Special day

Hichem Frija and Elizabeth Rizzo

Where: Ceremony and reception at the Four Seasons Hotel, Hampshire

Photography: Chiko Photography, www.chiko-photography.com

With most of our guests travelling from Australia, Norway, Canada, New York, Hong Kong and London, it was essential that we chose a venue which could accommodate our guests flying in and staying for the weekend. The Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire, was just perfect. We got married in the walled garden outside which was transformed into a beautiful fairytale ceremony, with a white carpet down the aisle and white potted flowers all around us.

We had a civil ceremony and were married by a company called One Life ceremonies. We chose this company because we were able to meet up and have regular contact with our celebrant leading up to the day. After hearing about how we met and our story as a couple, she wrote our ceremony so that it was all about us including how we met, which made it very personal. Something you do not get offered with a normal registrar. I also walked down the aisle with both my parents, which was so special to me and made my mother’s day!

On the day I thought I was so calm but thinking back on it, I wasn’t at all! I didn’t sleep a wink the night before and was quite tense right up until the ceremony, when I saw my best friend standing there looking so handsome, waiting for me to be his wife.

I found my dress at Pronovias. I went for a very classic strapless style wedding dress. I wanted to look like a bride, especially as our wedding was black tie so our female guests were in ball gowns and the men were in tuxedos. The atmosphere was elegant and formal but yet was very relaxed and romantic. We had around 115 guests, all of whom were invited because we felt they were friends/family for life.

Our stationery which included invitations, table plans, menus, favours and thank you cards, all came from a company called Lovely Favours. We chose a romantic pearl theme which was cream with a pearl broach. I was completely taken aback by how beautiful everything looked.

Our reception room had purple uplighters along the wall for mood lighting and the centrepieces were large vases with foliage in with LED lights to set the party mood! We also had white roses around the base of the vases. Our pre-drinks area, had lots of white flowers, submerged in water. We had an amazing photographer called Chiko, who took pictures of everyone throughout the day and night and is just one of the best photographers I’ve known.

Our entertainment was a DJ, who had everyone dancing from the minute the music started right up until the end! We’ve had so many people tell me that it was the best wedding they have ever been to!