Your Wedding Day Dream Team
Photographer: Ben from HBA https://hbaphotography.com/ will recommend till the day I die!
Florist: Minna Blooms – dried bouquets for Bride and Bridesmaids
Makeup: https://www.makeupbylaurendearden.co.uk/
Hair: Shelley Instagram- slayhair.byshelley
Band/DJ: https://www.jayrar.com , our guests mentioned we managed to basically book our own Ed Sheeran, PS Jay way better
Tell Us About Your Incredible Outfits
What and who did you wear?
I wore the Byron dress by Sofia Cruz dress which was then altered by the Bridal and sewing studio https://www.thebridalandsewingstudio.co.uk/
Accessories: I wore white platform Vans 😀
What and who did your partner wear?
My Groom and his groomsmen wore Navy Blue suits from Peter Posh.
Your Love Story – How did you meet, was it love at first sight? Tell us about the proposal!
When you know, you know. What started as a good old Tinder date quickly turned into a serious relationship. It scared the hell out of me at first, but Elliot took everything in his stride, which instantly put me at ease – and we’ve never looked back since.
He proposed in London on 03/08/24 at a lovely tapas restaurant called Bar 61. He later told me how grateful he was that I’d chosen a quiet corner to sit in. He got down on one knee, and I cried… a lot 😄.
Everyone tells us all the time that we bring out the best in each other, and I couldn’t agree more.
Your Wedding Day Vision & Inspiration What was your inspiration and vision for your day?
Honestly, I had always pictured myself having a summer wedding outdoors. However, Elliot’s best man got married at The West Mill in December 2023, and I completely fell in love – not just with the venue, but with the whole winter wedding vibe.
Knowing exactly what the weather would be like and that there wouldn’t be much natural light meant I needed to find a photographer who worked confidently in that setting, which I absolutely did with Ben.
We always wanted a small wedding, with guests we both genuinely knew. We also wanted a late ceremony – something I didn’t even realise was called a twilight wedding until I started researching.
Our vision was for the day to feel truly personal, reflect our personalities, and be full of laughter and great food. And it’s safe to say, we achieved exactly that.
Why did you choose The West Mill Venue?
The venue means a great deal to us. It was our first wedding as a couple, when Elliot was best man at Karl and Callie’s wedding on 20/12/23. That day was when we knew we wanted to marry each other.
It felt only right to come and view the venue for ourselves, and after attending the open day with my future in-laws, they completely fell in love with it too. At that point, it was clear – it was simply meant to be.
Did you do any DIY projects?
Haha, did I do any DIY projects? Yes – all the signage and the individual clay Christmas ornaments for the favours were handmade by me. I genuinely loved creating them all… but I’m also very glad I don’t have to do it again 😄. One of my favourite things I made was the table numbers, photos of me and Elliot from the ages of 1 up to 18. It just made the day feel that much more personal and special.
Tell us about the details – Flowers, Cake, Decor, Stationary….
I also made the cake – a red velvet, selfishly my favourite, though Elliot loved it too. I am a trained chef, but even so, I would not recommend making your own wedding cake. It was far too much pressure and not enough time.
My advice? Spend a little extra and let someone else make it for you.
While we were getting ready, the boys were over at The Mill House and the girls were in the changing room. I had organised small gifts and a personal letter for everyone.
It was so lovely to watch them opening everything – and the photos of the men opening theirs were priceless. It also meant I wasn’t the only one crying 😀.
One of my favourite moments was organising for Elliot to have his own moment walking up the aisle. He walked in to Feeling Good (the Muse version), and all the guests had been told to stand, cheer, whistle, and make as much noise as possible.
I’ve been told he absolutely loved it – and so did the groomsmen. The photos make that very clear, too. It was incredibly emotional, and so lovely to hear everything happening while I was hiding behind the door, waiting for my turn.
The Hangover Only Lasts A Day But The Memories Last A Lifetime Can you sum up your wedding day in 3 words?
Unforgettable, Meaningful and Joyful
What are your favourite memories or highlights of your day?
Posing with my husband, bridesmaids, and the groomsmen for the “mafia” photo I’d asked for – we laughed so much. Slipping away a couple of times with just Elliot, laughing and reflecting on what had just happened.
Me tripping on the first few steps up the aisle, making Elliot laugh, and everyone later telling me it was such a Lia thing to do. And finally, watching Jay perform – what a talent!
Oh and having a boozy hot chocolate outside with everyone around the fire pit.
Oh and the confetti walk when my mum chucked a handful literally into Elliot’s face.
I could go on and on.
Do you have any advice for future Brides & Grooms?
- Make a list of the most important things to you for the day.
- Spend the money and organise the heck out of that list.
- Have fun and enjoy every minute – don’t take everything too seriously.
- Make sure the right people are around you.
I’m so happy I can look back and remember just how much fun we had, loving every single moment.
Loved reading about Lia & Elliot’s day? Read more real wedding stories here.