Real Wedding | Lucy and Alex

June 19, 2019 | Weddings and celebrations | 7 minute read

After 5 years of being neighbours, Alex and Lucy went on a date. Three months later they were engaged. They married at Holkham on 2^nd November 2018.

Lucy says:

Alex I were neighbours in London for 15 years before anything happened between us. We both had dogs and would just say a pleasant ‘hello’ when we passed each other in the coffee shop or park. In 2014, my friend also moved onto the same street and spoke to Alex mentioning my name. He then sent me a Facebook message asking me for a drink. Me, not being good on social media, did not see this message until 2017 when I did respond! By then he had moved out of London and was living in the Cotswolds and I was living in Norfolk. Our first date was in London at an art exhibition followed by supper at Caprice.

Alex may say that it was love at first sight – he is the romantic one in the relationship. We certainly clicked from the moment we met, and it felt like we had known each other for years. We are both a little eccentric and those characteristics just made us understand each other and made each other laugh and love life immediately.

Chris Taylor Photography

We got engaged in Miami, it was a complete surprise, we had only been dating for three months – that was impulsive for Alex! After he proposed, I asked him to ask for my father’s hand in marriage before we told anyone. We agreed not to mention it until we got back from our holiday in the Bahamas. Unfortunately, we got the date of our return flight wrong, and missed it by a day! We were ‘stuck’ in the Bahamas for another five days before we could fly home. By that time, my parents had left to go on holiday themselves. So we just had to tell them over the phone! I wore Alex’s signet ring for about three months before we got around to getting a ring.

Although my parents are from Lincolnshire, we always came to Norfolk as children in the summer for Hunstanton tennis week. It has always been the place where ‘my shoulders drop’. Ever since I was about 10 year’s old, I have always loved Holkham Hall and said I wanted to live there. I work as an Interior Designer for listed properties and Alex is an avid art collector. With the interiors of the house, its art collection (especially in The Saloon) and my childhood memories, Holkham was the most perfect location to get married.

Chris Taylor Photography

Alex and I are very relaxed people who enjoy each other’s company and eccentricity. We are also obsessed with our dogs. We wanted a church service that reflected our relationship and our personalities. But at the same time, we didn’t want to be the centre of attention. Our dogs and my nieces and nephew (who I adore) took centre stage instead! We wanted all our guests to feel relaxed and above all we wanted to make them smile, in the same way we make each other smile.

Chris Taylor Photography

We got married in Thornham Church, which I have always loved and were blessed to have the most wonderful Reverend Susan Bowstick. It was also so special to have my father walking me down the aisle. Not every daughter is lucky to have that and I didn’t take one moment of it for granted.

Chris Taylor Photography

We had our reception and speeches in the Saloon, it was a stunning, memorable and special setting for our guests to start their evening. Then we moved to the Lady Elizabeth Wing, a simple, classy but relaxed environment to celebrate in. We had Norfolk lobster followed by Holkham Venison. And an Eton mess-style wedding cake served at each table to be cut.

Chris Taylor Photography

Houndogs played live music. They were a local band made up of brothers who I saw about 10 year’s ago and loved them as people. I always wanted to support them as a local band. We didn’t have a first dance, instead, Alex and I took the children onto the floor and danced with them.

Our Flowers were arranged in an informal, simple manner. I wanted scent in them – and love the smell and look of eucalyptus so we included it in the flower arrangements. Jo, from Constance Rose did an amazing job of achieving what I imagined. The colours for our wedding flowers were inspired by my niece’s bridesmaids’ shoes. I thought they were perfect, and they became the starting point for the colours on the day, even for my own wedding dress. I wore a cream wedding dress from Caroline Castigliano and a lace bolero jacket.

Chris Taylor Photography

The next day, Janie Thompson at Thornham Deli kindly organised bucks fizz and bacon sandwiches at the deli. Our guests to come to and wave us off at Thornham playing field, where Alex arranged with Saxon Air for a helicopter to take us to Cliveden House.

Chris Taylor Photography

Suppliers

Catering: Andy Parle

Florist: Constance Rose (amazing)

Band: The Houndogs

Photographer: Chris Taylor

Makeup: Becs at the Retreat, Docking

Breakfast & Lunch the day after: Janie Thompson at Thornham Deli

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