Corrine & Tony’s wedding day started in a pretty usual way when we joined Corrine at Richmond Gate Hotel where she got dressed into her amazing (as in properly oh-my-god sparkly gorgeousness) Jenny Packham gown, complimented by the most beautiful bouquet by Veevers Carter. But from there on, the first half of the day was very painful for me indeed. The reason for that was the fact that I was one of only four people who knew what the wedding day would actually entail, and I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone! All that the guests knew was that the ceremony was to take place at the beautiful Octagon Room at Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham, and once there the programmes (designed by Bijou Woo) revealed that afterwards everyone would walk ‘around the corner’ for the reception, but the rest was a mystery…
Well, after the laughter-filled joyous ceremony, all the guests did indeed take a stroll following Corrine & Tony. We ended up at the riverfront where Queen Elizabeth, a boat hired through Colliers Launches awaited. Lots of excitement ensued when people got on board the boat and into what they thought was to be the wedding reception on the river. The cruise along the Thames was very lovely indeed, but I was still having to bite my lip as I knew that we weren’t yet at the final destination…
When we got up to Hampton Court Palace, people were taking pictures and excitedly pointing out the impressive buildings, while speculating that this was probably where we would turn around for a cruise back down the river. I of course knew better and was literally about to burst at this point! When we finally slowly docked, and it started to dawn on everyone that we might be getting off the boat, the atmosphere got beyond giddy. And when Corrine and Tony finally led everyone to The Little Banqueting House at Hampton Court Palace, where Urban Soul Orchestra greeted people with their beautiful renditions of the best songs ever, the mood was pretty much the same as if you’d actually caught Santa red-handed leaving presents under the tree!
What an amazing venue, what an amazing day and what an amazing couple. I have to say that this must have been the most nerve-wracking, exciting, amazing roller-coaster of a wedding day I’ve ever been a part of. Corrine and Tony really and truly managed to create a day that no-one present will ever forget. Thank you so so much letting us be a part of your extraordinary day, and thank you for being the absolute loveliest couple ever! x