Benjamin Fitzgerald-Lombard and Araminta Sheridan met when working alongside each other. Araminta’s marketing agency was working with the physiotherapy clinic that Ben worked at. When the two met, they clicked but it wasn’t until a work party that they figured out there was something more than just friends. They started dating and the rest was history. They moved in together, started working from home together, got a dog and bought a house.
Last October Ben proposed at Farmhouse, new puppy @lilahthewhippet and engagement ring in hand, and the planning begun. Araminta was so excited / shocked by the proposal she actually got down on one knee with him.
The best part of our day was….
We got married over a few days; a family dinner on the Thursday night in the courtyard of our family home, our marriage with just 20 of our closest family members and friends on the Friday, a service in a church ruin and a dinner / party on the Saturday, and a BBQ with our wider family on the Sunday.
Would it be too cheesy to say the whole thing? Beginning to end it was one thing after another. It felt like a love festival. From set-up, to the more intimate service, to getting ready with my closest friends, to walking down to the church and walking into the marquee. The 360 photo booth was an absolute hit also.
AND my brother and sister-in-law (co-founder of @studiowhite_design) planned the surprise placements – they created a shot wall with tequila & grapefruit shots with the place name on each one. So people could take a shot and find where they were sitting – it was so niche.
We choose to get married at…
My family home in Leicestershire. Ben and I have spent a lot of time there together and there’s a beautiful church ruin with only the walls of the church opposite my childhood bedroom window – we often have drinks down there but no bride will have passed through those doors for centuries. We wanted to give that beautiful ruin a day to remember.
I knew I found ‘The One’ when…
When we met it felt like something in my life shifted – I knew he would make an impact. When we started dating everything was both so exciting and so easy. There were no reg flags, no drama, we just made sense.
There was a day, early on, where I drove him out to the beach on our boat in Norfolk. We swam and hung out at sea and then on the way back we ran aground and someone had to help us free the boat. After, we parked the boat and ran around on the beach like children. We often pin point that as our moment where we fell in love.
The most enjoyable moments of planning were…
I actually loved the final push – everyone rallying, friends and family all around, bringing the months of planning together and seeing our dream day come to life. It’s stress, but good stress.
The hardest part of planning was…
I found the dress shopping intense. I could not find anything even remotely me in bridal boutiques. I loved some of the dresses in Reformation and Own Studio but I thought I’d never have that moment of finding ‘the dress’ until I saw a post on The Wedding Edition of Louise Selby’s stunning dress with a lace top over. I raced down to try it on with my (now) future sister in law and tried it on – it was perfect. I had to rush back to return the Reformation dresses on the back of my brothers scooter. We managed to return them just in time and everything fell into place. All three brands had stunning dresses but walking into Louise Selby’s home in Kew, everything felt so calm and right.
The best accounts to follow on Instagram for big-day inspo are…
The @theweddingedition_ and @studiowhite_design
Wedding menu highlights..
Copper Events catered our wedding. We went for a middle eastern theme for starters and mains. I can’t have lactose so it was 99% lactose free. For me, the vegan brownies were unreal and the vegan Eaton Mess. Some of the best I’ve ever had.
For our honeymoon we chose..
We did a mini-moon in Cabu Cabins for 2 nights with our little dog Lilah, and then early 2023 we are off to Four Season Mexico City followed by Verana Hotel in Yelapa
My top three tips for any couple would be…
Be honest; with your partner and yourself
Be thoughtful; through small gestures but also through empathy
Establish YOUR boundaries; let go of the small things but don’t stand for toxic traits
If I was able to do it all over again, the one thing I would change is…
Not a thing
List of suppliers:
Venue: Family home
Caterer: Copper Event Catering @coppereventcatering
Dress: Louise Selby @louiseselbybridal
Bridesmaids: Own dresses
Groom outfit: Favourbrook @favourbrook and Loakes @loakesshoemakers
Flower girls & page boys: Monsoon @monsoonchildren girls, Zara @zara boys
Florist: grown Keythorpe Hall @keythorpe_hall, arranged by We are studio white @studiowhite_design
Tableware: Copper Event Catering @coppereventcatering
Stationery: @i__bowie (we used a @corneliaodonovan print on the invitation)
Photographer: Kim Knott @kimknottphoto
Wedding rings: W and W Jwellery @wandwjewellery
Makeup: @miacecily_hair
Hair: @miacecily_hair
Gift list: Wedding Present Co @weddingpresentco
Bridesmaid gifts: Monica Vinader @monicavinader
Wedding Planner: Myself & my mother
Related Article: A Stunning Spring Wedding In Petworth
