An Essex Wedding - Jan/Feb 2020 (Issue 90)

REAL WEDDINGS 43  LOOKING THE PART The bride found her fabulous Janine dress from Blue by Enzoani in MiliMili Bridal in Colchester. It was one of the first gowns Hannah tried on, and after looking in lots of other shops, she kept comparing everything back to it – she knew it was the one . “I loved its simplicity, with the embellished shoulders giving just a touch of sparkle,” Hannah says. “I also loved the idea of a backless dress, so it had everything I wanted. I’m a big believer in less is more.” She teamed the gown with a floor-length Swarovski-trimmed veil to bring together the whole look and for impact in the church. Sam found his suit in The Groom’s Room in Colchester. “He looks great in blue, but I really wanted him to wear black as I thought it’d be more classic-looking,” Hannah says. “When he tried it on, though, it was too heavy, so the blue suit with black lapels was ideal! He and the groomsmen looked so smart in bow ties.” Hannah’s maid-of-honour, sister Chloe, looked stunning in a soft green maxi dress with sparkly waist detail, while the two flowergirls were super-cute in ivory Monsoon numbers. MEMORABLE MOMENTS Both Hannah and Sam told us how loved they felt on the day. “To have all our family and friends celebrating with us was amazing,” Hannah says. “We didn’t stop smiling; we felt on top of the world!” In the build-up, it was the ceremony that was making Hannah feel most nervous. “It ended up being my favourite part of the day,” she laughs. “All the worry, stress and nerves went out of my head because I just wanted to enjoy the day. It’s easy for some people to lose sight of why they’re getting hitched, but all that matters is that you’ve chosen to get married because you love each other.” The couple wanted to thank everyone who attended their big day, as they all made it so special. “In particular my closest family members, who helped keep me sane during the planning,” Hannah says. “I made countless phone calls to my mum for advice!” WORDS OF WISDOM When asked what her advice would be for other newlyweds-to-be, Hannah said, “Remember why you’re doing it and don’t lose sight of that. Enjoy all of it, including the planning and the stress, because it goes so quickly. And before you know it, you’re sat here writing about it, and it feels like forever ago.”