DRESSED TO IMPRESS “I wore a beautiful beaded tulle gown called CZ356 by Cizzy Bridal from Epernay Bridal,” says Rachael. “I had some adjustments made to make it my dream dress. I tried on probably 40–50 wedding dresses, but kept going back to this one in my head. I always wanted to feel like a princess on my wedding day, and I felt like the floral beading and the soft ivory colour fit with the venue and the time of year. I had the bodice filled in, the waistline lifted and multiple layers of tulle added to give it a real princess feel. I also had a small piece of lace from my grandma’s wedding dress sewn into the skirt as my something old. I wore a beaded hair vine around the back of my hair, with a floor-length veil dotted with sparkles, earrings that Andrew bought me as a wedding gift that matched the shape of my engagement ring, a necklace I had borrowed from a family friend, and a ring that was my last Christmas present from my dad, so I felt like he was with me on the day.” Andrew opted for a custom-made Moss suit in navy and gold check with brass buttons and a blue and white lining. He wore tan shoes, a matching gold knit tie and a pocket square. “My bridesmaids wore midnight blue one-shoulder chiffon floor-length dresses from ASOS,” shares Rachael. “We looked at a lot of stores but weren’t always impressed by their plus-size ranges. ASOS had lots of options in a range of sizes. Our flowergirl was going to wear ivory, but as soon as I spotted the midnight blue satin and tulle dress in Monsoon, I knew it was perfect!” TIME TO CELEBRATE “We are very lucky to have a friend who sings and plays the guitar, so he kindly performed during our drinks reception,” explains Rachael. “It was so lovely, as we had fantastic weather, so our guests were able to enjoy his music in the sun. In the evening, we had a live band called Eli, who performed all of our favourite indie hits and we also had a DJ who played in between their sets. There were always people on the dancefloor from start to finish!” MEMORABLE MOMENTS “I had been stressed the whole run-up to the wedding, but on the day there was nothing I could do as it was all out of my hands; I just felt so excited to see how it had all come together,” remembers the bride. “It helped that I had given out printed itineraries to each member of the wedding party! It sounds like a cliché, but we were just unbelievably happy all day. It was such a long time coming and we truly did enjoy every single second. It’s true what they say; you smile so much that your cheeks actually hurt. “Seeing all of our friends and family enjoying the day and smiling and laughing with each other in the sunshine after two years of Covid was wonderful,” adds Rachael. “I woke up at about 2am the morning of the wedding and suddenly realised we hadn’t packed Andrew’s shirt. We didn’t want to see each other until the ceremony, so I messaged the best man instead! While we were busy in the bridesmaids’ apartment with hair and make-up for nine people, Andrew had a leisurely breakfast and drove home and back to pick up his shirt. I think the best man was more stressed by it than he was!” The happy couple had the most amazing day. “I loved the speeches; they had everyone laughing and crying,” recalls Rachael. “My uncle had a few too many drinks and crashed our photo shoot after the meal. It was very funny and it made for some of my favourite photos. “My little brother, who was only 17 at the time, stepped in to give me away after we lost my dad a few months before the wedding,” continues the bride. “All of our guests also joined us on the dancefloor, dancing to Simple Minds as a tribute to my dad, which was wonderful.” 35 REAL WEDDINGS
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