East meets west

East Meets West Gary and Kathryn's wedding at Tewin Bury Farm was a blend of English traditions with subtle Chinese details. Images by Ripley Photography

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Early days…

Kathryn, 32, met Gary, 38, when they both started working for a small graphic design company in Shoreditch, London back in 2002. "We knew we liked each other right away, but we had to play it cool as there were only four other people in the whole company," recalls Kathryn. "We found we wanted the same things out of life, and just really enjoyed each other's company. We eventually got together in 2004 and haven't looked back since!" Gary adds: "We fell in love because we have similar tastes, respect one another and never fail to make each other laugh."

The proposal…

Gary proposed to Kathryn in Exmouth Market, London, after having taken her out for a birthday dinner. "We'd had a perfect evening, and as soon as we stepped outside the restaurant and into the market place, he popped the question," says Kathryn. "Even though we had already talked about getting married, he completely took me by surprise. I had no idea he'd been planning to propose, and I was even more stunned that he had a beautiful ring in his pocket."

Hen and stag parties…

Kathryn's sister Charlotte, who was also her bridesmaid, planned the hen party and kept it a secret. They all met at King's Cross station, which fooled Kathryn into thinking they'd be getting a train somewhere. Instead, a stretch limo was waiting at the taxi rank to take them to the final day of the races at Royal Ascot. "We had all dressed up in fancy frocks, and Charlotte gave us all fascinators to wear, too," says Kathryn. "It was brilliant fun and all the girls enjoyed it."
Gary and four friends went to see Gordon Ramsay at Claridges for dinner, where they enjoyed the Prestige tasting menu. "Being a foodie, it was what Gary really wanted to do - he said it was an unforgettable experience," says Kathryn.

The venues…

"We found Tewin Bury Farm, near Welwyn, on the internet," explains Kathryn. "When we visited the venue, we felt that the atmosphere in the stable would be perfect for our wedding. It was just the right size for the number of people we had in mind, and felt warm and intimate. We also liked the fact that we could have our ceremony and reception there, so we wouldn't have to travel throughout the day."

The dress…

Kathryn wore a stunning ivory taffeta gown with ruching around the waist, designed by Amanda Wyatt. "It was the 10th dress I tried on, and I knew straight away that it was 'the one'," she says. "It felt perfect, and I wanted to take it home there and then!" She accessorised with a simple headband, and the jewellery that Charlotte wore on her wedding day.
Charlotte wore a full-length red satin gown from Annie Laurie Bridal, and her daughter Milla, who was a flowergirl, wore a pretty ivory dress from Next.
Gary wore a three-piece suit, which he bought from Alexandre on Savile Row, and teamed it with a twill slim-fit shirt from TM Lewin. "We did have to go to every shop in London to find a three-piece suit that was just right," remembers Kathryn. "It was worth the effort, as it fitted him really well and he looked gorgeous in it." Gary and all the ushers wore red and black silk ties.

The decorative touches…

Gary is Chinese and Kathryn is English, so the couple wanted to merge these cultures throughout their wedding. They did this by incorporating red details - red symbolises luck and prosperity in Chinese cultural traditions - and using Chinese imagery in their stationery. They also had quintessentially English additions, such as roses and a lovely country detail.

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