Charlie & Grace were married at Glenmore House in Surbiton, on a chilly, but sunny spring day, surrounded by family and friends. It was a happy and personal wedding and we were lucky enough to be asked to photograph their fabulous fun filled wedding day. On the morning of the wedding I meet Grace and her family, who had flown in from Australia, at a Airbnb close to the venue for the start of the day. A fun moment for me was Grace and her family walking down Surbiton high street on her way to Glenmore House. Grace had made all the key decorations which showed a really personal touch and her amazing talents.
Here’s a little more from Grace and Charlie in their words:
How did you choose your venue and what made this your ideal venue?
We used the Kingston Registry Office to look up local wedding venues. We ruled out those that were way out of our budget and then visited a couple of venues. Faye at Glenmore House was very inviting, friendly and professional. Some other venues seemed a bit too corporate and would have taken a lot more decorating to remove that vibe, whereas Glenmore House is already a beautiful Surrey wedding venue without the need for any additional bits.
What part of the wedding process were you most excited about?
We were excited to have a big celebration with all our loved ones. Cake tasting was also a highlight.
Please tell me about your proposal, who proposed, where and how?
Grace was going to propose on the 29th February as it was a leap year, however Charlie got there first on 20th December 2023. We spent the evening walking around London looking at the Christmas lights, then when we finally found somewhere quiet (Westminster Gardens, under the statue of Gandhi) he got down on one knee.
How long did it take you to find the dress of your dreams? Any tips you can offer other brides?
I’ve never been a huge wedding person and knew I didn’t want a traditional wedding dress. An Australian designer that I follow on Instagram had posted a picture of a lovely white linen dress and I bought it online and had it shipped over from Australia. I wanted to make sure that I was comfortable and also wanted to buy something that I could potentially wear again.
Tell me about your wedding suites and colour theme
We wanted the flowers to be a mixed spring theme, Emma did such an amazing job of them we couldn’t have been happier. We then had Charlie’s nieces help to pick out the colour for their dresses and ties followed their theme.
How did you personalise your wedding day?
Grace DIYed the whole thing. Each guest’s menu was made with stamps representing their meals and the seating chart represented holidays we have shared together. Grace also hand made little pottery dishes filled with sweets for each guest to take home. We ensured we wrote our own wedding vows and made our speech together to add that personal touch to the day.
What song did you choose for your first dance and why?
Fly me to the moon- Sia, it took a while to find the perfect song but settled on this one as we both really like Sia but liked the idea of a more classic song.
What is your favourite image from your wedding gallery and why?
We really like the confetti throw photos as they capture natural happiness.
What advice would you give newly engaged couples in planning for their wedding?
Go to the wedding fairs and chat with a few suppliers, make sure they share the vibe of you, your partner and what you envision your day to look like.
Grace & Charlie’s chosen wedding suppliers:
Wedding Venue: Glenmore House
Photographer: Myriame Lawley Photography
Wedding Dress: @rovebyronbay
Menswear: Tedbaker
Grace’s shoes: @airandgrace
Hair & Makeup: @stormemakeupartist
Flowers: @wildaliceflowers
Photobooth: @absolutebooth
Wedding Cake: @lakethomascakes
