IT'S A LONDON TING
Mark & Kyla
I started writing this feature ages ago - and just can't make it work, so instead of re-inventing the wheel, I'm going to just completely copy Kyla's beautiful words - they do it way more justice than mine ever could. But I will say one thing - this engagement story raises the bar for all you future fiancés!! Mark was ALL over it and sounds like he pulled it off and then some!
Where & when was the wedding?:
Trinity Buoy Wharf, London. Saturday 26th August 2017
What is your proposal/meeting story - or both?:
We met at Identity Drama School in September 2006.
It was Christmas Eve 2015, I had just finished a box office shift at the Garrick Theatre and was due to see the new Star Wars film with my dad in Leicester Square. The magic of Christmas was definitely in the air…
My dad and I shared a perfect father-daughter moment as we reveled in the awesomeness that was Finn aka John Boyega on the big screen before we headed out to meet my soon-to-be-but-unbeknownst-to-me fiancé.
I swear, it was almost like I was being given away already as my father and hubby exchanged knowing looks before he gave me a big hug and let me and my love go on our merry way. The Mr and I then went for a stroll round town, taking in all the Christmas buzz and looking at all the amazing lights and decorations before stopping for dinner as the place where we had our very first date near 10 years before, Pizza Express on The Strand.
We sat and reminisced over the decade we had spent together, looking at the table where we first shared a meal together and about all the amazing things we’d still like to do in the future. We headed home, high on the festivities only for me to be told to wait outside my front door once we got there… I WAS NOT DISSAPOINTED!!!
The door opened and there were candlelit lanterns everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE! Up the stairs, on the landing, in the kitchen, bathroom, our bedroom, the SPARE bedroom and of course, the front room where he handed me a very special Christmas gift.
I opened the present which revealed a DVD which read, “I love you. Play me!” so I did. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the instantly recognizable Up the stairs, on the landing, in the kitchen, bathroom, our bedroom, the SPARE bedroom and of course, the front room where he handed me a very special Christmas gift.
I opened the present which revealed a DVD which read, “I love you. Play me!” so I did. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the instantly recognizable opening to a Disney film… Except, this wasn’t any ordinary Disney film… This was a Disney film to beat all Disney films… It was a Disney film COLLAGE of all the Disney classics that basically explained how much he loves me and that we should have our very own happy ending… The film finished with me aghast and in tears with the love of my life on one knee with the most perfect ring in his hands!
I just kept asking him if he was serious lol… with the eventual, “YES OF COURSE!!!”
Are there any significant stories behind why you chose any of your vendors?:
My late Nan, who passed in January, was my absolute everything! However, she couldn’t stand flowers haha… So we decided not to have any flowers at all during our wedding but instead, have some fabulous balloons.
The reason for the balloons were simple as I’ve often used the analogy of a party balloon to describe Mark and I in our relationship. He’s the balloon weight; solid, sturdy, practical, strong. I, on the other hand, am the balloon; bouncy, colourful, festive and always ready to cheer someone up. Without him though, I could get blown away, lost in the wind, end up bursting on a tree branch and without me, his purpose, his motivation for being, doesn’t really matter.
Massive thank you to THE FEATHER BALLOON COMPANY for making our custom balloon creations.
Also, MARSHAL GRAY PHOTOGRAPHY who I fan girled for years before Mark even proposed to me, posted that he was looking for models for his Dare workshop and so I literally jumped at the chance, said to my soon-to-be husband that he is the one and nearly a year later, there he was, capturing our day perfectly!
Any special traditions or heirlooms you included?:
Both our mums had a reading each during the ceremony and my nephew was the most adorable ring bearer.
What kind of ceremony did you have & why?:
Our wedding ceremony was something we wanted to ensure was an absolute true reflection of who we were as individuals but also as a couple.
The moment I realised I wanted to make Mark mine for the rest of my life was during rehearsals for our end of year showcase at Identity Drama School. We were performing in the basement studio space of the Arcola Theatre in Dalston Hackney and he got up to do his monologue, whilst I watched on from the audience.
I don’t know, maybe it was the spotlights blinding me but he just lit up and I could hear the angels singing and all the butterflies in the world fluttered in my tummy!
So with that memory, we wanted our ceremony to be in a space that reflected the magic of that moment and The Electrician’s Shop at Trinity Buoy Wharf provided that perfect backdrop.
Our good friend, who’s known me since we were about 15 years old, Jermaine Fregiste officiated our wedding and that ensured that it was as real and as personal as it could get… He was absolutely amazing!
