Real Wedding | Lauren Phillips & Luke Phillips | 31 Mar 2022

Photographer: Tony Morrison Photography Florist: Rosara Floral Designs Cake: Laura-Jane Cake Designs Band/DJ: Ginge DJ Other Suppliers: Dress Shop: Perfections Bridal, Steep Pan Band: Jamani Steel Pan

First things first, can you tell us about the proposal?

We got engaged in London in 2019. We spent the weekend in an apartment in Greenwich right by the O2 stadium. We had tickets to see Drake, one of our favourite artists. The night before the concert we had a meal in the Shard, Lauren had always said she didn’t want a public proposal so after the amazing meal with amazing views we went for a drink. After back at the apartment I had covered the bedroom with candles, lit them and had balloons blown up saying 'will you marry me' the bedroom was also filled with rose petals.  

What made you choose Redhouse Barn for your wedding day?

It was an easy decision actually, we’d looked at only one other venue before Redhouse Barn and upon arriving and seeing the venue we were sold. The Chefs and food options where also a massive plus and the food didn’t disappoint on the day, it was phenomenal!

Was it love at first sight when dress shopping or did you have try a few on before finding the perfect one? And not forgetting the suits for the boys, how did they get on?

Yes it was love at first sight, the dress shopping experience was super easy. I saw a picture online before I tried it on and loved it. Suits were super easy as well.

So, Venue booked, how was the rest of the planning process?

Well Covid happened so planning was stressful! Thankfully we only delayed our wedding once as we took the decision to push it back a whole year with the hope Covid restrictions would have lifted. Due to the lockdown we had ample amounts of time to plan and the process of knowing what we wanted was pretty straightforward. 

Fast forwarding through all the planning to the actual ceremony, how were the emotions for both of you during the ceremony?

Lauren was living her best life with a constant smile on her face and laughter, she really got into the swing of things however Luke did the crying and was very nervous before the ceremony. Lauren asked for one thing only and that was to see me cry as I’m not the emotional type - well she got her wish! It was such a lovely ceremony, everyone was crying, even our registrar cried!

Did you have a theme or colour scheme running through the day? Tell us a little bit about your flowers and any other personal touches.

We went with a classic black and white theme. Our tables were organised into special dates and milestones with little mementos and photos on what happened on those days on the table so people could see a little more into our lives. Flowers we kept to a minimum as we both suffer with hayfever.

How would you describe the food and service throughout the day?

I can honestly say it was phenomenal, no-one went hungry! There was food on hand throughout the day which was key for us as we’ve been to other weddings and find ourselves so hungry before the wedding breakfast. To this day when we meet up with friends and family who attended they always mention the wedding and how amazing our food was on the day. The service was flawless, I never once found myself or anyone asking for anything that wasn’t being provided already. 

What kind of cake did you go for? Was it traditional/ modern/ flavoured/ cupcakes/ naked?

We had a naked cake as we aren’t big fans of icing, it was covered in fresh fruits.

How did your first dance go?

The first dance was fun and totally improvised as our song was a mix, and we only received the mix three nights before which was a little stressful to say the least, but as always we pulled it out the bag!

What do your guests mention most about your wedding day?

The food!! No-one can get over how amazing it was!

Is there anything you would change if you were to do it all again?

I would probably change the timing of the day. It was a very long day for Lauren getting to the venue for 7am was a lot, I would have made things a little later. 

Do you have any hints or tips for couples looking to get married?

Always go with your gut, and only focus on what you as a couple want. Don’t let outside voices try and change your mind on your special day 

Finally, where did you go on your honeymoon?

We were meant to go to Bali but unfortunately got cancelled due to Covid, so instead we went to Dominican Republic for 2 weeks - not a bad substitute!