Charlotte and Luke's proposal story
Charlotte and Luke met on Bumble in the summer of 2019 and instantly clicked. On their first date, a walk along the River Thames in Richmond, they talked for so long they didn't notice night had fallen. Just a few months later, Luke moved in temporarily while his home was being renovated, but thanks to the 2020 lockdown, what was meant to be six weeks soon became forever.
When it came to the proposal, Luke says he always knew Dorset would be the place. Having become somewhere deeply meaningful to them both, and a destination filled with happy memories, he began planning a proposal that felt personal to their story. After a day spent paddleboarding at Studland Beach and soaking up the sunshine, they enjoyed dinner overlooking the coast at The Pig on the Beach. All the while, Luke was keeping one eye on the clock and the other on the setting sun, hoping everything would fall perfectly into place.
His plan was to propose at Old Harry Rocks at sunset, one of their favourite spots. As they reached the clifftop, the sky began to glow with the colours of the evening sun. Charlotte, an avid photographer, stopped to capture the view with a panoramic video. As she turned away, Luke seized the opportunity, dropped to one knee and took the ring from his pocket. When Charlotte turned back around, he asked the question he'd been waiting to ask: "Will you marry me?"
Why did we choose Hampshire for our ceremony?
Having spent much of our relationship split between living in London and enjoying breaks in Dorset, we wanted to find a venue somewhere in between. Cain Manor, in Hampshire, was just perfect and had everything we were looking for. As outdoorsy people, an outdoor ceremony with a beautiful backdrop was important to us. With Cain Manor's stunning Elizabethan manor house, rolling hills, and woodland views across the Hampshire countryside, it truly ticked all our boxes.
Did you include any unique / personal touches in your ceremony?
From the moment we started planning our day, we knew we had to include my family dog, Bonnie. She played such a big role in the early years of our relationship, joining us on countless lockdown walks, so we couldn't imagine celebrating without her by our side. We were delighted that both Hampshire Ceremonies and Cain Manor welcomed Bonnie as part of the ceremony, where she had the important job of delivering the rings. She certainly embraced her role and seemed to enjoy every moment of the day as much as we did.
What was your experience of Hampshire Ceremonies on the day?
The day itself was simply magical. It turned out to be one of the first warm and sunny spring days of the year, which made everything feel even more special. One of the biggest moments of the day was officially becoming Mr and Mrs Taylor, thanks to the wonderful Phil and Jan. They are such a credit to the Hampshire Ceremonies team.
We were so pleased to have them both as our registrars. They were not only a big part of our wedding day but also played a special role in the very beginning of our marriage. It wasn't just us who felt that way either, as many of our guests commented on how lovely they were. Their warm words, along with the love and wisdom they shared from their own wedding celebration 41 years earlier, really stayed with us. Now, 42 years on, they are a wonderful example of the many happy years together that we hope to enjoy ourselves.
Hampshire Ceremonies were fantastic from start to finish, from booking the ceremony right through to receiving our certificate. Any questions we had, were always dealt with quickly and helpfully. As we recently celebrated our anniversary and looked back through our photos and keepsakes, we couldn't imagine our day having been any other way.
With thanks to
Photographer: Married to my Camera
Venue: Cain Manor