
From the Ski Slopes to the Aisle – Sarah & Ian’s Wedding by Tony Bayliss
Snowboarding fanatics Sarah and Ian met on the cold slopes during a working holiday. After two days Ian plucked up the courage to speak to Sarah and as soon as they returned home they decided they couldn’t be apart and moved in together. Eight years later, and after plenty of hints from Sarah, Ian popped the question back on the mountains where their romance began. Their beautiful day, captured by Tony Bayliss Photography, was filled with family and fun, looking as colourful as the couple themselves in Cadbury purple.
The couple: Sarah, a brand manager at Codemasters, and Ian, an electrician.
Length of engagement: 12 months
Wedding date: 19th March 2012
Wedding ceremony & reception: Rushton Hall
Wedding photographer: Tony Bayliss Photography
We met… Individually, we were both keen to do a snowboarding season and found work through First Choice (myself as a holiday rep and Ian as a waiter). We were attracted to each other straight away, but Ian took a whole two days to pluck up the courage to talk to me! When he did, he tried to seduce me by offering me a ‘glass of vinegar’ (which was actually really bad cheap wine). This joke broke the ice and we instantly became inseparable. Within a week, we had managed to convince our boss to let us share a room together (instead of with our allocated roommates). At the end of the season, we came back to the UK and returned to our individual homes (me in Nottingham and Ian in Kettering). The next day, we decided to move in together, Ian came and picked me up in his little Micra and we have been together ever since (and there was me thinking it was some sort of elongated holiday romance!). It did take Ian eight years to finally propose to me (after much hinting) and after eight fantastic years, we were able to start planning our magical day!
My dress… I had a strapless full length dress. It was really beautiful. I teamed it with a super long veil and diamante head piece.
Sarah’s first impressions of Ian… I was really drawn to his jeans in all honesty! He had the coolest pair of baggy/skater jeans and I remember thinking how awesome they were. He wasn’t too bad either!
Ian’s first impressions of Sarah… I was really attracted to Sarah because she was really pretty, had crazy curly hair and an amazing smile. Sarah was really friendly and had an outgoing/bubbly personality and was really fun to be around.
Our ceremony... It was beautiful and perfect. We held the ceremony in the drawing room at Rushton Hall. It was very traditional until we walked back down the aisle to Beautiful by Snoop Dog!
My favourite part of the wedding… Walking down to the ceremony from my room with my father and bridesmaids – I was a bundle of nerves! I also really enjoyed the photo shoot with Tony – he’s a great photographer and made me feel at ease in front of the camera (as usually I hate having my photo taken).
Our proposal… After eight years of hinting, I had actually given up and we went away (snowboarding again) to Samoens with a bunch of friends to enjoy a week of boarding in a luxury catered chalet with a hot tub! One evening as we were getting ready for dinner, Ian asked me to step outside on to our private balcony and he suddenly started to act quite strangely. He started to tell me how he really loved me, knew I was the one and how we would always be together and then, much to my surprise and astonishment, he got down on one knee (sending a few empty beer bottles flying in the process) and proposed to me! I was so surprised/happy I burst into tears!
We chose our venue because… it took my breath away the first day I drove down the long, sweeping driveway. At first the driveway is surrounded by trees, and then, you turn a hall and see Rushton Hall in all its glory. It truly is a beautiful place. I wish I could live there. It is the perfect wedding venue and the staff are amazing!
Our first dance song… One Day Like This by Elbow.
My advice for other brides… Enjoy every minute of it because the day itself goes by so quickly. Take advice from friends and family, but at the end of the day, go with your heart and what YOU want, because at the end of the day it’s YOUR special day and not theirs!