Beside the Seaside

Sarah Dibble and Rob Ager enjoyed a charming coastal wedding at Southend-on-Sea. Photography by Studio Rochford

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Early days…

Sarah and Rob met through friends whilst they were at school. “I went to a girls’ school and Rob was at the boys’ school next door,” says Sarah. “We always used to go to the same parties, and I’m pretty sure one of his friends said the classic line: ‘My mate fancies you!’

“I couldn’t say when I fell in love with Rob, because it feels like I always have been. We’ve laughed together, cried together and shared so much; I can’t imagine my life without him. Our wedding day was actually our 10-year anniversary.”

The venues…

“We really struggled to find a ceremony venue,” says Sarah. “We loved the idea of getting married in a church because of the dramatic look, but neither of us felt comfortable with religion featuring in our wedding day. In the end, we chose Porters in Southend-on-Sea, which is the old mayor’s house. It’s all a bit wonky with a shabby chic feel and steeped in history.

“We chose Ocean Beach restaurant, also in Southend-on-Sea, to hold our reception because of its fantastic location on the seafront and the fact that it didn’t have the rules and regulations of a more formal wedding venue.”

The dress…

Sarah wore a classic ivory silk wedding dress with a fishtail skirt, which she accessorised with a ribbon-edged veil. Her something old, borrowed and blue was a sapphire and diamond ring belonging to her grandmother. “The sapphires were bought in India by my grandad, and made into a ring which he designed himself and gave to his mother. It meant a lot to me as my grandad was a really important man in my life, so it was great to have something that reminded me of him on the day,” says Sarah.

The four bridesmaids – Sarah’s sister and three friends – wore long, floaty dresses from Coast.

Rob wore a black tailcoat with an ivory waistcoat and cravat, while his two best men – his brother and best friend – wore identical suits and waistcoats with sage green cravats to match the bridesmaids’ outfits.

The transport…

Sarah and Rob booked a red Routemaster bus to take everyone from the ceremony to the reception. “It was great fun, and it also meant we could all arrive together without the headache of our guests trying to park or getting lost!” says Sarah.

The decorative touches…

Sarah and Rob bought their three-tiered white chocolate cake from Waitrose, and customised it by wrapping sage green ribbon around each tier, and topping it with fresh roses.

The centrepieces were mirrored cube-shaped vases filled with soft green, pink and mauve roses, and sprigs of rosemary. A single rose was placed on a folded napkin at each table setting, and the guests were given packets of Love Hearts as favours, which were personalised with the couple’s names and the date of the wedding.

The best bits…

“I felt really nervous a few days before the wedding, but I was strangely calm and really excited on the day,” says Sarah. “The ceremony was amazing – really emotional and intimate.”

“We both managed to hold back the tears and enjoy the moment,” adds Rob. “We seemed to laugh a lot throughout the entire ceremony, even though our mums were crying!”

“The reception went smoothly, and everyone looked like they were having fun,” says Sarah. “We did find the planning quite stressful as we arranged everything in less than six months. We enlisted the help of wedding planner Zoë Lingard during the last few weeks. It was fantastic having her there on the day, and it meant that everything went exactly to plan and there were no dramas.

“One of my favourite moments was when we let off some large lanterns that floated out to sea. They were just amazing to watch with everyone from the deck, with the sound of the sea all around us. It was very romantic.”

“I really enjoyed our evening reception; the entertainment was fantastic and it was great having so many friends and family in the same place, having a great time,” says Rob. “For me, a wedding is all about celebrating with everybody you love, and we certainly did that in style.”

Top tips…

“It is a nerve-wracking day so make sure you pick an environment that you feel comfortable in," says Sarah. "We both love being by the sea, so it was great to start married life in a restaurant that overlooks it, with no need to worry about ancient silk wallpaper, expensive floors or having children under two years old."

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