Music is hugely important to us also and so we knew that each and every song that we had played during the ceremony, had to mean something to us in some way.
The wedding party “clicked” down the aisle to Luther Vandross’ “So Amazing” whilst my Pops and I shimmied down to Earth, Wind and Fire’s Brazillian Interlude “Beijo”. Our first “hymn” was “Is This Love” by Bob Marley and our last was “I Found Lovin’” by the Fat Back Band. We also had our friend Zalika King perform an acapella version of Luther Vandross’ “Never Too Much” just before we took our vows.
Again, wanting to mean every word, we wrote our own vows that we rehearsed at least once a night for the 2 weeks leading up to the wedding.
When I think about the rest of our wedding though, that Old Skool Garage track, “It’s a London Ting” comes to mind because it well and truly was!
Mark was born in West London and I in East London. Some of our most treasured memories were dancing in the streets for Notting Hill Carnival, so we figured why not bring the West London based street festival to the docklands of East London. So Carnival weekend, August bank holiday, we did exactly that!
We had them “follow di leader, leader, leader” from the ceremony to the cocktail reception, where they were met by a steel pan band playing Motown classics, CALYPSO STYLE, with hand made bespoke whistles as favours. We partied to the small hours of the morning to classic soca hits from the late 80’s and 90’s and House & Garage tracks from the late 90’s, early 00’s… It really did feel like we were raving to one of the almighty carnival sound systems on the streets of Notting Hill.
What does your marriage mean to you?:
It means I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend!
Any 'holy shitballs, I didn't see that coming' moments?:
I knew we had a great support network of family and friends who would really be able to help us on the day and that was important because our venue was dry-hire and I was the wedding planner. However, arriving on the day, having relinquished control to everyone else and seeing how the vision I held for next 4 years prior to, realised, WOW WOW WOW... I couldn't have planned or hoped for any better... They all made my wedding dreams come true!
The bits that stand out the most - that you remembered (before seeing your photos!):
Aside of hearing our guests sing “Is This Love” at the beginning of our ceremony, it would have to be the moment we made our entrance into the reception… The sound of nearly 200 whistles being blown and reverberating around the room whilst our guests welcomed us in… I will never forget that moment for as long as I live.
Bits you missed, but your photographer got!:
I was on the dance floor ALL NIGHT LONG... I literally didn't even leave to go an pee! So Marshal Gray did amazing in capturing anyone and everyone who I didn't get to boogie on down with.
Anything you wished you'd done differently?:
Not at all! We literally had the best day of our lives... Everything was perfect, even the imperfections and I definitely wouldn't have changed a single thing!
Please list all the amazing people who made your wedding the bee's knees.: Photographer: Gary Lashmar at Marshal Gray Photography http://www.marshalgrayphotography.com/
Cinematographer: Praxima https://www.praxima.co.uk/
Venue: Trinity Buoy Wharf http://www.trinitybuoywharf.com/
Bride’s Fashion: Riki Dalal Haute Couture wedding https://www.rikidalal.co.uk/ dress, Michael Kors shoes, Givenchy earrings.
Makeup: Isabel Thompson #MadeUpByIsa https://madeupbyisa.squarespace.com/
Hair: Braided by Auntie Julie, Styled by Bride and Maid of Honour Acacia George
Groom’s Fashion: A Suit That Fits http://www.asuitthatfits.com/shop/index.php and Russell and Bromley shoes.
The Bridesmaid Outfits: Metro Textiles Corner http://www.metrotextiles.co.uk/ Cloth, styled by girls own seamstresses.
The Groomsmen Suits: Moss Bros. https://www.moss.co.uk/
Ring Bearer Suit: Marks and Spencer http://www.marksandspencer.com/
Cake: Fee Kakes at SCrumbtious Kakes https://www.facebook.com/sCrumbtiousKakes/
Décor: The Feather Balloon Company http://www.thefeatherballoon.company/
Food: Adwoa Mwanza at Peppercorn http://www.peppercorn.uk.net/ (day) and Mr Jerk https://www.facebook.com/mrjerkchicken/ (eve)
Favours: Whistles made by Bride, Groom and Bridesmaids Connie Falusi and Beatrice Baidoo
Stationery: Adrienne Frye
The Entertainment: Dejay Longers https://www.facebook.com/DJ-Longers-1663479500578769/ and Steelband Music Ltd http://www.steelbandmusic.co.uk/
Music: Beijo (Brazilian Rhyme) Earth, Wind & Fire, Is This Love Bob Marley and Poison Bel Biv Devoe