Amy and Francesco
From the proposal story to personal highlights, we asked Amy and Francesco all about their Pennyhill Park wedding day.
Photography by: DA Wedding Photography
How did you two meet?
We met on a dating app in December 2016, moved in together in September 2017 and welcomed our baby daughter in November 2020.
The proposal was spontaneous and took place over lunch in our local pub (coincidentally the pub from the film The Holiday).
What did you love most about Pennyhill Park?
The atmosphere really struck us when we visited. It is so relaxed and friendly and every time we have visited we have always found ourselves staying longer than we expected.
The children love it too (I also have an 11-year-old and an 8-year-old), when we brought them to have a look they insisted we hold the wedding there
Did you have a theme or style in mind for your big day?
We wanted something simple, elegant and pretty. We really wanted colourful spring wildflowers and a show-stopping cake.
We found excellent suppliers, Ether Events who really listened to what we wanted and delivered absolutely beautiful flowers and Maki Searle whose cake was not only incredibly beautiful but also tasted fantastic.
We kept everything crossed for an outdoor wedding, never a guarantee in April, and we were so lucky to have a beautiful sunny day.
Tell us about the dress
I had fallen in love with the designer Jesus Peiro but hadn’t found the exact dress and was unsure what to do next. Then, in December, my brother fell unexpectedly ill, ending up in a coma and far from home.
We rushed to be with him, but Covid seriously limited the amount of time we were able to spend with him in hospital. In an attempt to distract myself from what was a really difficult situation, I wandered into a wedding boutique in Derbyshire and found a sample Jesus Peiro dress that seemed made for me.
What do you remember most about the day?
The excitement and the emotion, particularly of the ceremony. There were a lot of happy tears and so much joy.
Were there any special moments or surprises?
We couldn’t have imagined getting married without my brother so we were overjoyed when he started to improve and was brought out.
Our baby daughter was supposed to walk down the aisle as a flower girl but instead needed a cuddle from her dad.
We ended up holding her throughout the ceremony and we couldn’t imagine anything more perfect now.
What tips or advice would you give to future couples?
Have a clear idea what you want and make sure you articulate it explicitly to your suppliers. Also, ask someone on the day to keep an eye on your outfit so you don’t look back on photos and realise your tie wasn’t properly done up!
