|
We met at our local ice skating rink at a friends birthday in April
1998. Both groups of friends kept arranging to meet each other up
there over the next few weeks and became friends quite quickly and
started hanging out with each other. I was trying to set him up
with a friend!
We were at his best friends house for a barbecue and I was sitting
in the garden talking to a friend. He came out and got down on one
knee and just popped the question! I was only 16 and said yes straight
away without really thinking about it! We didn't get engaged straight
away as when I realised he was being serious I said I thought it
was a bit soon and so we waited until Christmas Eve 1998 when he
got down on one knee, this time with a beautiful diamond solitaire
I had two. The first was a girly night out to a nightclub with my elder sister and a group of friends all dressed as devils and angels! The second was a lovely meal out with our mums, both my sisters and a couple of friends. Dan went out with our dads and his friends for an early morning fry up at the local cafe, then go karting for a mini grand prix race. They then went on to spend half the afternoon in the pub before coming home to get washed and changed before going out for a meal and then a night out on the town.
He helped make the big decisions, venue, cake, dj etc. but left
the details to me. His motto through out was: 'Have what you like
honey, just tell me when and where and I'll be there' !
Chatting to the girls for reassurance, ideas and recommendations. I also used the table planner and bought lots of bits and pieces.
Yes, but I never finished it, so guests never got to see it.
Yes, visited the store and bought online.
I bought my Maggie Sottero dress from Jodi's in Maidstone, Kent. It was called Rochelle and was a strapless, ivory, a-line dress. It had embroidery and beading all over the top (front and back) which then trailed off to one side. It had the classic lace up back. I wore an elbow length veil which had clear crystals on it. I matched this with a tiara that had the same clear crystals.
I had my younger and elder sisters and my niece as flowergirl. They
all wore Veromia dresses in a deep red. My niece wore a flower girl
dress, with a full tulle skirt. The bridesmaids dresses were both
a-line and had beading across the top.
Danny had his Dad, Paul and best friend Alex as his best men. They all wore the Arundel suit which they hired from Moss Bros. They matched this with ivory checked waistcoats and red cravats and handkerchiefs. My dad, our step dads and my brother in law, all wore the same.
We had a civil ceremony.
Sackville School in Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Same as above.
My Dad and I travelled in an old Bentley in black and ivory. The
bridesmaids travelled in a dark red and black Rolls Royce. Danny
travelled to the venue with his best men in a new 5 Series BMW.
We had 58 during the day and a further 62 joined us in the evening.
Our theme was the Grand Prix rose - being my favourite. This featured on our stationery and we used the colour to try and match most things.
The favour boxes were tied with a dark red ribbon and the tables were named after roses. The name cards had a small picture of a red rose on them.
Our guests had Lindt Lindor chocolate truffles, as we are chocoholics!
My friends mum kindly did my flowers with the help of one of her
friends and they were absolutely perfect. My bouquet consisted of
a variety of pink, red and ivory roses with some green berries and
calla lillies. The bridesmaids had posies of cream roses that had
a soft pink edge to them. My niece carried a little heart that had
a few red rose buds on the bottom. The table centres were made up
of posies sat in goldfish bowls. We had two pedestal arrangements
made of roses, lillies and bear grass.
Our venue dealt with the catering. We had a melon starter with a summer fruit coulis. Our main course was a turkey roast. For pudding we had profiteroles in chocolate sauce. The children didn't have a starter and they had ice cream for pudding. This was followed by coffee and mints.
We had a three tied cake with each tier separated by a mini glass
goldfish bowls filled with angel hair. The cake had small iced 'pearls'
which started at the base of each tier and decreased in size and
numbers the further you got up the cake. The bottom two tiers had
a single 'Grand Prix' rose on them and the top had a cluster of
the Grand Prix and Black Bacarra. The base was surrounded by petals
and tea light candles. The top tier was chocolate sponge, the second
plain sponge and the bottom was fruit cake.
We had a disco for all to enjoy in the evening.
We didn't have a gift list. Instead we had a wishing well with a
poem inviting people to make a contribution to our living room redecoration
fund!
We spent our first night at the Sheraton at Heathrow and then travelled
to the Bahamas where we stayed in the Breezes Hotel on Cable Beach.
Our first dance. Dan really hates dancing so it meant a lot to me for him to get up in front of everyone. The ceremony was the best part of the day ultimately, but it went too quick and that made it a little sad.
I did struggle to get my bridesmaids dresses in on time, but I've since heard that the shop has closed and left a lot of brides without any dresses at all - so I consider myself lucky!
I would have got married earlier so that we could have enjoyed the day more and not rushed through the photos.
|