Katherine & Richard | East Hendred wedding film

Oxfordshire wedding videographer

8th May 2021 Katherine & Richard | East Hendred wedding film

Our wedding film love story

How did you guys meet?

We met in Wantage marketplace on the last day of our GCSE exams – 17th June 2008!

Richard attended the school in Wantage while Kat was at a neighbouring one and had come in to meet some mutual friends – Rich was in love from the moment they met… (Kat less so!)

After being friends who fancy each other at 6th form, by chance we attended the same university, Southampton, and by an even greater chance were in the same accommodation building from each other and could even see each other’s windows from our rooms.

It seemed like a pretty clear signal at the time, and the rest is history.

Tell me a bit about the two of you, what do you guys do? How do you spend your time?

We’re never happier than when out in the countryside going on long walks. Living in Croydon we satisfy our nature itch through what we call ‘Semi-urban Rambles’.

Kat’s so fixated on finding nature in London she’s got a job in Battersea Park as a fundraiser focusing on sustainability and parks development.

Rich is also sustainability minded and is currently a dedicated civil servant working on climate change policies.

How did the proposal go down? (All the gushy details, I love this bit!)

On 29th February 2016, Kat and Rich made a half joke / half agreement that if Rich hadn’t proposed by the following Leap Year, Kat would do so on 29th Feb 2020.

This seemed fine and a long way away to Rich when we made the agreement.

Flash forward to the summer of 2019 and suddenly 29th Feb 2020 doesn’t seem too far away.

Rich saw a pretty hiking scene of rolling mountains on a windows background and, after a bit of investigating, found it to be Albania. Hence, a September holiday to Albania was quickly booked, and a rough proposal plan began to form.

Rich enlisted the help of his first-year university housemate, and Kat’s Maid of Honour, Tash, to help scour a ring. After looking round Hatton Garden for inspiration, Rich decided he wanted to stay true to their sustainability routes and get a lab grown ring (which also just so happen to be slightly more affordable!).

He bought a ring online and got it delivered to work – however, there were delays and complications which meant Rich got the ring on his final day in the office before they left.

With an idea to propose on a day where they were doing a 7-hour hike across the Albanian Alps, Rich tried to act normal until then and kept the ring close to hand all the time.

The day before the big hike, they stumbled across a mini waterfall, Rich, remembering Kat had once said she’d like to be proposed to at a waterfall, let Kat climb up to it first. He then nervously got the ring out of his bag, got down on one knee and said Kat. She turned around an issued an expletive of surprise.

As he hadn’t planned it, no speech came out, by the question “Will you marry me please?” which was quickly answered by “yes please”.

How did you choose your wedding venue(s)?

Kat grew up in East Hendred and has strong links to the village and church, having been baptised and confirmed there, while also attending choir practice and all the school carol services etc.

She also used to work at the pub where we are having the reception so is friendly with the manager who has been very flexible and kind.

What sort of experience do you want your guests to have?

Given everything that has happened in the last 12 months, we want guests to have an intimate, joyful reunion, a celebration of love, and a return to some form of normality.

Can you describe some of the details and stylings, does your wedding have a theme?

Our wedding theme, if required to be labelled, would be laid back enchanted forest.

Our colours are pinks, purples, whites and greens with peonies, lilac blooms, cow parsley and ferns.

The male bridal party will be in blue suits with dusky pink ties to match the bridesmaid’s dresses.

Given the size, and as the reception is under a marquee at a nearby pub, it’s quite a classic small wedding vibe, and we expect it to be quite relaxed and fun.

What was the hardest decision during the planning?

Whether or not we would actually do it!!

Not the marriage part all together, but given the many polices changes, unknowns, and unique challenges COVID has presented, we have had a few wobbles when trying to plan. For example, Kat had to buy 6 dresses online on the credit card (and has thankfully since returned 5!), and the challenges with limited places open, combined with the small number of guests allowed, has given us some serious headaches.

However, we have ultimately decided that we’ll stick with the 8th and make it the best day we can – plus it has helped to keep the costs down a bit and means we’re only inviting our closest friends and family.

What advice would you give to couples planning a wedding?

Don’t do it during a global pandemic!

Besides from that, make lists of actions, delegate to friends and family where you can, know that your parents are trying to help (even if it feels like they’re making it more complicated sometimes!). Relax, breathe and talk to each other.

Is there any additional information you would like to include?

We are both quite camera shy but would love to see our silliness captured on video.

They’ll be mixed emotions on the day I’m sure, so it’d be nice to record the context of the COVID wedding but mainly capture the smiles.