rectangular top table for the bride, the groom, the immediate family, the best man and maid-of-honour. To maintain the natural theme, the place cards were engraved on wooden pieces that also served as coasters, and guests received MacMillan Cancer Support sun and moon pins as wedding favours. Postcards from some of the newlyweds’ favourite places in Portugal and the New Forest acted as table names. Rhinefield provided a three-course menu for the wedding breakfast, as well as canapés with plenty of wine and bubbly throughout. This also allowed the couple to visit for a lavish-tasting dinner ahead of time. They opted for a caramelised onion and goat’s cheese tartlet with chutney for starters, roast chicken, potatoes, and garden vegetables in creamy thyme sauce for main, and light meringue with berries and ice cream for dessert. A simple yet elegant two-tier raspberry and lemon sponge cake covered in smooth buttercream icing and adorned with a stylish sprinkling of mixed berries was served in the evening. The couple also asked Esme’s Bakery to make an indulgent stack of gooey brownies for guests craving something more chocolatey. LOOKING THE PART The bride wore the style Varna by Justin Alexander, an off-the-shoulder ballgown in tulle and lace. It made her feel like a princess and was everything she’d dreamt of in a wedding dress: fairytale, feminine and flattering. She comments, “When all the details finally came together, I felt ready to be a bride. The nerves had definitely kicked in, but I felt my best self and excited to share the moment with our friends and family.” Tiago wore a three-piece suit with a navy paisley tie, tan brown shoes, a gold tie clip, a watch borrowed from his dad and a buttonhole to bring it all together. For the groomsmen, Tiago let everyone choose whatever they felt best in. No preference for colour or look. The best man, for example, went with a light grey three-piece wool suit, while the bride’s father opted for a more traditional navy. But they all went with the same tie as the groom just to have a little something tying the group together. For the bridesmaids, there was a range of preferences, styles and body types. So, while the general colour scheme was forest greens, everyone could pick their dress and neckline. The couple were so pleased with how well everyone coordinated. TIME TO CELEBRATE As the pair was still determining whether people would actually dance, they opted to only have a playlist of guest-requested songs for the evening. They did their best to construct the song order and selection with something for everyone, although the 80s and early 2000s had the majority. However, they quickly found nothing to worry about as loved ones danced until they had to turn the music off! Dancing Queen by ABBA brought everyone to the dancefloor, Come on Eileen got everyone clapping and stomping and Don’t Stop Me Now ruined everyone’s voices while trying to belt those high notes. The pair ended the night huddled in a big circle, swaying and singing to Angels by Robbie Williams. As a surprise for guests, the couple secretly arranged for fireworks to close out the main part of the day. The team at Selstar Fireworks created a spectacular display that just topped off the magical feeling. The sheer number of “oohs” and “aahs” from the crowd let the pair know exactly how guests felt, and it was a perfect end to a perfect day. MEMORABLE MOMENTS The day had plenty of emotions; the couple felt giddy, excited, nervous, emotional, overwhelmed, elated and very tired by the end. They experienced more feelings than they knew what to do with! The nerves disappeared after the ceremony, and they could fully lose themselves in all the wonder and joy of the day. It went by in a flash, and that first moment of locking eyes across the aisle will be an everlasting memory for the pair. Before heading out for the big day, Tiago’s best man surprised him by tying a big bow to the car they had rented for the occasion. It was such a sweet gesture! As they drove along, a few cars began honking at them after about five minutes, 35 REAL WEDDINGS
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