I was initially contacted by the bride's great friend and Maid of Honour, as the couple were living and working in Australia.

A call was arranged, and the wheels were set in motion to talk through their ceremony options and it became clear very quickly that these two were very much in love, and were keen to celebrate in a beautifully elegant way, and with a ceremony full of love and heartfelt moments.

With some wonderful words written, and everything all set in place for their big day, I arrived at the venue with a sense of excitement, and was delighted to see blue skies and feel warm sunshine as I pulled into the venue car park.

The main outdoor ceremony setting is located within easy reach of where I parked, and I could see glimpses of the chairs and decor as I rounded the corner.  By happy coincidence, the grounds at Barnett Hill have a very tall and very beautiful eucalyptus tree that stands proudly in the background, watching over us, and it was a lovely connection to the Groom's parents, who were sadly not able to be with us on the day.

After chatting to all of my fellow suppliers who were involved in the ceremony, it was time to check in with the Bridal party, and then the groom. The time whizzed past, and as guests joined us in the sunshine outside, we were soon ready to welcome them all officially, and begin the opening address.

The groom and his groomsmen were all very dapper in their top hats and tails, and the groom's outfit was completed with a fabulous cane!  They were all in such good spirits, and ready to watch their dear friends celebrate their marriage.

As the bridal party entered, the live music filled the space and guests cheered as the bridesmaids, flower girls and page boy reached the front, and then the bride and her father came into view.  The groom was so pleased to see her, and a beaming smile crept across his face.  He was emotional, but delighted to be reunited with her at the front, and they held hands as we moved them into position facing their guests, and then seated everyone, ready to begin.

It is always a nice moment to welcome everyone to the day, to welcome those who have just joined us, and indeed to welcome the couple to their ceremony.  Having a moment to do this allows everyone to settle in and for nerves to dissipate a little.  Guests applauded in acknowledgement of this, and I then spoke of what marriage means to this lovely couple.  

Their day was made even more special as their little girl Gigi was a flower girl and able to be present and enjoy watching her mum and dad say their special words to one another.  As I recapped on their achievements, and mentioned their little family, her face lit up as she knew she was about to hear her name, and it was a wonderful moment to witness.  

Everyone there was in support of Gavin and Mateya, and I was honoured to deliver some wonderful tributes and thank you messages to those who travelled from Slovenia, from Australia and indeed from around the UK.

As the rest of their ceremony unfolded, we had two wonderful readings from the Groom's sister and the Bride's sister, some emotional vows, the best man and ring bearer helped the couple with their ring exchange, and we then had a lovely family certificate signing.

As the couple came back into the centre ready to walk back up the aisle, the atmosphere was wonderful, and as I presented them back to their guests, cheers went up, and the couple and their loved ones gathered for a confetti throw on the terrace by the hotel.

A huge congrats to Mr & Mrs Stuart, and their family, and I wish them much love and happiness for their future together.

Jenny x