Real Weddings from An Essex Wedding

My Forever Crush

Vadim was the keyboard player of the worldwide metal band Dragonforce, famous for fast heavy music and featured in Guitar Hero III and the Despicable Me 4 movie - Natalie was a fan of the band. The couple met at a Dragonforce concert where Natalie was photographing the show, and Vadim noticed her in the crowd and thought she was naturally beautiful and stood out. After meeting at the end of the show, they fell in love very fast and had the, 'when you know, you know' feeling. Natalie was already a fan and had posters of the band on her wall as a teenager, so she was really surprised that her crush noticed her and was interested in her.

Stand By Me

Charlie and Alice met on Hinge during lockdown and had their fi rst date the day the pubs reopened. What a day that was! Charlie was attracted to Alice's sense of humour, smile and love of sport. Alice was attracted to Charlie's handsome smile and the fact he also happened to be a Chelsea FC fan. Post lockdown, the pair moved to New York and worked and breathed city life there for 13 months.

Rustic Romance

Through the power of social media, Louise and Paul found each other. Louise remembers, "We both felt really comfortable in each other's company from day one. The proposal was a complete surprise as when I met him, he was very anti marriage due to his past experience."

Falling In Love

Online dating soon turned to true love for Jenine and Michael. In front of family and friends on Jenine's birthday, Michael popped the question – and it was a resounding yes! Wedding planning commenced and on 21st October 2024 they tied the know at Little Channels.

Where Flowers Bloom So Does Love

Ally and Stuart met at work. Both taking on overtime simply to spend more time together, they knew they were more than friends. Love blossomed and before they knew it, they were buying their fi rst home and welcoming a new addition to the family. Ally was eight months' pregnant when Stuart proposed, and of course, she said, yes!

Full Of The Joys Of Spring

Lois and Kieran met through a mutual friend in 2016. Following a few years of dating, under the warm Milan sun, Kieran popped the question. The ring, specially designed by Kieran, fitted perfectly! Delighted, they celebrated their engagement with Champagne, followed by an evening out at a gorgeous Italian restaurant. Wedding planning commenced and Lois and Kieran Handford said their vows on 11th April 2024 at Braxted Park Estate

A Touch Of Class

Amy and Peter met at a mutual friend's wedding reception. Peter asked Amy to dance and the connection was instant. From that moment they both knew they'd found their 'one' and the rest is history.

Hearts Of Gold

With plans of a proposal up a mountain on a Northern Lights tour, scuppered, Mike instead asked Helen to be his wife on a lazy Saturday morning having tea and toast in bed. It was a huge yes, of course. Mr and Mrs Hall tied the knot at Southminster Hall, followed by a party at their family home on 3rd August 2024.

You Are My Morning Light

Tom proposed to Natalie at a Caamp gig, their favourite band, in November 2022. Natalie describes the moment, "I didn't think he was going to propose yet as he had his great grandmother's ring that he wanted to redesign for me as an engagement ring and I knew that hadn't happened. The week before the gig, I told him about how my friend had a 'stunt' ring (which Tom had never heard of) so I was even more convinced he wasn't going to propose. But on the night in between songs, Tom kissed me on the check – I didn't really acknowledge it because I was watching the band, then he held my hand and said, 'you are my morning light' (inspiration from Caamp lyrics) and then went down on one knee and presented a ring! I screamed, didn't say yes, just grabbed the ring out of the box and put it on my finger. We both cried and Tom said, 'I take that as a yes.'"

I Love You To The Moon & Back

Alexandra's mum played matchmaker to get Kris and Anlexandra together. The pair soon hit it off and before they knew it they knew they were inseparable. Kris proposed and the rest is history.

Love Is The Greatest Adventure

Mark proposed on his birthday at 'One Tree Hill' in Stanford-le-hope – the place the couple had shared one of their fi rst dates. Following this, Emily had organised a surprise birthday party for Mark but little did she know that Mark knew about the surprise and added a surprise of his own! What Emily thought was just going to be a birthday party turned into an engagement party when they returned from the proposal. All the family were there for the double celebration!

