DJ & Harriet's Nautically Themed Wedding

DJ planned a trip for me to Venice for our anniversary and proposed to me on the actual day - 14th August - in St Mark's Square. She had organised dinner and even got the orchestra to play my favourite song from Moulin Rouge(Elton John's Your Song) in the background. I didn't expect it at all, because throughout our entire relationship, past and present, DJ had always made it clear that marriage was not for her. Happily, she changed her mind.

We had 70 guests for our wedding during the day and invited a further 30/35 to the reception, and held them both at Ye Olde Plough House. We fell in love with the barn conversion and cottages the moment we saw it... a massive barn conversion with wooden beams, who wouldn't fall in love with it?!

We went for a nautical theme of navy and cream because DJ comes from a surfing background. Harriet had a entire vintage tea party wedding planned in her head originally, but once I started to explain my vision, she came around. Louise Marks from Sticky Fingersmade our nautical themed four-tiered cake of rum, lemon and red velvet. We married close to Christmas and had canapes and a buffet throughout the day and evening, served with a selection of traditional Christmas drinks (mostly bucks fizz and mulled wine). For our sit down meal, we had a selection of Christmas roast dinners. Everything about the day was perfect. Harriet did have a minor scene with some mulled wine spilling on her dress however the venue coordinators sorted it right out. They were a dream; we put our trust in them and they really spoiled us and made everything so magical. Our first dance was to The Saturdays What About Us. When we got back in touch this is the song that really resonated our love for one another. After that, the dancefloor opened up and we had a really great party.

Harriet I would say stay calm. I am a very calm person and even at times I struggled. Make sure you have a good support network in your chosen wedding party. Always haggle, I found I would ask for a quote for something and would get at least a 20% increase the moment I mentioned wedding'. Always go with your instincts, when planning there is so much time at the beginning to second guess yourself. You waste so much time doing this only to arrive back at your original thought. Lastly, do as much of the planning yourself. I came out of this with two things: a gorgeous wife and the burning thought in the back of my head that maybe I should be a wedding planner.

DJ- Brace yourself. Raise your budget and don't buy a suit that doesn't fit. And don't buy a second suit that's the wrong colour!! Try to help your wife to be with all the planning... Try!