REAL WEDDING
Wedding planning As the months passed and our wedding date drew nearer, the excitement intensified. One of the first things I’d tackled was creating proposal boxes for my bridesmaids - Emma my maid of honour, my best friends Anna, Kim, Claire and Jen, my junior bridesmaid Chloe who is Paul’s niece and my two flower girls my niece Millie and Paul’s niece Rosie. I also asked my nephew Oliver and Paul’s nephew Brodie to be page boys. Paul asked his best friend Harry to be best man and brother Stephen and school friends Sam and Joel to be groomsmen. Choosing my wedding dress was a moment I will cherish. With mum and bridesmaid Kim by my side, we visited a bridal shop in Wimbledon. I tried on a few dresses, but it was the fifth one that stole my heart. Mum bought it for me, along with a matching veil. The ease with which I found my dream dress felt like a sign that everything was falling into place. My lovely bridesmaids found their beautiful dresses at Wed2B. I wanted them to feel comfortable and confident, so I let them choose the style that suited them best. In the end, two of them wore the same style with three different styles in total, all in a lovely sage green.
The finishing touches I loved adding those finishing touches to our wedding. I adore flowers and did quite a bit of research before selecting Cherubs for our fresh flowers, along with Fool Flowers, who created stunning ethically-sound faux arrangements. Selecting our photographer and videographer was a crucial decision. We wanted to ensure that we captured every special moment. Laura Lea became our photographer, and she was amazing. Our engagement shoot with her was so much fun, and she made both Paul and I feel comfortable in front of the camera. She also recommended Taylors Lens for our videography, which turned out to be a fantastic choice. As for the cake that was a delightful surprise from one of my bridesmaids, Claire. It was not only a feast for the eyes but also a delight for the taste buds too! Excitement builds The day before the wedding Paul and his groomsmen stayed at a hotel ten minutes away, while myself, my bridesmaids and my mum stayed in a charming cottage on-site at Leez Priory called the Fisherman's Cottage which Paul and the girls had decorated with balloons. We had a takeaway, celebrated with champagne, and indulged in some pampering at a nearby spa called The Retreat. It was a chilled time filled with music and games, and we were even able to look out of the windows at a wedding
was in the process of buying a new flat in Ashford, and he casually asked for my help with choosing furniture and decorating. In a very natural way, I just sort of moved in, although he did ask me officially later. It was a big decision, as it meant being quite far from my friends and family. But luckily, my parents, Linda and Brian, and my sister When we first started dating, Paul didn't consider marriage a big deal, but I'd dreamt of it for as long as I could remember. At Christmas 2021, Paul’s gift to me was a trip to Italy booked for February 2022. We explored the stunning Amalfi Coast, and on Valentine's Day, with the perfect backdrop, Paul got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. The ring was a trilogy emerald- Emma loved Paul from the start. The perfect proposal cut beauty, designed in Hatton Garden. I couldn't have asked for anything better. When I asked Paul what made him change his mind about getting married, his response was simple - he just knew I was the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. We planned to tie the knot 18 months later, choosing the stunning Leez Priory as our venue.
happening at the Priory, which only heightened our excitement for the following day.
ABSOLUTE BRIDAL 101
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