Claire Allan & Ian James

St Mary’s Church, Buckinghamshire
Saturday, 29th March, 2008

Claire and Ian met at work  at that familiar stomping ground for singles — the office Christmas party! The proposal, however, was much more unique. “We were on a skiing holiday in Klosters, Switzerland, and it was the evening of 30th December 2006. Ian had arranged for candles and champagne to be set up on our apartment balcony, the snow was falling… it was perfect.” Claire had no idea Ian was going to propose. “I said, ‘oh no, not now — I look a mess!’” The couple live abroad and wanted to get married back in the UK near family.

The dress…

“I went shopping in Stuttgart, Germany where we were living at the time, but I didn’t even see anything I wanted to try on. As soon as I saw this Benjamin Roberts (benjaminroberts.co.uk) dress in The Wedding Centre (weddingcentre.com) in Marlow back in the UK and tried it on I knew it was the one.” The three bridesmaids wore floor-length jade dresses by Alfred Angelo (alfredangelo.com).

The ceremony…

“St Mary’s is next door to the house where Ian’s parents have lived for over 30 years, and where Ian grew up; there really was no other choice! It’s a beautiful church, in the most picture-perfect village location.”

The reception…

After rejecting a marquee in the garden of the groom’s parents’ house because of the weather, Claire and Ian found Great Fosters (greatfosters.co.uk). “It was perfect, we knew instantly. It was stunning, steeped in history and only a short drive from the church. We still had a party at Ian’s parents’ house, the day after the wedding.”

To see more photographs from this wedding, buy a back issue of Perfect Wedding
issue 36— just click here!

Photographer: Elton Mogg, eltonmogg.co.uk