A very modern meeting paved the way for a fun, family, homemade wedding for this happy couple. Our WED2B Real Weddings Milton Keynes feature reveals more:

Bea and Michael met in a very 21st Century way, via Facebook! “We first started talking via Facebook as we had a lot of mutual friends,” says Bea. “It turns out that Michael’s  aunt and my mum are best friends, so we must have met at some point when we were young kids. The first time we met as adults was at a South African friend’s ‘braai’ (barbecue) and our first proper date was at the Missing Bean café in Oxford”

A romantic proposal

Michael proposed on the couple’s anniversary.“We went out for dinner, and I was thinking he might propose that night so I got all dressed up in a new outfit - and nothing happened!” says Bea. “After dinner Michael said he had to head back home but half an hour later he called saying that he’d dropped his phone case in my garden and asked if I could grab it. So I went downstairs in my Marvel pjs and opened the door and who was there on one knee in the rain? Michael! With the most gorgeous ring! I was so surprised my first words were, ‘You goon!’”

The beautiful dress

Bea wore Megan by Anna Sorrano. “I loved everything about it, the shape of it, the intricate lace detailing, the beautiful little button fastenings, it was just absolutely beautiful,” she smiles. “I tried on five or six other dresses but just kept going back to Megan, it was just perfect." Bea found her dream dress at WED2B's bridal shop in Milton Keynes, and said about her experience - "it was brilliant too, so stress free and easy.”

Finding the right setting

The ceremony was held in Sudbury House Hotel in Oxfordshire, followed by a reception at Islip Village Hall. “We loved the look and feel of Sudbury and the grounds are beautiful,” says Bea. “There was also a gorgeous suite for the bridal party to get ready in. Islip village hall was the perfect location for the reception, as we wanted to hang drapes and fairy lights to give the hall a really warm feel. It also has a massive stage at one end, which was perfect for Michael’s best man’s band!"

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A moving ceremony

The couple held the formal legal ceremony at their local registry office a few days before so they were able to include religious elements on the actual day. “Our minister from our congregation in Sudbury gave a talk and my mum and my uncle (who had flown in all the way from Brazil) walked me down the aisle,” says Bea. “My favourite memory was probably when we went to sign the dummy register, but someone forgot to bring it. So we just signed the back of one of the orders of service in our own cute way!”

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Homemade wedding decorations

After the ceremony guests made their way to the reception venue for nibbles followed by a hog roast. The reception was decorated with the bride’s favourite colour, burgundy, with blush pink and rose gold highlights and plenty of fairy lights. Friends and family had saved their jam jars and wine bottles, which the bridal party had painted and decorated with lace and decoupage paper. These were used alongside upside-down wine glasses as centrepieces. “We made all of our stationery and ordered a post box for cards. Michael is a postman, so it was only right!” says Bea. "We also made our own place cards with wine cork holders and had beauty boxes in the loos with essentials! Wedding favours were homemade, cinnamon-scented candles stamped with our initials.”

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“The cake was just incredible,” says Bea. “Michael’s aunt made it and it had tiers of fruit cake, chocolate cake, lemon cake, and a top tier of chocolate cake, which Michael and I got to take home!". Following with the homemade wedding theme, the sugar flowers were also handmade to match the flowers in Bea's bouquet.

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After the cake cutting, the tables were all pushed to the side for dancing. The couple's first dance was to Ed Sheeran's ‘Perfect’, sung by one of Michael’s groomsmen. As the evening drew to a close, the newlyweds also ended the day with a beautiful sparkler send-off.

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Just enjoy yourself…

Finally, the bride's top tip - “I definitely think that it’s important to enjoy the planning!” says Bea. “It can get very stressful at times, but just take a breath and carry on. It will all work out in the end. And, even if everything goes wrong on the day, it will make for a brilliant story!”

Real Weddings Milton Keynes

Photography credit:// Sharmaine Sepehr Photography

Did your wedding have the wow factor like this homemade wedding feature? If you would like to be a part of our real weddings feature send your favourite photo to info@wed2b.co.uk and we’ll be in touch!