bring their vision to life. She added flowers from the arrangements, accented with gold leaf to match the theme and bring the couple’s vision to life, all while having duties as a bridesmaid. The bake looked stunning and tasted amazing! LOOKING THE PART The bride found her wedding dress from the designer Phoenix Gowns at The Bridal Mill in Botley. Erin says, “The style called Katie was the opposite of what I had in mind, a common occurrence among brides, or so I was told. It was simple: a boned corset, a beautiful laced back and a long train with buttons. I had a little bit of sparkle added around my waist to add a bit of extra elegance. “I had to pause momentarily while getting ready as I had butterflies when I was getting my make-up done. That first look gave me time to collect myself, see everything come together for the first time, and truly settle into being a bride. My hair and make-up were everything I had envisioned and more – I felt amazing!” Luke wore a royal blue three-piece suit from Suit Direct. He wore a purple bow tie to stand out, which was fitting for him, while his groomsmen wore ties. The groom also wore his grandad’s cufflinks to honour him and wear the family heirloom with pride. The bridesmaids wore long purple chiffon dresses, which suited them perfectly! Erin wanted them to stand out, let their personalities come through all while looking very beautiful. TIME TO CELEBRATE The lovebirds hired Hampshire Events DJs, who were very professional. Their system allowed the pair to pick the music they liked and what they didn’t like ahead of time, making the playlist to their taste for the whole evening. At the bride and groom’s request, they ended the night playing Closing Time by Semisonic, which they felt was fitting. Fancy Photo Booth were a hit with guests, with plenty of props and unlimited opportunities to snap fun photos. The team put together a photo book with all the images from the night and messages from all the guests, which was a nice touch. MEMORABLE MOMENTS The bride woke up bright-eyed, feeling excited and a little nervous. Her mum and sister were by her side from the moment she woke up, and she was soon surrounded by the rest of the bridal party later that morning, where the celebrations began. Luke was having a great time getting suited and booted with his groomsmen. They all shared a drink in HarBAR on 6th ahead of the wedding. The bride comments, “Getting ready with the most important women and men in our life is something we will never forget. My mum and sister helped with my wedding dress; it’s a moment I’ll only ever experience once. Luke shared a private moment with his dad while getting ready; he told Luke how proud he was to be by his side on our special day. We’re both lucky to have had these moments.” Seeing each other for the first time was a special memory for the pair. Erin says, “I think time froze for both of us, just for a second. All my nerves faded away as soon as I saw Luke; I was where I was meant to be. We took the time to make our vows, which were emotional, anecdotes and thoughtful promises. There were a few tears between us and amongst our loved ones too. “Being announced as husband and wife and seeing all our family and friends cheering us on as we took our seats felt so joyous and surreal. I thought we’d made it – we’re husband and wife! “A funny moment was when we caught my dad having an Asahi beer, which he shouldn’t have, as he is gluten-free. When caught, instead of getting a new drink, he downed the pint like a teenager, which now we look back is quite funny. No harm was done, and he really enjoyed himself.” “We had wonderful speeches from my dad, stepdad, Luke’s best men, and, of course, the groom himself. Each one was unique, funny, and truly heartfelt. There was plenty of laughter and joy in the room. They all made us proud, which we will never forget. “I shared a father/daughter dance with my dad and stepdad, each having a song reflective of our bond and journey together – it was very emotional! These 35 REAL WEDDINGS
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