Ruth and Steve’s Real Life Wedding

 

Ruth and Steve

03/12/2005 – The Wessex Centre, Sparsholt, Winchester

 

     
   

How and when did you meet?

Steve and I had known each other as friends for several years through a local rock band – he was lead singer. When we both met up after splitting from previous partners we just clicked.

How old are you both?

I am 39 and Steve is 37.

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

Steve proposed while we were on holiday on the beautiful island of Hvar. He proposed under the stars and stars became our theme for the wedding.

Did you have hen and stag celebrations?

I had a lovely meal with close friends and family. Steve had a more traditional stag do with his mates.

Did your groom help you with the wedding planning?

Steve was great with helping with decisions. He also knew quite a bit about my dress as I valued his opinion. He also designed our invitations and table plan from a photo he had taken of a heart shaped stone we had found on a beach on Valentine’s Day.

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

There were times when I became addicted to the message boards! I found the advice pages very useful too.

Do you have a confetti web page?

No, it’s too technical for me!

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

I also bought our lovely favours boxes and cameras from the site to fit our stars theme.

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

The dress was designed by Karen Jarmarkier, a v-neck long sleeved purple velvet dress with glass beads at neckline and hem.

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

We decided not to have bridesmaids and had a relaxed and informal day.

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

Steve choose his good friend Darren. The ushers wore matching charcoal suits with lilac shirts and purple ties.

Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?

We had a civil ceremony and with two readings – ‘Apache Blessing’ and the children’s book ‘No Matter What’ by Bebi Gliori.

Where did you hold your ceremony?

The Wessex Centre, Sparsholt, Winchester.

Where did you hold your reception?

The Wessex Centre, Sparsholt, Winchester.

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?

We had around 90 guests.

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

We had stars everywhere and the colours were purple, lilac and silver.

How did you incorporate this in to your table settings?

We had candles on mirror tiles with star nuggets around them. There were star confetti on the tables, star cameras and favour boxes and silver garlands of stars twisted in glasses on the table.

Did you give your guests favours?

They had two chocolate stars nestled in more of the star garland in favour boxes.

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

My florist was Amore in Basingstoke. She did a great job. I had a bouquet of a single white lily with Singapore orchids and ivy trailing. We had arrangements of white lilies, orchids, roses and chrysants, they smelt beautiful too.

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

We had a simple meal of melon, leek and cheese flan for starter, roast beef or vegetable wellington followed by chocolate and orange mousse or treacle tart (my favourite!).

What did you choose for your wedding cake?

Our cake was designed to represent a stack of parcels with each layer ‘wrapped’ in white with silver stars and lilac.The top layer was a mini version of our favours box with a star cake topper.

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

We asked for vouchers to help with bigger tasks in the house.

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

We had our first night in a hotel in Winchester but our honeymoon was in Zanzibar which was absolutely fabulous. The company Zanzibar Travel and Michael Sweeney were superb in organising it for us.

What was your most memorable moment of the day?

I was really surprised at how emotional Steve was when he saw me!

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

The search for purple fur to edge the bolero was a bit of a worry.

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

I have advised other friends not to jet off on honeymoon the very next day.

Download the free wedding planning app

Plan your dream wedding with Wedx, the free wedding planning app that makes organising your big day a breeze. With a countdown clock and intuitive planning tools, you'll stay on top of every detail. Discover amazing suppliers, explore their services, and view stunning photos and videos, all in one place. Wedx helps you connect with the perfect professionals to bring your wedding vision to life.

Free App Right Arrow
Wedx Icon

Claim your free wedding magazine

Claim your free copy of Confetti Magazine, one of the UK's premier wedding publications. Inside its beautifully curated pages, you'll find expert tips, checklists, and inspiring real-life stories to spark your imagination and plan your dream day with confidence, ensuring your wedding is just the way you envision it, down to the last detail.

Free Magazine Right Arrow
Confetti Magazine

Find Wedding Ideas, Inspiration, Venues and Services