Maria and Rob's Essex wedding day at The Reid Rooms: a wedding giveaway celebrating love and togetherness

Back in the summer of 2020, Roberta Burcheri got in touch with me to discuss a wedding giveaway she was putting together to say thank you to a deserving NHS worker. She pulled together an amazing team of suppliers including a celebrant, DJ, cake maker, hair and make up stylist, florist, magician. There was even a magical videographer who flew in from Italy to capture the day! I was also absolutely thrilled to donate my services to this gorgeous Essex wedding day; it couldn’t have gone to a better couple than Maria and Rob!

Bride and groom walking while being showered with confetti

During the pandemic, Maria worked in the Covid drugs trial unit in intensive care, where she used to do reports on rates of remission, success and more. Rob is a fireman, and first approached Maria whilst working as a rep for a snowboarding festival. The festival was one of their first dates and the rest, as they say, is history.

Which brings us to their wedding day - via a beautiful engagement story taking place inside a waterfall in Cornwall. They chose The Reid Rooms as the setting for their day. Nestled in the rural countryside, this Essex wedding venue is a beautiful space which was perfect for their plans.

Black and white photo of bride in the mirror getting her hair done

Bridesmaids dresses in the foreground with bride sitting in the background

Bridal party enjoying laughs and a drink in their matching robes

They didn’t have an overarching theme, as such - instead, “we chose each element of the day based on the style that we both like with no particular bigger picture in mind, and it all came together wonderfully on the day” Maria and Rob shared. This was, in no small part, down to planner extraordinaire Roberta. Not only had she coordinated the suppliers for the giveaway, but coordinated the running of the day too, to ensure everything ran smoothly. From the off, the couple had wanted the day to be an opportunity to relax and just enjoy the moment. With Roberta planning their day, they could do this knowing it was in safe hands.

Photos of groom before the wedding

Groom with groomsmen walking

Groom walking into venue with groomsmen

Their ceremony, led by Jennifer Patrice, was a beautiful celebration of their love story, featuring personal vows and two readings. Maria and Rob chose one reading each and gave the task of reading them to one of their groomsmen and one of their bridesmaids (Rob had 5 groomsmen and Maria had 6 bridesmaids!) They also created a corner where they could showcase photos of the grandparents no longer with them, which was on proud display throughout the ceremony.

Couple reading their vows to eachother

Couple exchanging rings

Celebrant telling couple’s story

Couple now married leaving the ceremony

Afterwards, the couple took a moment to themselves to let it all sink in. Both of them said the 10 minutes they took after the ceremony “to process that we were husband and wife away from our guests meant we could really take it in and appreciate one another.”

Couple walking after wedding ceremony

Whichever part of the day you focus on, the moment is guaranteed to simultaneously radiate love and laughter. Maria and Rob’s favourite moments of their Reid Rooms wedding included “the time with our bridesmaids and groomsmen in the garden with the flares and smoke bombs, and also attempting to recreate the Dirty Dancing lift on the dance floor!” But it was also underpinned with a deep-rooted sense of emotion and appreciation, as they continued: “However the highlight of the day was having everyone that we love and care about together again after being separated for so long due to the pandemic.”

After the meal and speeches, it was time for cake cutting. They chose a three tier masterpiece with a prosecco and elderflower filling - an excellent choice, if you ask me. The cake stood on a table which Maria and Rob had made at home from wood, and which matched their homemade table decorations. Fittingly, they used a fireman’s axe to cut the cake!

Couple cutting Wedding cake at The Reid Rooms wedding venue

And then – it was time for the dancefloor. Maria is very close with her grandma, which you can see in the photos below. She hit the dancefloor and showed the firemen how it should be done: what an icon! Witnessing this and being there to capture it was the cherry on top of an already incredible day. These memories in years to come will be priceless and will always bring smiles to faces: and that’s why I do what I do.

But don’t just take it from me. Here’s what the lovely Maria and Rob had to say about us working together: “Working with you was a great experience, you had full control over the photography side of the day which gave us more time to enjoy the day with each other and friends and family. It was clear from the very first meeting that we had with you that you had a wonderful personality and all the knowledge and experience to make our day special.”

Maria, Rob – thank you not only for these lovely words but for having me as part of your wedding celebrations. It was a pleasure. Roberta – thank you for asking me to be part of this Essex wedding giveaway, it was an honour.