Contemporary fresh and modern would be how I would describe Sarah and James' wedding day. They chose to marry on the 25 April 2014 The Lido Café in London, which they chose due to the brilliant cuisine and wine on offer.

They had a local wedding which they kept simple yet chic. There was a multicolour scheme with fun pom poms, DIY rose bouquets and bridesmaids in pretty coral frocks. Sarah donned an elegant Lusan Mandongus dress while James looked dapper in a blue wool suit.

Thanks goes to the ever brilliant Fiona Kelly Photography for providing the lovely photographs today.

THE PROPOSAL | James proposed whilst we were in bed at our new flat on the morning before my birthday. We then went to Hatton Garden to choose the ring.

THE VISION | We both wanted something intimate, relaxed, and fun. We like colour and wanted the decorations, clothing (with the exception of the traditional white dress) and accessories were all in beautiful bright colours.

THE PLANNING PROCESS | As we got engaged in December, we had just over four months in which to plan the wedding - so lots of spreadsheets to keep on top of things, and gratefully accepting kind offers of help from friends and family with the arrangements were both key in getting everything together in time. The timescale worked to our advantage though, as it kept us focused on the elements that were really important, and we really wanted to include.

BUDGET | We wanted to concentrate on making sure the food and wine were really good, and that all those with key roles (James and I, the bridesmaids, best man and father of the bride) all had great outfits.

THE VENUE | The Brockwell Lido Café. James is a chef so the food and wine were really important, and this - along with the lovely relaxed vibe - was a key consideration in our choice of venue. We also live very close by, have spent many days in the sun in Brockwell Park, and I go running there most mornings. So it just felt appropriate. It was also really convenient for most of our guests.

THE DRESS & ACCESSORIES | The dress is by Lusan Mandongus - I just loved the beautiful low back! Shoes were from Kurt Gieger, earrings from Accessorize, clutch bag from Whistles. My make-up was by Kirsty Hugo, who works for Mac, but also free-lances as a wedding make-up artist. I showed her a picture of the look I wanted, which she recreated for me!

FINDING THE DRESS | As there wasn't much time, two of my lovely bridesmaids hit every bridal boutique in Wimbledon with me. It was the first dress I tried on in the last shop we went to, Teokath of Wimbledon, which also happened to be where my bridesmaid Emily had bought her wedding dress.

GROOM'S ATTIRE | Blue wool suit from Austin Reed patterned tie from Drakes of London (the father of the bride and best man also had matching ties), and shoes from Loake.

THE READINGS & MUSIC | For readings we had Yeat's 'Adeah Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven' and 'My True Love Hath my Heart' from Arcadia by Philip Sydney. I walked down the aisle to Eric Satie's Gymnopedie 1, and our first dance was Al Green's Let's Stay Together.

BEAUTIFUL BRIDESMAIDS | My three dearest friends: Abby (who I have known since I was 11), Emily (who I have known since I was four), and Magali (who I lived with at Leeds University). They wore a dress from Warehouse, and accessorised to taste! The girls also organised me an awesome hen weekend in the New Forest, complete with a surprise life drawing class!

THE FLOWERS | We chose to make table centrepieces rather than have flowers. I also made my own bouquets - with help from Youtube, and the twins on the flower stall by Brixton tube station (who sourced roses in the colours I wanted and had them ready for collection the day before the wedding).

THE CAKE | James and I made and decorated the cake ourselves. My Dad loves fruit cake, and so we made a large three tier cake so he could be sure of a tier to take home with him! We decorated it with plain icing, and dried rose petals.

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER | Fiona Kelly Photography. Fiona came recommended as a friend of a friend!

THE DETAILS & DÉCOR | Much of this we made ourselves with help from friends. A group of girlfriends helped make the pom-poms for the tables, which we used as decorations in place of flowers. We knew the Lido had the large ceiling pom-poms, and bunting, which were totally in keeping with the feel we wanted.

THE HONEYMOON | New York! One week in the Catskills (Woodstock and Beacon) followed by a week in New York City.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS | The "aisle" was L-shaped so I walked in, and then turned a corner to see James waiting for me...

ADVICE FOR OTHER COUPLES | Don't forget to include yourselves when arranging the catering!

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE |

Venue | Brockwell Lido Café

Make up | Kirsty Hugo

Photography | Fiona Kelly Photography

Hair | Kelly Zampogna

How elegant.

Thanks so much to Sarah and James for sharing their super lovely wedding with us here at WWW XOXO Lou