Caroline and Jonathan’s Real Life Wedding
Caroline and Jonathan
17/09/2005 – St. Augustine’s Catholic Church
The Beacon Pub/Hotel in Tunbridge Wells
How and when did you meet?
We met in 1998; I had just finished my first year at university and was staying with my dad during the summer holidays. It was raining so I went to get a lift home from dad who was in the pub. Jonathan was in there, very drunk and invited me to McDonalds. This turned into a pub crawl where at the end of the evening I was very sick and passed out!
How old are you both?
I’m 27, he’s 33.
Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?
We were in France on holiday 3 years ago and we were standing at the top of La Rhune Mountain when he got down on one knee and presented me with a beautiful ring. We both cried then went to the local bar for a celebratory litre of beer!
Did you have hen and stag celebrations?
My girlfriends took me on a surprise weekend to Dublin which was a scream! We had such fun! Jonathan and 16 mates hired a Hummer and went paint balling then to the dogs then for a lock in at our local… he was in a real state the next day!
Did your groom help you with the wedding planning?
He didn’t! I want to be a wedding planner so he left it to me which was good because I had quite specific ideas.
Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?
Yes! I found the cafe great; it’s good to talk to other brides-to-be who feel the same and have similar questions and concerns.
Do you have a confetti web page?
I started one but didn’t bother in the end.
Did you buy any confetti products for your wedding? If so, did you visit a store, buy online or by mail order?
Yes, we visited the London store and bought all our table decorations there.
Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it.
had a Benjamin Roberts ivory dress with crystals. I got it in Go Bridal in Tunbridge Wells where the staff were brilliant and got all excited for me which was lovely. I had plain satin shoes and a tiara.
Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?
I had two good friends, they wore lilac dresses.
Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?
The boys wore dark morning suits with waist coats and cravats to compliment the girls’ outfits. I hadn’t seen the suits until I walked in the church and they all looked gorgeous!
Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?
Religious.
Where did you hold your ceremony?
In St. Augustine’s Catholic Church with a fantastic Korean priest who made us all laugh and totally took away my nerves the second I walked in when he said ‘It’s show time!’
Where did you hold your reception?
At The Beacon Pub/Hotel in Tunbridge Wells. It was really lovely and the setting is breathtaking.
Did you have any special wedding transport?
had a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.
How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?
75 for the day plus a further 30 for the evening.
Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?
The colour scheme was lilac and ivory.
How did you incorporate this in to your table settings?
We had floral displays in our colours, scattered hearts and stars and gave the tables names of places we’d visited together.
Did you give your guests favours?
We gave miniature Baileys wrapped in cellophane with 2 Alka-Seltzers… the guests loved them!
Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?
I had an ivory rose shower bouquet, the girls had lilac and ivory hand-tied bouquets and the boys had ivory rose buttonholes. My friend is a florist and she did them.
What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?
We had an amazing buffet with loads of different items including dressed salmon and carved meats. There was something for everyone. We had a choice of desserts and cheeses.
What did you choose for your wedding cake?
Jonathan’s aunt made an amazing fruit cake, it was perfect.
Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?
We had a disco in the evening. The speeches were the daytime entertainment!
Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?
John Lewis and also we asked for vouchers from Thomas Cook towards our honeymoon to Cape Town and Mauritius next February.
Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?
We stayed in the hotel where the reception was. There are only 3 rooms so we had in-laws either side! Next day 25 people came back from breakfast. We went to Moscow for a few days then we’re going away in February.
What was your most memorable moment of the day?
Everything. The nerves, the smile on my husband’s face as I walked in… it has stayed plastered to his face ever since! It was the most amazingly perfect day of my life. I never thought I could feel so happy!
Did you experience any ‘nightmare’ moments in the run up to your wedding or on the day?
Not really… it all ran so smoothly.
Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?
Not at all. Relax, enjoy the day but take 5 minutes away from the guests to breathe and relax. It’s all over so quickly. Also, don’t try and work out what it is costing per hour… I did that and nearly passed out. Ha ha!
