Featured in IN-MAGAZINE

Just Married
Stuart & Jane James
Ongar couple, Stuart and Jane, tied the knot in a fresh
and fun ceremony held at the elegant Gaynes Park,
Epping.We caught up with the love birds to talk scouting,
singing and spotty wedding cakes.
So, Mr. and Mrs., how did you two first meet?
Jane: We were at National Network Scout camp in
Gloucester. As we were camping for the weekend neither of
us looked our best, but there was something that made me
notice him. We soon realized we had a lot in common.
So, Jane ‘scouted’ you out … Moving swiftly on from
that terrible pun, when did you first realise that this was
‘the one’?
Jane: In 2008 we took six months off to go travelling
together. Before then, as we lived over 80 miles apart we had
only ever spent weekends together. Luckily those six months
turned out to be the best of our lives, and we grew closer as
a couple. After all you can’t get much closer than spending
three months together in a camper van, exploring Australia!
It sounds like a wonderful trip, how did he propose?
Jane: Stu proposed in May last year. I returned after a long
day at work to discover that he had transformed the front
room into a romantic restaurant. Though Stu had prepared
three wonderful courses he couldn’t wait until the end, so
popped the question right after we’d eaten our starters. I was
so overwhelmed I couldn’t eat my dessert!
That’s the sort of diet we could all stick to - diamonds
instead of dessert! So on to the big day, how did it go?
Jane: We had our wedding at the beautiful Gaynes Park,
Epping, where I work as an events manager. We held the civil
ceremony in the Orangery; I made my entrance through the
beautiful walled garden. We used the gardens and
surroundings for our photographs before moving to the Mill
Barn for dinner and dancing.
Stuart: We went for quite a modern feel with bright colours,
as we wanted our wedding to reflect our fun loving natures.
We named the tables after cars, had a magician as well as a
very popular a pic’an’mix sweet buffet and a spotty wedding
cake, made for us by my mum.
A little birdie tells me that the magician was not the only
form of entertainment on the day…
Jane: We also had a pianist and singer called Danny Mills.
Stu fancies himself as a bit of a singer himself, so he joined
Danny for a song and they ended up performing a duet of
Bohemian Rhapsody! Perhaps not the most appropriate song
for a wedding but very entertaining. Stu changed the last line
of the song to ‘nothing really matters but... Jane!’. Which
caused me and most other ladies to burst into tears.
Just one last question before we leave you to your marital
bliss; do you have any advice for other couples ?
Both: To make sure that you are relaxed and enjoy the day.
Try not to over think every detail, there are so many decisions
to be made and it is easy to think about them too much!
Bride’s Dress: Ronald Joyce. I brought it from Ivory Lace in Loughton that has now sadly
closed. Accessories: Shoes by Roberto Vianni @ Debenhams. Hair band from D&Q
Weddings, Harlow. Veil - www.ukweddingveils.co.uk. Hair: Gary Pellicci, Ongar,
www.garypellicci.co.uk. Make up: My friend Jessica from Thaxted Health & Beauty Clinic.
Flowers: Designer Flowers by Stacey Stevens www.staceystevens.co.uk.
Cake: Stuart’s mum, Tracy. Location: Gaynes Park www.gaynespark.co.uk. Catering:
Galloping Gourmet, Gaynes Park. Photography: Steve Mason, im-art www.im-art.co.uk.
Videographer: Spotlight Weddings videographer www.spotlightweddings.co.uk. Pianist:
Danny Mills, www.danielmills.co.uk. DJ: Lovelight www.lovelight.me.uk. Magician: Tony
Steward www.thecompleteweddingmagician.co.uk. Car: www.cadillacmagic.com.
Toastmaster: Ted Prior www.toastmaster-tedprior.com.
in MAGAZINE 47