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Labour of Love

Labour of Love


Alison Hargreaves Guides for Brides Bio
Alison Hargreaves Updated:
4th of July 2022

Homemade touches made a special day for childhood sweethearts Katie and Callum. On a rainy drive back from Cornwall in January, Callum turned the car off the main road and started driving towards the coast. ‘I don’t know where I’m going,’ he confessed to longterm girlfriend Katie, ‘I’m just driving towards the sun.’ He found the sun on a tucked away beach and proposed to his childhood sweetheart.

The happy couple tied the knot six and half months later at the Gateway Church in Westlea, Swindon. With an absolutely minimal budget, the couple knew it would take a lot of careful planning and creativity to give their day the vintage summer garden party feel they wanted, and their hard work really paid off. Katie explained, ‘We made metres and metres of cotton bunting, and my dad grew all the flowers. It was a real labour of love!’

The guests dined informally on a hog-roast, and listened to the beautiful sound of a grand piano, hired in for the day. And the significance of the fire-engine? ‘It belongs to a friend of a friend – and we just loved it! It made a great backdrop for our photos!’ laughs Katie.

Groom's Suit: Moss Bros
Hair & Makeup: Striking Hair & Makeup
Bridesmaids Dresses: Dessy
Photography: Forest Lane Photography

Alison Hargreaves Guides for Brides Bio

About the author


Alison Hargreaves

Alison has been advising brides, grooms and bridesmaids for more than 25 years. She has an unrivalled knowledge of the British wedding industry and frequently appears on podcasts and expert panels. She regularly attends international wedding conferences to keep the UK at the forefront of wedding planning trends.

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