the brief. The ladies all clicked straight away, having bonded over Liverpool, Pride, disco and dogs, so they knew Olivia was the florist they could trust. “She was such an important part of our day, and throughout the entire planning process expertly brought together bold dahlias, gerberas, roses and tropical blooms with foliage, alongside disco balls and funky candles,” Ruth explains. The big-day bake was sourced from The Little Cakery in Liverpool. They kept it simple with vanilla and lemon sponges (their favourites) and matched the design to the wedding’s colour palette: hot pink and orange. The venue’s in-house caterers, Dine, provided the day’s delicious food. Ruth and Sam opted for the Lace Grill menu, looking to create a relaxed dining experience and definitely not wanting anyone to go hungry! Think big bowls of Ottolenghi-style salad alongside flavoursome meats and fresh breads. A trio of desserts was served for guests to enjoy after the main course. When it came to drinks selections, the two remained on track with their chilled vibe and chose cans of beer and cocktails for the tables. “We wanted guests to feel like they were at a boozy brunch with friends!” Ruth explains. LOOKING THE PART In her wedding-day attire, Ruth was looking for something relaxed but still elegant. She went down to London for the weekend with her mum and sister and visited Rixo’s King’s Road store in Chelsea. “The shop itself is unbelievably cool, and the bridal area even more so.” Ruth remembers. “We walked into the back, behind a velvet curtain, and ABBA was blasting out from the speakers. I knew we were in the right place!” Looking for something with a 70s disco vibe, the bride found everything she’d pictured in the sequins and bell sleeves of the first and only dress she tried on. “When you know, you know,” she says. Sam found her outfit at Catherine Deane; a wide-leg trouser and full-lace bodice. Much like Ruth she had a clear idea of what she wanted from the outset, so it was just a case of finding it. Once she’d done that, it was a fait accompli. The bridesmaids’ suits were all from Zara. “We loved the dusky pink colour and felt the feathered sleeves added a bit of Scouse drama!” Ruth says. Each member of the bride tribe chose their own top, styled their hair how they wanted it and wore their own shoes. “Much like the vibe of the entire day, we wanted them to feel relaxed and be able to pull some serious shapes when the music started,” Ruth continues. “A wedding can be a stressful time, but try to take a moment if things get too much, and remind yourself that you’re marrying your best friend in front of your loved ones.” – Ruth TIME TO CELEBRATE The Big Gospel Choir started the party with a set of disco, soul and garage tunes. “Special mention needs to go to the vocalist who hit all the key changes in Beyonce’s Love On Top, not easy!” says Ruth. The night was closed out with DJ Tony Maloney bringing it home with some old school dance anthems. MEMORABLE MOMENTS “There are two moments that stick in my mind,” Ruth tells us. “The speeches from two of our bridesmaids were unreal. Those girls know how to work a room! Tears, laughter, props... they had it all. Another memory was Sam and I sharing a tequila shot directly after the ceremony while the guests were still seated. It was waiting for us when we reached the end of the aisle, and gave us a minute to celebrate just the two of us.” Ruth would also like to give a special shout out to their photographer, Vicki from Willow & Wilde: “Meeting her at our friend’s wedding earlier that year, seeing how she worked and interacted with the bride and groom, then seeing the finished photos, we knew she’d be perfect. She was such an important part of the day and much like our florist, she just got it. She was a super-calming and fun presence. “Finally, our celebrant Wendi was absolutely wonderful both on the day and in the lead up. Funny, outrageous and with that wonderful Scouse wit, she has a way of putting you at ease. I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else to do our ceremony.” 29 REAL WEDDINGS
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