Hollywood star proposal leads to Abbie and Andy’s whimsical wedding

Andy Smith used Hollywood star Ryan Gosling as his wing-man when proposing to girlfriend Abbie Storey.

The Maidenhead couple, aged 35 and 32 respectively met in a nightclub 12 years ago and were engaged on Christmas Day, 2013. Enter Gosling. “Andy gave me my first present which was a Ryan Gosling colouring-in book – I love Ryan, who doesn’t?” explains Abbie.

“He had written in speech bubbles a story of how we met from Ryan’s point of view – it was very funny indeed.” Flicking to the end of the book, Abbie found the words “Will you marry me?”

The pair were engaged for about 18 months before marrying at their whimsical wedding on August 8. 2015. A ceremony at Holy Trinity Church in Cookham was followed by a reception at The Pinkneys Arms in Maidenhead with 65 guests.

A very important part of Abbie’s vision was flowers. “They had to look like country garden flowers with a twist,” says the bride. “I love the size of bouquets from the 1920s and ’30s but mine had to look wild, softly coloured and beautiful.”

Photos courtesy of Green Antlers Photography.

The couple hired a bus to transport their guests as locations had limited parking.

Abbie designed her own gown, and had it made in India. “The embroidery design was based on a Victorian lace skirt found in a market,” she says.

“For my bouquet, I bought silk and rayon vintage ribbons and hand dip-dyed them,” explains the bride.

County Marquees provided the ideal set-up for the couple’s evening reception.