From a chance meeting in a Battersea pub on the first Friday night after lockdown, to a romantic proposal tucked away in the South African sunshine, step inside Georgie and Charlie’s deeply personal Hampshire home wedding.
The story so far
Charlie and I met in a pub in Battersea in September 2021. It was his birthday and the first Friday night after the lockdown restrictions had lifted. That night, he declared that he was going to marry me and a few days later told his mum he was “just popping out for dinner with his future wife.”
Over the last four years we’ve become a part of each other’s families and travelled the world. South Africa quickly became our favourite destination – we’ve returned together three times to visit family and friends, and it is the place we got engaged. Knowing I wanted to design my own ring, Charlie proposed with a simple yet beautiful gold band he had hidden in his trainer. Once we were back in London, we went shopping for ideas. I fell in love with an antique yellow pear-shaped diamond I tried on in Mayfair, and used that design as the inspiration for my own ring.
Venue
I’d always dreamed of getting married at home in Beaulieu, Hampshire, a place that also happens to be a favourite of Charlie’s parents. We held our ceremony in Beaulieu Abbey, followed by a reception in my parents’ garden by the river. It felt especially meaningful, as it’s the place my parents first met at a dinner party in the 80s. The celebrations stretched across the weekend. The day before, we hosted a rehearsal dinner at a local sailing club overlooking the Solent. The day after, we gathered again for a relaxed “recovery party” in the marquee, complete with hotdogs and a Bloody Mary bar.
Fashion
After countless dress appointments, we turned to my mother-in-law’s friend to create my dress. It was incredibly special to work closely with her to bring my vision to life, from sourcing the French lace to perfecting the bodice and adding personalised embroidery. My shoes were a second-hand find from Vinted and became my “something old”; the seller told me she had worn them for her own wedding more than 20 years ago.
Jewellery
I wore a pair of diamante and pearl earrings I also found on Vinted. For the evening, I changed into a blue sapphire and diamond necklace which was originally my great-grandmother’s engagement ring.
Bridal party
My dressmaker also created the flower girl dresses and pageboy waistcoats, using cornflower-blue fabric taken from a spare bridesmaid dress. I sourced the bridesmaids’ dresses from Omnes, and together, they became my “something blue.”
Transportation
My mother, mother-in-law, bridesmaids and I were driven to the Abbey in a friend’s blue vintage Bentley, while the boys strolled on foot from the pub around the corner. We had planned to travel back to my parents’ jetty on the Beaulieu River by boat, but the weather had other ideas. Instead, we had the pleasure of returning home in the Bentley.
Tablescape
I wanted every detail to reflect who we are as a couple: from Charlie’s love of Chelsea Football Club to my own heritage tied to the ocean, sailing, and shells. Our colour palette of peach, cornflower blue, and ivory carried through the day. Alongside floating candles filled with shells, my mother made miniature jars of her famous homemade chilli jam as our wedding favours.
Food & drinks
We welcomed roaming oyster shuckers from Oyster Meister to the reception. This was alongside hearty canapés and a perfectly cooked Beef Wellington for dinner: the same dish Charlie’s parents enjoyed on their own wedding day. In honour of our love of South Africa, we served flutes of Graham Beck sparkling wine for guests to drink.
Entertainment
Our awesome band The Getaways played brilliant sets throughout the day. Our first dance performed live was Let’s Stay Together by Al Green.
Beauty regime & wellness
In the lead up to the wedding I visited the HVN wellness clinic in Knightsbridge for a variety of face and body treatments. My hairdresser is also a good friend of mine; he perfectly styled my hair into a classic French pleat.
Favourite Wedding Gifts
We used Prezola for our gift list, and I couldn’t recommend it more. Charlie’s favourite gift has been the air fryer, while I’ve loved filling classic silver frames from John Lewis and The White Company with photos from the day.
Honeymoon
The week after the wedding, we jetted off to Marrakech for a week. We started at La Mamounia, continued to the Fairmont, and ended our trip at a charming boutique hotel called Les 5 Djellabas.
Advice
- Maximise on the planning time you have, even if it feels too early – you won’t regret it later down the line!
- Choose three core colours for your design palate. Stick to them and use as a guide throughout, from dresses, to flowers and the tablescapes.
- Work with suppliers you like and trust
With Thanks
Bride: Georgie Bentley-Buckle @georgielilybb
Groom: Charlie Lansdale @chazman_jr
Caterer: Vanilla Catering @vanillacateringevents
Marquee: The Pearl Tent Company (instagram here).
Bridesmaids: Omnes @omnes
Groom outfit: Dapper @dapper_dorking
Page boys: Private dressmaker & Dapper @dapper_dorking
Florist: No 17 Flowers @no17flowers
Tableware: Wessex Cater Hire @wessexcaterhire
Stationery: Lymington Printing Company
Photographer: White Stag Weddings @whitestagweddings
Videographer: Razor Blade @razorbladeweddings
Sparkling wine: Graham Beck @grahambeckuk
Wine: Priory Wines @priorywines
Wedding rings: Anna Rosholt Jewellery @annarosholt_jewellery
Makeup: Amy Wickens @amywickensmakeup
Hair: Andrew David @andrewdavidhair
Gift list: Prezola @prezola
Bridesmaid gifts: PJs – Mooch @mooch_cotswolds
Oysters: Oyster Meister @oystermeisteruk
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