{"id":205773,"date":"2016-07-30T06:00:04","date_gmt":"2016-07-29T20:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/uk\/real-weddings\/friendship-blossoms-into-leanne-and-bens-traditional-wedding\/"},"modified":"2022-03-17T10:50:48","modified_gmt":"2022-03-16T23:50:48","slug":"friendship-blossoms-into-leanne-and-bens-traditional-wedding","status":"publish","type":"uk-real-wedding","link":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/uk\/real-weddings\/friendship-blossoms-into-leanne-and-bens-traditional-wedding\/","title":{"rendered":"Friendship blossoms into Leanne and Ben&#8217;s traditional wedding"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"lead\">Leanne Southern and Ben Slater were just good friends until a stolen kiss at a party helped them grow into something more.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Our relationship started from there and with a solid foundation of friendship it became true\u00a0love and happy relationship,&#8221; Leanne, 27, says.<\/p>\n<p>After about three years together, Ben, 25, popped the question while the Eastleigh, Hampshire pair were holidaying in Florida.<\/p>\n<p>Leanne says she spent the next few months furiously <a href=\"http:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/planning-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">planning<\/a> to ensure they had the traditional wedding of their dreams.<\/p>\n<p>The couple wed in their local church,\u00a0St Nicolas (where Ben&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p>The reception was held at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/WeddingVenues\/Hampshire\/MarwellHotel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Marwell Hotel<\/a>, a venue close to the bride&#8217;s heart as she held her 18th birthday there and it also hosted her sister&#8217;s wedding.<\/p>\n<p>Garden games were held on the hotel&#8217;s lawn as guests enjoyed a few drinks to the sounds of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/WeddingMusic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">acoustic music<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We all then partied the night away, my\u00a0bridesmaids and I swept the groom off his feet with a pre-prepared dance routine to\u00a0Beyonce&#8217;s <em>Love on Top<\/em>,&#8221; Leanne says.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There were queues for the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/PhotoBooth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">photo booth<\/a> and sweet cart, but when not doing\u00a0this all friends and family were on their feet dancing\u00a0arm in arm. We had sparklers at dusk and the drinks continued to flow.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Photos courtesy of <a href=\"http:\/\/aknightstalephotography.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">A Knight&#8217;s Tale Photography<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89260\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_001.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_001\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89274\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_005.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_005\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-89269 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_003-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_003\" width=\"601\" height=\"900\" title=\"\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-89264 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_002-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_002\" width=\"601\" height=\"900\" title=\"\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89271\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_004.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_004\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-89383 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_SBS_004-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_SBS_004\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" title=\"\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-89385 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_SBS_005-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_SBS_005\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" title=\"\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89286\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_008.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_008\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89292\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_010.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_010\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89295\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_011.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_011\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Leanne paired her traditional <a href=\"http:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/WeddingDress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wedding gown<\/a> with a headpiece from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/WeddingAccessories\/Hampshire\/OnceUponATimeTiaras\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Once Upon A Time<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-89386 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_SBS_006-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_SBS_006\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" title=\"\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-89387 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_SBS_007-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_SBS_007\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" title=\"\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89310\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_014.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_014\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89317\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_016.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_016\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89320\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_017.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_017\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-89327 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_018-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_018\" width=\"601\" height=\"900\" title=\"\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-89333 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_019-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_019\" width=\"601\" height=\"900\" title=\"\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89345\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_023.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_023\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-89351\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_025-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_025\" width=\"1282\" height=\"1920\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89359\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_027.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_027\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Ben kept it traditional with his classic grey suit, waistcoat and cravat, completing the look with shoes from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/FormalWear\/LondonCity\/BurtonMensWear\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Burton&#8217;s Men&#8217;s Wear<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-89357\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_026-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_026\" width=\"1282\" height=\"1920\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89361\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_029.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_029\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89360\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_028.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_028\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-89365\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_030-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_030\" width=\"1282\" height=\"1920\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89337\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_021.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_021\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-89213 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_SBS_018-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_SBS_018\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" title=\"\">\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-89244 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_SBS_024-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_SBS_024\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" title=\"\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89369\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_032.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_032\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89371\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_033.jpg\" alt=\"Leanne_Ben_Traditional-Wedding_033\" width=\"900\" height=\"601\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/WeddingDecorations\/Hampshire\/Balloonique\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Balloonique<\/a> helped with the venue decor on the big day, with family and friends also pitching in.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":205804,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"uk_real_wedding_category":[9085,9075],"uk_real_wedding_tag":[9678,9813,9329,9374,9439,9454],"uk_real_wedding_style":[10474,10480],"uk_real_wedding_location":[10516,10512],"uk_real_wedding_setting":[10487],"uk_real_wedding_colour":[10629,10648],"uk_real_wedding_competition":[],"class_list":["post-205773","uk-real-wedding","type-uk-real-wedding","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","uk_real_wedding_category-9085","uk_real_wedding_category-monthly-winner","uk_real_wedding_tag-a-knights-tale","uk_real_wedding_tag-a-knights-tale-photography","uk_real_wedding_tag-navy-blue-wedding","uk_real_wedding_tag-real-weddings","uk_real_wedding_tag-traditional-wedding-2","uk_real_wedding_tag-vintage-wedding-2","uk_real_wedding_style-classic","uk_real_wedding_style-vintage","uk_real_wedding_location-hampshire","uk_real_wedding_location-south-east","uk_real_wedding_setting-hotel","uk_real_wedding_colour-ivory-wedding","uk_real_wedding_colour-navy-blue-wedding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk-real-wedding\/205773","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk-real-wedding"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/uk-real-wedding"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk-real-wedding\/205773\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/205804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=205773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_category?post=205773"},{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_tag?post=205773"},{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_style","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_style?post=205773"},{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_location?post=205773"},{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_setting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_setting?post=205773"},{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_colour","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_colour?post=205773"},{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_competition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_competition?post=205773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}