Real Weddings from An Essex Wedding

Truly, madly, deeply

Isabella and Kane met during freshers week at the University of East Anglia in Norwich and somehow managed to fall in love whilst drinking VKs and listening to Queen on repeat! Following University, the pair moved back to Kane's family home in Essex whilst looking to buy a house of their own. Kane proposed at Tonnage Bridge in the Norfolk Broads. Tonnage Bridge is a beautiful remote location with luxury camping lodges. Isabella describes, "It was so special to return to Norfolk, the place where we met and lived for three years together and start this exciting new chapter. The day after we got engaged, we returned to Norwich city centre and it felt like such a full circle moment."

I choose you

Shoshi and Lucy met through work colleagues in London on a night out. Lucy tells us, "Shoshi arrived with a spare ticket to see Roger Waters play in Hyde Park that coming weekend and offered it to our group, a few of us said we wanted to go, Shoshi picked me, and we went together the following Friday. It was an amazing evening!" Romance blossomed and the pair got engaged in Edinbugh – a complete surprise for Lucy.

Timeless Elegance

Ollie proposed to Emily in New York City, at the Edge NYC (the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere). The pair first visited the Big Apple back in 2018, their first holiday together, and the first time Ollie told Emily he loved her. Romantically, the proposal was a surprise on Emily's birthday, 28th December 2021.

The rest is history

Both working at Norfolk Museums Service, romance blossomed amongst the paintings, taxidermy and archaeological artefacts of their surroundings. David proposed to Alison on a remote beach in North Wales whilst on holiday. The fantastical village of Portmeirion formed the backdrop to the proposal on the deserted beach. Looking back – all the holiday pictures before the proposal David had one hand in his pocket– clutching the precious emerald and diamond engagement ring, just waiting for the perfect moment to pop the question. It was a surprise to Alison – although, being a traditionalist David did of course seek permission to marry Alison from her parents first.

An eco wedding

Olivia and Neel met at university in London, through mutual friends as well as both playing sports for the medical school. Olivia reveals, "After one particular 'sportsnite', we shared a McDonalds on the way home and ever since then we've been inseparable, sharing everything we do. What first attracted me to Neel was his very social personality and easy ability to make me laugh...he's also very handsome which may have helped!"

Tinder loving care

Emma and Adrian met via the dating site Tinder. "Adrian was the first to message," remembers the bride. "He sent me a poem, which I thought was really sweet, and we met up a week later. There were no awkward silences, and it felt like we'd known each other for years. We also got each other's sense of humour, and our connection felt unbelievably natural."

Great scot

Louise met Dewar at an Annie Mac gig when they were there with mutual friends.

"My dad owned a motorbike shop, and after chatting we realised Dewar had bought his first bike there before we even knew each other!" says Louise.

"I loved that Dewar was confident, but not cocky, and he made me laugh all the time – plus he's very easy on the eye! He says it was my hairstyle at the time that attracted him to me –which was red and shaved down one side! – as well as my quirky personality."

You and me always

Melissa and David met in the summer of 2018. "We matched on a dating website," says Melissa. "We clicked right away, and after a few weeks of talking, we decided to meet for our first date. We went to a local restaurant and talked so much that every time our waitress came over, we still hadn't looked at the menu. Neither of us had much experience with online dating, so we weren't really sure what to expect, but the transition from talking online to meeting in person was easy, and we quickly became inseparable."

Eyes on the prize

Midwife Natalie met Mark when she became his mentor during a placement at Basildon University Hospital's maternity unit. "Mark was training to be a paramedic, and there was an instant attraction between us," says Natalie. "We saw more and more of each other, and soon began to realise we were meant to spend the rest of our lives together."

You're the one that I want

Robyn and Kieran met in the very modern world of online dating, after liking each other's images on Tinder! "Despite living within a very close radius, our paths didn't cross until that all-important 'swipe-right'!" laughs Robyn. "We hit it off instantly and enjoyed our first date three weeks later at a local Turkish restaurant. The rest as they say is history, as we became inseparable from then on in." Five years later, the couple were enjoying what Robyn thought was a holiday at her second home in Crete.

Pure gold

Lucy and Adam met at a New Year's Eve party of a joint friend, "I was eating a stolen pot of Pringles and Adam asked if the seat next to me was taken and the rest is history!" recalls Lucy. "It definitely wasn't his thick silver chain or his fresh shaven hair that attracted me to him, it was the way he made me laugh constantly and that he was so caring and thoughtful. Adam would say I'm funny, I always have him in stitches (I'd also say I'm very funny!). He also loves my eyes, so maybe that too!"

The big day was set 29th October 2021, with Braxted Park in Witham, Essex providing the ultimate backdrop. Here we find out more about their day...

Tree of life

Lianne and James met in modern fashion online through a dating app. "I originally 'friend zoned' him for seven months," recalls Lianne. "Never meeting in person but chatting over social media in that time. After a conversation with him online one day, I realised we had a lot in common and I couldn't believe I had left it so long to actually meet him!"

Arranging their first date, a meet up in Chelmsford, they hit it off immediately. A walk around a park turned in to shopping and lunch, with conversation still flowing they headed to the cinema and went for dinner – nine whole hours later the date ended and, as they say, the rest is history!

Made you blush

Jordan and Adam met in old-school fashion on a night out at Faces Nightclub, Essex. "I was a regular there and spotted Adam one night and, after a few vodkas, was the one to approach him!" recalls Jordan. "However, nothing developed from this particular night. Fast-forward a few months and we was both in the same venue once again, this time we exchanged numbers and the rest is history."

Luxury holiday destination Barbados set the scene for Adam's proposal..