As we stepped onto the picturesque Kent coast in Whitstable, the sun-kissed seaside served as the perfect backdrop for Alexandra and Wes’ laid-back beach wedding. On June 20th, 2019, the happy couple exchanged vows at East Quay Venue, surrounded by an atmosphere of effortless elegance. With Florence Berry Photography, a valued Supplier Love member, expertly capturing every precious moment, we’re thrilled to share these stunning images with our readers. The venue’s natural beauty shines through, but it was Alexandra and Wes’ thoughtful touches that truly made the day special. From practical amenities like flip flops for weary dancers to an impressive cake table, every detail has been meticulously curated to delight their guests.
The Proposal
As my birthday approached, nine days after welcoming our little bundle of joy into the world, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and gratitude. My husband surprised me with a thoughtful gift – a beautiful ring that he had picked out just for me. Given his habit of showering me with jewelry on special occasions like birthdays and Christmases, I took it in stride, assuming it was just another lovely token of his affection. But little did I know, my husband had something else up his sleeve. As we spent the day out with our little one, he casually pointed out that I was wearing the ring on the wrong finger. It wasn’t until he patiently spelled it out for me, in his signature gentle manner, that I finally caught on to the mistake.
The Vision
As we envisioned our special day, we sought to infuse it with elements that truly reflected us as a couple. We craved a relaxed yet beautiful atmosphere, replete with personal touches that made the celebration uniquely ours. Given Wes’ lifelong connection to the sea, a seaside location was paramount. Moreover, we wanted our children to be an integral part of the proceedings, right down to our two-year-old. This included Dylan, Wes’ eldest, who proudly served as best man and ring bearer – a monumental task for him, given his autistic nature, which he tackled with remarkable aplomb. Arwen, Wes’ daughter, took her place among our bridesmaids, while our youngest sons donned page boy attire alongside our nephew, making the occasion an unforgettable experience for all involved.
The Planning Process
As I prepared for motherhood, my partner Wes took shared parental leave for the initial six weeks of my maternity leave. This allowed us to dive headfirst into researching potential wedding venues. We scheduled visits to several options in Kent and Essex that fit our budget constraints. One particular venue, East Quay Venue in Whitstable, caught our attention. The sun was shining brightly on a weekday in June when we visited, and it wasn’t long before we fell deeply in love with the space! Following this initial visit, we attended a wedding fair at the venue in September, where we had the pleasure of meeting many of the suppliers we would eventually book for our special day. The process proved relatively effortless, as East Quay Venue had already provided us with a curated list of excellent recommended vendors.
Bridesmaids
For my bridesmaids’ attire, I turned to ASOS for their stunning pale pink dresses. My vision was for a versatile dress that would complement not only the 15-year-old members of the bridal party but also my adult attendants. Happily, these beautiful dresses exceeded my expectations, flatteringly accentuating each woman’s unique features. To allow them to put their personal stamp on their look, I gave them the freedom to select their own shoes, suggesting metallic hues that would tie in beautifully with the overall aesthetic. While they chose different footwear options, the cohesive result was truly delightful. To further solidify our sisterhood, I presented each of my bridesmaids with a rose gold Kate Spade bracelet, which matched mine perfectly, and also gifted them matching rose gold heart necklaces to wear on their special day.
Your Outfits & Accessories
As soon as I started searching for my dream wedding dress, Lucy Can’t Dance in Chelmsford, Essex, was always top of mind. However, I decided to visit Rock the Frock Bridal in the same town to give myself a wider range of options and designers to consider. It turned out to be a great decision, as they encouraged me to try on five dresses, including two unique two-piece ensembles that I would have never considered otherwise. In the end, I fell head over heels for Lucy Can’t Dance’s Tropicana lace top and Soul Love skirt in Blush – a made-to-measure masterpiece that exceeded my expectations. The fact that my lovely mum treated me to it only added to the magic.In terms of footwear, I opted for pink block heel sandals from Kurt Geiger for daytime wear, ensuring both comfort and style. My rose gold jewelry was courtesy of Kate Spade, while a sentimental nod to my heritage came in the form of my nana’s amethyst and diamond ring, which served as my ‘something old.’My bridesmaid lent me her veil from her own wedding the previous year, which I paired with a stunning Crown and Glory ‘Aerwyn’ Gold Leaf Crown that added an extra layer of glamour to my overall look.For the evening, I swapped into custom-made White Dr. Martens with pink ribbon laces, courtesy of my clever bridesmaid Jane, who incorporated an anchor and flowers reminiscent of our wedding invites along with our special date.In a bold move, I also commissioned a custom leather jacket from Painted by Lucky over 15 months prior to the big day – even before finalizing my dress choice. The result was a one-of-a-kind masterpiece featuring ‘Hopeless Romantic’ on the back and ‘Mrs Fitzgerald’ on the sleeve, perfectly capturing my personality’s unique blend of whimsy, elegance, and playfulness.
