Rachel and David’s Real Life Wedding

 

Rachel and David

20/08/2005 – Lakenheath Baptist Chapel
Culford School, near Bury St Edmunds

   

How and when did you meet?

Very unexciting! I rented a room from David’s cousin and there was another lad there who he was friends with. He used to come over a lot to see them when he got back from a year abroad, while he was still job hunting. The lads went on holiday to Bolivia for a month but David kept coming round..!

How old are you both?

I’m 26 and he’s 28.

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

He proposed in a park in Belgium, on one knee on a piece of paper so he didn’t get dirty! We’d travelled there on the Eurostar for a day trip and it was lovely.

Did you have hen and stag celebrations?

Only small ones … my sister arranged a ‘Derby Day’ and BBQ for me and about 20 friends and on the same evening David had a raucous BBQ and then played civilised golf the next day with his mates in Kent.

Did your groom help you with the wedding planning?

When he had to! I tried to include him but he wasn’t too fussed, which bothered me because I had no clear ideas about what I wanted and really needed his input. I ended up doing most of it on my own just getting his approval if I thought I needed it!

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

A little, the chat room became addictive towards the end!

Do you have a confetti web page?

No.

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

Bought some petals from here and a lovely guest book.

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

It was a fab Sincerity dress in ivory with burgundy boning on the bodice, burgundy piping, buttons and roses on it. It was bought from a small boutique in Suffolk where I also got my tiara, veil and shoes.

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

I had… wait for it… six adult bridesmaids! Three of David’s sisters, two of mine and my cousin. My mum made the dresses – simple burgundy two-piece dresses that reflected my neckline and sleeves with beige/gold piping, buttons and roses.

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

He chose his best friend Nick as best man and they wore gold cravats, a smart waistcoat and tails. The ushers were our brothers and cousins and they wore beige/gold waistcoats, burgundy ruche ties and then wheat buttonholes!

Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?

A religious ceremony.

Where did you hold your ceremony?

Lakenheath Baptist Chapel.

Where did you hold your reception?

Culford School, near Bury St Edmunds… a lovely old manor house with gorgeous gardens where I went to school.

Did you have any special wedding transport?

Special to us … my brother drove us in a friend’s BMW and a close friend drove all the bridesmaids in my parents’ VW Camper van that my Dad had done up over the summer.

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

160 guests all day.

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

Yes – burgundy was the main colour, wheat was the secondary colour and we tried for ‘simple but classy.’

How did you incorporate this in to your table settings?

We had wheatsheafs made from wheat from a friend’s farm with burgundy ribbon.

Did you give your guests favours?

No, we didn’t.

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

I had passion red roses with liseanthus and wheat in a small shower bouquet.

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

The school’s head caterer did a sterling job and made us melon/prawn starters, a choice of beef stroganoff or chicken and leek with salads, rice and potatoes. For afters, we had our respective favourites – profiteroles or banoffee pie.

What did you choose for your wedding cake?

We had a huge cake – four tiers, again made by a friend. It had squares in a tower, with each layer getting smaller and being rotated slightly so it was in a slight spiral. It then had wheat and roses draped around one corner.

Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?

A friend played the piano.

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

We had a list with Debenhams and had absolutely no problems at all – our second delivery was last Monday.

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

Our first night was spent at our house as we’d not lived together before so that was special. The next night we stayed in a hotel in Heathrow before flying to Australia for three weeks. The honeymoon was booked through Trailfinders although David did a lot of it himself too.

What was your most memorable moment of the day?

David squeezing my hand when I reached him; him getting emotional during the vows and just looking into his eyes, saying mine, as if no-one else mattered.

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

Not really – I didn’t eat properly the day before and went to bed late which was a bad start. I woke up at 4am and was rough until about 9.30am which wasn’t good as the wedding was at 11am!

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

I wouldn’t do anything else differently – I would say a video and a mate with a digital camera are a must for those memories. Being able to relive the day makes it even more special. And eat well the day before!