A happy journey

A relaxed celebration and nostalgic trip in a camper van made the big day truly memorable for Helen and Elliot.
Photography by Focal Pix Photography

Click on any of the images below to view a larger version

Early days…

Couples meet in the most unexpected places. In the case of Helen and Elliot it was at Waitrose, where Helen was doing her shopping. "Elliot worked on the checkout counter, and when I paid for my shopping, his eyes caught mine. The rest is history," says Helen.

The proposal…

Elliot proposed on Helen's 21st birthday. "While still in bed, Elliot gave me a big box to open as my birthday present. Inside
was a simple gold band with a small diamond. It's exactly what I would have picked," says Helen. They got married on their six-year anniversary as a couple.

Hen and stag parties…

Helen and 10 of her friends went to the cinema to watch a girly film, He's Just Not That Into You, then headed off to Brighton in a pink limo to celebrate drinks, dares and dancing. "It wasn't as much fun on the way back as we forgot how bumpy the ride would feel after a few drinks," recalls Helen.

Elliot had originally planned a quiet night in his local pub, but ended up on a plane to Dublin for a long weekend, which was organised by his best man, Nathan, and another friend, Tim. "We had assumed we were staying in a hotel, but later on found out we all had to share one room in a hostel. Despite this, we had an epic weekend, surviving only on Guinness and McDonald's. It was made special as I was joined by six of my closest friends," says Elliot.

The venues…

Helen had her confirmation in Blendworth Church in Homdean, which she attended regularly with her nan who played the church organ. "The parishioners were very welcoming, kind and supportive. We always knew that we wanted to get married in this church," explains Helen.

Helen's mum found the venue, New Place De Vere Hotel, with the help of her godmother. "Mum brought the brochure over and we immediately thought it would be perfect, as it is so picturesque and less than a half-hour away from the church. About 40 of our guests chose to stay over and we all had breakfast together the next morning, which extended the celebrations," says Helen.

"When we booked it in November 2007, New Place was undergoing refurbishment. We took a gamble and booked the venue based on
what we had seen so far. It certainly paid off - the venue and service were amazing."

The dress…

"I'm not a fan of big dresses or lots of decoration," says Helen, who chose an understated elegant style - a 'diamond white' gown with off-the-shoulder straps and a classic criss-crossed back. "I had the train removed to suit my low-key style." Something old was the pearl necklace her mum and dad had given her as a birthday present. Something new was the dress; something borrowed was her sister's pearl earrings, and something blue was her M&S spotted knickers. "I did check to make sure you couldn't see them through the dress," assures Helen.

The transport…

Helen travelled to the ceremony in a horse and carriage, the same type that took her mum and dad to their wedding 26 years ago. Elliot chose a 1967 Volkswagen split-screen camper van to drive himself, his brother and best man to the ceremony. He hired it for a week so the couple could also use it for their mini-moon in Dorset.

"On the journey we received many waves, toots and good wishes from passing motorists, which added extra excitement," says Helen. The camper van was decorated with white ribbons, while the horse carriage was adorned with red and white flowers.

Top tips…

"Throughout the organisation of our wedding we decided that we would make all the decisions ourselves, which ensured that every detail was very special to us. It also meant that close ones could relax and enjoy the day with an element of surprise," explains Helen.

The honeymoon…

Helen and Elliot headed for the Dorset coast in a Volkswagen camper van and had the most relaxing start to their honeymoon. For the second part of their honeymoon, the couple flew to Malta for a week and stayed at Le Meridien Hotel and Spa in St Julians. "The hotel was everything we expected from a five-star hotel. The staff were very attentive and polite and the service was brilliant. We have never stayed in anything so luxurious.

"For couples interested in culture and history, it would be an ideal destination. To be honest, we were more at home with the laid-back lifestyle that the camper van offered," says Helen.

Useful Contacts: