Each week, radio DJ Laura Pittson opens up her wedding planning diary...
Hi everyone!
My name’s Laura Pittson and I’m a breakfast show radio presenter for Hertfordshire’s Mercury 96.6. I’m marrying my fiancé Mark Frey on 25 May this year and I’ll be sharing my planning diary with you each week.
So, a little bit about us. I met Mark on 14th August 2005 at a vegetarian barbeque, although he didn’t realise our hosts were vegetarians and brought sausages… Well it was one way of catching my attention.
At the time I was working with Tony Blackburn on the Classic Gold Breakfast Show, and Mark admitted afterwards that was the only useful detail he could remember. Luckily he looked up “Laura” with Tony Blackburn on the internet and managed to trace me, so I’ve got a lot to thank Tony for...
We got engaged 7 July 2007 in Ireland. I was so happy because it’ll always be easy to remember - 07/07/07. We were on a fishing trip (Mark loves fishing) and it was honestly the last place I expected him to ask me. He had the perfect ring, and it was a perfect day, but all I kept thinking was ‘I haven’t got my make-up on!’
Since then we had to work through the logistics of our wedding. I’m a Catholic, and Mark’s Jewish, and neither of us wanted to convert. But we didn’t want a registry office wedding either. Faith means a lot to us in our different ways so we made a lot of calls, and did a lot of research online.
It was important to us to suit our own beliefs, without offending our respective families. It’s also Mark’s second marriage, which caused a few complications. But it has to be said that everyone we spoke to was so understanding and welcoming. And we’re very happy with the plan we’ve come up with for our big day – more on that soon...
We’re getting married at Lambourne Parish Church in Essex, which is frankly my dream church. It’s at the top of a hill, and from the hill I can see my parents house... heaven! I used to horse ride past it when I was a little girl, and I honestly used to make a wish I’d get married there.
The reception will be in a marquee at my parents’ home in Abridge in Essex. As for the rest I’m about to go into a mad panic and get booking things as there's not long to go now.
The music will be a big thing for us, as we’re both in the music industry, but our tastes differ; I like the old crooners like Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland, and Mark likes Depeche Mode. Between us, we know so many performers that we’re planning to have them all do a set... I’ll tell you more about our plans in a few weeks.
With Mark I also inherit four beautiful stepchildren. The girls, Samantha (12) and Georgina (19) will be my bridesmaids, with the boys, Luke (14) and Daniel (21) as ushers. As they all live with us, we’ve had great fun discussing all the wedding plans and they know practically everything that’s happening.
The other very important guest at the wedding will be Tinkerbell my little dog, and - cheesy as it sounds - I’m trying to work out a way of getting her involved.
So, as I speak, it’s the start of February and only four months to go - I’m so excited!
Next week, I’ll tell you all about choosing my wedding dress…
