Once upon a time for Amy and Benjamin

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Amy and Benjamin first met on a blind double date with friends at a cocktail bar in St Albans. Amy was instantly attracted to Benjamin's smile and eyes while he loved her appearance. The pair shared so much in common, and it was like they'd known each other for years – their conversation flowed so effortlessly.

Benjamin proposed on Amy's 29th birthday while away in Barbados. She says, "We had arranged dinner on the beach on our first day, and that's when Ben walked over to me and asked if he could kiss me. He then got down on one knee in the sand and popped the question!" She adds, "Our waitress was so excited and frantically came over to take photos – it was the most magical evening!"

Wedding venue After setting the wedding date for the 3rd September 2021, the couple set off the find the perfect backdrop to their wedding. The pair travelled to 10 different venues, including Offley Place Country House Hotel, to find the perfect space. Surrounded by 27 acres of manicured lawns, the 17th-century manor house was recommended to the pair by a friend. They fell in love with property's classic but modern features, including the incredible chandeliers and breathtaking ballroom — the pair could both imagine the perfect wedding surrounded by their loved ones. On the day, the couple added a love sign, a doughnut wall and a sweet cart, which was a big hit with the children! Another sweet treat was the three-tiered cake, which had a flower design to match the centrepieces. The top tier had a chocolate flavour while the middle was salted caramel and the bottom was a Victoria sponge.

Bella Collection created the beautiful table plan and each table was named after different countries that the pair had visited on holiday together. Tall vases and flowers were placed in the middle of each table to allow people to see each other easily while creating a more intimate setting. For favours, each guest was given a mirrored-acrylic coaster that doubled up as a place name.

To get to the venue, Benjamin travelled in an Aston Martin DB11 from Supercar Experiences. The vehicle created the perfect backdrop to photographs and was the ideal way to arrive in style.

Bouquet and dress When it came to finding the perfect gown, the bride fell in love with a Stella York dress and accessorised her look with a veil and headpiece. She says, "I got everything from Brides of Berkhamsted, which is a great shop that I'd highly recommend because I had an amazing experience."

To make sure the gown was the perfect fit, alterations and personal touches were added by Lorna at Lolly Couture. The bride adds, "I also had personal training sessions with the incredible Millie George. Me and the dress wouldn't have been the same without this amazing lady."

Benjamin opted for a three-piece navy suit with a navy tie, Gucci shoes, cufflinks, and a watch. The groomsmen wore navy suits but with pink ties to match the bridesmaids' blush dresses and different waistcoats to allow the groom to stand out.

Dancefloor After the perfect ceremony, the couple hired a toastmaster to escort guests outside for the drinks reception. To create a relaxed and romantic atmosphere, a saxophonist played background music and was the perfect addition to the day. A DJ played in the evening to get the party started and all guests loved dancing the night away.

Love letters A wedding is always full of lovely memories to look back on and remember, which is a huge reason why wedding photography is so important. The lovebirds were full of emotions on the day and were so excited to become husband and wife. Amy loved getting ready in the morning with her bridesmaids, and the ceremony was so special after such a long time waiting to exchange vows. Their twin niece and nephew were the flowergirl and page boy; they both looked so adorable!

The lovebirds felt so lucky to be surrounded by loved ones again after being apart due to Covid-19 restrictions. Amy says, "Just seeing everyone enjoy themselves and having such a good time was so amazing."

During the wedding breakfast, the best man's speech had everyone laughing when a projector came out with funny photos of the groom.

Couple pose in garden After the perfect wedding day, Amy and Benjamin jetted off to Mykonos for some relaxation time together, where they created lovely memories. The pair can't wait for their main honeymoon trip to the Maldives for two weeks at the end of 2021!

First dance "Our advice for other couples would be not to sweat over the small stuff. Little things might not go to plan in the lead up to the wedding, but don't let that change how you feel on the day. It will all work out, and you'll get the day you both deserve." – Amy