Andrea and Chris’ Real Life Wedding

Andrea and Chris

21/05/2005 – Family Church, Hammersmith
The Nutfield Priory, Redhill, Surrey

 

How and when did you meet?

We met 11 years ago at University of Leicester, we were out at a nightclub.

How old are you both?

He is 29 and I am 31.

Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?

He proposed last year on Saturday 3rd April. We had gone to USA for a friend’s wedding, and then gone down to Florida for our holiday. We had booked a day at Discover Cove, and a swim with the dolphins. He proposed before our ‘Dolphin Swim’ and all the pictures with Lester the dolphin have the biggest smiles on them. It was the most amazing day.

Did you have hen and stag celebrations?

We both had celebrations. I had a spa day in London with 9 friends, and then later a 4 star cruise on the Thames with a jazz band and limo to take us home. It was brilliant.Chris had a day out with his friends too, clay pigeon shooting, and then on to Lingfield for the horse-racing, and finished with a chinese meal at a lovely restaurant we know.

Did your groom help you with the wedding planning?

He was great. He helped choose the flowers, and favours. He chose the cake! Knew the colour scheme and he chose the suits for groomsmen. He has continued to help by deciding pictures and layout for album.

Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?

I did use it, to help with planning and ideas.

Do you have a confetti web page?

Yes.

Did you buy any confetti products for your wedding? If so, did you visit a store, buy online or by mail order?

I did order the books on wedding etiquette, and books for my 2 bridesmaids.

Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it.

I bought a two-piece dress by Rosetta Nicolini for Castigliano Collections, from House of Fraser in London. They were great.

Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?

I had two adult bridesmaids, my sister, and sister-in-law. They wore tea-length dresses in celadon by Alvina Valenta, bought from Jane Jordan in Kingston upon Thames. Very reasonable in price, and service was superb. Everyone loved the dresses on the day.

Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?

Chris chose Austin Reed in Regent Street, London. He went for traditional morning suits with burgundy cravats and ivory waistcoats.

Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?

We had a religious ceremony.

Where did you hold your ceremony?

It was held at our family church in Hammersmith.

Where did you hold your reception?

Our reception was held at The Nutfield Priory in Redhill, Surrey.

Did you have any special wedding transport?

We had a beautiful vintage taxi.

How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?

We had about 78 guests in total, we did not do an additional evening guest list.

Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?

We had colour scheme of ivory and burgundy.

How did you incorporate this in to your table settings?

The table names were all Disney films. Our favours were heart shaped cookies with burgundy and ivory icing with our names on.

Did you give your guests favours?

The cookies were from Peggy Porschen.

Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?

My bouquet was deep red grand prix and grand extase roses with ivory cala lillies. My two bridesmaids had ivory roses, ivory freesias and eucalyptus leaves. The church carried on that theme, and so did The Nutfield Priory. Our florist was wonderful, and she did everything to make sure it all looked great, was Gabi Burton at The Fine Flowers Company.

What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?

Our venue handled the catering, we had 2 different menus, one for vegetarians.Starters were Terrine of Chargrilled vegetables with goats cheese and pesto dressing, or Warm Duck Salad and plum sauce. Mains were mushroom risotto or Medallions of lamb with potato rosti and vegetables. Dessert was our wedding cake.

What did you choose for your wedding cake?

We had a four tier ‘Marquise’ style cake with white chocolate cigarillos, inside two tiers we had dark chocolate ganache with raspberries, two other tiers were white chocolate and masquerpone and raspberries. Both served with raspberry coulis. It was made by Savoir Design.

Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?

We had a DJ for the evening, he was great we all danced. He is even doing my best friend’s wedding later this year.

Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?

Our gift list was with John Lewis.

Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?

Our first night was spent at the Nutfield Priory, our honeymoon was spent at the Royal Golf Resort and Spa in Camp de Mar, Mallorca.

What was your most memorable moment of the day?

My most memorable part of the day was saying out vows, because Chris gave me the wrong hand to put the ring on, and also when it came to ‘you may kiss the bride’, he kissed me and put the veil back over my face! Everyone giggled. Just added a little extra.

Did you experience any ‘nightmare’ moments in the run up to your wedding or on the day?

Our nightmare moment was the guests being 1 hour late. We had booked a coach company to pick them up and take them to the church and back. They arrived late, got lost, exhaust fell off. Eventually turned up at the church 1 hour and 15 minutes late.

Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?

I would have used a different coach company. But my advice is to enjoy the day, because it goes so quickly.