Lights, camera, action

The centrepieces were a combination of high and low arrangements with either faux-blossom trees seemingly growing out of popcorn boxes, or gin-bottle vases adorned with reels of cinema tickets. The super-cool place names, designed by Jim, were in the style of old-school cinema tickets decorated with clapperboards. The groom also cleverly designed all of the table stationery, including menus, in the Art Deco style as a nod to Hollywood’s golden age. When it came to the wedding favours the couple opted for Tunnocks Tea Cakes and Bars as the retro wrapping tied in well with the décor.

Hydrangeas were the showstoppers of the floral displays, being readily available in July. "They were all incredible," the bride says. Her bouquet was a mix of peonies and sweet avalanche roses to match the two in her hair. As well as lining the aisle, giant balloons also decorated the exterior of the church where they were anchored in gypsophila-filled churns. Each guest was asked to take the balloon at the end of their pew to the venue with them, where they were put to use decorating the reception space.

Buxted Park supplied the delicious catering, which the pair had a chance to sample at a menu tasting – "This was a really special and fun experience in itself," Melissa tells us. They selected sausages and mash, including vegan and vegetarian versions, rounded off with a sticky toffee pudding dessert. The bride has a top tip relating to the evening buffet: "Make sure it's set out somewhere people can see it. Drunk people want food, but aren't good at locating it!"

The evening ice cream was supplied by Vera the Vanilla Pod, whose team was very accommodating with a huge range of flavours including vegan ones. "There was a queue all evening," Melissa recalls. And as you may have gathered from the centrepieces, Melissa is a huge fan of gin, so the venue set up a gin bar on the steps leading out onto the terrace, following the wedding breakfast, to freshen everyone up.

With the dress being the main event, the bride opted for simple accessories, including a pair of Carrie Elizabeth earrings, gifted by the groom on the morning of the wedding. Melissa says, "Jim always looks up who I follow in Instagram, then researches accordingly. I'm very lucky."

In the evening the bride switched up her look changing into a bespoke evening dress by Felicity Westmacott. "It was a great opportunity to unpick the confetti from my hair and have another event, as it had all been kept a secret to surprise Jim. I still felt like a bride, but one that could do the Macarena and high-kick to Footloose without falling on her face!"

The couple knew what they were looking for to entertain their loved ones: an acoustic walking wedding band. "We scoured YouTube until we found Wandering Hands, who took the day to another level. They created the most wonderful moment during reception drinks and lit up the room from the start of the wedding breakfast," Melissa recalls.

Guests were also thoroughly entertained with mini golf on the terrace, a photo booth and a glitter bar. Apologies from the bride to housekeeping who had to deal with the aftermath of the latter on pillows the next day!