The Love Train

Lorena and Anthony jumped aboard to ensure they had a very special day.

Click on any of the images below to view a larger version

Early days…

The chances of meeting the love of your life abroad are few and far between but that's exactly what happened for Anthony and Lorena in Barcelona. Anthony tells us how he wooed Lorena, and how they knew it was love at first sight: "I was playing pool and she seemed really impressed by my skills, so I went to talk to her. She was incredible. We spent four days in Barcelona together before we had to part in different directions. We both knew pretty much instantly, on the second night I told her that one day I would ask her to marry me and she said that if I did she would say yes!"

The proposal…

The proposal, which they both knew would always happen, took place in Luxor in Egypt at the Movenpic Hotel on the bank of the River Nile. Lorena was completely surprised and loved her white gold, princess cut diamond engagement ring.

Hen and stag parties…

Both the bride and groom had low key celebrations. Lorena had a small gathering of family who had travelled over from El Salvador, and Anthony too celebrated with family that had travelled from afar to be at the wedding.

The venues…

The wedding took place at St Dunstan's church; Lorena is a Catholic and regularly attends Mass there, so naturally it was the perfect place. Anthony adds: "Also, Father Con who married us is a great guy who made the decision to get married there an easy one."

With Lorena's family coming from El Salvador, the couple wanted them to have a great London experience. For their reception venue the couple chose a boat on the Thames as they thought it was just the thing for them to be able to enjoy the city.

The attendants…

Support on the day was a family affair for Lorena who had her mum and her sister as her bridal party. Anthony too kept it simple and had one best man, his best friend, Geoff from Luxembourg. Anthony tells us why he chose Geoff: "He was my partner in crime when I used to live in Barcelona!"

The dress…

The bride's dress was a simple and elegant strapless gown from Pronovias. Lorena complemented the gown with her grandma's pearl earrings and a mid-length veil with decorative lacing on the edge.

The flowers…

The flowers also had an elegant look; the bride's bouquet was a simple hand-tied arrangement of tulips. The reception flowers consisted of three different arrangements with tulips, hydrangea and hyacinths all in chic displays of white and green.

The transport…

On the day the transport arrangements took an exciting twist which meant that Lorena's family really got the taste of London life. On the way to the wedding they got a coach, which unfortunately broke down after the ceremony. Luckily the wedding party was in good spirits and they hopped on a train and got taxicabs to the reception.

The decorative touches…

Be inspired by the chic style of Lorena and Anthony

The food
Asparagus and Wensleydale Puff Pastry Tart
Served with Herb Leaf and Hollandaise Sauce
.......
English Elderflower Sorbet
.......
Crispy Suffolk Pork Belly
Slow Roasted with Baby Onions and Caramelised Apple
Served with Crisp New Potatoes and Steamed Vegetables
........
Plate of British Cheeses
Served with Gooseberry Chutney, Walnut Bread Celery and Apple
.........
Wedding Cake
........
Coffee and Devonshire Fudge


Pillow talk
A wedding ring cushion is an ideal way of carrying and presenting the wedding ring. You can also have it personalised, creating a lovely keepsake of your wedding day.

Lovely in lace
Lorena accessorized her gown with a striking lace veil. The lace is a gorgeous alternative to crystal detailing or ribbon.

Table trends
At the reception each table had a different flower arrangement and we love the idea that. Their chosen flowers were simple and elegant so it was a great way to add variety to the room.

Best foot forward
From head to toe Lorena created a chic and stylish bridal look!

The best bits…

Anthony and Lorena filled us in on what they loved most about their big day and the things that didn't go quite to plan: "We enjoyed everything; it was such a special day! Unfortunately, the coach driver decided to take a 'shortcut' through some country lanes in a 49 seater coach. This resulted in him crashing and turning up an hour and a half late. With no time left Lorena decided to walk down the aisle without her close family being there. Just as she did so they turned up, so she actually ended up walking down the aisle twice!"

"Because we were so late we were left with no other choice than to take the train to Waterloo with the entire wedding party. Walking through Waterloo station was interesting to say the least. From there we got cabs to the boat at Victoria Embankment. We even had to queue in the taxi rank for them. Classy!"

Top tips…

Here's an important piece of advice that Anthony and Lorena have for other couples: "Plan things ahead and don't leave them right up to the last minute. Make sure you have enough time in case the unexpected happens. Also, enjoy every part of it!"

The honeymoon…

The newlyweds jetted off to Cape Town, South Africa, for an amazing ten day honeymoon. They have fantastic praise for the trip, and would definitely recommend it, "South Africa was full of spectacular scenery, great food, and lovely people. It all contributed to us having such an amazing experience."

Useful Contacts: