Sarah and DavidReal Weddings
What is your first name?
Sarah
What is your last name?
Jeffery
What is your maiden name?
Swindells
What is the name of your groom?
Dave
When was your wedding?
9th September 2009
What is your email address?
Would you like other brides to be able to email you?
yes
How and when did you meet?
We met in November 2003. We got chatting on a website, met up in real life for a meal and the rest is history 🙂
How old are you both?
I’m 29 and Dave is 32
Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?
I knew that Dave was thinking about proposing but wasnt sure whne he would do it. We went to Kefalonia on holiday in September 2006. We had decided to go to the top of a hill that was behind our hotel to take piccies of the sunset. I had my back to Dave taking pictures and thinking about what to have for dinner when Dave said that he had been thinking about us getting maried. I replied that he should just ask when he was ready. I turned around and he was on one knee with my beautiful ring in his hand.
Did you have hen and stag celebrations? If so, what did you do?
We did. I had a meal with some friends and Dave had a drunken night out dressed as fred flintstone for some reason.
How did your groom help with the wedding planning?
He mostly funded it, but did help with designing the save the date magnets and evening invites.
Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?
I only used the forums which were amazing in the planning process.
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?
N/A
Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it
I wore a one shoulder balerina length tafeta dress that was made for me by a local dress maker. It had a baby blue sash and sparkles around the top. I had a blue taira and fantastic shoes from Faith (that i have worn for all of about 10 minutes – i discovered that i couldnt walk in them!!)
Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?
I had my 2 close friends Jude and Sara. They wore blue dresses that we found in Debenhams.
Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?
Dave chose one of his friends, Pete, to be best man. They wore Linen suits from Marks and Spencers.
Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?
Civil ceremony that was done in English and then Greek.
Where did you hold your ceremony?
In Greece. On the island of Rhodes, in Lindos. The ceremony itself was conducted at St Pauls Bay outside the neautiful church there.
Where did you hold your reception?
We had one at Ambrosia, a lovely restaurant in Rhodes. Then we had a party back home for the people who couldnt come with us as the local Masonic Hall.
Did you have any special wedding transport?
Only taxis.
How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?
There were 17 of us in Greece including all family and friends, then there were 70ish at the reception here.
Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?
Not really, we carried on the blue clolur though the flowers but there was no real “theme”
How did you incorporate this in to your table settings?
Did you give your guests favours?
The guests in Greece got a little silver box with love hearts in and the guests back home got packets of love hearts
Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?
I had a bouquet of cream roses and gypsofelia with blue crystals in the roses hand wrapped with blue ribbon to match the ribbon on my dress. The bridesmaids had the same, but smaller with no crystals. The button holes were one rose with some greenery.
What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?
The menu was chosen by the guests on the day. They had a choice of Steak, Swordfish of Chicken with either rice, chips, jacket potato or mash. We had the wedding cake for dessert.
What did you choose for your wedding cake, and who made it?
We had a chocolate fudge cake with white chocolate shavings (not fans of fruit cake)
Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?
We had a DJ at the reception in the UK but nothing in Greece.
Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?
We had a gift list with Trailfinders to help with the cost of our honeymoon.
Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?
We had a minimoon after the wedding in Greece and stayed in a hotel called the Melenos. It was so lovely and relaxing. We are going on Honeymoon on the 21st Nov to Sugar Beach in Mauritius and then stopping off in Dubai for 2 days on the way home.
What was your most memorable moment of the day?
Oh my gosh there are so many ( i just asked Dave and he said seeing me walking down the hill to him :)) i think mine was meeting Dave at the top of the stairs to the church and him giving me my flowers. But then again it could be when the registrar pronouced us man and wife.
Did you experience any “nightmare” moments in the run up to your wedding or on the day?
Not really. We are both so laid back that nothing seems to bother us.
Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?
I wouldnt do anything differently, i loved every second of it. I would pass on the advice that i was given – every hour take 5minutes out with your hubby, step back and take it all in. Oh and take lots of piccies, it’ll fly by
