From Instagram to “I do.”
One viral fitness video changed everything. Among the flood of Michael's new followers was Kate—great photos, natural confidence—but her handle, @showmeyourdirtyface, had Michael wondering if it was fake. A quick “background check” turned into a call, the call became a date, and the date became a love story.
The Proposal: A private beach dinner at Dubai's Duke Hotel, complete with a candlelit walkway and sunset views. Kate had no idea what was coming, making the moment unforgettable.
The Big Day at Seckford Hall
In three words: Perfect beyond words!
An unexpected change of plan: The ceremony was originally planned to be outdoors, but it rained that morning, which meant everything had to be moved inside at the last minute. "It honestly didn’t matter. The atmosphere indoors felt intimate and beautiful. The ceremony was incredibly personal. Kate pre-recorded a voice message for me from our youngest daughter, which played while I was waiting with our guests before she walked down the aisle."
The most special part of the day: We didn’t leave each other’s side all day. From start to finish, we experienced everything together, fully present.
...and a very meaningful song for the first dance: “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John from The Lion King. Michael had taken Kate to see the film in the cinema, and the song was also on the birthing playlist when their daughter Winter was born.
Style & Details
The venue: Seckford Hall. The entrance alone sets the tone. It feels dramatic yet welcoming, historic but luxurious. The hospitality was genuinely 10 out of 10. The food was incredible, the service flawless, and the venue offered that rare balance of history and modern luxury. Once we saw the grounds, we knew it was the one.
The vibe: Timeless and elegant, with a modern edge. Clean tailoring, strong details, and a setting that spoke for itself rather than being over-styled. A classic black-tie feel set within a historic venue, something that wouldn’t date and would still feel special when we look back years from now.
The inspo: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union’s wedding. Grown up, confident, and intentional.
The budget: No strict budget, but very intentional with spending. We invested in the things that mattered most to us and stayed sensible elsewhere. Experience rather than excess.
The DIY hack: A picture board with LED lights that invited guests to take a trip down memory lane with us. It featured photos from the very beginning of our relationship right through to our engagement. Seeing guests stop, smile, and reminisce was really special.
The seating plan: Each table was named after the luxury hotels we’ve stayed at together. It was personal, fun, and sparked loads of conversation. We could actually see some of our guests googling the places during the reception, which made it even better.
Tips for Future Couples
Best piece of advice:
Enjoy every moment together. The day goes incredibly fast. Stay close, be present, and soak it all in. We would also highly recommend having a sweetheart table. It gives you a moment to reconnect in the middle of everything and to really look out and see all of your special people enjoying themselves, laughing, and celebrating you.
One thing worth splurging on: A strong media team. We had a content creator, videographer, and photographer. Being able to properly relive the day afterwards is priceless.
The one thing to do without: I bought two suits, one for the day and one for the evening. I later realised my outfits cost nearly more than Kate’s dress, and I wore one of them for about an hour.
How to minimise stress on the day and in the run-up: A strict schedule so everyone knows where to be and when. Our media team, venue staff, wedding planners, maids of honour, and groomsmen completely ran the show, which made the day totally stress-free for us.
Anything you would do differently? Nothing at all. If anything, we would have booked an extra night at the venue because it was so special.
The Supplier Team:
Venue: Seckford Hall
Celebrants: Richard Love & Simon Harvey, Woodbridge Register Office
Photographer: Sophie Oldhamstead Photography
Videographer: @framebymichaelaainger
Makeup Artist: @hayleyjessica_artistry
Hair: @krownhairco
Flowers: @amnesia_flowers
Catering: Seckford Hall Team
Music: @dionneclarke
Entertainment: DJ @nanab, fireworks @dynamicfireworks, music hire @flameentertainment
Bridal Dress: @milimilicolchester
Groom’s Wear: Amore Grooms
Content Creator: @jasminclarkecontent
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