Francesca & Suat's Wedding Story
Being engaged was the most amazing feeling ever I was so excited to start planning our big day. It didn’t take us long to start looking at dates and deciding where to get married. For me Missenden Abbey holds a special place in my heart, I had a weekend housekeeping job there while I was at school and in 2007 my mum and step dad got married there. When we were shown around the Abbey by Natasha who I knew from when I used to work here, I instantly felt relaxed and just knew this is where we were going to get married. The Abbey is stunning and the grounds are so amazing so I was really hoping for a sunny day!
We booked our wedding for Saturday 19th September 2020. I got straight into all the planning and organising. The wedding fair the Abbey held was so helpful and I used a few of the suppliers that were there which made things so much easier.
Planning a wedding during a pandemic wasn’t easy, I was constantly watching the news for wedding updates, I couldn’t have my hair and make-up trial or any 1st dress fittings we didn’t even know if we would be able to get married.
We both decided we wanted to get married regardless of the numbers or restrictions as we really wanted to be husband and wife. One of the main challenges was the guest list, we originally had planned to have 120-150 guests. This was already a reduced number as Suat comes from a big Cypriot family coming from both UK and Northern Cyprus. We had to reduce this even further as we knew in our hearts that large gatherings/weddings wouldn’t be able to take place so we planned ahead and wrote several guest lists with different amounts of numbers so we would be prepared for whatever we were allowed, this wasn’t an easy thing to do.
Finally when restrictions were starting to lift and change I was able to finally see my wedding dress and have my hair and make-up trial by the amazingly talented Jodie Elleanor. There wasn’t many weeks left until the wedding and I was started to feel more positive and excited now, especially having tried my dress on and had my hair and make-up done.
Finally the week of the wedding was here and we were starting to relax and trust that our wedding would happen and there would be no more changes.
The ceremony was perfect, the registrar was so lovely and honestly it felt like a “normal” wedding. I know it wouldn’t be for everyone having to look at your guests with face masks on and all sitting in their “bubbles” but to be honest that felt normal now and luckily we didn’t have to wear masks! Plus, the masks were only for the ceremony. We remember every moment saying our vows and when he announced we were husband and wife I have never felt so happy and excited after months and months of uncertainty we had finally done it we were married! I know when Natasha handed us our glasses of champagne on our way out that she too felt the same as us. We were their first Covid wedding and I know she was so pleased and happy that everything had paid off. She had been through it all with us and we couldn’t have had a more amazing and perfect wedding co-ordinator.
We had chosen to have the wedding BBQ breakfast as I didn’t want to have a set seating plan in social bubbles. This worked so well, the sun was shining, the food was so tasty and everyone commented on how amazing it was. It also had a really nice relaxed feel, people could sit outside where there is so much space and really enjoy their food in the sunshine overlooking the beautiful grounds.
Once everyone was full from the BBQ we did the speeches outside. What can I say I still cry if I read through what Suat wrote, he managed to make everyone cry! His words were so moving and special. Everyone’s speeches were incredible, my mum and my brother did speeches and so did 3 of Suat’s best men, they were full of laughter and emotion.
The staff on our wedding day were all so friendly and helpful and honestly they couldn't do enough for us. It really made our day and it really felt like everyone was so happy to finally have a wedding happening, I couldn’t fault a thing!
Another great thing about the Abbey is that they have accommodation. This worked perfectly for us as we had some friends and family from Suat’s side travel from London and various places, so having the rooms there made everything so much easier.
Although it’s not ideal planning a wedding during a pandemic and having so many restrictions it really did make us take a step back and think about the wedding and what it meant to us and what is important. For us this was to become husband and wife no matter what. If Covid has taught us anything it’s that life is too short and you never know what is going to happen and to make the most of life and to celebrate love, so this is what we did and we wouldn’t change a thing. To us our wedding day was perfect and if anything, it’s a story to tell for generations to come!
