Friendship blossoms into Leanne and Ben’s traditional wedding

Leanne Southern and Ben Slater were just good friends until a stolen kiss at a party helped them grow into something more.

“Our relationship started from there and with a solid foundation of friendship it became true love and happy relationship,” Leanne, 27, says.

After about three years together, Ben, 25, popped the question while the Eastleigh, Hampshire pair were holidaying in Florida.

Leanne says she spent the next few months furiously planning to ensure they had the traditional wedding of their dreams.

The couple wed in their local church, St Nicolas (where Ben’s grandparents had also walked down the aisle) on May 14, 2016. One hundred family and friends watched on before being joined by a further 100 guests for the evening celebrations.

The reception was held at Marwell Hotel, a venue close to the bride’s heart as she held her 18th birthday there and it also hosted her sister’s wedding.

Garden games were held on the hotel’s lawn as guests enjoyed a few drinks to the sounds of acoustic music.

“We all then partied the night away, my bridesmaids and I swept the groom off his feet with a pre-prepared dance routine to Beyonce’s Love on Top,” Leanne says.

“There were queues for the photo booth and sweet cart, but when not doing this all friends and family were on their feet dancing arm in arm. We had sparklers at dusk and the drinks continued to flow.”

Photos courtesy of A Knight’s Tale Photography.

Leanne paired her traditional wedding gown with a headpiece from Once Upon A Time.

Ben kept it traditional with his classic grey suit, waistcoat and cravat, completing the look with shoes from Burton’s Men’s Wear.

 

Balloonique helped with the venue decor on the big day, with family and friends also pitching in.