Towards the end of last year we were very privileged to cover Gemma and John's Easton Grange wedding beside the beautiful River Deben. Covid had postponed the original day and luckily both Easton grange as Lisa and I were able to reschedule to be available for this lovely couple.

We'd been looking forward to Gemma and Johns wedding for absolutely ages as they'd been so much fun when we first met them. Though this was an Autumn wedding we were really confident in the flexibility of Easton Grange weddings with its mix of generous indoor and outdoor spaces.

So here's Gemma and John's big day in their own words.

Tell us a little about yourselves

I'm a Project Manager and John is a Plumbing & Gas engineer; a handy bloke to have around especially when we completely renovated our first home together. We’ve been together now for almost 11 years.

We've actually known each other since school. I thought John was a bit of a chav, he thought I was a nerd. I remember one night him walking into a nightclub and it's like he'd grown a beard and muscles overnight- the rest is history!

John took me to Paris for my birthday. He'd booked an incredible hotel with amazing views of the Eiffel Tower. After a day of exploring Paris we checked into our room where there was some flowers and champagne and the Eiffel Tower sparkling.

I was busy admiring the view whilst John was frantically searching for the ring in his suitcase. I turned around and there he was on one knee!

What was your vision for your wedding day?

We always wanted an Autumnal Wedding. We love the colours and wanted something a bit different. Having all our friends and family there to share the day was also so important.

We started planning almost immediately- and then Covid came along and ruined it all. We were meant to get married in October 2020 but it didn't end up happening until October 2021 so we had a much longer planning period than most. At times it was difficult to keep the momentum going but we are so glad we waited and had the day we always wanted.

Tell us a little bit about the planning process for your wedding

We actually agreed on everything. As soon as the venue was booked Lisa & Neil were the first supplier we booked. I'd followed their Instagram for a while and HAD to have them. They were so supportive through Covid and the postponements.

I'm also flower obsessed so deciding on Lucy at LB Floral was also a quick decision. Finding a DJ Sax Player and Bongos that were within budget and a reasonable travel distance was a challenge but Conga Revolution were incredible; especially for our friends who love the Dance floor!

Tell us about your ceremony

Everyone commented on how lovely and laid back our ceremony was and that it set the tone for the rest of the day. Johns sister did a lovely reading which made the whole thing more personal. I got a bit emotional because I couldn't quite believe after all the postponements it was finally happening!

What is your most memorable moment of your Easton Grange wedding?

John says me walking down the aisle (cute)! I loved being announced as Mr and Mrs Ely into the celebration barn. We both also said how incredible it was to sit at the top table and see a room full of the people we love after such a difficult couple of years for everyone.

What made you laugh on the day?

The Dance Floor was pretty wild! There's a bit of a tradition with friends that at the end of the night we play 'Zorba the Greek' and all attempt (very badly) to do some Greek Dancing. Everyone had John and I in chairs lifting us up; I'm surprised there were no injuries!!

What’s your favourite photo from your Easton Grange wedding day and why?

I'm honestly not sure I could pick. I love them all because they tell a story. The photos under my veil look incredible; I remember thinking at the time 'this is random'. Some of my favourites though are the natural ones of us and our friends and family having a great time!! We've had so many compliments on our Wedding Photos, booking Lisa and Neil is honestly the best thing we could have done.

If you could plan and redo your wedding again, is there anything you would do differently?

Get married earlier in the day so it could have lasted even longer!

Gemma and John's Google review

"What we love about Lisa and Neil is that their photos tell a story; they capture moments and emotions so perfectly. From the moment we met them we felt at ease and they were so supportive during lockdown and postponements. We’ve had so many compliments from friends and family on our photographs. We’re 4 weeks on and I still look through them every day."

If you're planning an Easton Grange wedding, get in touch, we'd love to be there!

Easton grange is a solid favourite of ours, we love to shoot there and it holds a solid position in our blog for best wedding venues. You'll also find us listed as one of Easton's approved suppliers.