in for the day, serving a hog roast with all the trimmings,” adds Samantha. “There were gluten-free bread rolls available and a vegan curry which could be served with the jacket potatoes and the vegan salads. In the evening, we had a barbecue with burgers, sausages and vegan sausages.” DRESSED TO IMPRESS “I wore a Chantilly lace dress from Bride & Bloom, which had a sweetheart neckline, balloon sleeves and a bolero jacket that was easily removable, transforming the dress from day to evening,” explains Samantha. “The jacket fastened with pearls and feathers, so I wore my grandmother’s pearl necklace and my mother’s pearl ring to complement it. Whilst I had seen a few dresses online, Jane at Bride & Bloom absolutely knocked it out of the park when she found this one for me. She listened to everything I wanted from the day and when she pulled that dress, I knew immediately that it was the one. Jane and Bernice were absolute godsends on the morning of the wedding; both were on hand for last-minute details, with Jane coming over in the morning to help me into my dress and ensure all bridesmaids’ flowers etc were perfect.” Justin and the groomsmen wore matching grey tweed suits with sage green ties and handkerchiefs. “I had seven bridesmaids,” shares the bride. “They varied in age, with each one having hang-ups on their looks/body types. I wanted them to feel beautiful, so we decided on matching skirts and each bridesmaid chose a top in ivory which they felt suited them whilst still complementing the theme. The skirts were handmade by my mum who was a seamstress in previous years. They were made from a beautiful soft sage tulle with lots of layers and were lined with sage satin.” TIME TO CELEBRATE To keep everyone entertained, the couple went all out with their entertainment. “We had Magician Josh Maddocks perform for the guests during cocktail hour, he was a huge hit, and our guests raved about him,” recalls Samantha. “A helter-skelter was provided by Inflate-a-bubbles for the kids and adults alike, which fit with the festival theme. Jukebox Money played in the afternoon into the early evening and had the dancefloor filled. They sang (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life and Justin and I attempted the lift from Dirty Dancing; it was not the most graceful, but he got me into the air to a rapturous applause. DJ Jak Ropa followed and started with our first dance and played into the early hours of the morning, then for all guests staying over, we had a silent disco which carried on until sunrise. We wanted to make the most of every minute and give all of our guests something memorable to go away with. A photo booth was provided with printouts which was a hit, particularly once the drinking got underway. We also had Face ‘n’ Glitz provide an outstanding glitter experience, complete with a glitter bar and walk-around glitter girls to get everybody sparkling for the evening ahead.” MEMORABLE MOMENTS “I felt blessed that all of our nearest and dearest were there to help us celebrate,” remembers Samantha. “I was grateful that we both got to spend lots of time together on the day but more importantly, that I got to marry the man of my dreams. The whole day was amazing. “My son walking me down the aisle alongside my dad was one of the most beautiful moments, and having both our daughters as bridesmaids really made the wedding a coming together of families,” continues the bride. “The best man’s speech was hilarious, and it was wonderful to hear about Justin’s adventures years before we met, although we needed to cover 43 REAL WEDDINGS
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