Your Real Wedding
Clare and Simon met in February 2005 when Clare moved to London from Liverpool to start a new job in 'The Big Smoke'. Clare’s first encounter with Simon was one Friday evening when she was taken to a pub to meet a few new people, one of whom was Simon. However, Simon got rather drunk and Clare ended up having to put a drunken Simon into a taxi. The next morning feeling very worried that Simon hadn't got home or that she had sent him to some random address she text him to check he was ok. The rest as they say is history!
The Proposal
Simon unexpectedly proposed on 20th June 2008. They were out having a drink at a local pub when, at about 10pm, Simon got down on one knee and asked Clare to marry him, using one of the rings already on Clare’s fingers. She immediately said yes. Simon admits that the proposal was not planned but the moment just felt right.
The Bride’s Outfit
Clare’s wedding dress was a strapless A-line dress from Ring O Roses in Croydon. Clare originally went out looking for a dress with straps as she thought she was too broad for a strapless one, but a lady in one of the shops convinced her to at least try one on, after which her decision was made. Clare originally saw her dress in the second shop she visited and after continuing to look online and in further shops she soon decided it was 'the one'.
The Groom’s Outfit
Simon's outfit, along with the other male members of the wedding party, was hired from Pronuptia. It was a classic Oxford morning suit without the top hat. Simon's waistcoat and cravat were ivory coloured whilst the other male members of the wedding party had pale pink cravats with ivory and pink waistcoats.
The Bridal Party
Clare’s best friend Emma was her bridesmaid and Simon’s cousins were her two flower girls. Emma wore a full length pale pink dress bought from Next whilst Lacey and Brooke wore ivory dresses which were bought from Bhs.
Simon and his best man, his best friend Matt, wore Oxford morning suits and Clare and Simon had two page boys, Clare’s twin nephews Daniel and Ryan.
Flowers
Calla Lilies were the flower of choice for the wedding. Clare’s bouquet comprised a very simple over the arm arrangement of approximately eight ivory calla lilies wrapped in ivory ribbon with a diamante pin. Emma's bouquet was again a simple arrangement of three pale pink calla lilies whilst the flower girls had 'wands' made up of a single calla lily each. The buttonholes were calla lilies and the corsages were calla lilies with an orchard.
Table centre pieces of three tall calla lilies with some greenery were placed on each of the wedding breakfast tables whilst a long centre piece was placed on the top table (this was also used during the civil ceremony). All of the flowers were bought from a shop called Just Flowers in Southport.
The Ceremony & Reception
Simon and Clare were married at Formby Hall Golf Club in a civil ceremony and had around 115 guests attending for the day and evening reception.
The Cake
Clare and Simon chose a four-tier wedding cake with each tier being a different flavour. The tiers consisted of fruit on the bottom, followed by white chocolate sponge, lemon sponge and carrot cake. The cake kept in line with the theme of the wedding in that it was ivory and decorated with calla lilies. The cake was cut after the wedding breakfast and before the evening reception.
The Photographer
Local photographer Nicholas from www.theweddingphotographycompany.co.uk provided the wedding photography. “We have lots of favourite wedding photographs most of which are the natural, unposed ones in which Simon and I are laughing and joking with one another.”
The Honeymoon
The honeymoon was booked through www.bestathoneymoons.co.uk and they spent three weeks in Phuket.
Details
The decor at the wedding venue was kept to a minimum and just had the flowers and chair covers (white with pink bows). For the adult favours they gave two of their favourite Thorntons chocolates in a personalised two-truffle favour box bought from www.thefavourstore.co.uk and for the children Clare made up personalised party boxes comprising homemade colouring books, crayons, toys, bubbles, etc. to keep them entertained for the duration of the wedding breakfast.
Bride’s Top Tip
“Don't worry if people say you're planning too early, that way you won't forget anything (lists are a must!!!). Also, if something goes wrong on the day, don't worry about it as the main thing is you marry the one you love!”
Bride’s Beauty Tips
“Drink plenty of water. Don't grow your hair for the sake of it because it's your wedding day, if you like and have short hair keep it that way as that's the person your husband-to-be fell in love with!”
Photography: www.theweddingphotographycompany.co.uk
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