Your South Wales Wedding - Mar/Apr 2020 (Issue 72)

REAL WEDDINGS 47  DRESSED TO IMPRESS Laura chose a Stella York gown called 6701 from Laura May Bridal. “It was the first dress I tried on,” shares Laura. “I looked at eight others but kept coming back to it. It made me feel beautiful and was the exact material I wanted. I initially thought I wanted sleeves, but this style made me feel confident without them. The girls at Laura May Bridal were great at helping me choose something that perfect for me. I accessorised with a stone bracelet from Monica Vinader that was engraved with our wedding date on the back.” Bart wore a green suit from Suitsupply. “We wanted him to stand out, so he chose a different colour to the groomsmen,” explains the bride. “He was very happy with it, and it made him feel comfortable and confident.” The bridesmaids wore rose gold dresses from Monsoon. “We wanted something that the girls would feel sexy in, and the plunging neckline definitely had that effect,” Laura adds. “The girls were happy with them and would wear them again for another occasion.” TIME TO CELEBRATE “In the church, some of friends and family sang as I walked down the aisle and during the service,” says Laura. “At the reception we had a DJ perform. We asked everyone to rsvp with a song that they promised to dance to, we then gave these to our DJ who ensured people danced the night away. It worked quite well, even if mum did choose My Boy Lollipop ! Our DJ also had some wonderful ideas, for example when we left the party he made everyone who was still there dance in a circle. It was an incredible way to end what was a really perfect day.” MEMORABLE MOMENTS “I didn’t feel anxious until I was at the church,” shares the bride. “I started to panic that I’d slip over or my dad would step on my dress, but thankfully I made it safe and sound. The minute I was next to Bart, I felt secure and reassured.” The day was full of memorable moments. “The first dance was one of my favourite parts of the day,” Laura explains. “We hired a dance teacher and choreographer to help us. I think there were a lot of wet eyes after we finished, we really enjoyed it, and it was nice to know we had such an impact on our guests. After our first weekend together, Bart told his sister that he’d fallen in love with me. He had always denied that it was true, but during his speech, he finally admitted it. Bart also did a dance battle with my 10-year-old cousin. The whole crowd got involved, and it was a special moment to watch.” The couple couldn’t be more grateful to the suppliers involved. “Our photographer, Chris Francis Photography, went above and beyond on the day,” says the bride. “We chose him as he had a documentary-style approach which was a little more informal and exactly what we wanted. When we spoke to other photographers and asked them when they leave, they said after the first dance, but Chris said when the story is over. We loved his approach so much and couldn’t have been happier with his service. My auntie, Jan, also deserves a special mention. She put so much time, and effort into the cake and flowers, it just wouldn’t have been the same without her special touch.”