home.”
A romantic proposal
The couple had been together 11 months when Jake proposed on Valentine’s Day. “He planned the whole thing with my daughter and she even helped chose the bridal set,” says Sammy. “The lounge was set up like a scene from a movie, fairy lights everywhere, candles and roses leading the way to a table for two. Jake then played our song and led me to the table, where there was a present, a canvas that said, ‘Marry me’. I was shocked to then see him down on one knee, asking me to marry him. It was the easiest answer for me.”
Shopping for the dress
Sammy visited WED2B’s Milton Keynes’ store. “We were met by a friendly lady who told us how the store worked and helped us choose dresses,” she says. “I already loved the Marina dress but the store only had it in a bigger size. I tried some others on but came back to the Marina. The lady helped me find the veil and pull the bigger size Marina dress on to show me how it could look. I loved it.”
“She then rang the Nottingham store and had my size sent to Milton Keynes and I went back weeks later to try it on and collect it. I loved the huge amount of waterfall netting and princess ‘rags to riches’ style. I also bought two underskirts, two storage boxes and my sister bought my Willa veil. The lady was very helpful and supportive, as I had ‘a moment’ and burst into tears. She was lovely and made me feel better.”
A Stratford-upon-Avon wedding venue
“Our venue was Alveston Manor in Stratford-upon-Avon,” says Sammy. “We won the venue in Round One of a competition held by Bespoke Weddings and Events, after writing a story about how we met. Later, we also won Round Two, which was a food and drinks package.”
“Originally, we wanted a barn venue but we fell in love with the charm of Alveston Manor and we have fond memories of Stratford-upon-Avon. We married on Friday 28th October this year.”
The big day
“I got ready with my daughter, her partner and my sister at the venue,” says Sammy. “The weather was actually mild and sunny, considering it was October, so we felt very blessed. My daughter walked me down the aisle and gave me away, as it had just been the two of us for 15 years before I met Jake. Jake’s daughter held my hand on the other side.”
"Jake is a Star Wars fan, so I walked down the aisle to a piano version of the Star Wars main theme. My dad did a reading called ’On Your Wedding Day’. The most special moments were seeing Jake’s face when he saw me and our girls walking up the aisle and my daughter giving me to Jake.”
The reception
“After the ceremony we had drinks and then Jake and I went to have photos taken on the main bridge in Stratford,” says Sammy. “We ended up amongst the public having shots taken, which was surreal as we were in our wedding attire. We also had sparklers which formed an arch and we kissed in the middle.”
“Later, Jake sang our song ‘Boxes’ by the Goo Goo Dolls in front of our families and friends, which was very special. Our first dance was ‘If You Love Her’ by Forest Blakk feat. Meghan Trainer. The words are basically Jake and I.”
An elegant ivory theme
“The theme was simply ivory, as I’m not keen on colours,” says Sammy. “We had ivory roses, gypsophila and foliage, which was very simple but looked stunning. There was also a floral arch with willow, as we named the baby we lost last year Willow. So, she was with us too, which was my romantic husband’s beautiful thought.”
“There was also a fairy-light dance floor, a fairy-lit ceiling swag and rose trees. We had gypsophila bunches on the backs of the chairs, on the centrepieces and the ‘Lost Ones’ ladder, which is where my bouquet rested with a photo of Jake’s mum and dad who sadly passed away. Favours were personalised vintage bottle openers and wooden heart personalised name places.”
The best bits…
“The most memorable moment was Jake singing our song to me (he isn’t a singer) but he said it was something he wanted to do for me,” says Sammy. “It was an amazing moment between us in a crowded room. And my daughter giving me to Jake before we said our vows.”
“Jake and I also had a secret meeting the morning of our wedding. We stood behind a corner, so we couldn’t see each other, and read a final love letter to one another before we married. It was very emotional and meant the world. The photographer even cried! Jake also organised my ‘something old, something new’, which was beautiful and thoughtful.”
My top tips
“Plan with your husband-to-be,” says Sammy. “It was the best thing we did, as it was about us and we shared every decision. Our wedding was a blend of both of us and very personal.”
Sammy and Jake’s Dream Team
Photographer: KJA Photography
Stratford-upon-Avon Wedding Venue: Alveston Manor
Wedding dresses Milton Keynes: WED2B
Florist: Shoots Florist
Cake: Bake My Day Banbury
Hair and makeup: Ipro Artistry
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