When/how did you first meet?

We first met in June 2008 on Facebook. I was browsing through a dating app and saw Russ staring back at me. We immediately started chatting, and met up a couple of days later. We got on really well right from the outset. He was at RAF Waddington at the time… we had a few dates that week before he went on detachment to the middle east.

It was a testing time so early on in our relationship, but we stayed in touch the whole time he was away, and it was probably a great foundation for us to grow from.

When in the relationship did he ‘pop the question?’ How did he propose?

A year later I had just got back from a girls’ holiday in Las Vegas. Russ had just been promoted and was posted down to Northwood HQ near Watford. I went to visit him for the weekend, and as I got to his room, he got down on one knee and said “I think we should get married!” I was totally lost for words!

What were the first things you decided on?

My very first wedding purchase, even before the dress or venue, was my multi-coloured crystal headpiece by Butler & Wilson, I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it! We both thought Hemswell Court would be the perfect venue as soon as we saw it. We had decided on a November wedding and when Hemswell had availability on 5th November, we knew it was meant to be, and we took on Bonfire Night as a theme.

Was planning your Lincolnshire wedding fraught or enjoyable? Did you both contribute ideas with equal enthusiasm?

It was difficult at times, but enjoyable at the same time. We put a lot of our personality into it, from making the invitations and wedding stationery ourselves, to all the fun Bonfire Night elements.

How did it feel to walk down the aisle and take your vows?

It was amazing, but so nerve wracking at the same time. I thought I’d be embarrassed with everyone watching me walk in the room, but it was lovely to see everyone.

I didn’t think I’d be as emotional for some reason, but the minute I walked through into the ceremony room, a wash of emotion came over me, and then I looked ahead and saw Russ waiting for me at the end of the aisle all teary-eyed. It was an incredible feeling.

It was an amazing service, I was so nervous my hands had swollen and the ring almost didn’t fit! It certainly lightened the atmosphere as all our friends and family were giggling along with us.

Who did you choose for attendants for your Lincolnshire Wedding?

Bride’s View: My best friend Tally was my Maid of Honour. We’ve been friends since the age of six, I was Maid of Honour at her wedding, and she was my immediate choice. Her two gorgeous sons were our page boys – Ridley, aged four, and Mylo, aged two.

Groom’s View: My best man was Rob. He is my best friend, we are both in the RAF and we have known each other about seven years. Not long, I know, but we have been through a lot together and I knew that I didn’t want anyone else to do the job. He did a great job.

Two of my three nieces were flower girls; Florence was just five and Amelia was about three and a half. My sister did an amazing job at making sure they knew what to do. Ben my brother-in-law was the only usher we had as we felt that we didn’t need to have more than one. He did a great job at showing people to their seats and ordering people around for the photos.

What made you choose your dress, and can you describe it?

I pretty much found the perfect dress in the first store I tried. I saw an advert for a Vera Wang sale at Selfridges in London, so I took my mother and my Maid of Honour with me.

She actually spotted the dress first and the moment I put it on I knew it was the one!

The dress was called Louise from Vera Wang’s Luxe bridal collection. It was an oyster coloured duchess satin gown in a mermaid style with corsage detail on the shoulder. I loved wearing it!

Where was your reception held?

Both our ceremony and reception was held at Hemswell Court. I have to say it was the perfect venue and the staff were amazing, nothing was too much effort for them!

Did anything funny or memorable happen, highlights of speeches, special things you said to each other etc?

Bride’s View: We really wanted to use Bonfire Night as our theme, and so first of all was our search for a firework display! Given the date, this was quite a tall order, as most companies have ongoing bookings from year to year, but we used Hemswell Court’s preferred company, Neon Sky, and it was great.

Did you have a honeymoon? If so where, and most importantly, did you enjoy it?

Brides View: We had a quick trip to Tenerife just after the wedding which was a lovely break. Our honeymoon — from which we have just returned — was an amazing three weeks in California. We visited Napa Valley, San Francisco andalso spent a couple of weeks snowboarding at Lake Tahoe. It was the most amazing trip of our lives. I even came back with an unexpected souvenir; a broken wrist!

Groom’s View: The main honeymoon to America was amazing and Lake Tahoe is just so beautiful.

Any friends or family you’d like to thank or recognise?

Both sets of parents were amazing in every sense… their emotional and financial support was greatly appreciated. We also had great support from our Best Man and Maid of Honour.

Anyone you particularly want to recommend?

First and foremost we’d definitely recommend Hemswell Court, they were amazing! We really felt like their most important clients, and nothing we asked for was too much trouble.

Our photographer, Reg Moore was great. I barely noticed him throughout the day, he was unobtrusive to the point I was worried that we wouldn’t have many photographs, but the pictures speak for themselves. We are so pleased with the images and the albums.

Our Flowers were provided by The Florist from Marshall’s Yard in Gainsborough. They really did work with us, and really brought our bonfire theme to life. Our cake was supplied by Horncastle Cake Art; they replicated the bridal flowers perfectly, each layer was a different flavour, all covered with amazing white chocolate cigarillos. It stayed so fresh – we were still eating it a week later!

How are you finding married life?

We’re enjoying sorting out our new home in Northwood, and I can’t wait to move there permanently so we can live together full-time again!