The London Wedding: Nadene & John

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Robert Shilston and Ruth Underwood

Glastonbury might come round only once a year, but Robert Shilston and Ruth Underwood decided their ­favourite festival should be the theme for their big day.

Guests camped at Little Fairwood Farm, which ­belongs to the family of 26-year-old engineer Ruth, and iconic Glasto-like flags handmade by Ruth’s dad peppered the field.

Ruth and Robert, 27, a web developer, met at Bristol ­university in 2001, at a professional studies lecture.

“A ­mutual friend of ours introduced us and offered to give us both a lift home as we lived near each other,” says Ruth.

“We got to know each other over the course of time, but didn’t start dating until the following August, when he asked me out!”

The Archway-based couple got engaged when Robert proposed last February while on holiday on the Isle of Man. He says: “Ruth claims she didn’t see it coming, though both our parents had been keeping champagne in the fridge for about 18 months before this!”

Within a couple of hours, they’d already decided they wanted a stereotypical ­English wedding, minus the stuffy formalities.

On the day, for instance, neighbours brought hanging baskets and planters of ­flowers to add extra colour to the decor, while Ruth’s grandmother decorated the marquee.

The ceremony was ­attended by 185 guests at All Saints’ Church in Wiltshire, a much larger gathering than the couple had anticipated.

Guests from neighbouring farms also attended, with about 50 scaling stiles and fields to get to the church. ­Afterwards, everyone headed back to the farm for the reception which began with pink champagne and canapes.

Once everyone was settled in the marquee, dinner was hog roast, wild rice and green salad, with Eton mess for ­dessert.

Then came the speeches. “Our best man Andrew was ­brilliant – he did a Steve Jobs-esque launch of the groom’s new life,” says Ruth. Cake-cutting followed which saw the couple use Robert’s uncle’s ­ceremonial army sword, which was also used at ­Robert’s parents’ wedding.

Afterwards, tribute band Ultimate Madness played. Robert says: “The band were so energetic they almost broke the stage!”

At midnight a bonfire was lit to keep party-goers warm ­under the stars. “We also served a continuous buffet of coffee, cheese, biscuits and fruit to keep guests going through the evening,” Robert says. “Everything then wrapped up at 2.30am for the guests who were camping.”

Ruth adds: “We just had such a lovely, family wedding. We gave my father a new set of farm gates as a present, and it was so nice to not have to turn the music off by a ­particular time. It really was the most perfect, fun day.”

Wedding Essentials

FIRST DATE: Nando’s in Bristol

GET THE LOOK: Ruth wore a strapless champagne silk dress from Frome Bride and Belles; Robert hired from Moss Bros

FLOWERS: Roses from The Little Flower Company, Frome

SWEET TREAT: Three-tier cake with white icing, chocolate, sponge and fruitcake from Sweet Inspirations

FIRST DANCE: It Must Be Love by Madness

MUSIC: Live band Ultimate Madness

PHOTOGRAPHY: www.elizabetholiver.co.uk

HONEYMOON: Four weeks in New Zealand

Nadene Leeds and John Gray

You know you’re attending a proper London wedding when Chas and Dave do the entertainment.

Nadene Leeds, 35, a doctor’s PA, and John Gray, 39, an ­artist, wanted a quintessential city wedding, so apart from booking a Routemaster and a 70s black cab as transport, they booked the cheeky duo as a surprise for guests.

Nadene says: “People came up to me and kept asking if Chas and Dave were playing. I fobbed them off but ­wondered how they guessed – in the end we found out their drum kit had been left lying about which had ‘Chas and Dave’ emblazoned on it!”

The Barnet-based couple met eight years ago at Metra club in Leicester Square, where John started chatting to Nadene.

After asking her out on a date, the two hit it off and John popped the question in January 2007 outside Harry’s Bar while they were holidaying in Venice.

On the big day, Nadene’s make-up artist had swine flu and cancelled at the last minute. She says: “I had to do it myself but it ended up being fine!” All 150 guests arrived at St Michael’s Church in Highgate for the ceremony at 3pm.

The reception was at the ornate White Horse in Hampstead. Proper English grub such as fish and chips, bubble and squeak and Yorkshire pudding was served, followed by speeches, with everything wrapping up at 2am.

Wedding Essentials

FIRST DATE: The Crown and Two Chairmen pub in Soho

GET THE LOOK: Nadene wore a dress from Collezione Sposa; John wore a suit from Aquascutum

FIRST DANCE: Bohemian Like You by The Dandy Warhols

PHOTOGRAPHY: www.juliaboggiophotography.com

HONEYMOON: Lake Garda for six days, Venice for two