Join The Wedding Edition as we sit down with publicist and writer, Georgia Reed, and discover the details of her engagement to Tom in Greenwich Park and also learn the details of their Hampshire based wedding plans.
The Story
In May 2015, fate bought us together in a bar in Portsmouth, our hometown. We knew each other from college when we were 16 and 17 years old, so he was a familiar face that I was happy to bump into. We spent the whole night talking and laughing, and there was as instant spark. So much so that we went on our first date a couple days after. Fast forward to now, we have been together 9 incredible years and happily live in South East London with our sassy sausage dog, Margot. Life has been an adventure together ever since that night.
Dropping hints
Over the years we had talked a lot about getting married, and it was something we both wanted. Tom told my parents he was proposing whilst the four of us were on holiday together. He managed to sneak the conversation in whilst I wasn’t there, which I am so pleased he did. However, a few weeks afterwards, a less sneaky parcel arrived at the door one morning. When I went to answer the doorbell, I was ushered away soon after. Whilst I felt it would be happening soon, I definitely pretended to not notice the suspicious package and go along with the surprise.
The Proposal
Without ever discussing it, my heart had always been set on getting engaged in Greenwich Park. It’s our favourite place, filled with countless memories from the past few years of living locally. Fortunately, Tom had the same idea too.
During our morning walk, Tom knelt down at the Greenwich Park viewpoint and asked me to marry him. With a breathtaking view of the London skyline, surrounded by the parkland and our beloved sausage dog, it was an incredible moment. I wish I could relive it, as it now feels like a joyful blur.
Tom had planned a day full of things I love: Greenwich Market food stalls, enjoying a spa afternoon, sipping rooftop drinks, and dining at my favourite Japanese restaurant.
The Ring
Pinterest can be a minefield, and I would often show Tom different designs to give him an idea of my tastes. One day we came across a beautiful yellow sapphire – I loved the way it glistened and how rare it was.
Tom loved it too, and being a bigger risk-taker than I am, he made his decision. He collaborated with the brilliant team at Fenton to design the bespoke ring, but incorporating unique touches.
The ring features an emerald-cut yellow sapphire set horizontally, surrounded by small diamonds. Engraved on a delicate gold band marks ‘Always G&T’ inside. What’s more, we discovered the gem stone originally comes from Sri Lanka, which happens to be one of my favourite countries and a place I love.
I might be biased, but I believe my ring is the most beautiful thing, and Tom did such a brilliant job. I couldn’t be happier.
The Celebrations
A couple of weeks after getting engaged in Greenwich Park, we celebrated with a weekend at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds. We spent our time by the lit fire, sipping champagne sent by family and friends, relaxing in a steaming outdoor bath and heated pool despite the cold weather, watching films in a velvet-seated theatre, and indulging in delicious food.
A couple of months later, we hosted an engagement party with family and friends. It was held at a speakeasy styled bar close to the place we originally met all those years ago. We had personalised cookies created, a fun couple quiz, a photo booth, and a sax player who kept the party lively all night. It is safe to say I drank a bit too much and learned my lesson for over-indulging on the big day.
Wedding Plans So Far…
We’re over the moon to have set the date for next winter, on our tenth anniversary together. Tom loves the winter, whilst I love the party season and build up to Christmas. Even better, it falls on a special date for us. We’ll be getting married at a manor house in Hampshire, which features a beautiful orangery, gardens, and on-site cottages for guests to stay at.
We hope for it to be romantic, cosy, colourful and more importantly, fun. Spending the day with our loved ones, and having a big, vibrant party is what we are prioritising.
We’re also planning an elongated honeymoon travelling around South America afterwards. Whilst there are still so many details to plan, I can’t wait for this next chapter together.
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