his initials and wedding date stitched on the underside of the collars. His groomsmen wore blacks tuxes too – “They looked amazing alongside the bridesmaids,” Courtney remembers. The bridesmaids were dressed to impress in black floor-length gowns, each in a style of their choice. “From off-the-shoulder, strappy, one shoulder, to more fitted or flowy – the variation suited them all and looked great in photos,” the bride says. Courtney had her daughter’s dress shipped all the way from Poland, only for her to refuse to wear it! So, she ended up wearing a vest all day. “Comfort is key I suppose and I wasn’t arguing with a one-year-old,” she laughs. The youngster also wasn’t keen on the texture of her mum’s wedding dress, so she had to change back into her pyjamas for the wedding breakfast to comfort her when needed. “It actually worked out, as it meant I didn’t get any stains on my dress,” she tells us. CELEBRATE IN STYLE As guests were seated, throughout the ceremony and for the drinks reception and canapes, the amazing Nadia Violin played both her acoustic and electric instruments. Each song held special meaning for the couple, for example two of the songs used during the ceremony were played when their daughter was born. The playlist also included favourite songs of loved ones no longer with them. James Hey played piano during the wedding breakfast. “He was magical to listen to,” Courtney remembers. Following James’ performance, James Lomas Entertainment stepped in with his singing waiter act. Since he’s a family member, the couple knew this was a must on their wedding day. The waiter surprised guests by pretending to trip before bursting into song, shocking all assembled! James himself then joined in from his table. “Our guests couldn’t believe it,” Courtney says. Following the first dance, the couple’s final surprise was The Arg Band. The couple met James Argent during their first holiday together and knew they wanted him to perform on their big day. Then James Hey returned to round out the night with a DJ set. “Neither of us felt nervous on the day, we were just excited to see each other.” – Courtney MEMORABLE MOMENTS “If I had to choose which part of the day stood out for me the most, it was seeing Garry as I walked down the aisle towards him,” the bride shares. “His smile was so wide he couldn’t control it!” A further memory she’ll also keep in her heart was her dad seeing her for the first time in her dress. “He also had my favourite chocolate bar hidden in his pocket for me!” she says. Garry’s best friend’s sister was getting married on the same day around an hour away, but Courtney managed to keep it a secret that he was going to surprise Garry in the evening. “Garry’s face was a picture, it was the best surprise for him,” Courtney explains. “They’ve been best friends since they were one so having him there on our wedding day was so important. Garry was best man for him when they got married too.” THE GREAT GETAWAY After the big day, the couple set out on a mini-moon to their favourite lodge retreat in Wales, where they could finally switch off and relax. Courtney explains: “Newlands Rural Retreats is based on a working farm. We’ve been a few times now and we love it.” 24
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