Garden of Love: Lee and Georgina Yhap (née Rogers)
The flower-filled garden at a medieval manor house near Malvern provided the perfect setting for Lee and Georgina Yhap’s wedding
Image gallery
Image gallery
Wedding date: 28 June 2010
Ceremony and reception venue: Birtsmorton Court, near Malvern, Worcestershire. The civil ceremony was conducted in the White Garden and the reception was held in the Marquee & Garden House.
Tell us about the proposal – how did it happen?
It was a cold, snowy day after Boxing Day 2009. On Christmas Eve, Lee had secretly asked my Dad for permission to marry me. We went for a walk along Watership Down, near where we live; halfway we stopped, overlooking the Downs, to take in how beautiful it was. Lee began to reminisce over the time we’d spent together, how wonderful it had been and how much we love each other when suddenly he got down on one knee in the snow, pulled the ring from his coat pocket and asked me to marry him!
The big day
We were full of anticipation and excitement getting ready, so there wasn’t enough time for nerves – until we got to the ceremony and had to say our vows. Lee got tongue-tied and said, “I call upon these persons here peasants,” at which everybody laughed and the nerves were gone.
One of the most romantic, unforgettable moments was our first dance, to James Morrison’s You Make It Real. As we looked into each other’s eyes, everybody around us seemed to fade away and it was just the two of us.
The honeymoon
We called this our ‘mini-moon’! Having had the luck to fall pregnant after the engagement, our original plans of a romantic trip to Bali had to be re-arranged. Instead we spent an indulgent week at a lovely feng shui-style spa hotel in Cyprus, relaxing amongst palm trees by the sea.
Best bits
Georgina: There were so many moments throughout the whole day that it’s hard to describe just one… Seeing Lee and saying our vows in the garden was amazing, as it was such a romantic and intimate setting in which to say ‘I do’, but I also loved sitting at the head table, looking up at Lee while he read his speech to me. I was so proud of him – hearing him talk from the heart to me in front of all our family and friends made the words even more special. It’s a moment I will always treasure.
Lee: My favourite part of the day was waiting at the pagoda as the music began to play, and through the flowers emerged my stunning wife-to-be looking more beautiful than any woman I have ever seen.
The Details
Dress: ‘Megan’ by Maggie Sottero
Groom’s outfit: ‘Bond’ by Hugo Boss, 0208 222 6310, hugoboss.com
Venue: Birtsmorton Court, Worcestershire, 01684 833888, birtsmortoncourt.com
Photography: Chris Downton Photography
Catering: Dine with Style, 01761 439483, dinewithstyle.co.uk
Cake: Trish Brackstone at Sugarush Cakes, 07904 948291
Flowers: Joy at Floral Roundabout, 01905 24613, floralroundabout.co.uk
Photography: Chris Downton, 01684 310718, cdphoto.co.uk
Entertainment: DJ Pete Stead, 01432 851616
Total cost of wedding: £12,500