Nicola and Chris first met at school when they were just 7 years old.  They became friends as teenagers, sharing a passion for heavy metal music, but lost contact after studying at different colleges.  At the age of 19 they found each other again on Facebook, eventually swapping numbers and becoming an item in November 2008.

The Proposal

Chris proposed on the 20th June 2009. Nicola's mum and nan had travelled to Cornwall to see the new flat Nicola and Chris had just moved in to. After lunch in a local pub, Chris suggested to Nicola that they went for a walk on their local beach. As they walked Chris turned to Nicola, got down on one knee and proposed. It turned out Nicola’s mum and nan were in on the plan as they had cameras at the ready!

Wedding Theme

Nicola and Chris wanted the wedding theme to be ‘stylish’ and very ‘classic’.  They chose black and white as their colour scheme and had butterflies as another theme throughout the wedding.

The Bride and Groom’s Outfits

Nicola’s wedding dress was just what she was looking for. After visiting a local bridal shop with her mum and spending 4 hours trying on dresses she found the perfect dress style but it was not available in the colour she wanted. Nicola then went online and found a company that would copy the dress for her to her exact requirements. Nicola’s wedding dress was pure white and she had black detailing added so it would fit in with the theme of the wedding. Nicola’s dress had a fitted bodice top and a very big skirt with a long train. Nicola had black sequins added to the front and black lace down the back of the bodice.

Nick’s suit was hired from Moss Bros. He wore a long black jacket, grey pinstripe trousers, ivory waistcoat and a white cravat.

The Bridal Party

Nicola’s bridesmaids all wore full length dresses with a fitted bodice.  Her sister was chief bridesmaid and her two good friends Laura and Shell bridesmaids.  There were 3 flower girls who wore white full length dresses with black sashes, 2 page boys who wore black suits with waistcoats and silver ties, and Chris’s best man Tim wore the same as Chris, except his waistcoat was silver and jacket slightly shorter.

Flowers

The wedding flowers all came from Reynolds florist. They had pink and white roses, cerise germinis, orchids and lilies for the bouquets. The men wore white rose buttonholes and the table centrepieces were fish bowls with lilies inside.

The Ceremony and Reception

Nicola and Chris had a traditional church ceremony in Mortehoe church, attended by 80 guests. The ceremony was held by the local vicar and featured hymns and a reading on marriage which was read by a close family friend.

The wedding reception was held at the Woolacombe Bay Hotel. Nicola and Chris chose this wedding venue as it is close to the beach and the sea with beautiful views. 80 guests attended the wedding breakfast with more guests arriving for the evening reception.

The Cake

The wedding cake was a traditional 3 tiered cake. The bottom tier was a traditional fruit cake with white icing, the middle tier was a chocolate sponge with black icing, and the top layer was Victoria sponge with white icing. It was decorated with small flowers and glittered butterflies, and also had a humorous cake topper.

The Photographer

The wedding photographer was Martin Gammon of Here and Now Photography.  Martin is Nicola’s uncle, and she has always admired his work so was very excited to have him as their wedding photographer.  Nicola says she couldn’t possibly pick a favourite picture as she loves them all!

The Honeymoon

Nicola and Chris spent 4 nights in a luxury 5 star log cabin in Berwick upon Tweed in Scotland, complete with hot tub!

Best Memories

“Everything! I loved every minute but I will never forget Chris's face when I arrived at the altar, and also dad and Chris's wedding speeches as they were so meaningful. I also felt very beautiful on my wedding day and I loved feeling that way for such a special celebration.”

The Wedding Community

“We found the photos section in particular very useful for ideas and inspiration.”

Tips and Ideas

“Look on the internet for inspiration. I found lots of ideas and pieces to make the day extra special. Also joining a wedding forum helps.”

Bride’s Top Tips

“Relax and enjoy! It’s your special day so really enjoy being pampered.”

Groom’s Top Tip

“Do the speeches before you eat! The nerves stopped me eating and enjoying the meal.”

Best Buy

“My wedding dress. It was custom made but not too expensive.”

Money Saving Tips

“Use the internet. We found bits and pieces online that were a fraction of the price. I also made our own invitations and order of service.”

Bride’s Beauty Tips

“Have a facial a week before the big day. It clears the skin and makes you feel fresher.”

Photography: Here and Now Photography