A day worth waiting for! Diane Huggins and Gary Beale

Diane Huggins was in no hurry to marry her partner of almost twenty years. The couple had been together ever since Gary caught Diane’s eye at his carpet shop, almost twenty years ago. “I went in with mum looking for lino for her bathroom and after several surreptitious visits to “look at samples” Gary finally asked me on a date.”

They were soon an item and happily living together with their two lovely daughters. Although the couple got engaged sixteen years ago, actually getting married did not seem like an important issue to Diane.

“To be honest I was worried about the fuss of planning a wedding. I don’t enjoy being the centre of attention and we were happy together with our girls so it never seemed like a big deal.”

Things changed though last Christmas day when, in front of the whole family, Gary got down on one knee and requested that Diane marry him sometime this year. Realising how important the commitment was to him Diane agreed.

With Langtons registry office booked for August 20^th it was soon all systems go.

“I was still worried, but we decided on a small wedding with just our immediate family and loved ones around us. It was a simple choice between inviting hoards of people, or keeping it intimate, and once we visited our chosen venue, Harefield Manor in Romford, we knew that our instinct for a small wedding was the right one.

Manager Paul Harris could not have been more helpful and helped Diane realize that she did want to be a proper bride with a long white dress after all. Diane and Gary already knew and loved the restaurant so they had no worries about the food or service and Paul pulled out all the stops to make sure their day would be really special. With a guest list of just 23 it was decided that everyone could eat a la carte with no compromises on the usual high catering standards.

The day itself went perfectly. Diane, who was given away by her brother John, looked stunning in her beautiful full length dress with sweetheart neckline from Confetti and Lace and carried a bouquet of cream and white roses. Gary, John and best man Tony scrubbed up very nicely in elegant Edwardian style three piece suits.

The simple ceremony was witnessed by Diane and Gary’s daughters Sarah 16 and Charlotte 12, who were a real credit to their parents and looked beautiful.

After the reception meal and speeches, Diane and Gary had brought along their own music for the evening and shared their first dance as a married couple to their song, Anita Baker’s Sweet Love.

Even though it rained and the photographs had to be taken inside, there was nothing Diane would change about her wedding day.

 “We partied the night away and stayed at the hotel on our wedding night. Even though I had been happy for all those years we had lived together, being married has made me feel complete. Strange as it sounds, as I will be 49 next week, I finally feel grown up.”

Gary had one more surprise up his sleeve, whisking Diane away for a romantic honeymoon in a beautiful coaching inn in historic Burnham Market, Norfolk.