Your Kent Wedding - March/April 2021 (Issue 95)

REAL WEDDINGS 37  Simply Ice Cream,” the bride explains. Later in the evening everyone enjoyed a selection of cheese and crackers. As neither bride nor groom have a particularly sweet tooth, they hadn’t planned to have a wedding cake, but this disappointed Andrew’s parents so much that they handed the responsibility over to them! The result was an elegant square-tiered fruit cake, decorated in the wedding colour palette, complete with a picture of the happy couple printed on it. LOOKING THE PART Christina looked stunning in Morilee by Madeline Gardener creation, Laurie . During her dress research she’d fallen in love with the idea of pockets. She tried on a couple of different styles at her Bromley Brides’ appointment, but ultimately fell head-over-heels for this pocketed design. Andrew wore a three-piece navy suit with a grey waistcoat, burgundy tie and white shirt paired with brown shoes. The groomsmen all wore the same with the exception of their waistcoats, which were blue, allowing the groom to stand out in his grey version. The beautiful bridesmaids wore long burgundy dresses, which they chose themselves. “We wanted everyone to feel comfy and happy on the day,” Christina explains. TIME TO CELEBRATE A live bagpiping band provided a fanfare to the bride’s entrance, as well as playing for an hour or so following the ceremony. This was one of Christina’s highlights, “They really created a special atmosphere,” she says. It was similarly a special moment for Andrew who says, “I have Scottish heritage on my grandad’s side, so it meant a lot to my family.” Later on, a DJ kept everyone entertained and on the dancefloor. “Dale understood the mood we wanted to create for the evening straight away. He had a feel for the direction to take it in to make sure everyone was enjoying themselves,” Christina recalls. The dancing was fuelled by the super-fun cocktails created by the bride and groom, since the barn permitted the couple to stock the bar themselves. A highlight of the evening was a flashmob dance routine organised and choreographed to Starships by Nicki Minaj by the maid-of-honour. “She sent all the guests a video teaching them the dance. It was really surprising and so much fun,” Christina remembers. MEMORABLE MOMENTS The bride says, “The first time I got really nervous on the day was the moment I arrived at the venue and saw everyone. Then the bagpipers started playing as my bridesmaids walked down the aisle, and I still had to wait behind the building!” For Andrew, the morning was the most nail-biting time. He says, “I just wanted everything to go perfectly. Christina had worked so hard on the preparations and I was worried it might rain, or the bus might break down! But as soon as I saw her walk down the aisle toward me, I knew the day was going to be perfect.” The couple would especially like to thank their photographer Nicola Tulip. Christina explains: “She offered us a pre-wedding shoot, which allowed us not only to get comfortable with her, but also put us at ease ready to be in front of the camera on the big day. This meant that everything went brilliantly and the results were amazing. We now have our special day captured perfectly forever. Plus, so many of our guests complimented her on her style of staying in the background while being able to control the crowd for group shots when needed.” THE BRIDE’S WORDS OF WISDOM “Get all of the planning out of the way early. Ask friends to help and have suppliers that you have a good feeling about and can trust, allowing you to relax and enjoy the day. “Don’t worry about what might go wrong on the day. If something does go awry, it doesn’t matter. Just enjoy every single moment with the love of your life and your guests.”