A Sparkling Start

Helen Jones and Simon Bailey

Helen Jones, 31, branch manager at Paterson Recruitment, and Simon Bailey, 31, a self-employed bricklayer, from Bicester, got married at Launton Church on September 19, 2009, with the reception at The Great Barn, Aynho

Number of guests
70 during the day, plus 40 more in the evening

Where did you meet?
In our local pub The Chequers in Headington Quarry, Oxford, in 1998

Where did he propose?
On New Year’s Day 2008 at a house party with all our friends

The dress
The Bridal Box in Summertown, Oxford — Pronovias dress called Donaire. It was an amazing strapless dress with a beaded bodice and then layers of material covering the lower half of the dress – I called it my swan dress, and I loved it. Simon brought me Jimmy Choo shoes as a wedding present

What did he wear?
Brown wedding suit from Henry’s in Bicester. The groom’s men wore the same brown suits

Who were your attendants, and what did they wear?
Bridesmaids — my best friend Sophie Mikellides, my cousin Natalie Cooper, who wore jade green Dessy dresses from Millie Benjamin, Charlbury, and my god-daughter Roseanne Harrison, who wore an ivory dress with green bow made by my mum Meg Jones

Flowers
They were from The Garden florists in Headington, and the bouquets were pink and white orchids with green butterflies. At the church we had pink flowers and ivory bows at the end of each pew

Transport
Two silver Mercedes from Jack Davis Chauffeurs of Witney

Photographer
Wallingford Portraits

Table decor and favours
We had ivory chair covers with cerise bows. All tables had cameras and wedding cake bubbles with little cracked glass tea lights on the tables. We made our favours — ribbon-tied tins of jelly beans in our pink and green colours. On the outside tables I hadlittle coloured lanterns, and a lovely silver ‘Love’ sign above the entrance, which my dad made. Simon’s mum Sandra Bailey made us a beautiful wedding cake which was covered in 600 small ivory flowers.
The Great Barn at Aynho was a fantastic venue with beautiful views of the countryside. We had barbecue food at the reception dinner and a pig roast in the evening. All the staff was fabulous and made our wedding so special, and as stress-free as possible, as they did everything for me

Entertainment
Eyecon with Sean Humphrey, a local band from Headington. Moving statues — a silver man and woman. Our guests loved them

Honeymoon
Singapore and then onto Koh Samui, Thailand, for two relaxing weeks.

Helen and Simon’s wedding reception at The Great Barn, Aynho

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