Your North East Wedding - Sep/Oct 2019 (Issue 34)

REAL WEDDINGS 39  shop, I tried on a Temperley 1970s boho-style design and knew it was the dress for me.” When it came to his outfit, the groom decided to play it casual, only searching for his suit a week before the big day! “Kyle had sourced his groomsmen’s outfits six months in advance but kept putting off his own suit until closer to the time,” says Rachel. “After much prompting, he eventually found it – a navy three-piece with faint yellow check and leather collar and cuffs. He complemented this with a yellow knitted tie, blue tartan shoes and a fresh sunflower and thistle buttonhole. He also wore a Parkinson’s UK charity badge, as my father suffers from the disease.” MAGIC MOMENTS Emotions ran high throughout the day, especially when the transport arrived to take Rachel to the venue. “Kyle had secretly bought the Campervan we’d travelled around Scotland in the year we got engaged!” says Rachel. “I was expecting a hired wedding car, so to see the camper pull up, with my dad in the back, was incredibly emotional. My mam sadly passed away when I was only a year old, so my dad and I are very close. He’s 80 now and suffering with his health, so this moment is one I’ll cherish forever.” A memory forever etched on Rachel and Kyle’s guests was the amount of entertainment the couple laid on. “We hired a steel band to perform for an hour on the beach for a pre-ceremony beach party,” shares Rachel. “We also booked a string quartet to play before and during our ceremony, hand-picking all the songs played that were personal to us. We organised a local acoustic singer to play during the drinks reception and then chose an eight- piece band, including brass sections, for the evening. They played a mix of upbeat songs, with everything from the ’60s to the present day – and as a result, the dancefloor was never empty!” “Don’t get stressed with over-thinking – instead, plan your wedding as if you’re planning a party of a lifetime!” – Rachel