Beauty
As soon as I decided on my wedding party, I knew exactly who I wanted to work with – Kelly Jenner, whose stunning work had left me in awe. Her makeup skills were nothing short of magical, and she made my skin look like it was airbrushed perfection. When I’m getting ready for a night out, I love wearing makeup that makes me feel glamorous and radiant, so I knew her traditional bridal look wasn’t quite what I had in mind. Kelly delivered a gorgeous bronzed smoky eye, luscious lashes, and flawless skin that lasted all day and night – even at 2am! Her magic didn’t falter, not even after a sleepless night before the wedding.For my nails, I trusted Kate S at Pinky’s Beauty to work her magic. Although I hadn’t warned her beforehand, she created stunning nude pink and silver glitter nails that were truly show-stopping (and completely impractical, but hey, my new husband was happy to oblige!). They perfectly complemented my wedding look.When it came to hair, I was on a mission to find the perfect stylist. Kim at She Said Yes Bridal Hair won me over with her amazing work and attention to detail. After finding her on Instagram, I booked a trial session where we chatted about creating a relaxed yet elegant hairstyle that would showcase my dress. Kim delivered exactly what I had envisioned – a beautiful updo that looked like it was straight off the runway. She even showed my bridesmaids how to remove their veils without messing up their hair.For my bridesmaids, she created slightly different plaits and placed the jewelled bobby pins in unique ways, ensuring each look was cohesive yet uniquely theirs.To cap off an already magical day, I surprised our guests with a glitter bar courtesy of Luxurious Glitter. Without telling Wes, I booked Claire to run the show, and boy did she deliver! The evening reception became a sea of sparkles as both men and women got glittered up (yes, even beards!). I was so enamored with the experience that I’ve since started training to become a glitter fairy myself – now part of the Luxurious Glitter team!
Budget
Although we initially targeted a budget of approximately £10,000, the final cost ended up being slightly higher, coming in at just over £12,000. Despite our best efforts to stay within our means, we anticipated that this could be a possibility.
The Venue
As soon as we stepped into East Quay Venue, we knew we’d found our perfect setting. Located right on the beach in the charming seaside town of Whitstable, Kent, it offered a unique blend of quirky character and breathtaking views. Wes, in particular, was thrilled to see his beloved Southend across the Estuary on a clear day! We cancelled all other viewings on the spot, convinced that this venue was the one for us. The original Oyster grading room boasts beautiful brickwork, beams, and stone floors, providing an blank canvas for couples to make their mark. Plus, it has its own roped-off beach area, which proved ideal for our drinks reception. We served Pimms, Prosecco, and a ‘Pimp Your Prosecco’ station, along with generous bowls of crisps and nuts instead of canapés. For dinner, we opted for boxed Fish & Chips – a seaside classic! Sausages, halloumi, and tempura vegetables were also available as alternatives. The portions were enormous! Following dinner, our dessert table was a sweet lover’s dream come true, featuring an array of treats from donuts to carrot cake, chocolate fudge cake, cinnamon rolls, and even vegan gluten-free brownies. We also had a show-stopping cheese tower, crafted by my dad, as well as a stunning vegan version courtesy of our friend Mike at Honestly Tasty. With more than enough food to feed three times the number of guests we had, I was determined that everyone would leave with a satisfied belly and not a single person go home hungry.
The Readings & Music
We worked with Katie Keen from True Blue Ceremonies to craft a personalized ceremony script that beautifully told the story of how we met and how we got to our special day. The ceremony received rave reviews, with many guests commenting on its loveliness and appreciating the unique perspective of hearing about our Tinder match for the first time. Katie’s thoughtful suggestion of a reading suitable for our 15-year-old daughter added a sweet touch, as she recited an excerpt from Wild Awake by Hilary T Smith, while my friend and bridesmaid Beth beautifully delivered ‘He’s Not Perfect’ by Bob Marley. Her dramatic pause after the opening line ‘he’s not perfect’ had everyone laughing.During the ceremony and drinks reception, we had the pleasure of The Redfords acoustic duo performing. I walked down the aisle to their heartfelt cover of Foo Fighters’ Times Like These, which brought me close to tears. During the signing, they played Luther Vandross’ Never Too Much, a song that holds a special place in our hearts as it was the first dance we shared on our date at the Southbank in London. Finally, we left the ceremony to Three Little Birds by Bob Marley, a song that has significant meaning for us and our little boy, who was born under its melody. The Redfords continued to play out on the beach during our drinks reception, perfectly capturing the relaxed, beachy atmosphere we aimed for.
