Rachel and Stephen’s Real Life Wedding
Rachel and Stephen
14/10/2006 – The Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Bolton
How and when did you meet?
Through work.
How old are you both?
28 and 36.
Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?
Steve took me to Paris for my birthday and after a day of sight seeing, we returned to the hotel to get ready to go out for a meal and he proposed to me there.
Did you have hen and stag celebrations? If so, what did you do?
We decided not to have a hen/stag do as this was both our second weddings and we thought it would not be appropriate.
How did your groom help with the wedding planning?
Steve was great. He helped me every step of the way. We had said that we would plan it all together so that we both got everything that we wanted.
Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?
I used confetti to give me ideas on wedding stationery and colour schemes. It really did help as we could order booklets and samples.
Do you have a confetti web page?
Yes, I started to use it in the beginning but to be honest, with everything going on I forgot to update it!
Did you buy any confetti products for your wedding? If so, did you visit a store, buy online or by mail order?
Yes, I ordered a guest book online.
Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it
My dress was dark red with diamonds sewn on the side. I bought it at Classic Brides in Bolton. The ladies were very helpful and gave me advice on underwear, shoes, and makeup.
Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?
I didn’t have any bridesmaids.
Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?
Steve chose to have both of his best friends as best men and ushers. We couldn’t decide who to have as they both mean very much to both of us.
Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?
We had a civil ceremony.
Where did you hold your ceremony?
The Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Bolton.
Where did you hold your reception?
The Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Bolton.
Did you have any special wedding transport?
No.
How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?
32 came to the wedding and then 100 to the evening.
Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?
Our outfits were based around white and red.
Did you give your guests favours?
No, we gave money to the Meningitis trust instead.
Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?
My bouquet was white orchids and red roses with foliage. The men had red roses and both mums had orchids.
What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?
We had leek and potato soup, roast beef with all the trimmings and creme caramel for dessert followed by cheese and biscuits and petit fours. Australian white/red wine, champagne and coffee.
What did you choose for your wedding cake, and who made it?
We decided on a character cake which we designed with the help of Slaters in Whitefield.
Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?
We had a DJ in the evening.
Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?
We didn’t set up a gift list as we have been together for a while and have most things. If people wanted to but us a gift we asked for vouchers so that we could then buy the things we really needed or wanted to replace.
Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?
We spent our first night at the hotel and then flew out on the Monday to our honeymoon. We had one week in Toronto, a weekend in Niagara Falls and then one week in New York. We booked our honeymoon through Harvey Worldtravel.
What was your most memorable moment of the day?
For me the most memorable moment was walking down the aisle with my dad and seeing Steve’s face when he saw my dress.
Did you experience any ‘nightmare’ moments in the run up to your wedding or on the day?
No, we were very luckily we had no ‘nightmares’ before the day, everything was too planned for that!
Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?
I would have done nothing differently. My advice to other brides would be – make sure you plan your day how you want it to be, not to please someone else. Set yourself a budget and don’t go mad with the cash.
