Even with lots of unexpected elements - a torrential downpour the whole wedding day morning, a just-healed-in-the-nick-of-time bruised and swollen lip and chin for the bride after a fall a week before the big day - Suzi and Matt pulled off an incredible wedding that was relaxed, fun and totally stylish.
While the couple originally planned for something "colourful, silly and probably 1950s style," and sought out alternative venues like farms and vineyards, they fell in love with Kingston Bagpuize House, near Abingdon in south Oxfordshire, for its "sheer beauty, informal, relaxed atmosphere and 'do what you want with the day' attitude" and decided to go in a different direction.
Captured by photographer Matt Parry, the couple embraced a 1920s, turn of the century theme, with some New York flavour (the couple got engaged in New York and the Art Deco style fit perfectly with their table plan, which was a skyline of New York's turn of the century buildings, with tables named after famous NYC sights).
"We didn't want it to be too stylised or gimmicky, but we added a few details such as a large crescent moon seat based on 1920s photos that was kindly made by Matt's cousin and feather boas and straw boaters," says Suzi. "It fit perfectly with the venue - I had a wonderful day pretending I was in one of my favourite costume dramas and Matt took the opportunity to bring out the Lucius Malfoy snake-head cane that he bought at the Harry Potter studio tour!"
Suzi's dress was also perfectly in keeping with the vintage, 1920s theme - a long, elegant, figure-skimming chiffon gown with intricate embroidery and lace detailing from Mirror Mirror in north London, topped off with an embellished bead and feather headband and veil, with bridesmaids wearing silver 1920s-inspired dresses from Coast.
Suzi was after a dress that, "to quote the comedian Miranda, didn't make me look like I'd had an 'anaphylactic chiffon-based shock'," she says. "I really wasn't sure what sort of dress I would want, not really being traditional, but having picked that one out as a possibility online, the staff at Mirror Mirror were wonderful in knowing exactly the look I didn't even know yet that I wanted - they whipped out the headpiece and veil, my mum cried, and that was that!"
MORE REAL WEDDINGS: Check out Lucy & Dan's Alice in Wonderland-inspired big day here
All imagery is from Matt Parry Photography - www.mattparryphotography.co.uk