The Flowers
Emily’s team from I Do Devoted Dreams, who also handled our venue decoration, crafted beautiful floral arrangements that perfectly complemented our wedding theme. With minimal direction from me, they created stunning hand-tied bouquets featuring an abundance of wild and seasonal flowers in vibrant hues that harmoniously matched our blue and mustard colour scheme. The bridesmaids’ bouquets featured gypsophila paired with white roses, while the groomsmen’s arrangements included a white rose, symbolizing Wes’ father’s favourite bloom, accompanied by blue thistle and lush foliage. The reception tables boasted charming wild flower displays in mismatched jars and vases, and my pew ends were adorned with petite hand-tied gypsophila bouquets. As a lovely gesture, our guests were able to take home the jarred arrangements as a sweet memento at the end of the day.
The Details & Décor
As we embarked on our special day, we were thrilled to have hired two stunning vintage VW camper vans and a VW Beetle from VW Brides. They not only made a stylish statement as we drove through Whitstable’s streets but also generated considerable attention from passersby. Although we only used them for a short while, they were undoubtedly worth the investment.To bring our vision to life, I Do Devoted Dreams provided an array of beautiful decorations for the tables and venue itself. We rented fairy lights from them to illuminate both inside and outside the venue, creating a warm ambiance. Emily and her team also meticulously placed my pastel lanterns, borrowed from a friend who had used them at their own wedding, above the dance floor – it was breathtaking.My bridesmaid Jane went above and beyond by hand-painting our name cards, which added a personal touch to the overall aesthetic. We named our tables after bands we’d seen together, featuring mini chalkboards with music-themed table names. In the week leading up to the wedding, we decided to take it to the next level by adding album covers to each table, perfectly capturing our music-inspired theme.I Do Devoted Dreams also supplied wildflowers in jars for the tables, hessian table runners, and delicate tealights in lace-covered jars – a true masterclass in understated elegance.Our table plan, designed by LoveMeDoDesign on Etsy, featured stunning records and flowers, which I absolutely adore. It’s now framed as a treasured keepsake of our special day.As a token of appreciation for our guests’ support, we offered charity pin badges from two charities close to our hearts – Demelza Hospice Care for Children, where I work, and the National Autistic Society, in honor of Wes’ eldest son, Dylan. It was wonderful seeing these small gestures bring joy to those around us.To make the day even more memorable, we provided Instax polaroid cameras for guests to use, a guestbook for them to write messages, and a few thoughtful extras like blankets in a basket for chilly evenings and flip flops for tired feet.It was incredibly fulfilling seeing everything come together on the day, knowing I’d put in so much effort to create special moments. Many of our guests expressed their gratitude for these little touches, which meant the world to me. Even my nana and grandad raved about the wedding, declaring it the best they’d ever attended – a true testament to its success!We also wisely hired a creche company to care for some of the younger children on the day. This turned out to be one of our best decisions! The ladies were exceptional in their attention to detail, keeping the little ones busy with craft activities, toys, and even taking them down to the beach a few times to hunt for crabs and shells.
The Cake
When it came time to choose a baker for our special day, we didn’t hesitate in selecting Sam Atlee from Artcardia – her creative and unconventional approach to cake design was exactly what we were looking for. We provided her with a brief outline of our vision and some inspiration images, then let her imagination run wild. The result was truly breathtaking – a seaside-themed masterpiece that exceeded all my expectations (and I’m not the only biased one!). The cake featured a vintage tattoo design, paying homage to Wes’ personal tattoos, and even included a miniature replica of ourselves perched on top. To complement this stunning visual display, we opted for unique flavor combinations like dark chocolate and sea salt, vanilla and candyfloss, and banoffee.
