Being able to visit and look around The Wedding Present Company showroom was amazing. We were tempted to add everything to our gift list, but thanks to our Wedding List Advisors, we managed to narrow it down and create a tailored selection.

Our favourite brands were definitely Issy Granger, The White Company, Locketts and Amuse La Bouche.

Working at Doggart & Squash, I’ve often heard about The Wedding Present Company since many of our couples choose them – and with good reason! Their range of products is fantastic, their wedding list service is faultless, and the option to include both physical gifts and honeymoon contributions is excellent!

Our experience communicating with The Wedding Present Company has been fantastic. They kept us updated throughout, including contact with the brand suppliers. We were fortunate to have two delivery days, which added to the excitement – definitely something for future couples to look forward to!

While Leonora was away for the weekend, I took the opportunity to plan for her return after I’d been to visit her parents and ask for their blessing. Knowing she preferred a private and intimate proposal, I cooked her a three-course meal upon her Sunday evening arrival. The starter, a stuffed courgette with garlic herb cream cheese and toasted cashews, was a particularly special one, as it is a dish we both love. I was so nervous, so as soon as I put the plate down, I dashed over to her, got down on one knee, and asked her to marry me! She was pretty speechless and cried lots of happy tears! It was the perfect evening.

Our wedding theme was all about spring colours, with stunning spring floral wedding displays put together by our florist, Flicky Wallace. It was also really important to us that it was a family-oriented day, so we adopted the mindset that the more children, the merrier—even welcoming our 2-week-old niece to join our special day!

As a head chef at Doggart & Squash, picking caterers was an easy choice for me! We opted for a marquee and tableware from companies we frequently work with. Our photographer and videographer were people we knew through work too. The wedding florist came highly recommended through a mutual friend. And as for the wedding band, a few hours of browsing on YouTube led us to the perfect choice, and was so worth it!

Ed and Leonora held their wedding ceremony in the picturesque Church of St. Mary and St. Augustine in Stamford, which holds a special place for the bride, who was christened there along with her sisters. This was followed by a countryside-chic marquee reception at Barnack Village Cricket Club.

Leonora looked stunning in her Jesus Peiro dress and millinery from Miss Bush, complemented by shoes from Gucci. Her choice of jewellery and accessories included earrings from Completed Works and a Lucy Brice headband for the evening. Our wedding rings were from Tiffany & Co., while Leonora also wore both of her grandmother’s engagement rings.

For my wedding outfit, I opted for a suit, shirt, and tie from Oliver Brown, paired with Joseph Cheaney shoes. To complete the look, I wore antique Tiffany & Co. cufflinks.

The wedding hair was styled by Rebecca Chantrell Makeup, while Leonora's sister looked after the bride's makeup.

Ed works as Head Chef at our favourite supplier, Doggart & Squash, so naturally, he chose them as the couple’s wedding caterer. He even designed a special wedding menu for the occasion:

Starter: British Asparagus, Miso, Hazelnut, Parmesan, and Confit Egg Yolk Main: Pancetta Wrapped Pork Tenderloin, Bold Bean Butter Beans, Lemon, Watercress, Wild Garlic,and Horseradish

Pudding: Petit Fours; Apple Pate de Fruits; Rhubarb and Custard Macarons; and Banoffee Pie Salted Caramels

The petit fours and wedding carrot cake cake were made by Ed and Leonora's friend, Alicia Stark.

We chose our wedding wine from Majestic, selecting Bouvet for our reception and toasting with Leonora's favourite rosé champagne. Additionally, we offered Barbaresco for red wine and Burgundy for white.

To accommodate non-wine drinkers, we also served a selection of beers, including Neck Oil, a personal favourite from my hometown in Norfolk.

For evening cocktails, guests enjoyed G&Ts, Negronis, and English Gardens.

Our wedding band and DJ were Soul Supreme from Tailored Entertainment. Our first dance to Aretha Franklin's "You Send Me" was one of the standout moments from our special day. Although we hadn't practiced anything, and so we weren’t sure what we were doing, it felt special to be up there together.

Alice Wilson from Alice Paints, a school friend of Leonora's, designed our bespoke wedding invitations, table plan, and table names featuring pictures of our past and present dogs.

The Print Design Company on Lavender Hill then took care of printing all our stationery.

One of our favourite moments occurred after the church service. As we waited for our confetti throw, there was a moment with just Leonora and me, watching our guests laugh in the sun. With nobody aware of our presence, it felt incredibly special to share that peaceful moment together.

We also cherished having a glass of fizz in the car on the way to the reception from the church and sharing our first dance.

My wedding advice would be - give yourself more time in the run-up to the big day than you think you'll need. You'll likely require more help than you anticipate. Also, try not to get too caught up in the details. Ultimately, your wedding guests will enjoy your special day if you do Try and spend some time just the two of you. The wedding day flies by quickly, and it's important to pause and be present with each other.

Gift List: The Wedding Present Company, Videography: Crown Videos, Photography : Binky Nixon, Venue & Marquee Hire: Highfield Event Group, Florist: Dot & Dandelion, Bridal Fashion: Jesus Peiro Wedding Dress & Millinery from Miss Bush Bridal, Shoes from Gucci, Headband from Lucy Brice Groom Fashion: Suit, Shirt, Tie from Oliver Brown, Flower Girls & Page Boys Fashion: Next, John Lewis, Baskets by Kings of Handmade, Hair: Rebecca Chantrell,  Jewellery: Earrings from Completedworks, Rings from Tiffany & Co, Caterer: Doggart & Squash, Stationery: Design by Alice Paints, Printed by The Print Design, Decor: CMA Hire, Transport: Bridal Carriages of Northamptonshire,  Music: Tailored Entertainment