Kate & Marcus's Summer wedding Kate & Marcus’s theme was sky blue with daisies and rowing/sailing - very appropriate for a venue so close to Chichester and the south coast.

Kate & Marcus met at work when they both started working on an IT project. They worked closely together for about a year and became really good friends. They finally became a couple around Valentines Day when Marcus went on a skiing trip and Kate realised how much she missed him.

Kate & Marcus were in Bosham when Marcus proposed. “We were on a romantic walk to the Bosham quayside and were sitting on what we now call ‘our bench’ on the green, watching the boats and the sunset. Marcus suddenly went down on one knee and produced the most beautiful diamond ring, which he had chosen and bought himself in America. It was amazing and I cried, then cuddled him and said yes!”

Kate and Marcus had been looking at barns and marquees with a relaxed country feel. “Upwaltham Barns was directly opposite St Mary The Virgin church where we were to be married and only 15 minutes from all the hotels and B&Bs in Chichester and Petworth. It was pretty, spacious, enclosed, private and felt fairytale romantic and had a bridal suite too.” Upwaltham Barns was booked about 10 months before the wedding.

Kate’s dress was an Ian Stuart made of ivory Thai silk taffeta, under-layered with metallic lace and embroidered French tulle. It had a bias cut draped bodice with a full skirt, decorated on the hip with a handmade rose and leaf corsage. Kate also wore a silver droplet necklace, Michelangelo shoes, a tiara, crystal drop veil and a daisy bracelet given to her by Marcus on the morning of the wedding. He’d hidden it in a cupboard for her!

Kate had two bridesmaids who wore sky blue Alfred Angelo dresses accessorised with silver shoes and handbag and were given a silver droplet necklace each. Kate’s and the bridesmaids’ bouquets consisted of daisies and cream roses with greenery.

Marcus, his ushers and usherette wore blue morning suits, ivory waistcoats and sky blue cravats. One of them wore a stunning pair of heels! Marcus had a silk rose from Kate’s dress to wear in his buttonhole.

Twinkling fairy lights hung around the beams of the barn along with ivy and Laura Ashley bunting. As Kate and Marcus are both keen on sailing they also had bunting to decorate a dinghy in the courtyard that they used as a card and gift boat. They made a photo love heart for the snug that had pictures of them both as a couple and as children.

Kate grew her own marguerite daisy pot plants in which were displayed in galvanised buckets for the table centrepieces. The buckets were wrapped in twine, for a country feel. A selection of little frosted blue votive candles and tea lights in mini white buckets lit the tables and blue hearts were sprinkled around to break up the white of the table linen. Blue nametags were made for each setting and a pale blue ribbon tied around each lady’s fork. The tables were named as places along Henley Royal Regatta racecourse, the bar was named Stewards Bar and the table plan was designed around a picture of the racecourse.

Kate and Marcus had a 3-tier wedding cake. White Belgian chocolate icing covered one tier of chocolate with Baileys icing, one tier of lemon cake and one tier of Victoria sponge with jam. The icing detail looked just like the corsage on Kate’s dress.

We asked Kate what was the best part of her day; “The Bolly popping for the speeches and the table names as they involved the guests. The photographers Scott and Malcolm, the fish and chips and ice cream van, as they all made the guests laugh. The sweetie jars, decorated gift boat, cakes and photo heart, as people still talk about them as a great idea, even now. The band and caterers were fantastic as there wasn’t a moment when the dance floor, guests’ glasses or plates were ever empty. Finally, of course, the best part of the day, the reason for it all, was when we said our vows and were told we were ‘Husband and Wife’!”

We also asked Kate if they had learned anything that was an important tip for future wedding couples; “Jot down everything that comes into your head during the planning months. Along with the budget and guest lists, any ideas or concerns put in writing can be discussed and thought about when the right time comes, with the right people, be it your partner or the relevant suppliers. Plan out what needs organising and when don’t try to squeeze everything into the first few months or the last two weeks! Find out lead times and work out sensible time frames you can both agree on, along with who is to manage what activity. On the day, you will be circulating amongst family and friends, but do take time to speak to each other occasionally and watch your guests enjoying themselves.”