Groomsmen
Wes initially opted for a three-piece blue tweed suit from The Vintage Suit Hire company, which we purchased during a special trip to Bedford on a Sunday morning. We then ordered identical suits for the groomsmen. However, just a month before the wedding, Wes had a change of heart, deeming the three-piece wool suit too warm for an outdoor beach wedding in June. Ultimately, everyone, including Wes, wore navy blue chinos from Next. He paired his outfit with a white short-sleeved Ted Baker shirt, brown leather loafers from Next, navy and mustard polka dot braces, and matching mustard bowties from Boyds of Bedford. The pièce de résistance was the mustard socks that tied everything together. To complement their attire, Wes also gifted the groomsmen watches from Brave Soul and matching sunglasses to wear on the big day.When it came to dressing our three page boys, we wanted them to blend in with the adults without feeling like they were wearing full suits. We achieved this by dressing them in mustard chino shorts, white short-sleeved shirts, blue braces, yellow bowties, and navy espadrilles. Most of their outfits came from Next, River Island, and Primark, which we chose deliberately due to the high likelihood of them getting dirty. And, true to form, they didn’t disappoint! In the end, their coordinated looks were stunning and perfectly in sync with the beach venue’s aesthetic.
Your Photographer
At the East Quay wedding fair, I had the pleasure of meeting Florence Berry, whose down-to-earth demeanor instantly put me at ease. As a mother herself, she naturally has a knack for working with children and made our little one feel comfortable in front of the camera. What struck me most was how effortlessly she captured our special day, often snapping photos without us even realizing she was there! Florence allowed us to be ourselves and let our hair down, resulting in some truly unguarded moments that we’ll treasure forever. Her commitment to her craft was impressive, staying with us from the morning until the evening’s revelry, capturing not just the magic of the day itself but also the more playful and carefree moments that followed.
The Honeymoon
We’re embarking on a 10-day adventure in Seattle, USA this October, having decided to delay our honeymoon. The primary reason for this choice was to avoid leaving our kids shortly after the wedding, which had already been a whirlwind few weeks leading up to the big day. Additionally, delaying our honeymoon allowed us to plan and prepare for the trip post-wedding, helping to alleviate those dreaded ‘wedding blues’ many couples experience. While we did enjoy a mini-moon at one of our favorite festivals, 2000trees, just a couple of weeks after the wedding – with two of our favored bands headlining under their respective table names – this upcoming trip will provide an even more extensive opportunity for us to unwind and cherish each other’s company.
Memorable Moments
As we exchanged our vows, an unexpected moment of joy filled the room when our autistic son, Dylan, exclaimed ‘Good job, Daddy!’ in his own special way. The collective laughter and happy tears that followed were a poignant reminder of the love and acceptance that surrounded us on this special day.
Advice For Other Couples
When it comes to planning a wedding, many people stress about the smallest details. However, it’s essential to remember that no one will likely notice if something isn’t perfect – at the end of the day, it’s your special moment. Instead of worrying, take time to focus on what really matters: enjoying the experience with loved ones. I know from personal experience that it’s easy to get caught up in nerves and anxiety, but taking a few minutes to yourself can make all the difference. After our ceremony, my partner and I took five precious moments to simply breathe, reflect, and absorb the significance of what we had just achieved. It was incredibly grounding.
Credit Where Credit Is Due
The dreamy beach wedding of Alexandra and Wes was a real treat to feature. Behind the lens was photographer Florence Berry Photography, who captured every romantic moment perfectly. The ceremony took place at East Quay Venue, officiated by True Blue Ceremonies’ celebrant. Alexandra’s stunning dress was from Rock the Frock Bridal’s Lucy Can’t Dance collection, paired with a hair piece from Crown & Glory and shoes from Kurt Geiger. Her nails were done by Pinkys Beauty, while her hair was styled by She Said Yes Bridal Hair. Makeup artist Kelly Jenner worked her magic to complete the look. The bride’s jewellery was Kate Spade, and the bridesmaid dresses came from ASOS. The groom and groomsmen looked dashing in Next trousers, Ted Baker shirts, and Boyds of Bedford bowties. I Do Devoted Dreams handled the beautiful flowers and venue styling, while Artcardia created the show-stopping vegan cheese tower for cake. Honestly Tasty provided the tasty treats. Music lovers will enjoy The Redfords’ acoustic duo for daytime performances and Celebration Sounds’ disco for evening celebrations. Luxurious Glitter added a touch of sparkle at the glitter bar. For transportation, VW Brides came to the rescue. Carousel Creche Company kept the little ones entertained at the creche. Special thanks go out to Alexandra and Wes for sharing their special day with us – we had an absolute blast! Rachel x