Music Sounds Better With You

George and Daniel met each other right before lockdown, as George explains, "It wasn't the best time to fall in love but we managed to get through it together by speaking every day, from WhatsApp messages to FaceTime. It meant that we really got to know each other and on a really deep level that - without Covid - may not have happened." George and Daniel bonded over a love of BBC Radio 2, Disney and playing lots of Animal Crossing together on the Switch! The pair finally got to see each other more 'in real life' towards the end of the summer 2020, and f inally managed to put the world to rights by moving in with each other in 2021!

A Match Made In Heaven

Amy and Rich met via the online dating website, match.com. Having spoken online and on the telephone for a few weeks, it was now time to meet in person, as Amy explains. "Our fi rst date was bowling and cocktails. It was like we'd always known each other, and we couldn't wait to see each other a few days later. Rich was and is very caring towards me, he looked out for me in ways that no one had ever done before. He made me feel special and is my safe haven."

Out Of This World

Chris and Vanessa met at work. Over time, their feelings intensifi ed for one another and friendship, respect and love grew. On 28th October, 2023 the pair offi cially became Mr and Mrs Egan, with a Halloween inspired affair at Baddow Park House.

Lucky In Love

Daisy and Georgia met at 18 when they first started at the University of Chester. Georgia tells us more, "We met each other on the very first day and have been inseparable ever since. We become friends very quickly, but in all honesty I don't think we were ever actually 'friends' as we started to like each other very quickly."

On Top Of The World

Joe proposed to Kaite on 22nd February 2017 on her 30th birthday at the top of the Empire State Building in New York. The trip was a complete surprise and it wasn't revealed where they were going until Joe asked Katie to look up the flight number on the departures board. The couple have continued to make memories ever since. Katie and Joe became Mr and Mrs Harrison on 15th July 2023 at The Compasses at Pattiswick.Here, Katie shares some of her favourite moments from their big day...

It's Always Been You

Laura and met when we were just two years old at playschool. The friends then went on to infant, junior and senior school together. Back in the days that after school you logged into MSN Messenger, the two pals would sit and type to each other. Laura tells us more, "We'd chat for hours on end until one evening, 18th December 2008, Elliott built up the courage to ask me out one final time and to his surprise I said yes - (well, I typed yes!). He considers himself a hero for doing the impossible and making it out of the friendzone! From that day on we've been the best of friends, soul mates and each other's biggest supporters."

Let The Music Play

Kassie describes the proposal as, "out of this world!" Kassie elaborates, "When I fi rst met Rob, he said he doesn't do things by halves. He wasn't kidding. He took me to our favourite special place a hotel called Ashdown Park in West Sussex, a place we visited when we fi rst got together and where we fell in love." Having checked in, the pair went for a drink in the hotel bar. The surprises started there, as Kassie's best friends crept up behind her, revealing they were there for a belated birthday treat!

Falling For You

Alex and Hollie met at university. From friendship more blossomed and the pair were inseparable. On a summer's walk along Maldon Promenade, Alex popped the question and of course, Hollie said yes! On Friday 13th October 2023, Hollie and Alexander Martin married at Layer Marney Tower. Here, Hollie tells us more about their day..

You Rock My World

The couple describe their meeting as 'a swipe right romance', meeting on Bumble some six years ago. Since then, they've fallen in love over a shared obsession of listening to vinyl, going to gigs and learning new instruments. Megan tells us, "Everyone was surprised when we got engaged as we're not a couple based on tradition. However, it was the easiest yes in the world. Ollie took me to the pub where we first met, and as we walked up to it, he asked where I had stood whilst I waited for him. As I pointed out the spot, he took the ring out of his pocket, went down on one knee and held out the most perfect engagement ring; a diamond set between two skulls. That evening we did exactly what we did on our first date, visited every pub again and got a donner kebab on the way home, perfect!"