A truly personal affair: Ali and Matt’s classic garden wedding

When it came to planning their classic garden wedding, Ali and Matt let their personal priorities lead the way.

“From the moment we got engaged, Matt and I began planning not just a wedding day, but the rest of our lives. We discussed our priorities for the day, and picked tasks that reflected them,” explains Ali, 25.

Ali’s tasks included booking the ceremony at the church she grew up in, finding the reception venue, and organising the decor. Matt, 24, organised the food and the music.

“All the little details made our wedding day a reflection of us as a couple. We even had a basket of emergency bananas at the venue as Matt is renowned for being hungry just an hour after a meal!”

The Nottingham couple exchanged rose gold rings they’d made for each other on August 12, 2017 at Brook Farm in Cuffley, London.

A truly personal affair, guests were treated to a friend of the couple playing the saxophone, Pimms (Ali’s favourite summer drink), and a dessert table filled with cakes baked by family and friends in attendance.

“Our wedding was absolutely stunning,” Ali smiles. “We had 200 guests – which was crazy now that we think about it! But we wouldn’t have it any other way as we both have such a love for community, our wider family of people from our childhood, college, university and church.

I love that Matt and I organised every detail ourselves.”

Photos courtesy of DRG Photography.

Matt’s proposal was “absolutely beautiful,” describes Ali of a surprise serenade at Norwood Hall grounds written and composed by her groom-to-be.

Ali and Matt advise other couples to avoid copying what others have done on Pinterest. “Your wedding is an opportunity to reflect who you are as a couple. Don’t lose sight of your special day being about celebrating you and your partner.”

Matt donned a navy Ted Baker suit while his six groomsmen wore suits from Next Retail.