stage, surrounded by the beauty we had envisioned. Having had the time to focus on what we wanted and then making it a reality made our wedding day even more meaningful. It was a celebration of not just our love for each other but also our commitment to creating a life together that was truly our own.” For their favours, Sam and Jen made candles using dessert pots and a candle-making set. “We chose pink candles, burgundy ribbons and tags that said ‘let love glow’,” recalls Jen. “Closer to the wedding, Sam mentioned that she wanted to include Jordan almonds or bonbonnieres. Five almonds represent five wishes for the happy couple: health, wealth, fertility, happiness and longevity. As Sam is part Cypriot, this was an ode to her heritage. “The place names were my favourite part of the décor,” adds Jen. “I handwrote every guest a note from myself (Sam included) that acted as their place name. In a burgundy envelope with gold calligraphy writing on the front, there was a short note thanking them for coming and a personal message to each guest, either with a memory or kind words to say what they meant to me.” To create their flowers, Sam and Jen hired Wendy at Blush & Bloom Florals. “Wendy did an amazing job,” says Jen. “We each had a bouquet that was slightly different in style to show our personalities. Our best woman had a smaller version of ours, the best man and two men who walked us down the aisle had buttonholes and we chose corsages for our mothers. “Having dabbled in cake making during my college years, we decided to make our wedding cake,” continues Jen. “It was odd being knee deep in cake icing at 9:30am and, by 10am, going back upstairs to get ready! It was so worth the stress. Our cake topper was a resin and clay personalised figurine of Sam and I with our dog Cooper. We are big football fans, so we are both wearing our teams football tops over our dresses.” DRESSED TO IMPRESS “I wore a beautiful Allure Bridal gown with a mocha underlay,” shares Jen. “I knew I wanted an A-line style and lace. I loved this dress because of the illusional back and soft shimmer. I saw it at a wedding fair and knew it was my dress. When I got to finally try it on, there was no doubt. I had my seamstress sew a piece of my dad’s old shirt into the inside of my dress next to my heart. This was an ode to my father and, in particular, to my nan Ivy, who passed away in 2004. She was my person and we shared a birthday. Sam wore a gown by Rosa Clara called Celia. It had short sleeves and a mermaid cut perfect for creating a feminine hourglass shape.” MEMORABLE MOMENTS “It’s so cliché to say it was the best day of my life, but it was,” explains Jen. “There were two moments that caught me off guard. First, when I was at the top of the aisle and I saw Sam for the first time. It was like slow motion. We didn’t know what each other was wearing, so it was surprising to see her, but it took me right back to the first moment that I saw her in that kitchen. Secondly, it was when Sam made her speech. She doesn’t say much, but hearing her speak to our guests and hearing her point of view on our big day was wonderful. For Sam, writing her vows and hearing mine were a highlight. She was nervous, but as soon as she saw me and we were in the pagoda, the rest of the world melted away. She was also humbled by how many people came and by having Fred, her uncle, there. “We chose to do a private last dance to Hold My Hand by Lady Gaga, and it was one of my favourite moments of the whole day,” adds Jen. “It was arranged to give the team time to set up the sparkler exit, but it was so moving to have that moment for just us.” 41 REAL WEDDINGS
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