Your Kent Wedding -September/October 2020 (Issue 92)

REAL WEDDINGS 39  to make him stand out from the groomsmen. He accessorised with a purple tie, tri-fold pocket square and small sunflower buttonhole. Jamie says, “My bride also gave me a sterling silver tie clip and she’d embroidered a message on the underside of my tie, which read: ‘our forever starts today,’ with our wedding date.” The groomsmen were dressed in matching blue suits, with waistcoats for the best man and the couple’s fathers. The bridesmaids wore multi-way purple maxi dresses. Two of the girls wore it in a one-shoulder style and the other two as a halter neck. They were accessorised with matching silver earrings and bracelets, a thank-you gift from the couple. TIME TO CELEBRATE Melissa had considered making a bride’s speech, but instead opted to surprise the groom with a song, which she performed with ladies’ vocal chorus Viva Acappella. They sang one of his favourite songs I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith. Melissa recalls, “Jamie’s reaction was priceless and definitely made sneaking out to rehearsals worthwhile.” Instead of wedding favours, the newlyweds treated their day guests to a VIP safari around the zoo following the speeches. When they returned, as the evening guests started to arrive, bridesmaid Hannah Bruce performed Make You Feel My Love by Adele/Bob Dylan. “It was an incredible performance and a really special moment,” Melissa says. Thanks to the beautiful summer’s evening, they were able to set up the DIY photo booth outside. They’d gathered a range of props and fancy dress for use with the personalised frame, made by the father-of-the-bride. The bride says, “It produced some hilarious photos, which we found on our camera a few weeks later.” Melissa had Jamie had been taking dance lessons in the lead up to the big day, which were a wedding gift from the bride’s godmother and her family. Their teacher had choreographed a routine to Michael Bublé’s cover of You’ve Got a Friend in Me . This choreographed first dance was a surprise to most guests, and they were all suitably impressed. But, despite being dedicated in rehearsals, nothing had prepared them for how much harder the routine would be in a wedding dress! THE NEWLYWEDS’ TOP TIPS Melissa says, “Allow plenty of time to get ready and travel to the venue in the morning, if that’s what you’re doing. Plan the time you need and then add at least an hour. That time in the morning flies by, and you never know what unexpected events might occur along the way.” Jamie says, “It may be a cliché, but try to enjoy every moment. They day will pass in a flash, so soak it in as much as possible. Also, take a moment for you and your partner to appreciate what a special day it is for the two of you, even if it’s just a quiet five minutes together.”