Jen + Leo by Emily Rose Hamilton - Together Journal

Leo — It was the summer of 2012. I was straight out of university and looking for a place to lodge. I successfully landed a roommate interview with Jen. Little did I know that the interview would lead to a four-hour conversation about anything and everything. Jen is incredibly beautiful and within those four hours, I could already see a rare kindness and generosity that drew me in. I’m truly grateful that I landed that interview

Jen — He passed the housemate interview with flying colours! Leo is one of those people who puts you at ease straight away. He is the most incredible person I’ve ever met and I’m so blessed that our paths crossed all those years ago.

Leo — I’m a massive family man and on a trip home to Norfolk, in the UK, after seeing her interact with my nieces and nephews, I knew that I wanted to spend every moment with her and create many more memories together. I wanted our proposal to be intimate, so we walked along the beach until we came to an arch between two trees. I asked Jen for a selfie but had the ring between my teeth. When she saw the ring, I dropped to one knee.

Jen — Our original wedding plans went out the window when we discovered that Leo had landed a new job in the UAE, so we ended up planning our wedding in six weeks. We loved the idea of a day anchored in tradition, with a bit of a twist. It was important to us that we felt relaxed, so our outfits allowed us to feel comfortable and somewhat casual. After lunch, we organised a journey around London in an open-top private red bus. We wanted to share the memories we’d made together over the last 10 years in London with our families before we moved abroad.

Leo — It was always going to be a tight timeframe to get our outfits lined up. I wanted a double-breasted suit and found the perfect one in Reiss which I took to an incredible tailor I’ve gone to for years. I wouldn’t have trusted anyone else for such a special day.

Jen — My outfit was a little trickier, given I didn’t have enough time to find a wedding dress. Having said that, I’ve always loved the idea of wearing a suit on the day, so opted for a Rat and Boa suit, which I’d had my eye on for a while, but had no excuse to wear. This was the perfect occasion. A couple of weeks before the wedding, I decided to add a veil. I was keen to steer clear of a traditional bridal look, so teamed it with a hat, which worked perfectly for our day in the city.