We decided to tie the knot in the University Chapel of the Holy Trinity on Exeter University campus, after we first met while singing in the Chapel Choir in 1996 while both students at the University - I was studying French with Russian, and Nigel was studying Law.

Nigel proposed to me two months after I had moved to Paris to work for a year as part of my degree requirement. He proposed right by the Eiffel Tower on a balmy September evening during one of his visits and got the mood just right - even the moon was in the right place, just peeking out from behind the tower. We celebrated by having a meal in a nearby restaurant, where we talked and talked about our future plans and dreams.

The perfection of the proposal continued right through the wedding planning to the day itself. I'm used to organising events as part of my job in public relations, so the co-ordination of the different elements of the wedding day were not too difficult. Our decision to have a four-year engagement took some of the pressure away and allowed plenty of time for making decisions. Nigel was also able to use his negotiation skills, honed in his work as a barrister to ensure good deals with the various suppliers!

Even the dress hunting went without a hitch; I was driving home from work when I saw THE dress in a boutique window in my village. I knew it was the one. Trouble was, the shop only opened weekday mornings - I had to take the next morning off work to get it. The dress was a floor-length, ivory shot silk ball gown with antique lace around the neckline and on the train. I wore a full-length cathedral veil and ivory silk shoes and carried a stunning bouquet of lilies, roses and several other purple and ivory flowers. The groom wore traditional morning suit with a lilac-blue tie and an ivory rose buttonhole.

On Saturday 12 May 2001, the wedding party was welcomed by glorious sunshine, which remained throughout the day. I got ready in my hotel room in Exeter, assisted by both Mums and my bridesmaid Nicki, an old school friend. Nicki was dressed in a long lilac-blue dress, which reflected the colours of my bouquet and the reception colour scheme. The reception was being held in the same hotel, so the party was able to keep an eye out while the room was set out and the last minute touches applied.

My Dad and I were driven the short distance from the hotel to the chapel in a vintage cream Rolls Royce. As the car drew up outside the chapel, Nigel narrowly missed catching sight of the bride and had to be hustled quickly inside by his very efficient best man and fellow law graduate, Nick.

I entered the chapel to a favourite choral anthem, sung by the same choir in which we had met almost five years ago. The chapel choir was present at the wedding, by special invitation and sang anthems which we ourselves used to sing during our time with the choir, to accompany both the processional and the signing of the register. Their presence boosted the three hymns as well as enhancing everyone's enjoyment of the whole service.

University Chaplain, Jeremy pointed out in his introduction to the congregation, the unique nature of the event. Although he had conducted many weddings in the Chapel, and many weddings of Exeter alumni across the UK, this was the first time he had known the two to be combined, which made the event a truly memorable occasion in the life of the Chapel. He said he was proud to be a part of this significant moment in our lives and Christian journey of us both.

We exchanged vows, watched by more than 75 guests, including friends and family from the UK, France, Germany and the USA. Despite the wedding clashing with the FA Cup Final, the vast majority of the invited guests were still able to attend! Afterwards, friends and family posed for photographs in bright sunshine on the lawn outside the chapel, where they were given my own hand-made confetti to throw. Eventually, we moved on to a lavish Reception at the Thistle Hotel in Queen Street, Exeter..

A delicious cold salad main course was followed by Devon strawberries and creamy profiteroles. A slice of wedding cake, which had been specially made and decorated by my Mum using a traditional family recipe, completed the meal and the provision of disposable cameras on each of the tables at the reception meant that the guests could play their own part in creating special memories of the day for us. This brought an insight into how the whole day was viewed by our guests and resulted in some pretty quirky photos.

Dinner was followed by dancing to a local jazz band, which was in turn followed by three emotionally charged speeches, during which we presented two huge bouquets of lilies and roses to our two Mums. This was to say thank you to them for their support in the run up to the wedding and the affectionate way that each family had welcomed their new son or daughter-in-law without hesitation.

I then changed into a black dress and lilac jacket to 'go away'. I posed with Nigel for a few more photographs on the hotel's sweeping staircase before throwing the bouquet and leaving the hotel for our first night destination in Wells in Somerset.

The next day, we flew off to an idyllic two-week honeymoon that took in Pisa, Florence and Rome. Now back in Britain, we've made our home in Epsom, Surrey, where we now work - at least, that's what we do when not looking over our enormous collection of photographs and reliving the memories of a wonderful day...

Do Differently: Absoloutely nothing!