When she first caught sight of herself on the big day, her reaction was a burst of excitement, saying, “Oh bloody hell. Here we go, girl.” On the other hand, Jay opted for a sage long-sleeve, flowy hippie wrap-around top paired with white wide-leg trousers and platform Doc Martens. Jess thought Jay looked lovely! As for the wedding party, they were given a colour palette of sage, olive, darker greens, natural stone and tans, along with a Pinterest board for some loose inspiration. The couple encouraged everyone to embrace their individuality rather than match too closely. While some found the freedom a bit challenging, in the end, everyone looked fantastic! TIME TO CELEBRATE At Kelham Hall, they have a music hall with incredible acoustics. Jay, a trained singer, took center stage and performed Habanera from the opera Carmen. You can even catch snippets of the performance on TikTok (@Jayradford). Many of their guests hadn’t had the chance to hear Jay sing live before, and they were absolutely blown away! Although Jay might shy away from boasting about it, the truth is that performance left a lasting impression on everyone. MEMORABLE MOMENTS Jess tried to stay present, but the nerves got the best of her until after her dinner speech. Looking back at the photos now, without the anxiety of the moment, she finds them incredibly helpful for remembering the lovely time they had and the joy everyone brought. There was a mix of excitement and disbelief – after six years, it was finally happening! One memory that will stick with Jess forever is sharing her vows with Jay. At that moment, the room could’ve been empty, and she wouldn’t have noticed. Jay later shared that what stood out was seeing Jess walk down the aisle, completely overcome with emotion. Jess’s three brothers, aged 26 to 33, were the adorable flowerboys and truly stole the show. She almost felt a twinge of sadness for not being able to see them while waiting outside! Tom, the eldest, even hid petals in his hat and dramatically shook them, mullet and all. Everyone who attended played a special role, whether helping Jess manage her overwhelming anxiety, decorating the venue, or simply sending well wishes. Each person there genuinely wanted to be part of this celebration and loved them both, making it more meaningful. Along with heartfelt speeches from family and friends, Jess couldn’t forget the support from Alex and Ellie, the wedding coordinators, who made every request feel effortless. They even took her on a fun off-roading adventure in a golf buggy with music blasting – a perfect way to kick off the wedding festivities! The couple’s photographer was the cherry on top, capturing the day so beautifully! It was a joy to reminisce about little moments and big highlights. Though Jess initially dreaded the photoshoot, Claudia made her feel completely at ease, turning it into a fun experience. HONEYMOON The couple went to Crete for two weeks for the honeymoon! They had some excursions planned for the second week once they got used to the heat, but Crete is so beautiful and crazy. The pair met the most hospitable (but nuts) people they’ve ever met, explored a beautiful island, and had mojitos every day – pretty good if you ask them! A highlight was a four-hour quad bike trip up a mountain, which was incredible. REAL WEDDINGS 29
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=